Wedding Planning: A Countdown Guide To Your Big Day
2010
Wedding Planning: A Countdown Guide To Your Big Day
For some, a wedding planning guide is just what you will need to help you stay organized for a perfect big day. Below is just the guide that help you stay on track and not so stressed about missing anything.
Months Before
· Decide upon your wedding date and budget.
· Meet with your local minister or registrar.
· Start looking for your wedding dress.
· Decide on your bridal party.
· Make a guest list.
· Book the wedding reception.
· Book the band or DJ and/or other wedding entertainment if any.
· Book the caterers, the florists, photographer and/or videographer.
· Book transportation if required.
· Book the honeymoon. If needed, apply for a new passport (the bride may wish to travel under her married name, but be prepared to be unable to travel until your wedding date, as your old passport will be invalid).
· Order the cake.
· Book an over-night stay in a hotel room/bridal suit if needed.
· Confirm all bookings in writing.
6 Months Before
· Get initial fitting for the wedding dress. Choose wedding shoes and accessories.
· Choose attire for the groom, best man, bridesmaids, fathers, mothers and ushers.
· Choose the wedding rings.
· Order your wedding favors.
· Notify your bank, building society and relevant authorities that you intend on changing your name and the date it will take affect.
· Order the invitations and other stationary.
· Take out wedding insurance, if required.
· See your hairdresser about the hairstyle that you want. Brides should bring a picture of the dress, veil or headdress and other accessories to help the hairdresser create a hairstyle that will complimentary.
3 Months Before
· Buy your marriage license from the registrar.
· Send out the invitations.
· Decide upon your wedding list. Make it available to all your wedding guests.
· Advise your guests to book any overnight accommodations now while there is still availability.
· Confirm your ceremony details with either the registrar or the minister.
· Decide your wedding music or hymns.
· Arrange for the wedding program to be printed.
· Buy gifts for the best man, ushers and bridesmaids.
· Discuss the seating plan with the caterer.
· Arrange to have any vaccinations done, if required.
· Start to plan your bachelor/bachelorette parties.
· If you have a Will, get it updated to ensure it remains active after your wedding.
1 Month Before
· Arrange for a final fitting of your wedding dress.
· Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the reception venue, caterer, florist, photographer, videographer, transportation and all entertainment.
· Reconfirm the honeymoon arrangements.
· Have bachelor/bachelorette night.
· Finalize the seating plan with the caterer.
· Arrange a date for a wedding rehearsal, if required.
· Send out thank you cards to all guests who have responded to your invitation.
· Telephone any guests who have not yet responded to your invitation.
· Organize a date when you can pick up your wedding outfits.
· Write any wedding day speeches.
7 Days Before
· Have the wedding rehearsal.
· Pack for your honeymoon.
· Wear-in your wedding shoes. Allows brides to practice walking in high heels.
· Organize an emergency wedding kit just for the bride. Containing makeup and repair kit for the dress, so you can be ready for any minor hiccups through the day.
· Give your wedding program to the minister.
· Order your foreign currency and/or travelers cheques.
· Give rings to the best man.
· Give best man a list of all the wedding services involved in your wedding day, in case they need to be contacted.
The Day Before
· Take the day off from work.
· Brides and grooms have your nails manicured.
· Grooms have your hair tidied up around the back and sides.
· Spend the rest of the day relaxing and try and get an early night.
The Day of the Wedding
Based on a 2pm wedding, the bride’s timetable should run like this:
08:00 Take a relaxing shower/bath.
08:30 Have breakfast, but don’t have anything too heavy that may upset your stomach.
09:00 Polish your nails.
09:30 Have hairdresser style your hair. See if they will come to you instead of you going to them.
11:00 Best man arrives to collect any cards and luggage, if needed.
11:30 Bridesmaids and pageboys arrive.
12:00 Have your makeover.
12:30 Bride and bridesmaids get dressed.
13:00 Photographer arrives. Takes pre-arranged photos.
13:30 First wedding car will take mother and bridesmaids to the church.
13:45 Second wedding car will take the bride and her father to the church.
13:58 The bride and her father will stand at the entrance of the church, with the bridesmaids lined up behind you. The verger will greet you.
14:00 Ceremony begins. Good luck and congratulations.
