First and foremost, remember that it is your wedding. Your ceremony can be just as personal and customized as your dress, flowers and anything else that you have chosen. There is nothing set in stone for your ceremony. This is a once in a lifetime event and should be a reflection of the Bride and Groom.
Because of unforeseen events, don’t wait until the last minute to file for your license. But they do expire, so be sure to check with your local clerk’s office as to how long you have before the expiration time. Most are 30 - 60 days. If you plan to be married in a state other than your own, your license needs to be obtained in that state.
Most guestbooks, when used, only have the first few pages signed. It is nice to ask your Maid of Honor or Best Man to pass it to your guests at the reception for their best wishes or words of wisdom. It makes for fun reading at a later time.
If you are planning an outdoor wedding, you should have a contingency plan in the event of inclement weather. Have the alternate location listed on your invitations, than you would not need to have someone to direct your guests to the new location.
When choosing an Officiant, ask what they offer should something occur that they can not be there.
If you plan to use bubbles, ask your parents to start blowing the bubbles as you are pronounced husband and wife, right before the kiss. This way the other guests know it is time to use theirs and the bubbles will be in the air as you walk back down the aisle.
When filling out the papers for your marriage license, be sure that ALL dates and spelling are correct, before leaving the Clerk's office.
If you are planning to have a specialty ceremony, ask either the Maid of Honor or the Best Man to be sure that everything is set up properly before the wedding. Also, they should be sure that the rings are where they need to be before the ceremony begins.
If your rehearsal is on a weekday, try to schedule it for after 5:30 pm. This will give everyone plenty of time to get home from work. There are some officiants that will charge you if the practice does not start on time.