The aim of this wedding planner is to give you a good idea of what you should be doing when in the run up to your big day.
10 to 12 months prior
- As well as a good wedding planner buy a paper based organiser
- Discuss the style of the wedding and the budget with your fiancé and all parents
- Interview wedding consultants, advisors and coordinators
- Speak with all your friends – pick their brains – learn who knows what and who knows who
- Speak to your clergy – ask questions
- Begin looking for locations – wedding ceremony – wedding reception – other planned events
- Begin interviewing Caterers, Photographers, Florists, Videographers, Musicians
- By end of Month 12 select three of your key players: advisor/consultant – caterer and wedding photographer
- By end of Month 11 select site for the wedding ceremony
- By end of Month 10 select site for the wedding reception
- By end of Month 10 select the remaining key players; florist, musicians, videographer
- Select all of your guests and compile your list
- By end of Month 8 shop for and order wedding invitations and announcements
- Contact and visit clergy or minister
- Begin shopping for appropriate wedding dresses, you will probably need to book appointments at wedding outlets
- Register with well known wedding gift registry service
- Begin looking at honeymoon options with your fiancé – visit a travel agency and research appropriate locations using the internet or magazines – check on your passports when planning your trip
- By the end of Month 8 decide on your wedding menu
4 to 6 months prior
- Finish guest list and send out all wedding invitations
- Begin review of details
- Finalise honeymoon plans with fiancé and book
- Finalise music selection for wedding and reception
- By end of Month 5 shop and order the mens’ formal wear. It is popular for Grooms to hire their wedding outfit, whereas wedding dress hire only accounts for a small percentage
- Book wedding transportation – limousines, horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, boat, or whatever
- Order the wedding rings!!
- Shop till you drop
- Wedding Lingerie
- Honeymoon Clothes
- Guests’ gifts
- Pre and post-wedding party clothes you might need
- Finalise catering, floral arrangements (be a little flexible)
- Select all presents for your wedding gift list
- Reserve a block of rooms for your out-of-town guests (good work for your fiancé)
- Finalise arrangements for any rental items you may need
- Candelabra & other silver pieces
- Special decorative screens & archways
- Special lighting (particularly if part of the event will be outside or in an unique area where normal lighting may not be possible)
- Make appointment with your hairdresser (a trial run for next month – also good for your bridal portrait)
- Make appointment with your hairdresser (final)
- Make appointment for your nails (hands and feet)
- Make appointment with a makeup artist for the day of your bridal portrait
4 to 8 weeks prior
- Final fittings
- Plan the bridesmaids’ party & confirm the location & instructions
- Reconfirm rehearsal events
- For your own peace of mind personally touch base with every key professional you and/or your coordinator have working on all your upcoming events
- By Week 4 Pick Up Wedding Rings
- Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and (if leaving the country go to the bank and exchange at least £100 into foreign currency)
- Submit request lists to your musicians, photographer and videographer
- Confirm all transportation for all events (including honeymoon)
- By the last day of Week 2 plan a day to be alone with your family
1 week prior
- On the very first day of the very last week begin packing for your honeymoon
- Check final details with all your wedding professionals – early in the week
- Give final guest count to the caterer
- Create a wedding day schedule with your fiancé
- Remind wedding party men to pick up tuxedos
- Finish packing for your honeymoon
- Schedule the day prior to the wedding as a free day – and a day to visit with a few close friends
