Congratulations you are engaged to be married!
Do make sure you enjoy and celebrate your engagement time. In this post
we will talk you a brief 12 month wedding timeline to help you start
planning your dream day.
Whether you are hiring a planner or Dying your wedding we have
included all the elements you need to think about and in what order to
make your wedding planning a breeze.
BUY A WEDDING PLANNING NOTEBOOK
With so many things to think about, invitations to send, finding your
perfect dress, cake tastings, guests lists, seating charts to make,
decorations and florals to swoon over and deciding on what style of
catering you would love.
Firstly we suggest you buy a notebook dedicated to your wedding. There
are many fabulous wedding planning books you can purchase.
Here you could add in some links to either your own products or a lovely
wedding planning notebook you have seen online.
DRAFT YOUR GUEST LIST
Decide who will be invited to your wedding, start with the obvious family
members and then your besties.
If you find the guest list is expanding too much do not be afraid to scale
back, you don't have to invite work colleagues unless you are particularly
close to them or your entire yoga class.
DECIDE ON YOUR WEDDING BUDGET
You cannot start planning your wedding until you know what your
wedding budget will be. It is no different to buying a car or a house.
There is no point looking at a 5 bedroomed mansion if your budget will
stretch to a 3 bedroomed house and setting a budget for your wedding
is important to ensure you don't overspend or stretch yourselves.
You may have saved up or decided to take out a wedding loan. Your
parents may also be contributing so organise a family gathering to talk
numbers first.
Once you have your budget and guest list prepared then you can start
on the next stage of your wedding planning.
CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING DATE
Many couples may have a special date in mind, others will be more
flexible, decide if you would like a weekend wedding or are happy to
have a midweek wedding.
Do remember popular holiday dates will be more expensive for people to
travel and also check school holidays if many of your friends have
children.
Check with the most important people first if they are available too, your
family and besties.
12 MONTHS TO DO CHECKLIST
Book your wedding venue.
Now you have your budget and guest list organised it it time for the
venue searching.
Narrow down your most preferred venues to 5 then check which ones
tick the most boxes, location, aesthetics, how many guests it can cater
for, is it within your budget and make sure it has a weather plan b.
If you are renting a tent or marquee book this now. Companies get busy
so don't leave the most important elements until later.
CHURCH OR CEREMONY OFFICIANT
No wedding is a wedding without a ceremony. If you are planning a
church wedding do book this as soon as you can so you know you have
both the venue and church booked.
If you are booking a wedding officiant again book this first and spend
time making sure the celebrant is someone you relate to and would enjoy
being married by them.
CATERING
Decide what style catering you would like for your wedding. If the venue
offers in house catering start planning the menus from the options they
send you.
If you are looking for an external catering company then do get in
contact to ask for the menus and make sure these are all within your
budget.
It is also a good idea at this stage to book a wedding cake so you know all
the catering for your wedding is confirmed.
When planning your wedding always work on this theory. A wedding isn't
a wedding without a ceremony, good food and drinks and great
entertainment.
START WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING
One of the most exciting activities!
Start your wedding dress shopping, do bear in mind to make a wedding
dress can take up to 9 months but if your wedding timeline is closer take
a look at off the rail dresses that just need adjusting.
Make sure you tell your wedding dress supplier your wedding date so
they can pre-book in dress fittings for you.
Likewise if you are having suits made, do make sure you visit your tailor
earlier rather than later.
9 MONTHS TO DO CHECKLIST
ORDER YOUR WEDDING STATIONERY
Now you have the date, venue and church booked you can start ordering
your wedding stationery.
You may wish to hire a bespoke wedding stationer who will also create
all your on the day stationery too.
Often now couples will create an online website and also send out digital
invites linking back to an RSVP system so think about what part of your
wedding budget you wish to spend on stationery or if you feel digital is
the way forwards with beautiful stationery just on the day.
Do remember if you are sending out invitations then also factor in the
postal costs for not just sending but also a return RSVP envelope.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEO
I cannot stress how important it is to book a good photographer. It is the
one tangible thing that you will have of your wedding day apart from the
memories and maybe guests iphone images!
Take time to look at photographers work and also ask to see entire
portfolios if they don't have them on their website.
If you want video now is the time to book this too and do make sure the
photographer and videographer work together well.
6 MONTH CHECKLIST
ORDER YOUR BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
Now you have the main things booked it is time to start on the details.
Decide on the bridesmaids dresses, colours and styles and order them so
your wedding besties have time to try things on.
Also allow time for them to find shoes and jewellery and plan their own
looks.
CHECK YOUR PASSPORTS
If you are planning a destination wedding or honeymoon do check your
passports are not going to expire. This will allow you time to apply for a
new passport if the expiry date is close to the time you will travel.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT
As I mentioned before, a wedding is a ceremony, great food and drink
and fabulous music so now is the time to book your band, DJ and any
other musicians and entertainers.
There will be music for your ceremony to think about. Cocktail reception
music, background dinner music and of course the party and dancing
later.
BOOK YOUR HAIR AND MAKE UP
If you are planning to try new styles and make up for your wedding start
trialling them now.
Book into your local salons to test out the looks you like or hire a personal
hair and make up stylist for your wedding.
Do take along your veil or hair accessories with you to your trial.
4 to 6 MONTH CHECKLIST
DECOR AND RENTALS
At this stage you will have booked all the key suppliers for your wedding
and now is the time to take another look at your wedding budget to see
what you can spend on florals and decor.
Choose your florist and decide on the flowers for your wedding. Do make
sure you confirm the date with them.
If you wish to have rentals, table linens, furniture, dance floors, special
glassware, etc then do book this in too.
BUY YOUR BRIDAL PARTY GIFTS AND THANK YOU GIFTS
If you are planning to buy your besties gifts for celebrating your big day
with you then start looking for ideas and purchasing their gifts.
2 MONTH CHECKLIST
FINALISING YOUR CEREMONY DETAILS
START PLANNING YOUR TABLE SEATING AND CHASE IN ANY
OUTSTANDING RSVPS.
FINALISE YOUR WEDDING TIMELINE AND SEND THIS TO ALL VENDORS,
DO CHECK THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT.
MAKE SURE ALL YOUR VENDORS WILL HAVE ACCESS AND PARKING TO
THE VENUE.
ASSIGN A GUEST GATHERER FOR YOUR PHOTOS, DO REMEMBER YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHER DOESN'T KNOW WHO AUNT MARY IS!
FINALISE THE SPEECHES AND TIMINGS OF THEM.
If you feel you need help on the wedding day then do ask. You can hire a
planner if you just won't have time to plan your wedding who will also be
present on the day or ask a family or friend to help you.
FINAL CHECKLIST
Start packing and getting all your wedding items organised. Make sure
you have your wedding attire in bags and hung up.
Shoes, accessories, perfumes, beauty products all arranged into cases or
marked boxes.
Wedding favours and gifts.
On the day wedding stationery.
Cake knife, champagne glasses and anything personalised you have
bought for your wedding day.
Make sure all the vendor payments are done.
Contact all the vendors once more to make sure they are all prepared for
your wedding day and answer any final questions they may have.
All necessary travel documents are packed into a folder.
The rings!
Photographer https://andreasholm.com/about/
Florist -Stylist https://www.lemonfacedeco.com/
Lali Prada
Wedding Planner