WEDDING CHECKLIST PART 2

2. CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE POINT

At this point in the wedding plans, things should quickly be moving forward. The following are questions to ask at this point:

A. GENERAL

•       Have all committees been given their budgets?

B. THE SHARIAH REQUIREMENTS

• Are immigration procedures (if relevant) headed towards completion?
• Has the Mahr been agreed to?
• Have the conditions in the marriage contract been discussed and agreed to?
• Has a prenuptial agreement been drawn up?
• Has the Shariah requirements committee researched the following information:
• what legal documents and procedures are required to marry
• when exactly is a couple is to register their marriage
• is a blood test required in the state before couples marry
• if the couple are from two different states or countries, what legal and immigration issues need to be dealt with before the couple can marry?
• how many days before the wedding do you need to get a marriage license?
• has the committee informed the overall wedding coordinator and bride and groom of this information?

C. HALL

• Is the hall booked and the contract for it signed?
• Has the hall committee drawn up a rough plan of how the hall needs to be set up for the wedding?
• Have they drawn up how guests will be welcomed at the door and by whom?
• D. FOOD
• Have the caterers been booked?
• Have they been given the conditions for food preparation and serving at the wedding?
• Has a written contract been signed with them with an attached copy of the conditions?
• Does the contract clearly include the following:
• that the food will be prepared and served in accordance with the guidelines in the attached conditions
• the exact date and time of the wedding
• when exactly the caterers have to be present at the hall the day of the wedding
• whether or not utensils, tablecloths, etc. will be provided by the caterers or not
• who will do the dishwashing if regular utensils are being used
• the total cost of services
• the deadlines and system of payment for services
• exactly what the menu will be.

E. CLOTHING

• Has the clothing committee discussed with the bride and groom what kind of clothing they will wear?
• Have they gotten the measurements of the bride and the groom?
• Have they decided whether they will buy their clothing, rent it, or have it made and sent to them?
• After this has been discussed, has the clothing committee begun making arrangements to get the clothes bought or made, and sent to them well before the wedding?
• Has everything been written down between the tailors and the clothing committee, especially:
• sizes and measurements
• exact payment
• when the clothing will be received
• will payment precede the reception of clothes or does payment come before?

F. PROGRAM

• Has the program committee established the Islamic groundrules of the program, in terms of what kind of entertainment is Halal and acceptable and what is not?
• Have these groundrules been put on paper?
• Has the program committee begun searching for an Imam to officiate the marriage by seeking out someone who is qualified as well as someone who can speak well? Some other considerations are:
• is this Imam someone who is on time or does he need an extra push?
• is this Imam fluent in at least Arabic and English?
• what kind of Khutbahs does he give?
• is he suitable for your crowd?
• is this Imam someone who can present Islam with wisdom to Muslims in North America and to non-Muslims?
• have members of the program committee attended at least a few Khutbahs given by prospective Imams?

G. THE INVITATION CARDS

• Has the invitation card committee selected the printers?
• Has the committee selected the design of the card?
• Has the committee selected the verse of the Quran that will be used on the card?
• Does the committee have the correct spelling of the names of everyone who is to be mentioned on the card, as well as the exact date and the name of the hall?
• Does the card include a telephone number or e-mail address, as well as a date by which guests must inform the family if they are coming or not (RSVP)?
• Has the committee drawn up a clear, simple map to the invitation hall that will be included in the invitation card?