Take a tour around King’s College Circle, at the University of Toronto, on a sunny Saturday afternoon and you’re bound to see several brides and grooms with their entourage. While your bridal party is a crucial support system, they will all be involved in photo shoots and mingling with guests. Key players are your extra brains. They are the ultimate problem solvers.
A key player is a close friend or family member:
– who is available on the wedding day
– you can trust to get the job done
– who is punctual and time conscious
– who excels at multi-tasking
– who functions well under pressure
– has eloquent communication skills
– who helps where necessary (a gap filler)
– has an eye for style that matches yours
– who can always find the silver lining
Once you’ve decided who will be your key players, set up a party date for them to meet one another. You can be the bridge builder, creating links between key players who may be less familiar with one another.
Develop a clear cut list of roles and responsibilities for each key player. Who will transport the wedding favours, your wedding dresses, or the honeymoon luggage? Who will set up the centerpieces? Who will be in charge of each location to handle situations as they arise (e.g. if seating is needed for family in the front pews or the room is too warm). Who will be in charge of décor dilemmas?
Create a chain of command. The head of command will be the ultimate decision maker when your other key players are in need of support.
Create a list with each person’s contact information and develop a play-by-play itinerary for the wedding day. Set up a meeting date for all key players involved (including the wedding party). At this informal gathering, give each person the package with all the vitals and confirm each is aware of what they need to do.
Key players are sanity savers on your wedding day, when time travels faster than the blink of an eye. To thank these dedicated family and friends, invite them to a lavish gathering before the wedding. Show your appreciation with tailored speeches and gifts for each person. Now, on to the wedding!