When you think of a wedding, what do you see?

You think of the flowers, the dress, the food, the photographer, and the tux.

But what about the things that you wouldn’t normally think about? The things that are absolutely crucial to having a wedding, but sometimes wouldn’t think of it until the last minute, a wedding planner or vendor reminded you, or you’ve taken a look at this list.

Here are 10 things that most people forget to do for their wedding:

1. Ensure that you or your venue has a liquor licence. Sometimes you need to get it yourself and sometimes it’s already taken care of for you. Either way, its in your best interest to find this out as soon as possible so there’s no delay. The show WILL NOT go on without this little piece of paper. Whether you’re getting married in a public park and serving champagne or having it in a little cafe that doesn’t sell alcohol, ensure that you’ve checked this off your list by inquiring.

2. Marriage documents. Sometimes an officiant will take care of this for you but most will ask you to go to your nearest government office to pick them up and fill them out. This is something that you need to have done at some point, otherwise it’s not official!

3. Parking. These are one of the things, unless your venue coordinator has brought it up, it may be something that hasn’t really crossed your mind. If you’re having more than immediate family at your wedding, then you should consider where they’re all going to park for both the ceremony and the reception (if they’re in different places). Do they need to pay for parking? Do they need to walk far? Letting your guests know of these things will be in yours and their best interest.

4. Hotel rooms. Is your reception / ceremony a little far of a drive Is it off in the country or away from most things? Either way, blocking off a section of rooms in a hotel or motel is a great way to show your guests that you care. It’s also another way to push the “no-drinking-and-driving” rule.

5. Wedding favours. Do people still do this? Yes, they do! People are getting smarter and more creative with this one as they’re finding that most people will throw their gift / favour away within the first few weeks of taking it home. Get creative and personal with this one! What is something that you would love to take back with you from a wedding that you would cherish forever? What about a photograph with you and your guest with a blurb written on the back of the image with something you are grateful for about them? Think outside the box!

6. Fun things for your guests to do if / when they don’t feel like dancing during the reception. Think, a table game / puzzle or a photobooth that’s easy to use. Sometimes going the extra mile can make all the difference and have your guests talking about your wedding for years to come.

7. Lights. Let’s face it. Not all lighting is beautiful, and not all venues are gorgeously lit. Unfortunately, terrible lighting can make for terrible photos. Either consider this when choosing a venue or create your own ambiance with warm, low lighting. Your guests (and your photographer) will thank you.

8. Make a schedule. I can’t thank the person that recommended this to me for my wedding. It was so helpful for not only myself but for everyone else involved in making my day run smoothly. Sending a clearly laid out plan for each hour to all the vendors, family, and wedding party, will make your day that much more perfect.

9. Assign someone to help you with your photos. Bring in someone that knows your friends and family. Someone that is reliable and wants to help you will be your best option when choosing a person for this task. You want this person to be able to easily wrangle together the people needed to make your photos special and the photo taking more efficient. You also want to create a list of friends and family combinations for them and for the photographer so that everyone is on the same page.

10. Check for food allergies or dietary restrictions. Being a vegan, I know how difficult it is to eat at weddings where they haven’t given options. In a best case scenario, I can usually eat the salad and maybe a dinner roll. Ask the caterer prior to setting up dinner options along with what your guests preferences are or what they can’t eat. You don’t want to leave your guests with empty tummies’ by the time the dancing rolls around.