Stick to our wedding planning checklist and you will get there:
WHEN YOU ARE NEWLY ENGAGED
- Drink some Champagne and tell everyone your great news
- Avoid planning your wedding day straight away if you can, enjoy the engagement bliss
- Pick up your favourite wedding magazines and enjoy reading them in public, you are officially a fiancee
- Think of the style of the wedding you will both love
- Download or create your own wedding planning checklist
- Decide if you want to elope, then ditch the rest of the list, get straight in touch with me ?. Let’s talk destinations
12+ MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Start your master excel sheet, a planning notebook, or buy a wedding planner
- Make a first guest list draft, this will give you an idea of the size of the venue you are looking for
- Figure out your wedding budget
- Narrow down the wedding venue location, type of the venue that will suit your vision, and ceremony
- Consider hiring a wedding planner, research the wedding planner and have a chat with them to find out if you would work well together
12 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Start visiting the wedding venues and meeting with coordinators
- Request available dates of the venues, pick one, get a contract, read the contract, sign the contract and send the non-refundable deposit
- Venue booked
- Repeat with every supplier
- Book the ceremony venue Church/Registrar/ Celebrant and time of the ceremony
- Start outlining the wedding day timeline
- Think of style and décor to match your vision
11 – 10 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Research Wedding photographer, meet for a chat, book them and organise an engagement photoshoot
- Start shopping for the wedding dress
- Decide on the food you like and research wedding caterers if they are not a part of the wedding venue
- Finalise your guests’ list
- Design and order your wedding invitations and RSVPs, send out Save the dates
- Decide who will be on the day coordinator or if you need to hire one
9 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Research local florists and book a consultation ideally at the venue
- Research hair and makeup artist and book a consultation
- Research and book Videographer
- Research and book DJ/Band
- Research and book a tasting session with your cake maker
- Start researching your honeymoon
- Book a honeymoon suite for your wedding night
8 – 7 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Start working with your wedding stylist or décor supplier
- Start planning your hen and stag do’s or start dropping hints to your Chief Bridesmaid
- Start thinking of wedding extras (lunch, brunch, any other parties?)
- Start drinking a lot more water, review your eating habits and exercise regime
- Start thinking about hair extensions, hair colour, teeth whitening
- Get Grooms, groomsmen and Bridesmaids attire, mum and dads’ attire
- Book a wedding car and transportation for your guests if needed
- Book dance lessons
6 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Finalise your guest list and start working on the dietary requirements
- Organise menu and wine tasting and finalise it
- Book the honeymoon
- Keep on top of your payment schedule for all suppliers
- Buy or make wedding rings
- Buy wedding shoes, handbag
- Make a list of the final touches (photos to take to the venue, hair accessories, lipstick, perfume for the day, nail polish colour etc…)
5 – 4 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
- Order wedding stationery, menus, place cards
- Finalise the daytime line and order it
- Make sure your passport is up to date so you can jet off for that honeymoon
- Finalise the Hen dos and Stag dos (get travel insurance!)
3 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
- Start working on your vows
- Start thinking about presents for the bridal party and your fiancée if you are doing presents
- Schedule dress fitting
- Schedule Hair and makeup trial
- Think about décor extras you might need
- Make sure your bridal party has all they need for the day (shoes, socks, correct ties, accessories)
- Time for Hen dos and Stag dos
2 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Check if out of town guests are happy with their hotel and know where the venues are
- Book and confirm pre-wedding drinks or get together if you wish to have one
- Finalise your wedding ceremony script and vows
- Finalise your wedding ceremony and reception décor
- Start buying flipflops, toiletries for wedding venue bathrooms, fans, anything for the bridal suite
- Start wearing your wedding shoes
- Finalise the list of photos you want from your photographer
- Buy wedding favours
- Buy your Bridal underwear
6 – 4 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Make sure your wedding party knows what their jobs on the wedding day are
- Decide who is the MC
- Final payments to all suppliers
- Practice first dance
- Final dress fitting and pick up the dress
- Put together the seating plan and forward it to your wedding venue
- Finalise your ceremony music and daytime playlist, finalise the playlist for the DJ
- Print ceremony programs
2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Call all suppliers and double-check what time they will be arriving at the venue
- Give them all contact on the day (coordinator, planner, Chief Bridesmaid)
- Hand over the spreadsheet with all timings, arrivals, suppliers contacts, to the coordinator
- Check the transportation schedule and confirm
- Make sure there is a plan for the wedding venue set up and break down
- Check what time you need to pick up your leftover flowers, cake, food, wine, personal items etc. after the wedding
ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Pack an overnight bag and decide who will take it to the hotel for you
- Get your wedding manicure done/pedicure done, spray tan
- Finalise your ‘Oh Shit’ kit (sewing kit, white chalk, pins, mints, snacks, paracetamol, water, etc.)
- Get comfy flats
- Print out or write your vows down
- Make sure your phone has a correct extension to work with the venue’s sound system if your music is on Spotify on your phone
- Test the ceremony music, pop it on a CD, don’t rely on the local wifi
1 DAY BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
- Rehearse your wedding ceremony and the walk down the aisle (helps to prepare you emotionally too)
- Set your alarm
- Enjoy leisurely lunch, brunch, drinks with your family and friends
- Do not set up your own wedding venue, organise a coordinator and suppliers to do it
- Breath, everything is done
LAST MINUTE CHECKS
- Rings, Vows
- Dress, Veil, Shoes, Underwear, Stockings, Lipstick, Perfume, Clutch, Jewellery
- The suit, Shirt, Tie, Cufflinks, Socks, Shoes, Aftershave
- Purse, Wallet, Driver’s license
- Cash
- Accessories
- Tips for suppliers
- Wedding playlist
- Umbrella
- Snacks and water
- Overnight bag
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
- Pause and appreciate your family and friends being together
- Steal a moment alone with your new husband/wife
- Take it all in and have fun!
AFTER WEDDING
- Send Thank you notes
- Follow up on your wedding photos and video
- Pick up all your personal items from the venue, make sure all suppliers picked up theirs
- Hand over your wedding planning checklist to your newly engaged friend
- Toast your marriage – you DID IT!
- Enjoy your honeymoon