Your Wedding Planning Checklist

He popped the question. You said, “Yes!” Where do you begin planning? We’ve got some helpful hints to make your planning process smooth.
1. Be sure to talk to your fiancé. You want to set a budget, figure out the time of the year, a rough estimate of guests, style and any other elements that are important to you both.
2. Consider timing. While there’s no need to set a firm date until you’re in talks with a venue, it’s always a good idea to have an idea of the season in which you’d like to marry.
3. Form a tentative guest list. Number of guests and necessary travel accommodations for guests are MAJOR factors in your wedding day cost and options.
4. Talk budget. Decide on a bottom line cost for the whole celebration and find out from parents or other potential wedding day backers if and how much they would be willing to contribute. Keep in mind the forgotten costs. For example, when setting a budget for your dress, keep in mind alteration costs and cost of accessories.
5. Figure out the “who” and “where” of the “I do’s”. Keep in mind that the actual moments of commitment are what the day is all about! Start your search for an officiant and ceremony site early on in order to ensure that your vows will go off without a hitch. Cape May County officiant and County Clerk Rita Fulginiti gladly offers her services in local ceremonies.
6. Designate a reception venue and caterer. But before you can do so, carefully consider some important questions – Indoors or outdoors? Sit-down dinner, cocktail reception, picnic, or maybe a simple cake cutting? Seating arrangements? Your and your guests’ cuisine preferences? When and where do you envision dancing taking place? Once you have a comprehensive vision of your dream wedding reception, begin your search. Start with these Cape May County picks:
• Avalon Links
• Cape May – Lewes Ferry
• The Carriage House at the Physick Estate
• The Grand Hotel
• Golden Inn
• Island Grill
• Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
• Rio Grande Fire Hall
• Tuckahoe Inn
• Union Park
• Westy’s Irish Pub
• West Cape May Banquet Hall
• Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor
• Yacht Club of Sea Isle City
Maybe the traditional venue is not your ideal choice. If you are looking for an outdoor ceremony but want the convenience of a shaded area try Jersey Shore Party Rentals.
7. Line up the best of the best vendors. Here, we share our checklist of essentials and local picks:
• Photographer and/or videographer: The best ones usually book weddings several months in advance, so get on this one early. Enlist the advice of friends and family and then look into the kind of style and feel you’d like your wedding day album and video to feature. Select the pro that fits you best! Start with this seasoned expert, Saltwater Studios.
• Musicians/DJ: If you’re looking to have a band perform live, arrange to sample their performance before signing them on. Be sure to give them a rough idea of your ideal playlist so they can create the atmosphere you’re seeking. Hiring a DJ can often be less expensive than live musicians. Explore all your entertainment options before making the final decision. Check out the many options with Tri-State Professionals.
• Flowers and décor: Once you have your reception venue booked, you can make design decisions on décor and floral arrangements. A ballroom or banquet room provides a relatively blank slate, whereas a museum or Victorian home may need just a few added accents. But flowers for both the ceremony and reception venue are almost always a MUST. Marie’s Flower Shoppe can help with all of your floral needs. Don’t forget you’ll need to decorate your home with all sorts of new furniture and fun accessories! Visit Coastal Designer Outlet to make your new home uniquely yours.
• Beverage and spirit needs: Consider creating a signature drink to add your personal flare to the reception and cut costs. If you’re tempted to save by having a cash bar, stop! Instead, cut down on liquor costs by offering one signature drink (like pitchers of a gourmet martini) along with beer, soda and juices. Another idea: Buy cases of a local wine and serve just that. For all your wedding day spirits, wines, and beer needs, check out Joe Canal’s of Rio Grande.
• Favor and gift needs: Traditionally the bride and groom give gifts to the members of the party and to guests before the night is over. Try finding something unique to the shore and look at some of the local favorites:
• Hello Gorgeous
• Groovy Girlz
• Laura’s Fudge
• The Original Fudge Kitchen
• Transportation: Roll up to your ceremony and reception in style in the sleek ride of your choice. Hiring a transportation professional is an excellent way to guarantee that all members of the wedding party arrive together, on-time, and in luxury. It also eliminates drunk driving concerns. Consult these Cape May County professionals for wedding transportation service:
• Great American Trolley
• Shore Limousine Service
8. It is crucial that you figure out what you are wearing once you have the other major details sorted out. Check out some experts here for both the bride and the groom!
• Wedding Belles Boutique
• Tesi’s Bridal and Formal
• Here Comes the Bride
• Rienzi Bridal Salon
• Fletcher’s Corners Tuxedos
9. When finding the perfect dress, or tuxedo, you will want to look your best for the big day. Try getting a tan at Tropic Tan. Even a spray tan will give your skin that healthy sun kissed glow. Your new found tan is going to make your teeth stand out and you will want them to be perfect! Check out Cape May Dental for their expertise.
10. Apart from your dress, the cake you select is also a focal point of the wedding. Guests are always in awe when they see a masterpiece before them. Check out some of these local cake masters to help dazzle your guests:
• A Piece of Cake
• Ward’s Pastry
11. After all is said and done, preserving your dress is a MUST. Make sure you have it professionally cleaned as to not ruin this beautiful gown. Visit some of the local professionals to ensure your dress maintains its beauty for a lifetime:
• Michael’s Fabricare
• Court House Cleaners
• Model Cleaners
12. If all else fails and you find this list to be incredibly overwhelming, call in in a professional planner. Memorey’s is a fantastic resource for helping to plan your special day. Weddings by the Sea is another valuable planner Cape May County has to offer.
13. When planning your honeymoon try a local Bed and Breakfast. The 50’s themed Bed and Breakfast, Summer Nites, is a treat that can only be found in Wildwood.
For more planning tips, face-to-face interactions with wedding vendors, and a fashion show of the latest bridal trends, be sure to attend the Wildwoods Spring Bridal Fair on Sunday, March 22rd in the Oceanfront Arena of the Wildwoods Convention Center.
– Ashley Love
Check out the Herald’s 2015 Weddings & Special Events Guide, available now!