You’ve spent months meticulously planning every aspect of your special day, from the perfect venue to your guests’ dietary restrictions and seating chart. But trust us, among all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to overlook some crucial details at your wedding day’s end. Why do we say crucial? In essence, we usually need this info to ensure everything gets distributed correctly. However, not many of our clients really think about it (or ask volunteers) until just before the wedding – only to find that you don’t have a plan for all the flowers, decorations, and leftover desserts. Naturally, that will already be too late! So to help you avoid these slippery slopes, here are some of the often-forgotten things couples forget to plan for the end of their event.
What is being done with the flowers?
One thing that often gets forgotten is what to do with the flowers at the end of the night. You may own the flowers, but you probably don’t own the vases or containers – generally, the florist owns these. Thus, it is essential to make arrangements for someone to take them home (if you’re hoping to keep them) or a volunteer to donate them (if you want them to have a second life at a nursing home or other location). If you don’t, your florist will pick them up at the end of the night if a strike has been arranged (and paid for), so they can dispose of them in an eco-friendly way.
What is being done with the alcohol?
Here’s a lesser-known fact! Did you know it’s illegal for anyone without a cartage (who is being paid for the service) license to transport your alcohol for you? So, who is responsible for caring for it at the end of the night? Make sure you have a plan for a vehicle to load it in at the end of the night. Oh, and remember that this person needs to be prepared to stay at least 30 minutes after exit!
Who is taking the decor that you own?
You’ll likely have some decor you own, such as signage, the welcome table, not to mention cards and gifts. We will make sure all of the items make it into your catchall exit vehicle, but it helps if there’s a solid plan to make sure there’s enough room, especially for the larger pieces.
Who is taking leftover desserts?
No one wants to waste delicious desserts, but yes, you can’t leave them in your car overnight. Make sure you have a plan in place to either take them home or, if you are feeling generous, assign a volunteer to donate them to a local shelter.
Who is taking the marriage license?
When it comes to wedding planning, you will certainly take care of getting the paperwork before the wedding day. But how about getting it back to the state? The marriage license is another essential item that can easily get overlooked. Legally, the officiant is responsible for mailing it back, but if you’re using a family friend, you must ensure they understand their responsibility or assign another volunteer to mail or bring it back to the county clerk. This must be mailed back within 30 days of the ceremony, so if you’re leaving town right after the wedding for your honeymoon, please don’t leave it on your own to-do list – or it may get lost in the shuffle!
Do any rentals need to be returned (cake stands are common)?
If you have rented any items, like a cake stand, make sure to assign someone to return them to the rental company. These items are often delivered with the cake, so they can get missed on the pack-out list since you didn’t bring them to the wedding. There are general guidelines of when it is required to be back to the baker – typically within 3 days of the wedding. Although, keep in mind that a lot of Austin-based bakers are closed on Mondays to recoup from the weekend, so be sure to remember their office hours when planning to return the cake stands.
Is there a plan for things guests leave behind that are generally in the “lost and found”?
Lost and found items aren’t typically a part of the wedding planning process, but it’s important to have a plan in place to avoid any potential issues with your guests. TTEC will put any remaining items in the decor vehicle, so you’ll want to be on the lookout to designate someone to collect lost items and arrange to return them to their owners. Trust us, you don’t want to deal with phone calls after your wedding day, answering questions while you should be enjoying your honeymoon!
Who’s in charge of cleaning out the getting-ready suites?
Next, don’t forget about cleaning up the getting-ready suites. Someone needs to be responsible for ensuring that all personal items are removed before leaving. Have someone close to you sort everything and collect everything before leaving. If someone isn’t assigned to this, some well meaning guest or wedding party will start packing things and then they’re lost for a few days until everything comes back together.
Should I have an extra catch-all vehicle?
Finally, you should consider having an extra vehicle available for any extra. People think that they can have the same car that brought everything to the venue take everything since it’s the same inventory, right? You’ve got months to pack it, we have 60 minutes to get it out of the venue. There’s typically getting ready suite stuff and alcohol that was brought straight to the venue so it gets forgotten when thinking about space in the main vehicle.
We hope you found our wedding tips insightful! If you have more questions or would like to schedule a free consultation to discuss your wedding planning ideas in more detail, please contact us. We would LOVE to help you pull off a completely stress-free planning experience!
