Wedding Planning Check List

Posted for Chris Hawkins on 6 January, 2009 under the category: Basingstoke Weddings, Wedding Videos

Planning a wedding can be daunting and at times overwhelming, so to help you we have put together our ideal wedding plan to help you enjoy one of the most exciting and wonderful days of your life. We would not dare to say it’s a definitive list, but we hope it will give you a good framework to help you plan your special day.

Simply add your own items to the check list to make it specific to your big day, print it out, and enjoy checking off individual items as you finalise and move closer to your dream wedding.

One additional tip from us at basingstokeweddings.com, is remember to send and receive conformation in writing for services booked, this helps everyone know what is required and stops unfortunate mistakes.

12 months to go

Make an appointment to see your Minister, Priest, Rabbi or Registrar to fix the wedding date and time.
Visit the venue of your choice to see if it meets your needs and also discuss whether your chosen date is available, make sure you do this immediately, especially if you are planning a summer wedding.
Discuss with your parents and fiancé the budget for the whole event if they are involved in the planning and funding.
If you are planning a register office wedding or a wedding in an approved venue, make an appointment to see your local Registrar.
If your reception is to be held in a village or community hall, you will need to book an outside caterer.
Look at local wedding caterers; ask them about the service and menu choice they are able to offer for the estimated number of guests.
Book the hire cars and or carriage that you need.
Organise and book any entertainment you require for the reception, e.g. musician, magician, toastmaster and disco for the evening function.
Select a photographer; ask to see a range of recent work, and look to see if it reflects the photography style you want.
Consider who you want to be best man, bridesmaids and ushers. Make sure they are available on the chosen date.
Think about the printed wedding stationery such as invitations and order of service.
Select a videographer, request examples of the work they have done.
Consider and start drafting your guest list. Send a save the “day card” to those who you would like to attend.
Buy magazines and look at websites for inspiration on cakes, flowers and dresses.
Consider taking out insurance against a possible wedding day disaster.

11 months to go

With both sets of parents, decide how many guests will be invited and work out a budget and final guest list.
Book your photographer
Book the caterer.
Book your videographer.
Make sure the church or wedding venue allows photography. If they have any restrictions, make sure your photographer and videographer know about them.
Think about the colour scheme for your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, flowers and cake.
Have a formal engagement photograph taken to use on cards and to help you get into the mood.

10 months to go

Decide on your dress (allow at least four months for a made-to-measure dress)
Choose your attendants, best man and ushers.
Choose and order your attendants’ outfits.
Order your wedding cake.
Start looking at honeymoon brochures and consider booking early, particularly if you’re getting married during high season or need visas etc.

9 months to go

Find a florist and discuss your choice of flowers, including buttonholes, bouquets and arrangements for the church and reception venue.
Decide on a company for the wedding gift list and start planning what to ask for.
Confirm your menu choice and drink order with your caterer, give them a rough idea on the number of people you hope to attend.

8 months to go

If you’re getting married in a church, talk to the organist about the music and discuss your choice of readings with the minister. If you’re having a civil ceremony, ask the registrar what readings and music are permitted then make an appropriate choice.
Send out invitations (allow one invitation per married couple or family) including information about how to get to the venue and the wedding list.
Think about place cards, menus and the seating plans.

7 months to go

Book transport to take you to your first-night hotel or the airport.

6 months to go

Remind your fiancé to hire whatever formalwear he and his ushers require
Choose presents for your attendants, best man, etc.
Choose and order the wedding rings.
Have the order of service printed. Remember that if you are having a choir at your wedding, they will also need copies.
Finalise your choice of wedding dress and the dresses for your bridesmaids.
Select a florist and order the bouquets.
Plan and book Stag and Hen night activities.

5 months to go

Make all the necessary bookings for the honeymoon including taking out holiday insurance.
Check honeymoon visas are in order and that any medical requirements are in hand, inoculations, malaria tablets etc.
Agree the wedding outfit/outfits for your fiancé, the best man and the ushers.
Discuss the ceremony and order of service with the minister or the registrar.
Book your hair appointments for the day including mothers and bridesmaids.
Send out any extra invitations for the evening reception if you are having one.
If you are honeymooning abroad, ensure your passports are current.

