DIY Monday: Wedding Planning

Another friend has asked me to help with their wedding, but this time they need help with more than just the flowers. I thought I'd use the DIY space to lay out some of the things you need to think about with DIY wedding planning.

I find when I'm planning that it helps to visualize the ceremony and reception to help you think through the process. Since I'm not doing the actual ceremony, I don't have to think about those details. I'm left with the actual reception site.

After you've secured your date and determined your reception site, you might be lucky enough to have someone at the site to help you coordinate. If you're doing this in a back yard or random building lobby, however, you might not have that critical help. If that's the case, I might be able to help you think through a couple things.

First, visualize yourself walking through the reception. What do you see?

I'd start with tables. Are there tables available? How many will you need? How will you decorate them? Will you need to rent china and silverware? How about linens? Chairs?

Start by determining the number of people you think will be at the reception. I've never been to a wedding reception in which all the people invited show up, but I've heard of receptions that had people show up uninvited. Plan on a lesser number of people than you invite (I used 80%) and finalize that number when you've received your replies. Any vendor I've ever worked with has been accommodating with respect to planning and numbers.

Map out the number of guests that can sit at a table - ask the rental company to help you with this. There are different sizes of tables that can seat a different number of people. Ask them to help you determine what size and how many you'll need. The number of chairs will follow from this decision.

Then, think about what those tables will look like. What color tablecloth will you use? What about glasses, plates and silverware? One place setting - including dinner and dessert plate for a simple wedding. Salt and pepper shakers? At least one per table. Do you want a runner or overskirt? Some brides like to layer their tables to add color. Often brides like to coordinate the wedding colors with the reception decorations - including the flowers on the tables.

Make sure you've left room for food tables if you're doing a buffet. Food tables look better if you have a flower arrangement on them. And if you're doing the food yourself, you'll need to rent chafing dishes to serve the food.

Don't forget a table for the cake. You'll also need a knife to cut and serve as well as dessert plates and forks specially for the cake service.

You might want to decorate the reception site. That could include table decorations or flowers. It might also include favors at each place setting. What about votive candles? Think about whether you want place cards for your guests. Will you have a DJ or live music? Do you want space for dancing? How about someone to stand with your gifts if people bring gifts to the reception site?

These are some of the questions you should consider when planning a reception. Next week, I'll talk about another aspect of planning a wedding - the flowers.