our essential guide to planning your BIG DAY

Do it now

• Announce your engagement
• Tell family and friends of your plans
• Decide what type of wedding you want: Church, Civil, Abroad, traditional, modern, relaxed.
• Choose a date
• Arrange a first meeting with a minister, priest, rabbi, if it’s a civil ceremony, book the register office of venue.
• Set a budget and decide you is doing what
• Decide on the number of guests and draw up a list with both sets of parents.
• Visit as many possible venues for your reception – if it is a popular place, book it as soon as possible.
• Choose your Chief bridesmaids, best man and other attendants.
• Start getting as many quotes and estimates as possible for suppliers

6-9 months to go

• Book caterers and discuss menu options.
• Book as many other suppliers as possible and discuss in length your requirements, florists, photographer, bands, entertainments, transport etc..
• Start looking for your dress and attendants outfits
• Begin a beuty regime
• Organise wedding insurance

3 months to go

• Arrange a second meeting with your minister, priest , rabbi to discuss order of service, reading of banns if necessary.
• Choose hymns and music; book any musicians.
• Order the wedding cake
• Place an order for all wedding stationery
• Meet with you florist to discuss your requirements
• Arrange fittings for your wedding dress
• Find and discuss your hair style with a hair dresses
• Book both the hotel for your first night and honeymoon
• Check passports and any inoculations
• Choose wedding rings
• Organise your gift list
• Post invites with gift list details

2 months to go

• Finalise order of service and order printed sheets
• Reconfirm all supplier bookings
• Book hair dresser and make make up appointments for the morning of the wedding
• Send out thank you notes as gifts arrive
• Buy all your accessories
• Check the groom and best man have organised their wedding clothes
• Choose presents for attendants and any one special tat has helped you with the planning.

1 month to go

• Make a list of must –take photos and send to your photographer
• Write to the banks, driving licence, doctors and any other official bodied if you are changing your name

2 weeks to go

• Confirm the number of guest with the venue and caterers
• Draw up a seating plan
• Try on your full wedding outfit and practice walking in your shoes, same applies for your bridesmaids.

1 week to go

• Confirm all reception arrangements
• Have a rehearsal at the venue / church if necessary.
• Confirm florist, transport, photographer, etc
• Pack for the honeymoon and order travellers cheques in necessary.

The Day Before

• Help decorate the reception venue if necessary
• Organise the cake to be delivered to the venue, if necessary
• Have a manicure and a pamper
• Have any luggage for honeymoon or first night sent to your reception venue
• Relax, have a long bath and an early night

THE BIG DAY

• Give yourself plenty of time to relax and get ready.
• Have the bouquets, buttonholes and corsages delivered or get someone to collect from the florist.
• The mother of the bride and bridesmaids leave first, then the bride and her father.
• The groom and best man make their own way to the service they should arrive 30minutes before the bride.
• Speeches are normally made as coffee is served. The brides father speaks first , followed by the groom and then the best man.
• Lastly enjoy the day – you’ve planned for so long and remember it is your day so you can have it your way.