YOUR CHECKLIST
The following checklist we hope will be of use when planning your wedding.
For convenience, this has been divided into two sections, the first for your own personal arrangements and the second for the reception itself.
Personal
- Arrange date & venue for ceremony and reception
- Arrange printing and sending of invitations
- Order wedding cake
- Order cake boxes
- Prepare list of preferred wedding presents
- Contact local newspaper for announcement
- Hire photographer and/or video recording services
- Arrange florist for ceremony and reception
- Select flowers for bride and bridesmaids and/or pageboys
- Hire morning dress for gentlemen if required
- Select outfits for groom if not in morning dress
- Book hair and beauty appointments
Reception
- Prepare speeches
- Arrange present display
- Arrange honeymoon
- Arrange arrival time at Clubhouse
- Discuss location for photographic session
- Discuss wedding receiving line
- Arrange table plan and name cards if required
- Choose drinks on arrival (if not on inclusive package)
- Select menu options
- Select wines & other drinks (if not on inclusive package)
- Select package or sparkling wine for toasts (if not on inclusive package)
- Discuss table decorations
- Clarify bar arrangements
- Select entertainment for evening if required
WEDDING ETIQUETTE
To help you prepare for your special day we have prepared a suggested wedding etiquette.
THE RECEIVING LINE
This is a formal greeting of your guests as they go through to dine:
Bride’s Mother, Bride’s Father, Bride, Groom, Groom’s Mother, Groom’s Father, Bridesmaid – Optional, Best Man - Optional
TOP TABLE SEATING PLAN
When preparing your seating plan, the top table would traditionally be follows:
Chief Bridesmaid, Groom’s Father, Bride’s Mother, Groom, Bride, Bride’s Father, Groom’s Mother, Best Man
CUTTING THE CAKE
The Toastmaster or the Best man announces this. The Bride and Groom then cut the first slice. The bottom tier is taken away and a slice cut for each of your guests and served after speeches with coffee.
TOASTS AND SPEECHES
These follow the cutting of the cake and are made in the following order:
Bride and Groom
The father of the bride normally makes this toast and the Groom makes the reply.
Bridesmaids
Proposed by the Groom after his reply to the first toast. The Best Man makes the response to this.
AND FINALLY…
The following of the various traditions and customs has always been a part of wedding ceremonies, but how did these customs originate?
Something old:
represents the Bride’s ties to her family and past life.
Something new:
represents the start of a new life.
Something borrowed:
represents the end of your old life
Something blue:
symbol of faithfulness
And a sixpence in your shoe:
promised future wealth.
The bridal veil is worn to protect the Bride from evil spirits and the traditional white dress symbolises purity.
The carrying of the horse shoe, or a horseshoe shaped bouquet, is considered lucky for the Bride as long as it is carried with the open end up so that the luck does not ‘fall out’.
The tradition of throwing confetti dates back to ancient times when the newly married couple would be showered with rice to bestow fertility on them.
Finally, carrying the Bride over the threshold originated in Roman times when it was considered unlucky if the Bride stumbled as she entered her new home.
ANNIVERSARIES TO CELEBRATE.
- First – paper
- Second – cotton
- Third – leather
- Fourth – fruit
- Fifth – wooden
- Sixth – candy
- Seventh – copper
- Eighth – bronze
- Ninth – pottery
- Tenth – tin
- Eleventh - steel
- Twelfth - silk
Good luck and best wishes from Sand Martins Golf Club.
