12 Month Check List

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO WHEN PLANNING A WEDDING ? WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST

· Set a wedding date. (or few so you can be flexible with venues)

· Set your budget. That number will be one of the main deciding factors in determining your venue.

· Decide on the number of guests you would like to have at your wedding. Consider your budget when compiling this list

· Compile your guest list and organize addresses. · Send save the date cards, priority to out of town guests.

· Consider potential wedding planners and day-of coordination help if needed and within your budget. They will be provided with professional wedding venues. Locate and reserve ceremony and reception site. If you’re on a budget, look at venues outside of city limits and consider what’s included with each venue, as renting the furniture separately will likely cost more. Consider a backup plan for a rainy day if your wedding is outdoors. It’s also important to note that having your wedding on a weekday will be considerably less expensive than on a weekend.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO 6 - 8 MONTHS BEFORE MY WEDDING, WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST

· Choose your bridal party

· Shop for a dress.

· Select your ceremony celebrant

· Book hotel rooms or reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests.

· Reserve music / DJ for ceremony and reception. · Select your photographer and videographer.

· Book an engagement shoot with your photographer. Many couples choose to include a photo on their save the date cards.

· Set-up your registry.

· Book a florist.

8 Months before your wedding”

· Choose your bridal party

· Shop for a dress.

· Select your ceremony celebrant

· Book hotel rooms or reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests.

· Reserve music / DJ for ceremony and reception. · Select your photographer and videographer.

· Book an engagement shoot with your photographer. Many couples choose to include a photo on their save the date cards.

· Set-up your registry.

· Book a florist.

· Order your wedding stationery.

· Choose bridal shoes and accessories (accessories should be budgeted in with the dress, they complete your bridal look and are in every photo you are)

· Choose bridal party attire

· Secure your transportation.

· Book a hotel room for day of prep and wedding night.

· Reserve any rentals needed for ceremony and/or reception.

· Confer with photographer and videographer.

· Book your honeymoon.

· Hire a hair stylist and makeup artist and reserve trials.

· Book your rehearsal dinner since bookings for larger parties can be difficult to find on short notice.

· Discuss details of menu with hotel or caterer. When on a budget, skip the dessert course and head straight to the wedding cake.

· Select and prepare your ceremony service with celebrant

· Schedule the rehearsal time.

· Mail out your invitations.

· To save time and stress after the wedding, write your thank you notes as gifts arrive.

· Choose bridal party accessories and shoes

· Buy a guest book.

· Obtain your marriage license.

· If you intend to change your name, prepare the necessary documents to do so.

· Send a change of address information to post office. · Dress fitting with veil, shoes, and accessories.

· Book your waxing appointment for week of wedding

· Book your nail appointment for week of wedding

· Book tanning appointment for week of wedding

· Prepare a seating plan.

· Confirm final guest count with vendors.

· Create your favours or consider a donation to your favourite charity.

· Prepare toasts for rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.

· Purchase and thank you gifts you may want to give to bridesmaids, readers ant the wedding, hubby to be and parents.

· Finalize speeches and itinerary.

· Finalize transportation arrangements for ceremony and reception.

· Ensure all items for the day of the wedding are packed up for delivery.

· Ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner take place. · Prepare payment envelopes for vendors.

· Confirm honeymoon details.

· Pick up dress

· Go to all beauty appointments

· Leave spare time to do pickups. (these will take longer than you think so delegate where you can)

· Take time to have a relaxing dinner with hubby to be, although a lot of work goes into a wedding, don’t forget it’s the marriage that counts.

With so many important decisions to make we hope this Wedding planning checklist makes things a bit easier. Planning a wedding can be fun, daunting, quite stressful or all of the above. Remember to go with the flow of the day and enjoy it. It marks the beginning of your Married life and is a special day that’s remembered for years.