One of the first steps to wedding planning is booking the venue. Congrats! You can check that one off the list. We’re pleased that you chose to host your unforgettable day at the Indigo House. The gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains and enchanting woods will make a dreamy backdrop for your occasion.
Wedding planning is such a special season of life. For Kyle and Stephanie, it was the first (of many) major projects to work on together. Wedding planning taught us that we like dreaming and preparing to make an idea become a reality. It was a productive experience that ultimately led to the Indigo! But first, we were stuck asking ourselves, “What to do after you book the wedding venue?”
The key to our success was staying organized (and honestly, taking at least one night a week to NOT talk about the wedding). Here’s our “What to do after you book your wedding venue” checklist with some tips to use as a guide. This is by no means an exhaustive list (you can Google Wedding Checklist and find them miles long), but it does cover the essentials for getting married at the Indigo.
WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST
- Reserve your date, sign the contract, pay your deposit
- Create a guest list
- REQUIRED: Book a wedding planner for events over 20 guests
- Tip: See our Preferred Wedding Vendors.
- REQUIRED: Reserve your rentals (tent, chairs, tables, etc). We’re happy to place the order on your behalf and coordinate the delivery.
- Book your caterer
- Book your photographer (and videographer if interested)
- Book your florist
- Tell your loved ones to save the date
- Book your officiant
- REQUIRED: Get proof of insurance from vendors.
- REQUIRED: Get wedding liability insurance for up to $1M. Request Liquor Liability (if serving alcohol) and add the Indigo House as named Certificate Holder on your liability policy.
- Tip: WedSafe makes this super easy. The policy is about $200.
- Order your invitations
- Tip: If you include a dress code, encourage guests to wear flats or wedges.
- Plan for beverages
- Tip: Many couples like to have a self-serve bar on the covered porch or hire a mobile cocktail bartender.
- Determine what you want to do for music.
- Draft your event schedule
- Arrange accommodations for your guests
- Tip: The closest chain hotels are 20 minutes away in Waynesboro. There are lots of options to stay locally.
- Arrange any transportation needs
- Schedule walk through with your wedding planner at the Indigo
- Tip: Determine a contingency plan, audio/music solutions, lighting solutions, and finalize the timeline. Take lots of pictures!
- Tip: Determine a contingency plan, audio/music solutions, lighting solutions, and finalize the timeline. Take lots of pictures!
- Plan the rehearsal/welcome dinner and guest list
- Double-check your rental quantities based on RSVPs
- Order wedding favors or plan for welcome bags to leave in guest rooms
- Finalize your ceremony readings and vows
- Finalize the menu: food, beverage, dessert
- Book a hair and makeup trial
- Obtain marriage license and complete name-change documents (if applicable)
- Purchase your wedding rings
- Pay the remaining balance on your deposits and calculate estimated tips
- Pack your just-in-case kit
- Tip: We recommend safety pins, extension cords, duct tape, bug spray, pain relievers, bandages, etc.
- If dogs are involved, schedule a nice bath or grooming and coordinate a caretaker for the event.
- Plan something fun to do on Sunday.
- Tip: From Memorial Day to mid-October, you can enjoy tailgating and polo at King Family Vineyards. Three Notch’d also serves brunch.
The best advice I received during the planning process was to pick five things I really cared about and then let other people get involved with the rest. This was liberating! I could delegate tasks or research to friends and family who wanted to be involved. It helped me stay focused on what mattered most (and significantly reduced my stress).
Did we leave anything out? Drop your advice or wedding planning tips below for what couples should do after they book their venue.
The images in this post are from a real wedding at the Indigo, courtesy of Jordan Baker Photography.