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What Is a Wedding Itinerary?
We usually tie the word itinerary with adventures and traveling. In a broader sense, an itinerary is a schedule, which dictates individuals what to do or where to go next. Just like a travel itinerary, a wedding reception itinerary or wedding ceremony itinerary is a document that outlines the wedding schedule from start to finish. It highlights the activities that the people involved need to accomplish and when they should finish doing these. Meanwhile, other couples also opt to have a detailed itinerary, covering the pre-event preparations until the post-event activities. If you need help in planning your wedding, you can download the templates and sample documents provided above.
Wedding Receptions: The Usual Order of Events
If you take a look at a sample wedding itinerary, you will notice that the big day doesn’t end after the ceremony itself. There are a lot of activities for both the married couple and the guests. Even a small wedding itinerary would include various activities—mostly rooted in tradition. So, fill in your wedding agenda template or wedding program template with the following reception events:
- Cocktail Hour – You would not want your guests to just stand in the corner as you pose for photos with your closest friends and family members. To eliminate this awkward moment, you can add a cocktail hour in your long list of events.
- Arrivals – It is when the newlyweds, together with their parents, make a grand entrance. After this, the master of ceremony will introduce the bride and groom as husband and wife for the first time.
- Dinner – What’s a reception without dinner, right? Don’t let your guests wait for a long time! Dinner should be the third on the list in your wedding itinerary card.
- Toasts – Traditionally, the best man and the maid of honor are the ones who make the toast.
- First Dance – After the toast would be the first dance of the newlyweds as husband and wife. The guests will then start dancing with the couple.
- Bouquet Toss – Many brides and grooms include this in their program. As you probably know, people from the past believed that whoever catches the bouquet thrown by the bride will be the one who gets married next.
- Cake Slicing – A tiered wedding cake will be useless without the ceremonial cutting (and eating) of cake.
- Final Farewell – Lastly, you need to have an exit that equates with the elegance of your entrance. Thank your guests and say goodbye to them in the coolest way you can ever think.
How to Plan for the Big Day
Planning a wedding is not just a walk in the park. You have to consider several factors for it to be a success. Don’t worry about that, though! We will help you as you fill in our wedding planning timeline template with the necessary details. In this section, let us walk you through the basics of planning a wedding for an effective wedding itinerary.
1. Start Early
Organizing a wedding needs elaborate plans. That is why you have to start as early as possible. On average, soon-to-be-wed couples plan for their wedding for about 13-18 months. During the first months of your preparation, think about the number of people you will invite and decide whether you will have a church, destination, or civil wedding.
2. Consider Your Budget
Whether you are having a big event or a small one, it is crucial to consider your budget for the wedding. Inquire how much the venue, food, wedding dresses, and other wedding necessities will cost. Then, compare it with the money you set aside for your wedding.
3. Create the Itinerary
Presuming that you have already finalized when and where the wedding will be, it is now time for you to plan out how the wedding day will go. Remember to not just focus on the ceremony itself. You have to take into account the time spent for hair, makeup, dressing up, traveling to the ceremony venue, and so on. Then, refer to the list presented above for the wedding reception program.
4. Finalize Your Guest List
Lastly, you have to finalize your guest list. A few months or weeks before the wedding, the guests should have already responded to the wedding invitations you sent them. They should inform you whether or not they can attend the said event. It is vital to finalize the guest list so that you can also confirm and close the deal with the wedding vendors.
FAQs
How long is the average wedding?
A wedding day comprises two important events: the ceremony and the reception. Typically, ceremonies last for about 20-30 minutes. Meanwhile, a wedding reception is at least four hours long.
What is the best month to have a wedding?
There’s no really wrong or right time to marry the person who holds your heart. However, if you want to know the best month to have a wedding, it’s June. Most couples prefer to get married during the summer.
Who speaks first at weddings?
It would be impossible to have a wedding reception without speeches. If we base on tradition, the first person who makes a speech during the wedding is the father of the bride. Aside from a heartfelt message, he must also welcome the guests.
As of 2018, the United States has recorded over 2 million marriages, wherein celebrations are a combination of grand and simple ones. If you are a wedding organizer or a soon-to-be-wed couple, you must know the importance of a wedding day itinerary regardless of how grand or simple you want your wedding to be. This document will guarantee you a smooth-flowing and memorable event that will remain in the hearts of your guests forever.
