Checklists! Use them, they ROCK!!!

In a world full of about a million ways to take notes, there are more ways than ever to make sure you stay up to date on planning your big day. One of the many choices you have is a simple to-do checklist that covers pertinent objectives to help save some brain cells and not drive yourself crazy!

One of our VERY FAVORITE checklists is located in the Richmond Weddings Magazine. It starts from as far out as 18 months and carries you all the way to 2 weeks out. It’s full of absolutely everything you need to do to make your wedding day a huge success.  

So, what are some of the important things you may not initially think about doing after you are engaged? Well, let’s go through a few to get you on the right track:

1. Tour those Venues!

This is one that is near and dear to our hearts! And since its one of the first things you should do it’s always going to be one of the most exciting, stressful, and important decisions you will make! Not only is it one of the most important it may be one of the most expensive items on your budget listing. With that in mind it’s always a good idea to try to sit down with your fiancé (and your parents or anyone else that may be helping with expenses) and work out an initial budget for your wedding plans.Look through The Richmond Weddings Magazine or their website at www.richmondweddings.com and research/investigate the venues that way.

2. Choose and officiant.

Again, not one of those items on your mind right in the beginning. If you are not getting married at your church or another religious site you may need to start looking for this sooner than you think. You will notice right away that there are some pretty high rated officiants out there and they book up quickly! Put a list together and email and/or call them to set up appointments to see who is going to be the perfect fit. You can find officiants for all walks of life. If you want to be traditional or mix it up and have an upbeat ceremony you will find the perfect officiant for you with just a little work.  

3. Rehearsal Dinners.

One of the often forgotten left off of the to-do lists! Typically about 2-4 months out is when the research and booking of your rehearsal dinner site should be taken care of. Sit down and together work out how many people will be attending, as most rehearsal sites will have a minimum. Rehearsal dinners can sometimes turn into mini reunions so make sure to schedule some time to chat before the meal happens.

4. Get that Marriage License!

Yep, another one that is not thought of right in the beginning! Make sure to consult with your planner or do some simple Google searches in your area to figure out what your first steps are to acquiring your marriage license. It will more than likely be different for every county, city, or region so make sure to be prepared with dates and places that you need to go to fill out any appropriate paperwork to make it official.

So, there are some important items from the checklist! Make sure to check out the entire listing in the back of Richmond Weddings Magazine! If you need a copy or need to start your venue investigation, just hit the contact us button on this page and we will make sure to get you started in the right direction.

Tommy and Jon, owners of The Renaissance and the rest of their amazing team, love sharing a piece of Richmond history with guests and couples alike. With a collective 25 years in the hospitality industry, it is truly their passion that can be seen in every event that takes place in Richmond’s largest Victorian ballroom.