- With your partner, carve time to sit down together and decide on your initial wedding theme, style, and colour palette. We think a mood board or Pinterest online board is a great way to start piecing your ideas together and see what looks good visually.
- Research solemnization venues and then reception venues, if you wish to hold these in separate places. Many find it easier and more of a pleasant experience to have the whole wedding day in the same venue.
- Work out your maximum wedding budget, and then divide it down to work out what you’ll spend on each section, i.e. what you’d be spending as maximum budget on venue hire, flowers, attire, bridal room, dining, beverages, music etc. This is your go-to list when exploring vendors and styling your entire day.
- Both of you need to draw up your list of attendees for solemnization and the following reception. If you want to jump ahead of the curve, you could also at this time start working out who would be sitting on each table together.
- Look through bridal magazines / online for bridal gown ideas if you’re yet to decide on your own style preference. If you have your own style in mind already, play around with accessories to see what works for you best.
- Research and then meet with potential wedding planners should you wish to hire one.
- Research wedding vendors needed for the day, if they’re not provided with the chosen venue – such as photographers, videographers, reception bands or DJs, ceremony musicians etc.
- Set up appointments for the planners and vendors, and review pricing and portfolios.
- Discuss and decide on your stationary and invites design, as you’ll soon need to send out a save-the-date.
- Having decided on your wedding planner, book in the first or second meeting to discuss what the next steps are.
- Finalise your theme, including décor, for your reception.
- Should dining not be supplied by the venue, meet with several food caterers and arrange tastings. If the venue offers in-house dining, do ensure you taste their menu offerings too.
- For your entertainment option, it’s time to start reserving musicians and/or DJ, to ensure you get the live band or music that you want.
- Staying on topic of music, now’s a good time to also decide on the solemnisation music.
- Book your wedding photographer and, if different individuals, the videographer too.
- Ensure your photographer understands your ‘core photography’ list of all the photos you must have on the day.
- If your chosen venue doesn’t have an in-house florist, research and interview external ones and decide on who’s creations you like the most.
- If you’ve not already done so, book your solemnization venue and/or reception venue for your chosen wedding date.
- Schedule a solemnization rehearsal.
- Visit your chosen bridal stores to start trying on bridal gowns – make it more of an experience by bringing your loved ones along.
- Choose your wedding-party members.
- Meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding solemnization.
- Start spreading the word by sending all guests your save-the-date invites.
- Hopefully you’ve decided on your bridal dress, as it’s now time to order your wedding gown!
- If either your solemnization or reception is to be held in an outdoor public area, then you should be looking now to obtain the necessary permits.
- Should you have a maid of honour and/or bridesmaids, now is the time to outline their duties leading up to, and the day itself.
- Should you have a specific store in mind for wedding guest gifts, now is the time to register.
- By now you should have regular conversations with your vendors to coordinate the style, theme, and concepts for the day.
- Finalise your menus for the dining portion of the reception.
- If you want specific songs for the night, get your personal playlist together.
- Choose that beautiful first dance song!
- Alongside your dress, it’s time to purchase your chosen accessories, such as veil, shoes and jewellery.
- If you have travelling guests, ensure their transport and accommodation is either booked already or soon to be booked.
- Getting close! Might be time to arrange your first gown fitting.
- Choose and order bridesmaid dresses and their accessories.
- If not already decided on, start choosing your wedding bands – what style, colour etc you both want.
- Continue meeting your vendors, such as your florist, to ensure your ideas, wants and needs are being understood and materialised.
- Have a wedding planner? Then review and finalise your wedding details – try being as clear as possible to ensure nothing is overlooked on either side for your big day.
- Attend to both bridesmaids and groomsmen – all aspects of attire arranged and everybody understanding their roles on the day.
- You’re about ready to send out official invitations so ensure the design, illustrations, font etc are matching the rest of your stationary, such as table placeholders. Don’t forget to also get a printer sorted!
- Determine order of ceremony and reception.
- Order your wedding rings.
- Collect your chosen bridal accessories.
- Choose your confetti or a version of, such as rose petals or glitter.
- Send out wedding invitations to allow guests time to plan their attendance.
- Begin your journey, if not started yet, on your honeymoon.
- Let’s not forget the wedding cake – start tasting sessions with different vendors and explore design ideas.
- If needed, book your honeymoon accommodation and travel.
- Place cake order and arrange for appropriate delivery.
- Not everyone needs a rehearsal dinner but if you’d like one, now’s the time to make reservations.
- Make an appointment with hairdresser and/or make-up artist to trial your wedding hairstyle and makeup.
- Yet to write your vows? Now is the time to get cracking.
- Groom, if not done so already, needs to try on suits and pick his favourite.
- Groom also needs to purchase their accessories, such as cufflinks, or pocket motifs.
- Review and approve wedding announcement.
- Discuss bachelorette party plans with your attendants.
- Take another look at your registry and update or add finalised items.
- Create hotel information cards and maps to include with your wedding invitations.
- Secure a wedding-day dressing room for yourself and your bridal party.
- Weigh, purchase postage for and mail wedding invitations.
- Go to final gown fitting and then arrange for pickup or delivery.
- Have groom’s formalwear fitted.
- If you plan to have a prenuptial agreement, meet with your attorney to discuss it.
- Purchase gifts for all wedding-party members.
- Arrange transportation from the ceremony site to the reception if they’re separate venues.
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations.
- Confirm playlists with musicians / DJ.
- Select menu for post-wedding brunch if you’re continuing the following day.
- Purchase a gift for your spouse-to-be, should you both wish to do so.
- Purchase wedding favours.
- Have a final run-through with your photographer on desired shots and timings on the day.
- Do a final pre-wedding day run with your professional makeup artist and/or hair stylist.
- Discuss the details of your wedding ceremony with your officiant.
- Determine the placement or distribution of programmes at the ceremony venue.
- Arrange for preparation, storage and for musicians/DJ at the reception venue.
- Determine seating arrangements for guests.
- If you colour your hair, make appointment for a touch-up the week before your wedding.
- Schedule an appointment for a manicure and/or pedicure the day before your wedding.
- Finalise details with wedding photographer and videographer, determining arrival times at each nuptial venue.
- Contact anyone who has not responded to their wedding invitation.
- Finalise honeymoon plans/itinerary and confirm all travel and hotel reservations.
- Arrange for table setup at reception venue.
- Schedule pickup/return of groom’s formalwear.
- Finalise list of reception guests and table seating plans.
- Give the final headcount to the caterer and review details.
- Sign your prenuptial agreement, if applicable.
- Arrange for delivery and placement of wedding flowers and all decor on the day.
- Confirm your honeymoon travel arrangements and start packing your bags!
- Double check with all vendors that everything is finalised, in place and ready to go.
- Pick up your wedding dress.
- Get all your accessories and items needed for the wedding day packed.
- Ensure bridesmaids know where and what time they need to arrive on the morning.
- Arrive earlier than you’d probably expect, things always take longer than planned.
- Eat a good breakfast (very important!).
- Enjoy being pampered and having your hair and makeup done by professionals.
- Have items on hand that you might need to make any last-minute alternations to your outfit, including possible accidents.
- Socialise with your loved ones and bridesmaids.
- Relax and enjoy yourself! It’s FINALLY time!
- Arrange for transport of gifts The next morning, ensure all gifts, florals and décor are removed from the venue and taken home.
- Send out thank-you cards, physical or electronic, to all attendees.
- Take wedding gown and veil to a dry cleaner who specialises in gown preservation.
- Submit name-change forms for driver’s licence, passport, banks, credit cards, etc.
