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Wedding planning guides
Answers to the questions in wedding contracts, quotes and invoices, and in the rest of the wedding: the ceremony, the words and the guests. Search them, or browse by where you are in the wedding. New guides are added regularly.
147 guides
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By state, from official pages: marriage license requirements by state (fee, waiting period and how long the license is valid) and name change after marriage by state.
Before you book 28
Wedding venue getting ready room: what to ask before you book
Each getting-ready room named in the contract, with its opening time, who may use it, the house rules and when it must be cleared.
Open the guideWedding food cost per person: how to work out your own number
One all-in food total from your own written quote, divided by your guest count, with the menu price, the added lines and any minimum shown beside it.
Open the guideWedding venue capacity: how many guests a room really holds
One capacity figure for each space you will use, tied to your own layout and written into the contract with a floor plan.
Open the guideQuestions to ask a wedding florist before booking
One question list for a first consultation with a wedding florist, and a log for comparing two florists on the same terms.
Open the guideWhat is a wedding venue site fee? What it covers and leaves out
One written line for the site fee that names the spaces, the hours, what comes with it and what is charged on top, so you can compare it with another venue’s.
Open the guideWedding venue preferred vendor list: do you have to use it?
A written answer, service by service, on whether the list is a suggestion or a requirement, and what booking someone else would add before you sign.
Open the guideWedding venue price per person: what it covers and your total
A written quote at your guest count that lists what the price per person covers, the charges added on top, the minimum count and one all-in total for your date.
Open the guideAll-inclusive wedding packages: what they include and leave out
A written, line-by-line package list at your guest count, with each item marked included, charged separately or not offered, and one all-in total for your date.
Open the guideChurch wedding fees: what a church charges for and what to ask
A written list from the church office of each fee, donation and honorarium, with who receives each one, when it is due and the rules your vendors must follow.
Open the guideWedding venue hidden fees and costs to ask about before signing
A written list of the fees the venue could charge for your date, with each one priced or marked as an open question before you sign.
Open the guideCeremony and reception at different locations: what to plan
A two-venue timeline that holds together on paper, with each contract checked for both addresses.
Open the guideHow to plan a wedding in 3 months: checklist and first steps
An order of decisions built from dependencies, and a calendar built from your own contracts.
Open the guideCourthouse wedding and reception: how to plan both
Ceremony details confirmed with the issuing office first, then a reception contract that fits around them.
Open the guideMicro wedding venue minimums and small guest count contracts
Each contract minimum turned into a cost per guest at your own count, and a list of smaller options to ask about.
Open the guideHow to plan a wedding in 6 months: checklist and timeline
A plan in phases, each opened by a decision, with dates taken from your own contracts.
Open the guideA wedding at home or in a backyard: what to plan
Everything a venue would have supplied, listed, quoted and assigned to someone before the day.
Open the guideQuestions to ask a wedding rental company before booking
One question list for a first call with a party rental company, and a log for comparing two rental quotes on the same terms.
Open the guideCourtesy vs contracted room block: how wedding blocks work
Which kind of block you are actually being offered, and a room-night estimate from your own guest list to size it.
Open the guideWedding planning timeline: a 12-month checklist in order
A planning order where each step waits only for the decision it depends on, and each date comes from your own contracts.
Open the guideWhat is wedding off season? Off-peak and weekday pricing
A total for each date on the same terms, and written definitions of the rates that apply to them.
Open the guideQuestions to ask a wedding venue before booking
A grouped venue question list you can take on a tour, with space to record each answer and whether you have it in writing.
Open the guideWhat is a date hold at a wedding venue? How holds work
A written hold with an expiry time, the exact steps to book, and the terms if someone else wants the date.
Open the guideWhat is an outside vendor fee at a wedding venue?
A clear record of which services your venue restricts, what bringing in your own vendor costs in total, and the questions to ask first.
Open the guideQuestions to ask a wedding caterer before booking
A grouped caterer question list for a first call or tasting, with a log for comparing two caterers on the same terms.
Open the guideQuestions to ask a wedding photographer before booking
A grouped photographer question list for a first call, with a log for comparing photographers on the same coverage.
Open the guideWedding venue inclusions: what you still need to rent
A line-by-line match between venue inclusions and your rental order, with each line marked as an upgrade, a duplicate or a gap.
Open the guideWedding tent rental checklist: size, cost and questions
A grouped list of questions for the tent company and your local authority, with each answer recorded against the quote.
