Rachel was really looking forward to the day when she and Scott would finally get married. It was just a few days after their engagement when Rachel began to focus on all the preparations for the big day. This was a day she had anticipated since she was a very little girl, so therefore, she had decided on a few things over the years, long before she had even met the man of her dreams. For instance, she knew she wanted to marry her husband on a warm, sandy beach, with her family and closest friends standing close by. With that hope in mind, she started making the calls necessary to arrange a beautiful Santa Barbara wedding, complete with sand, warmth, and sunshine. This location would be perfect for her and Scott and for all the invited guests they hoped would be able to attend.

With the location chosen, Rachel set about taking care of the specific details of the ceremony as well as the honeymoon. Living in Montecito she was not overly familiar with the professionals in her neighboring town. However, she soon found just the right destination wedding photographers, catering service, and florist. She knew, however, her locating these capable professionals was just the beginning.

The following is a very helpful pre-nuptials checklist for all those brides who are trying to manage the details of an upcoming ceremony. Whether you are getting married in your hometown or a dream location, staying on top of all the details and coordinating all the plans is essential to the creation of an ideal ceremony.

1. Dress/Shoe selection

13. Tuxedo selection

14. Bridesmaid/Groomsmen attire

15. Invitation selection/mailing

16. Cake

17. Venue

18. Reception facility

19. Bridal party gifts

20. Picture/Video services

21. Floral services

22. Clergy official

23. Catering services

Each of the preceding category headings is likely to have one, if not several sub-categories. For instance, invitation selection is a great first step, but knowing the correct way to address them and the proper time frame for mailing and receiving replies is essential for giving final counts to caterers and facility management. In the case of ceremony venue and reception facility there are many dcor and set up options to work through after the initial selection. Sampling creations from the chosen caterer can take several weeks to several months, depending on the type of food and beverage you will be providing for guests. Perhaps the biggest key to feeling in control of all the details is to contact professional service providers as soon as you get engaged.

Preferable dates fill quickly and providers, particularly those with the best reputations, are often booked well in advance. Having the opportunity to develop a comfortable relationship with all the providers involved in your ceremony details will give you confidence when the big day arrives. Knowing that your chosen florist, caterer, and officiant will perform their duties with skill and excellence will help your ceremony be a beautiful day to remember for all the right reasons. Whether or not you choose to work with a special event coordinator, there will be certain decision that only you alone can make.

Connor R. Sullivan and his wife attended a Santa Barbara wedding last summer. He and his wife were impressed with destination wedding photographers who were on hand to take candid shots of the guests. This and other unique content ” articles are available with free reprint rights.