Easy to follow checklist when Planning a wedding.
Wedding List STEP ONE
- Decide on a date.
- Estimate your budget.
- Decide on the type and the type of wedding.
- Check out different wedding ceremony location.
- Decide on a wedding location.
- Reserve a wedding venue.
- Start your guest list.
- Select a wedding theme, colours or style.
- Arrange for all parents to meet.
- Check out dancing lessons.
Wedding List STEP TWO
- Book your wedding reception and wedding venue.
- Carefully choose the members of your bridal party – maid of honour, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, ring bearer, flower girls.
- Choose the bridal party’s attire.
- Search for a caterer.
- Choose photographer/videographer.
- Choose and secure the date with your celebrant.
- Search for a florist.
- Choose a band/musicians/DJ
- Send save the date card. (can be done electronically)
Wedding List STEP THREE
- Book your caterer and work on the menu.
- Work out the payments schedule for all your suppliers.
- Book your photographer and arrange some photoshoots.
- Choose and order your wedding stationery.
- Arrange and book transport/cars/ limo.
- Choose and order your cake.
- Finalize your guests’ list.
- Book your hairdresser.
- Book your makeup artist.
- Put together your wedding invitations.
- Checkout and book honeymoon destinations.
Wedding List STEP FOUR
- Shop and choose your wedding rings.
- Choose your wedding registry gifts.
- Discuss with your musicians the song list.
- Choose and book your honeymoon destination/flights.
- Start shopping for your gown, grooms, suit.
- Buy thank you gifts to your bridal party.
- Choose your wedding night accommodation – book it.
Wedding List STEP FIVE
- Complete wedding gift registry.
- Time to post your wedding invitations.
- Decide on your wedding party.
- Do a make-up/hair trial.
- Check RSVP for your wedding.
- Finalize seating arrangements for your reception.
- Write any toasts and/or speeches for the reception.
- Check out the venue with the photographer re lights and positions.
- You might want to arrange a rehearsal time at the venue.
- Pick up your dress.
- Prepare thank-you notes for the bridal party & wedding gifts.
Wedding List STEP SIX
- Finalize all last payments and tips for suppliers.
- Pack a travel bag for your honeymoon.
- Finalize the wedding script with your celebrant.
- Finalize with your celebrant how the whole ceremony is going to flow.
- Coordinate pick up and drop off for your wedding.
- Finalize your personal vows.
12 Months before the Wedding
Twelve months is just about enough to plan the perfect wedding, although many brides managed to do it in less time and some of them even like to have a longer period of time (to save more money or have more time to choose wedding gowns, venues, photographers and other details). Things to do in this early stage of wedding planning include:
- Setting the date
- Hiring a wedding planner (if you don’t want one you can assign tasks to friends and family members)
- Setting up your wedding website
- Look after your health and keep your stress level low
- Choosing members of your bridal party
- Booking your venues and celebrant
- Researching wedding vendors (consult with your celebrant, go online, flick through wedding magazines and visit bridal fairs to find contacts)
- Looking for wedding gowns (it can take months to create a bespoke gown and if you are hunting a bargain, it is more likely you will find the perfect dress if you start with your search early)
- Sending save-the-date cards
8-10 Months before the Wedding
This is when the most exciting part of wedding planning begins! You can start dreaming up your wedding theme and start choosing colours, decorations, flowers and Bomboniere. You can also start browsing honeymoon destinations, enjoy tasting cakes, desserts and menus, but also experience the thrill of dress shopping with the girls. Here is your detailed to-do list:
- Book a photographer and videographer
- Book a DJ (or wedding band)
- Also book your florist (and start designing your bouquets, ceremony arbour, centrepieces, boutonnieres and other floral pieces)
- Decide on the menu (or find and book a caterer if your venue doesn’t supply food)
- Contact event hire companies if you need any additional items (such as photo booths, furniture, props or decorations)
- Order your wedding gown and the suit for the groom
- Begin with your pre-wedding diet and try to eat healthily. If you don’t have time to cook every day, consider booking a meal delivery service that offers fresh and healthy meals
- Start your pre-wedding exercise regime and book dancing lessons
- Book your honeymoon (if you want to travel immediately after the wedding, now is the perfect time to book your flights and accommodation)
6-8 Months before the Wedding
As your wedding day is slowly approaching, the excitement continues and more people start getting involved in the planning. The members of your bridal party will begin organising your bridal shower and hen’s/buck’s night. This is what you need to do during this stage of wedding planning:
- Purchase outfits for your bridal party
- Choose and buy accessories
- Finalise the guest list
- Choose wedding stationery
- Design your wedding rings
- Finalise honeymoon plans (list the activities, book transfers etc.)
6 to 3 Months before the Wedding
- Send out wedding invitations
- Order wedding rings
- Confirm your wedding vendors
- Plan your wedding ceremony
- Finalise your ceremony and reception playlist
- Set up your gift registry
- Organise wedding transport
- Book your first-night accommodation
- Write your wedding vows
2-1 Months before the Wedding
Things will start becoming more hectic as the date gets closer, but don’t panic because all the major planning tasks are already done. Allow yourself some time to relax and collect energy, but also make sure to do the following:
- Prepare all the documentation for your marriage
- Book your hair and makeup stylists (and try out a few different looks)
- Organise a pre-wedding photoshoot
- Confirm your honeymoon reservations
- Schedule a wedding dress fitting
- Purchase gifts for the members of your bridal party
Final Preparations
Take a deep breath and check everything one more time! Here is what you need to do in the final weeks before your big day:
- Have a final wedding dress fitting (and do the final tweaks if needed)
- Contact all of your suppliers one more time and make any last-minute adjustments if necessary
- Review your RSVPs and finalise the seating chart
- Inform your wedding caterer on the final number of guests
- Print out the place cards
- Make a wedding photography checklist (list all the must-have snaps and hand it to your photographer)
- Make a wedding day timeline
- Pack for your honeymoon
And in the final days prior to your wedding date, make sure you sort out all the payments, confirm pick-up times with your transport specialist, drop off everything to your reception venue (such as place cards, decorations, menus and Bomboniere), ensure the cake will arrive on time and finalise all the pre-wedding beauty tasks such as manicure, pedicure, waxing and eyebrow trimming.