Open the guideHow to compare wedding venues and quotes side by side
A comparison you can defend, with the unanswered questions beside the numbers.
Open the guideVendor contracts 48
Last call at a wedding: when the bar closes and what it means
One written time for last call and one for bar close, set against your music cutoff and departure time, with the rate for an added hour beside them.
Open the guideVenue coordinator vs wedding planner: who does what on your day
A written split of tasks between the venue coordinator, any planner and your point person, with a name beside each gap before the wedding week.
Open the guideWedding venue decor restrictions: candles, confetti, walls
A decor list checked against the venue rules, with each item approved in writing and each fee at risk named.
Open the guideWedding band set length and set times: plan the breaks
A timeline with each set and break placed on it, a written answer about music between sets, and no surprise gap during the moments that matter.
Open the guideWedding after-party venue: what it costs and what to check
A written after-party booking with a known bar limit, a firm end time, and a cost you have compared with staying put.
Open the guideHow to return wedding rentals: a pickup day checklist
A count at delivery, a count at pickup, photographs and a signed return slip, kept until the deposit comes back.
Open the guideFlorist substitution policy: what a wedding contract allows
A written list of the flowers and colors you care about above the rest, the florist’s replacement standard, and an answer about notice and price before you sign.
Open the guideWedding rental delivery and pickup: how windows work
Delivery and pickup windows that fit your venue’s hours, with a named person to receive and count items and a clear answer about who holds them overnight.
Open the guideDestination wedding vendor contracts: what to check
Contracts where the currency, the travel costs and the refund route are written down, and a list of local questions to put to the right people.
Open the guideWedding contract addendum: how to change a signed contract
Each change to a signed contract written down in one signed document that names what changed, from what, to what, and what it costs.
Open the guideHow to e-sign a wedding contract and keep a full copy
A complete, countersigned copy of each contract, with its linked terms and addenda, saved where you can reach it without the vendor.
Open the guideElopement vendor contracts: what to check before signing
A short list of vendors, each with a contract that names the place, the permit owner, the weather plan and the coverage rules.
Open the guideWedding dress alterations timeline: fittings and what to ask
A delivery date and fitting dates in writing, counted back from the wedding, with a gap for a late dress and a last fix.
Open the guideSell my wedding date: how to transfer a venue booking
A date that changes hands only with the venue’s written consent, the deposit question settled in writing, and a new contract or signed transfer for the couple taking it.
Open the guideWedding cancellation letter to vendors and guests: what to send
Contracts read before anyone is told, one short written notice to each vendor with a reply kept on file, and one plain message to guests that asks nothing of them.
Open the guideWedding vendor with no contract: what to get in writing
One written summary of the booking, confirmed by the vendor in a reply, with each payment matched to a receipt and kept in the same place.
Open the guideOne day insurance for wedding vendors: when a vendor has none
The venue’s insurance requirements in writing, a named person responsible for each policy, and a certificate on file before the venue’s deadline.
Open the guideWedding catering contract: what it should include before you sign
A clause-by-clause list for the signed catering contract, and a log for setting it against the proposal it came from.
Open the guideWedding florist contract: what to include, with a sample outline
A clause-by-clause list for the signed florist contract, and a log for setting it against the proposal it came from.
Open the guideWedding cake contract: what to check before you sign
A term-by-term list for the signed cake agreement, and a log for setting it against the order you discussed with the bakery.
Open the guideWedding dress deposit: refunds, cancelling and the order form
An order form you have read term by term before paying, and a list of the questions it leaves open, answered in writing.
Open the guideHow much does a rehearsal dinner cost? A contract checklist
A signed event order where the minimum, the count deadline and the person paying are clear before the rehearsal.
Open the guideWedding DJ add-ons: lighting, ceremony sound and equipment
A priced list of the DJ add-ons you want, checked against the venue’s rules and inclusions, with quantities and setup times written down.
Open the guideHow much does a wedding album cost? Reading the price list
A priced list of the album and prints you actually want, with the included amount, the extras, the deadlines and whether the prices are fixed.
Open the guideWhat time do weddings end? Noise curfews and a timeline planner
Four cutoff times, written down, and an evening planned backward from the last one.
Open the guideHow long does it take to get wedding photos back?
A calendar date for your photos, worked out from your own contract, with a plan to save the files and a polite question ready if the date passes.
