Planning & Wedding Planning Guide

Wedding Planner Guide

EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE

• Hire the photographer and the videographer

No need to talk specifics yet, but be sure that the people you hire are open to doing the shots that you want.

• Book the entertainment

Attend gigs of potential acts to see how they perform in front of audiences, then reserve your favourite.

• Meet the chef

Our head chef will be happy to go through our menu and alter any specific requests to cater to you personal preferences. You can also discuss the cake.

• Purchase a dress

You’ll need to schedule time for at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be postponed for another two to three months.

• Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests

We can do this for you at the hotel and book out the relevant b & b’s in the village.

• Register for wedding presents

Sign up at a minimum of three retailers.

• Launch a wedding website

Create your personal page through a free provider such as www.weddingchannel.com. Note the date of the wedding, travel information, and accommodations. Then send the link to invitees.

SIX MONTHS BEFORE

• Select and purchase invitations

Hire a calligrapher, if desired. Addressing cards is time-consuming, we can help with this.

• Start planning a honeymoon

Make sure that your passports are up-to-date, and schedule doctors’ appointments for any shots you may need.

• Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses

Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.

• Meet with the officiant

Map out the ceremony and confirm that you have all the official documents for the wedding

• Send save-the-date cards

• Book a florist

Florists can serve multiple clients on one day, which is why you can wait a little longer to engage one. Plus, at this point, you’ll be firm on what your wedding palette will be.

• Arrange transportation

Consider limos, minibuses, trolleys, and town cars. (But know that low-to-the-ground limos can make entries and exits dicey if you’re wearing a fitted gown.)

• Start composing a day-of timeline

Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance).

FOUR MONTHS BEFORE

• Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues

Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you’re planning to host a day-after brunch for guests, book that as well.

• Check on the wedding invitations

Ask the stationer for samples of the finished invitations and revise them to suit your needs.

• Select and order the cake

• Send your guest list to the host of your Hen party

• Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings

Bring the shoes along to your first fitting so the tailor can choose the appropriate length for your gown.

• Schedule hair and makeup artists

• Choose your music

What should be playing when the wedding party is announced? During dinner? To kick off the dancing? Keep a running list of what you want—and do not want—played.

THREE MONTHS BEFORE

• Finalise the menu and flowers

You’ll want to wait until now to see what will be available, since food and flowers may be affected by seasonal disruption.

• Order favours, if desired

Some safe bets: monogrammed cookies or a treat that represents your city or county. If you’re planning to have welcome baskets for out-of-town guests, plan those now too.

• Make a list of the people giving toasts and making readings at the ceremony

• Purchase your undergarments

And schedule your second fitting.

• Finalise the order of the ceremony and the reception

• Visit suit hire, organise the grooms attire and book in groomsmen for fittings as well as father of the bride

• Order menu cards & programs

We can supply these for you if required

• Purchase the rings

This will give you time for resizing and engraving

• Send your event schedule to the Suppliers

Giving them a first draft now allows ample time for tweaks and feedback.

TWO MONTHS BEFORE

• Touch base again with all the suppliers.

Make sure any questions you or they had on your first draft have been answered.

• Meet with the photographer

Discuss specific shots, and walk through the locations to note spots that appeal to you.

• Review the playlist with the band or DJ

Though you probably won’t be able to dictate every single song played, you should come prepared with a wish list.

• Send out the invitations

The rule of thumb: Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the ceremony, setting the RSVP cut off at three weeks after the postmark date.

• Submit a newspaper wedding announcement

If you’re planning to include a photograph, check the publication’s website: Some have strict rules about how the photo should look.

• Hen party

Arranging a night out with your girlfriends generally falls to the maid of honour. But if she hasn’t mentioned one to you by now, feel free to ask—for scheduling purposes, of course!—if a celebration is in the works.

ONE MONTH BEFORE

• Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database

Phone people who have not yet responded.

• Register your marriage at local register office

For most marriages or civil partnerships you must give at least 28 full days’ notice at your local register office. You need to include details of where you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. Your notice will be publicly displayed in the register office for 28 days. You may also need to give notice here if you plan to marry or form a civil partnership abroad. Ask the overseas authority if you’ll need a ‘certificate of no impediment’.
Use link to find your local office:

www.gov.uk/register-offices

• Post the rehearsal-dinner invitations

• Visit the dressmaker for (with luck!) your last dress fitting

For peace of mind, you may want to schedule a fitting the week of your wedding. You can always cancel the appointment if you try on the dress then and it fits perfectly.

• Confirm times for hair and makeup

E-mail and print directions for drivers of transport vehicles

• This gives the chauffeurs ample time to navigate a route

• Assign seating

We will work with you for the layout of the room to help plan place settings. Write the names of female guests on pink sticky notes and the names of male guests on blue sticky notes so you can move people about without having to draw the entire setting again.

• Purchase bridesmaids’ gifts

You’ll present them at the rehearsal dinner.

• Write vows, if necessary

WEEK OF THE WEDDING

• Reconfirm arrival times with Suppliers.

• Delegate small wedding-day tasks

Choose someone to bustle your dress, someone to carry your things, someone to be in charge of gifts (especially cash), someone to hand out tips, and someone to be the point person for each supplier.

• Send a timeline to the bridal party

Include every member’s contact information, along with the point people you’ve asked to deal with the vendors, if problems arise.

• Pick up your dress

Or make arrangements for a delivery.

• Check in one last time with the photographer

Supply him or her with a list of moments you want captured on film.

• Make an appointment for a manicure, pedicure, and massage the day before the wedding

• Send the final guest list to the caterer and all venues hosting your wedding

• Break in your shoes

• Pack for your honeymoon.

REMEMBER DO NOT STRESS, ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE!