As soon as you get engaged/once you’re serious about planning the wedding
Sit down with your other half and discuss your ideal wedding to make sure you’re on the same page
Draw up a budget
Start planning the guest list. Decide on approximate number of guests - this may impact your choice of venues
Pick potential wedding dates - check with important guests to avoid clashes
Research potential wedding venues and ceremony locations - if separate
Pop the question to your bridesmaids and groomsmen
Enlist any helpers/talented friends of family with aspects of the wedding (for the cake, flowers, dresses etc)
Optional: Have an engagement party
12 Months Before The Wedding
Visit and book reception venue and ceremony locations
Research potential wedding services and suppliers – photographer, florist, invitations, cake, decor, music, hair and make up
Consider and review wedding insurance options
Decide what type of entertainment you want for ceremony, drinks reception and dancing
Book Photographer
Book Videographer
Research and consider options for your venue and ceremony decor
Start wedding dress research
Book Cars
8/10 months before
Book ceremony music, band and dj for reception
Research and reserve accommodations for guests
Contact decor hire companies if you need to rent anything for ceremony/reception, such as chairs, tables, and tent.
Book Honeymoon
Order wedding cake
Book Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Suits
Book Pre-Marriage Course
6/8 months before
Send Save the Date cards - important if you’re getting married abroad, or during a very busy time of year
Book ceremony musicians
Meet with florist to discuss options
Ensure passports are in date for honeymoon – order new ones if necessary
Start planning honeymoon
Plan Hen & Stag Parties - well not you, the best man and bridesmaids should!
Order wedding cake
Choose and order invitations
4/6 months before
Choose bridesmaids’ dresses
Attend pre-marriage counseling, if required
Order invitations and wedding stationery
Order wedding rings
Shop for formalwear
Organise the legalities – give at least 3 months notice to registrar or priest/religious celebrant
Decide on prayers, readings and music for mass booklets – check with your priest / registrar
Organise invitations and order of service booklets
Arrange travel vaccinations if necessary
Gather addresses for guest list – create spreadsheet for RSVPs
2/3 months before
Send invitations to guests
Order wedding cake
Rent the men’s formalwear
Hire wedding transport
Attend dress fittings
Choose wedding rings
Organise gifts for parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen and each other
Book hairdresser and organise hair trial
Book a makeup artist and go for a trial
4 weeks before
Have final wedding dress fitting
Make any last-minute adjustments with suppliers
Finalise details for, and order mass booklets/order of ceremony
Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
2 weeks before
Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet responded
Deliver must-have shot lists to photographer and videographer. Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken
1 week before
Give reception site/caterer final guest head count
Supply location manager with a list of vendor requests such as a table for DJ or setup space needed by florist.
Create your table plan
Print placecards
Call all wedding suppliers to confirm arrangements, create timetable for day
Give ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers.
Get manicure, massage, waxing
Do full wedding dress rehearsal from underwear to veil
Pack an overnight bag for the reception
Pack for the honeymoon
Organise money to be paid to suppliers on the day
2-3 days before
Make last minute changes to table plan if necessary
Groom: Go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear.
Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits.
Confirm pick-up times with wedding car company
Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary last-minute substitutions.
Day before
Drop off place cards, table cards, menus, favours, table plan to reception coordinator
Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding.
Write checks and/or talk to wedding hosts (usually your parents, if not you) about any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.
Ensure the cake is collected from cake shop and delivered to reception
Rehearse ceremony with full wedding party ceremony readers your officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out details.
Get a good night’s rest
The Wedding Day!
There’s so much to do, this is a just a short version
Give the gifts for your parents to the best man/bridesmaid for after the speeches
Get flowers delivered to the bride’s house
Give wedding bands to the best man to hold during the ceremony
Give best man the officiant’s fee envelope, to be given after the ceremony
Introduce your reception site manager to your wedding planner, or bridesmaid/bestman for questions or problems during the reception.
Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographer’s contact so he knows who is who.
After the Wedding
Prearrange for someone to return any rentals.
Preplan for attendants to take the bride’s gown for cleaning and return the groom’s tux to the rental shop.
Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were especially helpful.
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