Open the guideWhat are wedding venue access hours? When vendors can set up
An access schedule, built backward from your ceremony, that shows whether your vendors fit inside the hours you signed for.
Open the guideHotel room block contract: attrition, cutoff and questions
The room nights you are committing to, the shortfall you could be billed for, and the dates that decide it, all in one place.
Open the guideWedding linen rentals: sizes, counts, fees and returns
A linen order you can check line by line against your floor plan, with the return rules written down before delivery day.
Open the guideCan a wedding vendor raise prices after booking?
For each vendor, the price you signed for, the clause that could change it and a written record of any price the vendor has confirmed.
Open the guideWhat to look for in a wedding venue contract: a checklist
A clause-by-clause review of your venue agreement, with the page for each term and the questions to send before you sign.
Open the guideWedding catering proposal: what it includes, line by line
A line-by-line picture of what the catering price covers, what is added on top and when your numbers lock.
Open the guideWhat should be in a wedding photographer contract?
A clause-by-clause question list for your photographer, with the answers recorded in writing before you sign.
Open the guideWhat should be in a wedding videographer contract?
A term-by-term question list for your videographer, with each answer tied to a page of the contract.
Open the guideWedding DJ and band contract: what to check before signing
A music contract checked against your venue rules, with the gaps turned into specific questions.
Open the guideWedding florist proposal: design, delivery and setup fees
Each florist fee paired with its base and its scope, so the total makes sense before you sign.
Open the guideHow much cake to order for a wedding: bakery checklist
One cake order sheet that ties servings to your final count and lists each fee from the bakery and the venue.
Open the guideWedding hair and makeup contract: trial, fees and timing
A priced service list and a getting-ready schedule that match the contract, line for line.
Open the guideWhat should a wedding planner contract include?
A scope list you can check task by task, and a fee you can calculate from the contract itself.
Open the guideWedding officiant agreement: what to include and ask
A grouped question list for your officiant, and a written record of who handles the license before and after the ceremony.
Open the guideHow does wedding transportation work? Limo contract terms
A priced route sheet that shows exactly which hours you pay for and each line on the bill.
Open the guideWedding photo booth rental: what the contract should say
A clear picture of when the booth is running, what you receive afterward, and each added charge the contract allows.
Open the guideWhat is a certificate of insurance for a wedding vendor?
A list of each vendor who needs a certificate, the venue's exact requirements and the date each one is due.
Open the guideWhat is a wedding postponement clause? What to check
A side-by-side view of what moving the date would cost and require with each vendor, before anyone is given notice.
Open the guideWhat to do if a wedding vendor cancels on you
A written record, the exact contract wording and a replacement search running at the same time.
Open the guideWedding vendor overtime charges: how overtime works
A one-page overtime list, by vendor, that tells your point person what extra time costs and who can say yes.
Open the guideDo you have to feed wedding vendors? Meals and breaks
A vendor meal list your caterer can act on, with a count, a cost line and a time on the run sheet.
Open the guideWedding contract checklist: what to check before you sign
A focused question log, tied to the agreement you are considering.
Open the guideMoney and dates 30
Catering admin fee at a wedding: what it is and is it a tip?
A written answer on the admin fee’s rate, base and purpose, and a per-guest total that includes it before you sign.
Open the guideWhen is the final wedding payment due? A checklist
One run sheet of final payments, in the order your own deadlines require, with a receipt for each.
Open the guideWedding bar packages: per person vs consumption vs cash
A side-by-side comparison of bar structures at your own guest count, with the break-even point worked out.
Open the guideWedding vendor travel fees: mileage, lodging and airfare
A travel figure for each vendor, worked out from the contract’s own terms, with lodging and airfare terms written down before you sign.
Open the guideHow long does a wedding refund take after cancelling?
A refund due date worked out from your own contract, a record of when the clock started, and a follow-up plan if the date passes.
Open the guideWedding bartender cost and bar setup fees: what to check
The labor and equipment lines of your bar, counted out in hours and dollars at your own guest count.
Open the guideIs wedding insurance worth it? Questions to ask first
A written list of questions, the documents behind them, and answers from a licensed professional you can keep with the policy.
Open the guideWedding cake cutting fee: what it is and how it is charged
The full cost of serving an outside cake, worked out and set beside the in-house option.
Open the guideWedding corkage fee: what it means and how it works
A like-for-like comparison of supplying your own alcohol against the venue option, with each added line counted.
