To plan a wedding without missing anything, answer a few questions in order: date and venue, type of wedding, guests and their needs, timings on the day, cocktail hour, banquet, style and party. This is the checklist we go through at El Perro Verde with every couple before we prepare their proposal. You can use it as it is, with us or with any other supplier.
First, choose the best partner. We are sure you already have that one covered. From there, step by step.
1. The basics: date, venue and type of wedding
- Do you have a date? It sets everything else, from the venue to the team available.
- Do you have a venue? If you have already booked an estate and we are not on its supplier list, we contact them to coordinate set-up, kitchen and timings.
- What kind of wedding would you like? More classic or more relaxed, large or intimate.
- Is it a day or an evening wedding? It changes the menu, the lighting and the pace of the party.
- Outdoors or indoors? If it is outside, think from the start about what happens if it is very hot or if it rains.
2. Your guests and what they need
The total guest count is not enough. Ask yourselves how many are children and how many are elderly, because that affects the menu, the tables and the timings. And take time to gather allergies and dietary needs: vegan guests, coeliac disease, intolerances, or guests who do not eat certain foods for religious reasons, Muslim guests for example. The sooner we know, the better it fits into the menu without anyone feeling left out.
If the numbers change along the way, that is normal. What matters is adjusting the quote before the wedding, not on the day.
3. Timings on the day
This is where many things are decided that later look improvised.
- Is the photo session after the ceremony and before the cocktail hour, or will you walk in with your guests? If you do the photos first, we plan the timings so you can enjoy the cocktail hour too.
- Would you like something special for your entrance?
- Everyone should find their place: prepare the seating plan early so the tables are well thought out.
4. The cocktail hour, when everyone mingles
It is the least formal part and often the one guests enjoy most. It deserves the same care as the banquet.
- Would you like drinks stations with something special, such as spritz, rebujito or mojitos? The beer station goes without saying.
- Would you add corners, food stations or buffets? Hand-carved ham, for example, is a cocktail-hour classic in Spain.
- Would you rather end with everyone seated at the table, or keep everything standing?
5. The banquet and the style of the wedding
- Are you after an innovative or a traditional menu? Before finalising it we hold a tasting session, and family members are welcome to join.
- What colour scheme or style do you have in mind?
- Would you like a particular look for the cocktail hour? How will the tables be decorated?
- Remember that crockery, tableware and linen can all be customised. Across the group we can also add furniture and ambient lighting.
6. The party and the end of the night
- Have you thought about entertainment or a performance during the meal?
- Do you already have a DJ? Do you know when they will start? Clear timings avoid gaps between dessert and the party.
- Will the open bar include special drinks or cocktails? It is usually booked by the hour, so it helps to know how many hours you want.
- The night will surely run late, so shall we add a late-night snack for those still going strong?
- Shall we finish with hot chocolate?
We want to help you plan the wedding of your dreams, and we always start with the questions.
What to do with your answers
With this checklist answered, any supplier can prepare a proposal that looks like your wedding rather than a template. At El Perro Verde the price is per guest and all-inclusive, and at the end of the quote we list what is not included, so you can compare proposals like for like.
Beyond the banquet, Weimar can also take care of furniture, linen and tableware through Your Event Project, the wedding film and sound for the ceremony and party through VSET Media, and EventoBox boxes from La Mirta en casa for the pre-wedding gathering or the day after. One point of contact for everything.
If you are planning your wedding in the Algarve, Huelva or Seville, send us the date, the venue and an approximate guest count, along with whatever you have already answered from this checklist. We will prepare a fixed quote and suggest a date for your tasting session. We work in English and Spanish.
