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10 things you may not have thought about when planning your wedding

  • Photo du rédacteur: Noémie Lavergne
    Noémie Lavergne
  • 10 oct.
  • 6 min de lecture

Fantastic news: you are getting married! So many preparations await you for the coming year, enough to easily forget certain steps.


Are you afraid of getting lost? Don't panic! Many websites explain the main steps and other milestones that will help you plan this unforgettable day: countdown schedules, to-do lists, must-haves... There's something for everyone!



The problem is that most of these pages mention the main points... and don't necessarily talk about the details that will make the difference!


→ Here are 10 things you may not have thought of for organizing your wedding.



  1. Taking care of administrative procedures (if you live in France)

  2. Attend wedding fairs

  3. Draw up the marriage contract with the notary (if you live in France)

  4. Create a wedding website

  5. Find an officiant for your religious or secular ceremony

  6. Check the lighting in the room

  7. Buy instant cameras

  8. Plan for an "emergency" kit

  9. Organize a final visit to the reception venue

  10. Think of the small guests: children!



1) Taking care of administrative procedures (if you live in France)


Yes, it's not very glamorous, but it's an unavoidable step if you live in France! Before fully diving into planning the reception, you need to make sure you meet the legal requirements that will lead to recognition as a 'married couple'.


Here are the documents you need to provide, at a minimum, for each spouse (additional documents may be required in specific cases, and we invite you to use the simulation on the French government website to learn the details).


  • Identity document (original and photocopy).

  • Proof of address or residence dated more than 1 month ago


For the witnesses, here is the information that will need to be communicated:

  • Surname

  • First Name

  • Date and place of birth

  • Profession

  • Home

  • Copy of the identity document.


You will therefore need to contact the town hall of the municipality where you wish to get married in order to provide them with certain information (your names, first names, genders, dates and places of birth, the names and first names of your parents) and then make an appointment to submit the documents.


For more information, we invite you to click on this link.



2) Attend wedding fairs


It is sometimes reassuring to be able to get inspired by going directly to meet the service providers! Wedding fairs are made for that. You will be able to talk with event professionals who will be happy to give you a demonstration of their services, or to explain in detail the possibilities and price ranges that will suit your wedding. It is the perfect time to stroll through the aisles and pick up ideas here and there.


In the area surrounding the Château de Poudenas, our event venue, you will find several wedding fairs:



3) Draw up the marriage contract with the notary (if you live in France)


This step is often overlooked, yet it is crucial. Indeed, in the absence of a contract, the spouses are subject to the "régime légal de la communauté réduite aux acquêts". This means that:

  • The enrichment of one of you also benefits the other

  • In return, the risks taken by one of you (debts) can weigh on both of you

  • All community property (that is, acquired during the marriage) will be shared between the spouses (this concerns property, income generated from this property, salaries, and the spouses' earnings)

  • All separate property owned before the marriage will remain the exclusive property of the spouse who owns it.


These rules may not suit your way of envisioning married life: it is therefore important to make an appointment with a notary to conclude a contract that will suit both of you!



4) Create a wedding website


Let's get straight to the point! It is true that a website for your wedding can greatly facilitate communication with your guests.


Easy to create and free (like with the Wix tool, for example) it allows you to do several things:

  • Share a timeline of your relationship story (from meeting to marriage)

  • Highlight images to convey your theme (colors, theme, requested outfits…)

  • Remind the place and schedule of the wedding (arrival time, timings…)

  • Share links to host websites so that your guests can book their accommodation

  • Confirm the guests' attendance by adding a questionnaire/survey to respond to in order to affirm their presence and specify the number of guests.

  • Create a questionnaire to find out everyone's food preferences and allergies

  • Set up the wedding registry or talk about the money box (contribution to the honeymoon)



5) Find an officiant for your religious or secular ceremony


Whether you decide to get married in a place of worship or choose a secular ceremony, it will be necessary to find a priest or officiant. As for the secular ceremony, it is then wise to turn to a professional who is used to these kinds of events and will know how to make yours magical. They will be able to recommend the ritual(s) that best match your desires.



6) Check the lighting in the room


A detail too often overlooked: lighting. Be sure to do preliminary tests and equip yourself as best as possible to create the perfect atmosphere for your wedding: specific lighting and garlands or the number of candles, it's up to you to imagine the ambiance you want during your evening!

Do not hesitate to consult your decorator or your DJ if you have any doubts, but also check with the venue owner to be sure about the permissions.



7) Buy instant cameras


Unlike the photographer, instant photos will capture the 'behind-the-scenes' of your wedding, the moments purely observed from your guests' point of view: mistakes, laughter, funny faces; these photos will be a precious and raw memory of your wedding.

Additionally, you can provide a corkboard and pins to allow your guests to hang their creations throughout the evening: a collective board that can be displayed in your home as a unique memento of this day!



8) Plan for an "emergency" kit


The day is going well, and then a small tragedy: your witness's dress starts to come apart. This is the moment when you'll be glad to have prepared an emergency kit: a box/bag in which you will have stored everything that might be useful for handling small unexpected events.

  • A sewing kit

  • Deodorant and perfume

  • Wipes, tissues, makeup remover

  • Bandages and disinfectant

  • A snack and a small bottle of water available for the newlyweds

  • A phone charger



9) Organize a final visit to the reception venue


Even if you have already visited it, your reception hall should not have any unpleasant surprises when you arrive on the big day: a broken fridge, a leaking air conditioner… anything can happen! Therefore, be sure to check all the little details in the month leading up to your wedding.



10) Think of the small guests: children!


If you plan to invite children to your wedding, it is important that you do not overlook how you will keep them entertained. Indeed, the day is likely to be very long for them, and you can address this by anticipating their needs:

  • Setting up outdoor games: knockdown towers, coloring, dolls, hoops, jump ropes… the possibilities are endless!

  • Hiring a babysitter, which can lighten your guests' mental load during the day and allow them to fully enjoy your wedding

  • Adapted buffet and children's menu: candies, special children's menu… Talk to your caterer, who can plan a menu suitable for the children. They will be delighted to have a dedicated meal that they enjoy.

  • Provision of a separate room with travel cots and mattresses, so they can go to sleep and you can enjoy your evening




And there you have it! You are now ready to organize your wedding.

Feel free to explore our reception spaces or contact us directly if you are looking for an exceptional venue to celebrate your union.

 
 
 
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