Open the guideWedding rental damage charges: breakage, loss and waivers
The rental order’s damage terms written down, a count and photos at both ends, and a calm, specific question ready if a charge arrives.
Open the guideLiquor liability insurance for a wedding: do you need it?
The venue’s alcohol and insurance rules in writing, who carries each policy, and each certificate on file before the venue’s deadline.
Open the guideWedding budget contingency: how much to set aside
A contingency line where each dollar is tied to a named open item, with rules for using it and a date by which it can be released.
Open the guideWedding venue cleanup fee: what it covers and who cleans up
A clear split of which cleanup tasks the fee pays for and which ones your side must still do by the deadline.
Open the guideWedding invoice doesn't match the quote? What to do
A difference you can explain line by line, sorted into changes you agreed to and questions to send the vendor.
Open the guideWedding payment tracker: a payment log and receipts
A log and a folder that show, for any vendor, what was paid, by whom and what is left.
Open the guideHow to split wedding costs between families: who pays what
One budget where each line shows who is paying it, and a short written record of what each contributor agreed to.
Open the guideWhat does ++ (plus plus) mean on a wedding quote?
A method for turning any ++ price into the figure you will actually pay per guest.
Open the guideWedding deposits: how they work and how to track them
One ledger that shows what you have paid each vendor, what each payment was for, and whether it has been credited or is due back.
Open the guideName change after marriage checklist: what to update, in order
Get the certificate copies first, update the government records in order, then work down one list of accounts until each is done.
Open the guideWedding food and beverage minimum: what you owe if you fall short
Know exactly what counts toward your minimum, and the guest count at which you meet it.
Open the guideWedding budget spreadsheet template: how to make one
A budget built from your own quotes and contracts, where each number traces to a document and each open risk has a line.
Open the guideHow to pay wedding vendors: card, check, cash or transfer
A payment plan for each vendor that names the method, the payee, the fee and the proof you will keep.
Open the guideWedding service charge vs gratuity: is the service charge a tip?
A written answer about where the service charge goes, and a tip decision you can make on the facts.
Open the guideDo wedding venues charge sales tax on the service charge?
A written statement of how your tax is calculated, and the arithmetic to check it.
Open the guideDo you tip wedding vendors? Who, how much and when
A tip plan built from your own contracts and budget, with envelopes, a named person and times on the run sheet.
Open the guideWedding invoice: what to check before you pay it
A line-by-line check against the contract, with each question sent before the money leaves your account.
Open the guideAre wedding venue deposits refundable? What to check
For each vendor, the amount at stake on a given date, the clause it comes from and the way notice has to be sent.
Open the guideWedding venue security deposit: how to get it back
Know the return conditions, photograph the space twice and ask for deductions in writing.
Open the guideWhat to do after your wedding: vendor closeout checklist
A short list per vendor, closed one line at a time, with the paperwork to show it.
Open the guideWedding payment schedule: a template and how to build it
One list of upcoming payments that you and your partner can check together.
Open the guideGuests and decisions 23
Wedding welcome party: how to plan guests, venue and cost
A welcome party with a headcount estimate, a written booking and a clear message to guests about when and where.
Open the guideWedding guest photo sharing: QR codes, albums and uploads
One upload link, privacy settings you chose, and a download date on your calendar.
Open the guideWedding thank-you note tracker: columns and a template
One list that shows who to thank, for what, and whether the note is in the mail.
Open the guideWedding RSVP follow-up: what to say and when to send it
A follow-up list with owners and dates, and a rule for silence decided before you need it.
Open the guideWedding gift tracker template: registry, cards and deposits
A gift log that follows each gift from purchase or card box to your home, your bank or a return receipt.
Open the guideWedding guests with access needs, and children
Asked, not guessed: what guests need, what the venue has, and a plan for the children who are coming.
Open the guideWeddings with several events or over several days
One list of events, a guest list for each, contracts that name their own day, and a schedule guests can follow.
Open the guideHow long is cocktail hour at a wedding? What to plan
Length set by the tasks inside it, and a bar, food, music and seating plan that your contracts cover for that whole window.
Open the guideBuffet vs plated wedding: how to choose and compare quotes
Both styles priced at one guest count, with staff, rentals and service charge on each quote, and a choice made from your guests, venue and timeline.
Open the guideWedding plus-one rules: who gets a plus-one and the cost
A written plus-one rule and two numbers, offered and expected, checked against capacity and cost.
