Planning: Your Essential Wedding Ceremony Checklist

Your wedding ceremony is probably the shortest, and least expensive, element of your day. So while it might be really important to you, for many couples, it ends up falling down the list of priorities after things like food, style or entertainment. We want to make it easier for you to give your ceremony the thought and attention it deserves!

We've already put together a step-by-step guide to making a ceremony structure, a guide to writing your own vows, and an essential list of readings, and here, we've compiled an essential wedding ceremony checklist to make sure your vows are beautiful, memorable, and go off without a hitch!

Image by Louise Golding Photography via One Fab Day

Essential Wedding Ceremony Checklist

As with all of our wedding planning checklists, what you need for your wedding ceremony will differ depending on the kind of vows, structure and setting that you have. For instance, a Catholic wedding, will differ a lot from a Humanist outdoor ceremony, and registry office 'I dos' may require a lot less detail than a self-plan ceremony. Your celebrant, ceremony style and setting will help you work out what applies to you, so choose accordingly from the list below to get prepped for the big moment.

Image by Anna G via One Fab Day

The Logistics

• A ceremony venue
• A celebrant
• A marriage license/marriage registration form (and a pen!)
• Witnesses to sign the license
• A ceremony structure
• An entrance order for the wedding party (don't leave this to chance!)
• Ushers to help seat guests
• Vows
• Wedding rings (and box, cushion or tray)
• Any cards or payments for the celebrant and musicians
• Transport for the wedding party
• An exit plan (are you doing a receiving line, where will you have a confetti toss, etc)
• A Plan B if having an outdoor ceremony

Image by Marit Williams Photography via One Fab Day

The Venue

• Parking
• Chairs for guests
• Chairs for the bride and groom
• A table (or altar) for the celebrant
• Space for an aisle (wide enough to fit two or three people, and a big dress, if required)
• Electricity sources and WiFi if streaming
• Blankets/fans/umbrellas as required
• Water if it's warm and outside

Image by Emma Jane Photography via One Fab Day

The Readings

• Ceremony readings (normally two) printed
• Church readings and prayers (a religious celebrant will be able to go over this with you)
• People to read
• A step for any child readers
• A podium and/or microphone

Image by Pawel Bebenca via One Fab Day

The Music

• Musicians
• Microphones/amps/a PA system
• Someone to play any pre-recorded music
• A processional song for the wedding party (if required)
• A processional song for the bride (if required)
• A recessional song for the couple
• Music for signing the registry
• Additional music choices

Image by Matt and Lena Photography via One Fab Day

The Decor & Details

• Ceremony programs (and someone to distribute them)
• Flowers - entrance flowers, altar flowers, pew ends
• Ceremony backdrop
• Welcome sign
• Baskets, petals, or signs for flower girls and page boys
• Tissues
• Confetti (and someone to coordinate the toss)
• Candles (including a unity candle, if required, and matches/a lighter)
• Ceremony ritual symbols (hand-fasting ribbon, sand, tree planting, gifts for a church ceremony etc)
• Any drinks or snacks for post-ceremony celebrations!

Get more handy wedding planning checklists here!