Stick to our wedding planning checklist and you will get there:

Wedding planning can seem overwhelming at the very beginning. Once you break all the tasks down into quarters, months, and weeks, it becomes a very practical task.  It is important to know what do you want your day to feel like, look like, and what do you want to offer to your guests. This wedding planning checklist should certainly help you on your journey. Have fun!

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 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 photographers, 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

 

 

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