4 months to go

Buy going-away and honeymoon clothes. If you’re going on a beach holiday after a winter wedding, try to shop in the summer or the autumn sales.
Ask your fiancé to book your first-night hotel.
Visit the jewellers and collect your wedding ring or rings if you haven’t already done so.
Ensure that all your dresses and outfits will be ready on time.
If you’re having a religious ceremony, meet the vicar and agree the reading of the banns. If you’ve chosen a civil ceremony give Notice of Marriage to the registrar.
Finalise the ‘order of service’ for the ceremony. If necessary discuss options/readings/ music with the registrar/minister.
Buy the gifts you intend to give to bridesmaids, best man, ushers or parents.
Finalise all the catering arrangements.

3 months to go

Make an appointment with a make-up artist to try out different looks.
Book a wedding rehearsal (these usually take place a couple of days before the wedding).

2 months to go

Check that your fiancé has organised the rings, his wedding clothes, first-night hotel and buttonholes.
Try on your wedding outfit, including headdress, shoes and underwear.
Finalise reception details with the caterers/reception venue.
Discuss with your hairdresser the style you require on the day. If you are wearing a veil or head-dress then take this along and consider a trial run before the big day.
Check that your wedding dress fits perfectly.
Ensure the bridesmaids are happy with their dresses.
Make sure your fiancé has finalised the arrangements for his clothes (and best man/ushers etc) and the honeymoon (is his passport valid?).
Keep up to date with any correspondence such as thank you letters for wedding presents or letters to people who send their best wishes but are unable to join you on the day.
Agree the wording for a wedding announcement in the local paper. Do you want your photograph in the local paper?
Order foreign currency and travellers cheques for your honeymoon, if appropriate.
Tell the bank/building society of bride’s forthcoming change of name.
Write out a timetable for the day so that you know where everyone has to be. This can be given to the ushers and key people to ensure things run smoothly.
Draw up a “To Bring List”, this should include everything you need on the day ( see the end of this list for an emergency list ), things such as rings, speeches, music, umbrellas, overnight bag etc..

1 month to go

Inform the caterers of the final number of guests.
Finalise the seating plan.
Have your hen and stag nights – after all that running around, it’s time to party.

3 weeks before the wedding

Draw up the table plan for the reception and complete the name cards. If you are expecting a large number of people it may be helpful to have two table plans so that your guests can find their place quickly and easily.
Confirm all the final arrangements with the florist, photographer, videographer, carriage or car hire, company, cake maker etc. Make sure they have all the relevant addresses and phone numbers and times.
Consider if and how the wedding presents will be displayed.

One week before the wedding

Try on all the outfits and make sure everything still fits perfectly.
Practice your wedding day make up.
Vet the groom’s speech – thanking everyone who has helped in the preparations.
Consider having a rehearsal with all the key people at the wedding venue. (Note – there may be an extra charge levied by the venue/registrar).
Notify any last minute changes to the number of guests attending to the caterers/reception venue.
Check that you have everything for your going away outfit and the honeymoon.
Make a start packing for the honeymoon. Do not leave everything to the last minute.
Make sure you pack the tickets and both passports.
Check you have paid all the suppliers, and have the money for the Registrar or church etc in labelled envelopes ready for the big day.

On the day

Have a nice leisurely breakfast.
Have hair and make-up done.

Have a wonderful day. Hopefully all your preparation will mean that all the key players on the day know what to do and when to do it, so let them run around sorting things whilst you enjoy things.

You might like to take the following things with you on the day, this “just in case” list will help you to enjoy things as you will know you can sort out most small inconveniences, with out too much worry.

Aspirin
Breath mints
Bottled water
Snacks (crackers, cheese, grapes or sweeties)
Extra make-up (cover-up, lipstick etc,)
Hand mirror
Hair spray
Hand cream
Cotton Buds
Tissues
Tampons / pads
Clear Nail Polish
Nail File
Extra pairs of stockings
Safety Pins
Masking Tape
Stapler

If you think we have missed anything or would like to add an item to help others, please contact us via basingstokeweddings.com.

» Filed Under Basingstoke Weddings, Wedding Videos

One Response to “Wedding Planning Check List”

1. Marquis Frishkorn Says:
   August 5th, 2011 at 6:19 pm

   Planning an wedding can be so demanding, so the simpler the better.

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website