You’re engaged? Congratulations! Now the dust has settled and you’re used to being a fiancee, it’s time to start thinking about your big day!
Whilst it’s likely you’ll have an idea of what you want (and don’t want) for your wedding, the order in which to organise things can be a little trickier. Our wedding planning checklist is here to help!
It’s not the most glamorous task but it’s got to be done. No one wants their dream wedding ruined by accidents or other unplanned mishaps.
11 months to go
Save the date
Get your chosen date in the guest diaries, now! If you’ve chosen a spring or summer wedding it’s important to give people as much notice as possible to avoid conflicting dates.10 months to go
9 months to go
FlowersWedding party outfits
Now you have your dress, it’s time to turn your attention to the bridal party. Having spoken to the florist about your blooms, you’ll be sure to have a colour scheme in mind at this point!
8 months to go
Order stationary
Everything from wedding invitations, envelopes and place cards, to menus, order of service and the seating plan – it’s time to get cracking!
7 months to go
Choose your wedding cake
With just 7 months to go, it’s time to find your perfect wedding cake. Choose the flavours, composition, how it will be transported and the type of icing it’ll have (particularly if you plan to save any of it). It’s important to consider how the cake will cope in your chosen venue, too!
Top tip: Don’t forget the cake topper!
Order your wedding favours
With less than 7 months to go, you should have received confirmation from your guests on who can attend the wedding. At this point, it’s a great time to choose, and order your wedding favours.
6 months to go
Plan your order of service
Confirm the order of service with your minister or registrar and have the guest books printed.
Book your hair and makeup
Time is ticking and so now is a great time to book your hair and makeup trial(s). Find out everything you need to know about wedding trials and make sure you’re prepared. If you’ll be doing your own makeup on the day, it’s a good idea to invest in some trial sizes of any products you think you might like to wear.
5 months to go
Prepare for the honeymoon
With almost everything sorted for the wedding, now is a good time to turn your attention to the honeymoon. Depending on your destination of choice, you may need visas, inoculations and money that has to be ordered. Don’t forget the clothes shopping, too!
Plan the hen party
Get those hen-party plans in action! A great one to delegate to your maid of honour (don’t you think?!) An important aspect of the role, right?..
4 months to go
Plan a wedding rehearsal
Organise a rehearsal for before the big day, and make sure the most important wedding party members will be there. This is the time to ask questions, make mistakes and most importantly… get excited!
3 months to go
Attend a reading of the banns
If you’re having a church wedding, with 3 months to go it’s a good opportunity to attend a reading of the banns. Usually, they’re held three consecutive Sundays before the day of your wedding.
2 months to go
Book any last minute beauty treatments
No doubt you’ll want to look glamorous on your wedding day, it’s the most important day of your life! Make sure you’ve got that bridal glow sorted by booking any beauty treatments you’ve forgotten up to this point.
1 month to go
Pay everyone
This month is set to be an expensive one! Keep in mind that after you’ve put deposits down, most wedding vendors will want you to pay the remaining balance the week before, or the week of the wedding.
Take some time to relax
Well, that’s it – the wedding planning is officially over! Now it’s time to take some much needed time to relax and get ready for the big day. Why not gather your hens for a girls-night-in or treat yourself to a much needed spa day? The choice is yours!
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