WEDDING PLANNING CHECK LIST
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to planning your dream day even if you have opted for a more intimate wedding and it can feel a bit overwhelming. So, we’ve created an essential wedding checklist with all the key tasks you’ll need to do through out your wedding journey.
We will take you step by step from the day you say, ‘Yes’ right through to the moment when you say, ‘I do’.
We’ve broken it all down into manageable, stress-free items, so that you can get organised and enjoy your planning journey before starting your next adventure as a married couple!
So, let’s get planning…
Wedding check list: 12 Months to go
Gather information - The best way to start is by righting list and narrowing down ideas and whats important for you!
Go on Pinterest and gather ideas - Now to have some fun! Start creating an inspiration board. Deciding on a style or theme will make choosing suppliers easier and help them understand what you’re looking for.
Set your budget - Work out your budget and expectations early. Try not to rush and be realistic, this will help avoid a lot of stress and going into debt! Make sure you add an extra contingency amount too, just in case!
Choose your wedding party - You don’t have to be traditional, why not ask your mum to be apart of you wedding party!?
Create your guest list - Doing this will help you decide where to tie the know, so you know how many guests the venue needs to hold. Don’t worry, exact numbers aren’t required yet but you do need a good idea of whether you’re having an intimate do for 30 or a lavish affair for 150 or more.
Book your venue for ceremony and reception -The venue (or venues) will be one of the largest parts of your budget and set the tone for everything else, so this is a big decision. The sooner you book this, the easier it will be to plan the rest.
Set the Date - Remember when setting your date, start planning twelve months or more in advance, as you’re more likely to be able to book the venues and suppliers of your choice, at the best prices. Consider the season you’d prefer to marry in too and the ideal day of the week. Remember, you could save money by booking an off-season or mid-week wedding.
Research vendors - Some venues or even suppliers will help by giving you a supplier list, but remember there are lots of options out there and to do your own research to make sure they are the right fit for you.
Choose your colours & theme - Consider the time of year that you want to get married, this can effect colour pallets and flowers that are in season.
8 Months to go
Create a wedding website - This is a great way to keep all your plans in one place, for your guests to visit and check on updates. This is also a great way to keep your wedding more sustainable!
Meet your caterers - Food can be such a great way to get creative on your wedding and can also be apart of your theme. If you have a festival style wedding, why not get several street food vendors? How about a picnic? or a luxury sit down meal to match you spectacular venue!
Finalise guest list -
Book your photographer & Videographer - This is where we come in…we always advise enquiring as soon as you have a date to make sure that we are available as the best photographers get booked up far in advance. Remember you can also arrange to have engagement shots too.
Book a Florist - Start confirming your preferred suppliers as soon as possible.
Organise engagement Photos - Engagement shoots are normally done during the winter months but if you have an idea or location in mind it’s best too book and discuss your ideas in advance! Think, beach walks, coffee shop dates, get creative and have fun!
Research wedding cake and tasting -
Choose wedding party attire - Consider your theme, colours and season!
Make wedding dress appointments - Wedding dresses normally take several months to order so this is a great time to start looking! Really enjoy it you normally only do this once to embrace it and have fun, try on things you wouldn’t normally consider too you might be surprised!
Book wedding cars - Knowing the amount of people and locations is key when organising transport for you wedding day. Consider wedding party, close family who will be with you in the morning and if your partner is getting ready else where.
Book DJ or Musicians - There is always something special about having live music at a wedding, we love it! Don’t forget you can have different options through out the day, for when your walking down the wedding isle or when your guest are enjoying some canapés outside all the way through to the evening celebrations!
6 Months to go
Give notice of marriage - This is the legal part and is very important!
Order invitations - Don’t forget to include an RSVP. It’s also a great idea to include a playlist option for your guests to choose a song for you evening celebrations!
Choose wedding party attire - Consider your colour scheme and theme. Sometimes keeping it simple is best but why not go for the same colour but different styles to suit your wedding party personalities!
Send save the dates - This allows your guests plenty of notice to arrange, time off work and travel to be able to celebrate your special day with you!
Set up gift list - These don’t have to be a list of things you want for your home anymore. Why not ask for a donation of money towards your favourite charity?
Plan wedding decorations - Get creative, look at Pinterest for some great ideas and maybe DIY some!
Choose & buy wedding rings - We had our good friend make our wedding rings and we have our first dance lyrics engraved into them! Why not look up some local small business jewellers for something a little different and unique, after-all your going to be wearing it for a long time so making it more personalised and special is well worth it.
Book honey moon & Travel insurance - If its a mini moon or your lucky enough to go traveling across the world, spending quality time together after your wedding is all part of the celebration, just make sure your covered for insurance so there is no stress and you can enjoy every moment!
4 Months to go
Tailor/dressmaker fitting - Having your wedding attire fitted and altered to fit you perfectly makes all the difference!
