Discuss Wedding Budget and how expenses will be shared
Agree on Guest List and degree of formality
Organize your engagement notice in the paper
Choose and book Ceremony and Reception location
Call clergyman or other official to confirm date and schedule appointment to discuss ceremony
Choose wedding attendants
Choose and book Photographer &/or Videographer
Organize Food and Beverage Catering
Consider Bridal Attire
Begin planning your Honeymoon destination
Select and book bridal party transportation
Engage a Florist and discuss floral choices, design and color
Select music/musician/DJ for ceremony/reception
Consider Stationery
Organize Master of ceremony for your Reception
Book a consultation with Wedding Decorator
3 — 6 Months Ahead
Order your wedding stationery
Order Hire Equipment - chairs, tables, etc
Select wedding rings
Plan the order of Ceremony and Reception
Register with a Bridal Gift service and select gift choices
Organize the Bridal Gown - schedule fittings
Order attendant's gowns and schedule fittings
Contact the local hotel and negotiate special discounted rates for the out-of-town visitors and be sure to ask for a changing room for yourself
Select style of Formal Wear for groom's party and make arrangements with rental service
2 Months Ahead
Post or deliver all invitations
Select a Wedding Cake specialist and order
Give notice of intention to marry - registration
Select Beautician and discuss your wishes (Hair, Make-Up, Nails, etc)
Book any accommodations & transportation needed for out of town guests
Discuss and plan you photos with your Photographer/Videographer
Try on and order Lingerie
Begin any personal shopping for pre-wedding parties or honeymoon
4 Weeks Ahead
Check and confirm all bookings and arrangements
Buy wedding rings
Organize Gifts for attendants
Ensure all official wedding documentation is in order
Plan seating arrangements for Ceremony and Reception
Arrange for any name change
Ask speakers to prepare speeches
Schedule wedding rehearsals and notify those involved
Plan bridesmaid's luncheon
2 Weeks Ahead
Trial your hairstyle and make-up
Notify papers for wedding notices
Check and confirm honeymoon bookings
Pick up wedding Rings
Arrange for final fitting and delivery of Wedding Attire
Have wedding rehearsal/confirm venue booking
7 Days Ahead
Pack for Honeymoon
Try on your wedding outfits
Relax when possible
Organize someone to return hire clothes and equipment
Confirm wedding transportation
1 Day Before
Lay out everything you will require on the Wedding day
Confirm when Flowers and Cake are arriving
Confirm hair and make-up
Have nails manicured
Prepare going-away outfit
Confirm that all members of the wedding party are organized
Enjoy your day (Relax)
Eat Well
Get a good night's sleep
After Honeymoon
Make an appointment to see photographer and videographer
Send Thank You's for Gifts
Hints & Tips
General
Before you start making any appointments with suppliers, you should have a plan/vision of what you want for your Wedding. Talk between yourselves (bride & groom to be) about the style, theme and format of the Wedding YOU want. Advice and referrals from family and friends are very important, but remember that it is Your Day!
Prepare an extensive Budget for your Wedding, and consider all those little extras like spending money for your honeymoon.
When considering a Wedding Supplier:-
Ask lots of questions. You need to know what is and is not included in the package you are looking at.
Ask for testimonials, photo's and referrals from past clients.
Make sure the work you look at is the work of the person who will do your Wedding.
Read all Contracts carefully! Make sure everything is in writing.
Always seek 2 to 3 quotes in writing, to compare.
Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with them and confident that they know what you want.
Ceremony
"Notice of Marriage" must be submitted at least 1 Month and 1 day prior to the Wedding Date with the Clergyman/Celebrant performing the marriage.
Reception
Decide on the general location, budget, style, and environment you are looking for before you start looking.
Call Venues first and check if they can provide the main items you require in a reception venue. If they can, arrange a Viewing (ask when the room will be next set up for a wedding and ask if you can have a look).
Select a MC who is confident and will control the flow of speeches. Also allocate time limits to your speeches as it keeps your night on track time wise.
Photography
Seek referrals from family & friends who may have used a photographer for their Wedding. Make sure they are experienced and specialize in Weddings.
Look at their work and check that it is their work you are looking at. Only book the photographer who's work you liked.
Make sure you feel comfortable with the actual photographer, you will be spending a lot of time with them!
When you have chosen your photographer, ask them how much time is needed to take the photo's you want, and then base the rest of your Wedding around those times. Timing can be a big problem if it isn't planned out well.
