The ABCs of Weddings

I thought I'd create a fun way to remember or document things you'll need for your wedding. So I thought I would list things out by letter. Each letter will have an item(s) that you'll need for your special day together. A fair warning, this list is pretty comprehensive.

A - aisle runner (for the bride to walk down on)

B - bridesmaids, bride, best man, bachelor party, bridal shower, beverages (for toasting), breakfast (on the day of the wedding)

C - cash or checks (to pay vendors), coordinator (someone to help make the day go smoothly), candles (if you're doing the ritual of lighting a unity candle), cake, corsages (for special people), cologne, change of clothes to head to honeymoon

D - dressing room (for the wedding party), doves (if you desire to release doves as part of your ceremony), decorations, directions, DJ (for reception), deodorant

E - emergency contacts

F - food (for the reception and rehearsal dinner), family, friends, flowers, flower girl, family planning methods (i.e. birth control, condoms - if you're not planning on having children right away)

G - guestbook (for people to sign in), groom, groomsmen, garter (for the bride)

H - hall (for your reception), haircut (for groom and groomsmen), heralds (if you desire)

I - invitations

J - jewelry (for bride and bridesmaids)

K - keepsakes (to be given at the reception), knife (for the wedding cake)

L - luggage (for the honeymoon), limousine (to take the couple to a hotel or airport after the wedding, to bring the bride and bridesmaids in before the wedding), lighter (for candles), lotion

M - music (pre-ceremony, post-ceremony), makeup (for the ladies), microphones

N - napkins (for the reception)

O - open communication about expectations going into marriage

P - preacher to officiate the ceremony, parents (if they're still alive), programs, photographer, place (to have the wedding), parking, pillow (for the ring bearer), perfume (or scented oil, for ladies)

Q - quiet time (to reflect on the day's event, and to calm yourself before getting married)

R -rings (for bride and groom)

S - stylist (for the bride), string (just in case), seats, sound system, sunshine (not under your control, but still a nice to have), save-the-date cards, slippers (for ladies in case they don't want to wear wedding shoes the entire time)

T - tickets for the plane, threading needle (just in case), tent (for back-up if it's an outside wedding), tuxedos, toasting flutes

U - understanding (for anything that may go wrong), ushers (people to guide the guests to their seats)

V - videographer, veil (for the bride), vows (if preparing specialized vows)

W - witnesses (your guests), wishing well (for cards and cash gifts), wedding dress (for the bride), wedding website (or some other central place where guests can find out information about the wedding)

X - exit doors at the ceremony or reception site (in case of emergency)

Y - yard crew and young people (for cleanup and/or setup of outside wedding)

Z - zeal (excitement about the day to come)