Book hair and make up - Go all out or go natural, just make sure that you are comfortable and feel like you!
Plan your hen/stag party - Get adventurous! You don’t have to let it be a surprise, if you have big ideas discuss with your wedding party and make it happen, go WILD!
Book wedding night accommodation and transport - Exit in style and make it something special!
Send invitations - Ideally your invitations should be sent out around three months before the big day.
3 Months to go
Finalise catering menu -Remember to include guests that have allergies, dietary requirements and make final decisions.
Confirm your registrar booking - This is very important and ideal to confirm times for your big day.
Meet with Florist and finalise - Confirm details and make sure they see your vision.
Create schedule/timeline - This is the ideal time to start piecing together your day and what will happen when. We are always happy to help you with this part and make sure you are not rushed and enjoy every moment!
Purchase rings - This is always very exciting!
Create your wedding playlist - Although you are catering for many different age groups remember that it is your day and you need some music that represents you!
Have hair and make up trial - Make a day of it, get your nails done and enjoy the pampering!
2 Months to go
Have fun at your hen/stag party - Go wild and enjoy it!
Touch base with your vendors - Speak to them personally and make sure you have confirmation of any details they need to know about.
Chase unanswered invitations - Make sure you know who should be there on the day!
Write speeches - It’s time for those amazing anecdotes from the good, the bad and the funny!
Send out final payments - These are normally scheduled to be payed before the one month mark so its great to make sure you know who needs paying and when.
Complete dress/suit purchases & alterations - Things are starting to come together!
Create wedding day stationery - These can range from menus, itinerary cards, seat reservation tags and so much more. Make them personalised and in tune with you theme!
Confirm final guest list with vendors - This will include your venue, caterers and photographers. Check with you other vendors to see if this information will be helpful.
1 Months to go
Purchase wedding party gifts - This is a traditional gesture and also extends to your new in-laws. These are starting to be less common but can be a simple but beautiful bunch of flowers!
Check in with wedding party and set expectations - Time to delegate! Take the pressure off and make sure that everyone knows what to do on the day so that you can enjoy the day with no interruptions!
Send timetable to vendors - This will help everyone have a guide to where they need to be and when, making sure to help you and your guests be at the right place at the right time!
Talk to your photographer to discuss plans & portraits - Want those family group shots? Let you photographer know what groups you want, this will make organising people a lot easier on the day and make sure you have those all important family shots that you will treasure!
Confirm florist, time and location - If you are having flowers in your hair and flowers at your venue for decoration, let you florist know where and when they need to be dropping flowers off as this may mean two drop offs.
Create seating chart - Mix it up, let your relatives and friends talk and mingle with people they wouldn’t otherwise know.
Check accommodation - If you staying the night before or the night after, it’s always good to check your booking and logistics.
Write your vows - The more personalised your vows are the better and they will mean so much more to you. You can write these separately or alternatively you can write them together, making them still personalised to you but so your vows match. This is what we did!
Finalise seating plan - This can get complicated with family politics but it isn’t worth stressing over!
1 Week to go
Touch base with you vendors - Make sure you confirm any last minute changes and timings with your vendors!
Set tasks to friends and family - As previously said, delegate!
Prepare cash for payments and tips on the day - This is just incase you need it as a back up.
Pack for your honeymoon - Yes, it’s come round quickly! If this is done now you will have less to worry about the day after you wedding and just enjoy traveling!
Ensure wedding party & family has timeline - This is just incase but can help insure your day will run as smoothly as possible.
Break in your wedding shoes - Make sure that those shoes are comfortable to party in!
Go on one last date with your partner! - Make sure to take some time off from wedding planning and enjoy a last date as an engaged couple!
Post wedding
Enjoy your honeymoon - Travel, eat, drink and make amazing memories doing what makes you happy!
Write Thank you cards - This is a great way to show gratitude to all those that helped make your day special and any gift received!
Order prints & albums - After receiving your photographs, get them printed! Don’t let those images get lost on the internet or have them collect dust on a hard drive! Having something tangible to flip through when you’re feeling nostalgic or walking past a framed moment from your nuptials everyday is the best way to keep the memories alive.
Clean & preserve wedding attire - Make sure you clean you attire before storing it away, this makes sure that it has the best life when in storage. This isn’t for everyone though and there are loads of options to donate or sell your attire on for someone else to enjoy!
And finally…
Don’t forget, your wedding day is the end of your wedding planning but it’s the beginning of an amazing adventure in marriage.
This timeline is meant to be flexible, so don’t feel bad if you miss anything. This checklist is a general outline and can be adjusted if your timeline is different!
Whatever happens on the day, the marriage that follows is what really matters. So, if there’s a miss hap with timings or your sparker exit doesn’t quite go to plan, don’t worry! Enjoy your special day and sometimes the best things come out of unplanned situations!