HINTS & TIPS
Bridal Attire
When choosing your dress, make sure you take at least one person who will give you an honest opinion. Most Bridal houses will make sure that the dress does look good on you, but they are also out for a sale.
Make sure you feel comfortable in the dress, you are in it for a while and will need to move around in it fairly easily.
Some Guidelines to consider:-
If you are tall, go for a straighter dress that doesn't flare at the bottom (it will make you look taller).
Shiny material makes things look bigger.
Some guidelines to consider when choosing where and how you obtain your wedding dress:-
Hire - these days the choices are more varied and usually up to date with trends. This is the most cost effective way to obtain a dress.
Off the Rack - these dresses are made in bulk and are usually cheaper than designer gowns. They will come in various sizes, but usually will need to be altered.
Designer Gowns - these dresses are on show and are the made to fit the buyer. Great way to get a well fitting dress.
Couture - these gowns are designed especially for each individual bride. The fit should be perfect and the design unique, which is what you are paying for.
If you are hiring any Wedding attire, try to pick it up 1 to 2 days prior and try it on in the store if possible. If there are any problems they can be fixed quickly if found quickly.
Transport
If you are paying someone to Transport you around, check that they are a Licensed Limousine vehicle and are fully insured. Just in case!
Consider the length of time you will need the transport.
Flowers
When choosing flowers, remember that some flowers are seasonal and some don't do well in some climates. Check with your florist.
Look at the work of the florist, their style and the detail they put into their flowers. Make sure that any photo's you look at are their own work.
Cake
The price of a Wedding Cake is dependant upon the quality of the actual cake, and the quality and time taken to decorate the cake. Ask for a taste.
Let the supplier know about the overall theme of your Wedding.
Stationery
With the development of computers, most stationery these days are designed and printed on home computers.
Remember to make it blend in with the overall style/theme of the Wedding.
Generally you send your invitations 2 months prior to the Wedding Date.
RSVP's should be returned at least 1 month prior to your Wedding Day.
HINTS & TIPS
Music
Consider what you want for the ceremony and reception (Live versus DJ)
Go and listen to their work or ask for a demo CD.
Make sure that they can perform the songs you want.
Decorations
Consider what you have available to work with. Some venues may require a lot of decorations, others may not.
Decorations can tie the whole style or theme of the Wedding together, but don't over do it.
Ask the Venue for the decorator who does the best work in that particular venue.
Jeweler
Shop around, look for quality.
Consider a Jeweler designer, who will design something unique for you and it can be less expensive than a Jeweler shop.
Beauty
Hair and Make Up is best done by Professionals, for the sake of the Photo's. A different style of make up is used when photo's are to be taken. Have a trial a few weeks before, as a test.
Formulate a beauty program for yourself leading up to the Wedding.
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Find out how much time will be needed.
Put together a touch up kit.
The Week Prior
Have a detailed plan of what has to be done in the week prior to the Wedding Date. Include who will do it, and when it should be done.
Double check all suppliers and all details.
Lastly
If all looks too daunting or stressful, hire a Wedding Coordinator who can design and organize a Wedding that reflects your needs and personality. Sometimes the small fee is really worth it.
Toasts & Speeches
Anyone who has ever had to make a speech will probably admit it was one of the most daunting experiences. But speeches, however brief, are an integral part of a wedding reception.
Three or four speeches are usually sufficient, even at a very formal wedding. Toast and speeches follow immediately before the cutting of the cake. The Order of Speeches is listed below but is only an indication.
The Bride's father, or a close friend or relative of the bride's family, is the first to speak. He usually says a few words about the wedding, then asks the guests to raise their glasses to the happiness of the couple.
The Bridegroom then replies to the toast on behalf of himself and his new wife. He thanks the speaker for being there, thanks his own parents and his new parents in law for the wedding. Finally, he proposes the health of the bridesmaids.
The Best Man replies on behalf of the attendants. If the brides father has not spoken at this stage, the best man or family friend can propose a toast to the bride's parents, and the bride's father responds.
An optional toast is to the parents of the bridegroom, to which the bridegroom's father responds. The essence of his speech is to welcome his new daughter-in-law to the family.
Guidelines for speakers
Each speech should take five minutes and most people speak clearly at the rate of 180 words a minute, so plan a speech of about 1000 words. Speakers should make a list of everyone they must thank, and what to thank them for.
It's a good idea to write out the speech in full, and learn the opening and closing paragraphs by heart. Write the key points of the speech on cards, and refer to them when necessary.
Speakers should remember that a wedding is a happy occasion. The audience is not feeling critical, so there is really no need to be nervous.
