Do it Now

• Tell friends and relatives you’re engaged.
• Choose what kind of ceremony you want, and come up with a rough estimate of how many guests you wish to invite.
• Visit potential wedding venues and check availability.  Make sure they are able to accommodate the number of guests you had in mind.
• Set your budget.
• Choose your best man, ushers and bridesmaids.
• Visit wedding fayres to gain inspiration and ideas for the theme of your day, and to talk to potential suppliers.

6 - 12 Months to Go

• Ensure that your chosen church is available on your intended wedding date.  If you wish to have a civil ceremony instead, ensure the availability of the registrar and inform the Superintendent Registrar.
• Book your venue (some venues will need to be booked further in advance, especially if you wish to get married in the spring and summer months).
• Take out wedding insurance.  What if your venue caught fire?  Insurance policies are available from as little as £50 - we think it is worth every penny!
• Sample some menus and book your catering supplier.  If the venue includes catering you may wish to sample their menus before signing a booking agreement.
• Book your photographer and videographer.
• Make appointments to try on dresses.
• Choose your florist and discuss ideas
• Book your reception entertainment
• Send out your Save the Date cards, making sure that the theme and colours of the wedding stationery matches the bridesmaids dresses, flowers or venue decor.  Save the Date cards should match your entire suite of wedding stationery, and they make sure that your guests will be available on the date of your wedding.

4-6 Months to Go

• Confirm your readings and music with your minister/registrar.
• Order your wedding invitations, to match your Save the Date cards.
• Order your wedding cake.
• Have your first dress fitting with lingerie and shoes.

2-4 Months to Go

• Choose your gift list company
• Send out your wedding invitations, including your gift list, directions, maps, information and if necessary, details of local accommodation.  The Designer Card Company offer wallet style invitations, to ensure that everything is neatly enclosed.  Don’t forget to send RSVP cards too - these will help you to draw up a final guest list.  Our RSVP cards ask guests to detail any special dietary requirements, which will help your caterers to prepare more efficiently.
• Confirm your booking if you are marrying in a registry office.
• Finalise your honeymoon plans, including insurance.
• Plan your hen and stag parties
• Book your first night hotel if needed.

1-2 Months to Go

• Use your returned RSVPs to draw up a final guest list, and pass this on to your caterers providing details of guest dietary requirements.
• Order your ‘on the day’ items of wedding stationery, such as Order of Service or Order of the Day cards, Menu Cards, (be sure to have these double checked by your caterer before going to print), Place Cards or Place Tags, Table Numbers and Favour Boxes.  Don’t forget to order matching Thank You cards too - this is usually forgotten, but it is important to thank your guests as soon as possible after returning from your honeymoon, so it is a good idea to order them before the wedding so you are not delayed in sending them out.
• Give the final number of guests to your caterer and devise a Table Plan.  The Designer Card Company can provide either a framed or mounted table plan to match your suite of wedding stationery.
• Buy the marriage license from the registrar
• Have your final dress fitting.

2 Weeks to Go

• Write out your place cards.  The Designer Card Company can offer a printing service whereby if you provide them with an Excel spreadsheet containing the names of your guests, they can print the guest names for you.  So if your calligraphy skills aren’t up to scratch then don’t worry!
• Compile a list of must-take shots for your photographer.
• Confirm the photographer, cars, florist and entertainment.

1 Week to Go

• Pack for your honeymoon.
• Have a final hair and make up practice.
• Arrange for the cake to be delivered to the venue.

24 Hours to Go

• Help to decorate the venue, if necessary.
• Have a manicure and pedicure.
• Have your honeymoon luggage sent to your first night hotel.
• Eat a light meal, take a bath and relax, have an early night, and try to get some beauty sleep in preparation for the biggest day of your life!

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 9:45 am and is filed under Wedding News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.