Countdown Checklist

The aim of this wedding planner is to give you a good idea of what you should be doing when in the run up to your big day.

10 to 12 months prior

  • As well as a good wedding planner buy a paper based organiser
  • Discuss the style of the wedding and the budget with your fiancé and all parents
  • Interview wedding consultants, advisors and coordinators
  • Speak with all your friends - pick their brains - learn who knows what and who knows who
  • Speak to your clergy - ask questions
  • Begin looking for locations - wedding ceremony - wedding reception - other planned events
  • Begin interviewing Caterers, Photographers, Florists, Videographers, Musicians
  • By end of Month 12 select three of your key players: advisor/consultant - caterer and wedding photographer
  • By end of Month 11 select site for the wedding ceremony
  • By end of Month 10 select site for the wedding reception
  • By end of Month 10 select the remaining key players; florist, musicians, videographer

7 to 9 months prior

  • Select all of your guests and compile your list
  • By end of Month 8 shop for and order wedding invitations and announcements
  • Contact and visit clergy or minister
  • Begin shopping for appropriate wedding dresses, you will probably need to book appointments at wedding outlets
  • Register with well known wedding gift registry service
  • Begin looking at honeymoon options with your fiancé - visit a travel agency and research appropriate locations using the internet or magazines - check on your passports when planning your trip
  • By the end of Month 8 decide on your wedding menu

4 to 6 months prior

  • Finish guest list and send out all wedding invitations
  • Begin review of details
  • Finalise honeymoon plans with fiancé and book
  • Finalise music selection for wedding and reception
  • By end of Month 5 shop and order the mens' formal wear. It is popular for Grooms to hire their wedding outfit, whereas wedding dress hire only accounts for a small percentage
  • Book wedding transportation - limousines, horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, boat, or whatever

2 to 3 months prior

  • Order the wedding rings!!
  • Shop till you drop
  • Wedding Lingerie
  • Honeymoon Clothes
  • Guests' gifts
  • Pre and post-wedding party clothes you might need
  • Finalise catering, floral arrangements (be a little flexible)
  • Select all presents for your wedding gift list
  • Reserve a block of rooms for your out-of-town guests (good work for your fiancé)
  • Finalise arrangements for any rental items you may need
  • Candelabra & other silver pieces
  • Special decorative screens & archways
  • Special lighting (particularly if part of the event will be outside or in an unique area where normal lighting may not be possible)
  • Make appointment with your hairdresser (a trial run for next month - also good for your bridal portrait)
  • Make appointment with your hairdresser (final)
  • Make appointment for your nails (hands and feet)
  • Make appointment with a makeup artist for the day of your bridal portrait

4 to 8 weeks prior

  • Final fittings
  • Plan the bridesmaids' party & confirm the location & instructions
  • Reconfirm rehearsal events
  • For your own peace of mind personally touch base with every key professional you and/or your coordinator have working on all your upcoming events
  • By Week 4 Pick Up Wedding Rings
  • Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and (if leaving the country go to the bank and exchange at least £100 into foreign currency)
  • Submit request lists to your musicians, photographer and videographer
  • Confirm all transportation for all events (including honeymoon)
  • By the last day of Week 2 plan a day to be alone with your family

1 week prior

  • On the very first day of the very last week begin packing for your honeymoon
  • Check final details with all your wedding professionals - early in the week
  • Give final guest count to the caterer
  • Create a wedding day schedule with your fiancé
  • Remind wedding party men to pick up tuxedos
  • Finish packing for your honeymoon
  • Schedule the day prior to the wedding as a free day - and a day to visit with a few close friends

Click here to go back to the articles homepage - where you can discover advice for all the other aspects of your wedding.

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