In the United States, wedding venues usually book out a year in advance. For spring weddings, some venues book two years in advance. Outside the United States, wedding planners may secure a venue and plan a wedding in less than six months. The same is true for untraditional reception sites. When a couple hires you to plan their wedding, there are three details to discuss before setting up site visits.

The Date

Couples usually have an approximate date in mind soon after the engagement. For couples looking to save money or get married quickly, ask if the date is flexible. Weddings held on Sunday afternoons or Thursday evenings tend to be less expensive. Days of the week other than a Friday or Saturday night are less popular and can be available with less than a year notice. Couples choosing to marry on a parent's wedding anniversary or a relative's birthday may not be open to the idea of changing the date.

Budget

Before planning the wedding, couples usually have a good sense of the budget. If applicable, ask if a parent or family member intends to contribute to the wedding. The cost of a wedding may start at $60 per person. Advise the couple to include everything from the cost of favors to the cost of the honeymoon in their budget. If a couple intends to charge the wedding to a credit card, it may help to include the interest into the budget as well.

Ceremony Site

Some couples may have a ceremony site chosen. Traditions, religion, and family history may endear the couple to a particular place of worship and official. If the ceremony site will be different from the reception site, consider keeping a short travel distance between the two venues. Having guests travel more than a half hour from the ceremony to the reception is quite a distance. Additionally, keeping a short time frame between the two events is ideal. The time from the end of the wedding ceremony to the start of the reception should not exceed an hour.

Determining these details will allow you to begin scheduling site visits. If the venues are in close proximity, schedule three to five site visits a day. By scheduling a site visit on a weekend, the couple may get a sneak peek at the setup of another wedding. Chronicle each site visit by collecting the bridal package, contracts, menus, and information on bar service. Take photographs of the space, inside and out. Also ask the facility planner about deposits and payment schedules. Because the site visits may span a few weeks, having all of this information for the couple will make their decision easier.

Couple's Assignments

The wedding planner may be hired to perform most of the wedding duties, but the couple has quite a bit to contribute as well. The couple will need your guidance to complete any tasks not in your contract. These duties might include:

• Choose the wedding attire. This includes the bride's dress, groom's tuxedo, and wedding bands.

• Choose the ceremony site and officiant.

• Choose traveling outfits.

• Arrange for the attire of the bridal party.

• Write wedding vows.

• Arrange for hair and makeup.

• Organize wedding rehearsal one to two days prior.

• Obtain the marriage license.

• Register for gifts.

• Write thank-you cards for gifts.

• Plan the honeymoon.

• Plan any prewedding activities for the bridal party.