Open the guideHow much does one more wedding guest cost? Cost per guest
A per-guest figure built from your own contract rates, and a clear view of where minimums stop a reduction from saving money.
Open the guideWedding shuttle schedule template: how to plan guest loops
A departure-by-departure shuttle plan that seats everyone, fits the contracted hours and can be handed to guests and drivers.
Open the guideParents contributing to the wedding: who gets a say?
A contribution record and a decision log, both shared, so money and say stay tied to what was actually agreed.
Open the guideHow to do a wedding seating chart, step by step
A chart built on the real floor plan and table sizes, finished before the first vendor deadline that needs it.
Open the guideHow to plan a wedding with your partner and share the work
One shared list, one owner per task, and a short written rule for which decisions you make together.
Open the guideWedding dietary restrictions: ask guests, tell the caterer
A single dated list, by name and table, that the caterer has confirmed in writing, with one person named for questions on the day.
Open the guideWedding RSVP meal choice: card wording, options and tallies
An RSVP that returns one named meal choice per guest, tallied in the format your caterer asked for, with time left to fill the gaps.
Open the guideWedding venue minimum guest count: what you pay if fewer come
Know the number you pay for, the lines it multiplies and the cost of each empty seat before you sign.
Open the guideWhen should a wedding RSVP deadline be? How to set it
An RSVP date you can explain, built backward from a vendor deadline you have confirmed in writing.
Open the guideWedding guest list spreadsheet template: how to make one
One guest list that produces the counts your stationer, caterer and rental order will ask for.
Open the guideDo kids count in the wedding headcount? Meals, minimums, seats
A headcount that splits adults, children and vendor meals the same way your contract prices them.
Open the guideOutdoor wedding rain plan: how to set a backup plan
One decision time, one decision-maker, a known cost and a message ready to send.
Open the guideWedding final headcount: when it is due and who counts
A headcount handoff that connects guest replies to the numbers vendors need.
Open the guideCeremony, words and guests 11
Marriage license: what to ask the office before you apply
The issuing office’s own answers, written down with their dates, before the day is planned around them.
Open the guideMarrying in another country: the questions to ask first
Two answers from official sources first, then a choice: marry there, or marry at home and celebrate there.
Open the guideWriting your wedding vows: a structure and questions
Agreed with each other first, written from your own answers, and timed out loud.
Open the guideThe order of a wedding ceremony: a structure to adapt
A list of parts to keep, add to or leave out, settled with your officiant and timed before the day.
Open the guideGiving a wedding speech or toast: structure and timing
Asked for, written to the length agreed, timed out loud and printed large.
Open the guideWedding party roles: who does what, and how to ask
Roles you define, asked for privately, with the tasks, dates and costs in writing.
Open the guideWedding invitation wording for real families
A host line your families agree on, then your names, the date, the place and what follows.
Open the guideWhen to send save-the-dates and wedding invitations
A send-by date worked back from the final count, with printing and save-the-dates fitted before it.
Open the guideAddressing wedding invitations, and a postage list
One list, one row a household, names as people use them, and postage worked out from a finished invitation.
Open the guideHow a wedding registry works, in plain terms
A list you chose, on terms you read first, linked where guests look and tracked as gifts arrive.
Open the guideA family photo list for your wedding, group by group
Groups named in full, in an order that frees people, timed with your photographer and run by someone who knows the faces.
Open the guideThe week of 7
Wedding welcome bags for hotel guests: delivery and fees
A written drop-off plan with the hotel, a known handling charge, and bag labels that match the names at the front desk.
Open the guideWedding day vendor timeline: when each vendor arrives
A load-in order built from what each vendor needs first, checked against the access window and the space you share.
Open the guideWedding day point person: what they do and who to choose
One chosen person, a written list of what they can decide, and a briefing that happens before the day rather than on it.
Open the guideWedding venue final walkthrough: checklist and questions
A walkthrough with your contract, floor plan and timeline in hand, each space checked, each open question asked, and the answers confirmed in writing.
Open the guideWedding day emergency kit list: what to put in it
A kit packed around the problems you can fix yourselves, with a named keeper and a copy of the contact sheet inside.
Open the guideWedding day timeline template: build it from your contracts
A run of show anchored to contract times, with each duration confirmed by the vendor who owns it.
Open the guideWedding vendor handoff: week-of checklist and contact sheet
A short operational brief that helps someone else carry the day with you.
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