WEDDING PLANNING 101 - WHAT TO DO AND WHEN!

12 months or more before your wedding  

• Announce your engagement to family and friends and also announce in the newspaper if desired.
• If both sets of parents have not yet met, introduce them
• Select a wedding date and reserve the church / ceremony site and your reception location /caterers
• Hire a wedding planner if desired
• Discuss amongst your families how the wedding expenses will be divided
• Determine the size and style of your wedding, and level of formality
• Reserve your photographer and discuss your preferred style and approach
• Reserve your videographer and discuss your preferred style and approach
• Choose your bridal party and ensure their acceptance to the role
• Start to think about the style of your wedding gown and accessories

6 to 12 months before your wedding

• Finalise your colour theme and style of your wedding
• Arrange your wedding cars or transport  
• Discuss your honeymoon plans
• Discuss and choose the menu plan for your reception
• Select and order your wedding cake
• Choose and book your wedding entertainment for the wedding reception and ceremony if applicable
• Think about your guest list
• Shop for your wedding gown and accessories. Schedule future fitting dates and an approximate date to collect your gown
• Select and reserve a florist and begin choosing your wedding flowers and any other arrangements
• Fulfil any pre-marital requirements with your church or celebrant and meet to discuss the ceremony
• Shop for your bridesmaids and the grooms and groomsmen’s attire and any accessories
• Send our your save the date cards if desired
• Choose your hair stylist and makeup artist
• Arrange wedding decorations for your ceremony and reception – either DIY or arrange a professional service
• Choose an MC or hire a professional

3 to 6 months before your wedding

• Schedule Dance Lessons if required
• Register for wedding gifts if desired
• Shop for your wedding bands
• Finalise your guest list and have both sets of parents do the same
• Select your travel agent and start actively planning your honeymoon. Apply for a passport if needed.
• Reserve your wedding night accommodation
• Interview and hire any other professionals desired
• Book your wedding hair and makeup service providers and arrange dates for trials
• Ensure immediate family has selected their wedding attire including mother of the bride and groom
• Purchase gifts for wedding attendants
• Arrange the guest bombonniere / favors
• Purchase accessories including garter, ring pillow, guest book etc.

2 months before your wedding

• Visit your wedding stylist for a hair/makeup trial
• Compose reception toasts
• Discuss your expectations and flow of events at reception with your MC
• Delegate a person to attend to your wedding guest book throughout the evening
• Post out your wedding invitations
• Check each wedding vendor’s progress and confirm arrangements with each party
• Ensure any adjustments / engraving to your wedding rings is complete
• If you have not yet finalised the selection of readings and prayers for your ceremony, complete this task. Give copies to any family/friends conducting your readings
• If you are writing your own wedding vows you should complete this task over the next 4 weeks
• Hold your final dress fitting making sure you dress with your shoes and accessories to confirm everything fits as it should

1  month before your wedding

• Check final details with all of your vendors  
• Ensure everyone understands their wedding role / duties
• Contact any guests who have not yet provided an RSVP
• Ensure seating plans are finalised
• You should have now collected your wedding gown
• At this point you may be sending out additional invitations as you receive regrets
• Make arrangements for a wedding rehearsal with your officiant and bridal party
• Meet with your wedding entertainment vendor and advise of any specific music that is to be played
• Meet with your celebrant / priest / officiant to finalise your ceremony plans if not yet completed
• Confirm with your photographer regarding locations of choice and wet weather provisions
• Finalise your wedding day schedule

1 to 2 weeks before your wedding

• Check in with wedding vendors as needed
• Confirm reception seating plan and provide final guest count to venue – also confirm menu details at this time
• Re-confirm wedding day duties with your attendants and helpers
• Finalise Seating Instructions and Place Cards, or delegate this task to your stationer / helpers
• If you follow tradition, enure you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue
• Organise your clothing and items for your honeymoon
• Hold a rehearsal for wedding ceremony and formalities of reception – some people also choose to host a rehearsal dinner
• Create a checklist of all the items you will need for your big day including an emergency wedding kit

24 hours before and on your wedding day

• Remain calm and relaxed at all times and get a good night’s sleep the night before!
• Complete any DIY decorating or ceremony and reception venues
• Arrange collection of any hire items – E.g. Groom’s suit, wishing well etc.
• Visit your beautician for any treatments required E.g. tanning, nails, waxing
• Ensure the wedding rings are with a reliable party for the ceremony
• If pictures are to be taken before the ceremony it is a good idea to be dressed and ready up to 2 hours before the ceremony
• Ensure you have your emergency wedding kit and any other items needed for the day
• Receive delivery of the wedding flowers
• Enjoy yourself!