Wedding Planning Schedule

 

6 Months Before the Wedding

1.      Pick a date

2.      Make an appointment with the minister or priest.  This gives the couple enough time to go through marriage counselling.  You may spend millions of dollars for a wedding, but remember, a wedding only lasts one day and a marriage is forever.  So be prepared

3.      Set a date with the minister/priest

4.      Establish the size of your budget.  This determines the type of venue you choose as well as the service providers

5.      Decide on the colour for your wedding.  Is it going be one colour or two? Choose carefully to make sure your wedding is classy.

6.      Select Bridesmaids and Groomsmen (Choose the Maid of Honor and the Best Man)

7.      Decide on the venue and book for the preferred date.  The venue depends on the couple’s preferences

8.      Book anything that needs to be rented; linen, tables and chairs and even dresses if necessary.  This is to make sure you are able to get what you want on the date you want

9.     Order wedding cake

10.   Order invitations and reply cards

11.   Book the videographer and photographer

12.   Decide on the best dress for you

13.   Draw up your guest list ; divide the total amount of guests decided on between the Groom’s family and friends and the bride’s

14.   If you wish to start to lose weight in order to fit into that size 0 wedding dress, you better start now!:)

15.   Decide who will be in your bridal team and what they will wear

 

4 Months Before

1.       Meet with designer  for  the bride’s dress or the visit the wedding dress shop to get your fitting

2.       Purchase the bridesmaid’s dresses and groomsmen’s suits.

3.       Choose your master of ceremony and let them know (or book a professional if necessary)

4.       Choose guests that will make speeches and toasts in order to give them time to prepare

5.       Start taking dance lessons if necessary (which it usually is)

6.       Have the invitations printed

7.       Organise the seating plan.  Seat people who know each other and those you know will get on well

 

3 Months Before

1.       Finish off paying any payments for all service providers that have not been settled.  This ensures commitment from the service providers and avoids the awkward situation of being asked for payment on the day of your wedding (yikes!)

2.       Confirm the playlist with the DJs

3.       Organise a team of people who will usher people to their seats.  This can be people from your church or people hired by the wedding planner

4.       If you have chosen a band to play on your wedding, organise to go listen to them play

5.       Go see the makeup and hair service providers and do a sample exercise to make sure they know how to meet your tastes and preferences

6.       Book the florist and decide on the flower design

7.       Bride and Groom can go buy a suit for the groom

8.       Book a classy car for transportation of the bride, groom and bridal party

 

2 Months Before

1.       Mail invitations and include a map at the back to avoid guests getting lost on their way to your wedding

2.       Book accommodation for the wedding night (oooohhhh!)

3.       Choose readings for the ceremony and give copies of the readings to those who have been asked to do the reading so they have time to practice.

4.       Go and select the wedding rings

 

 1 Month before

1.       Finalise the menu with the caterer.  Do a sample tasting in order to have an idea of the quality of food.  It would be advisable to attend a wedding that the caterer is catering for in order to ensure that the caterer can handle preparing quality food for hundreds of people.

2.       Finalise the number of bouquets with the florists, including finalising the corsages, floral decor, flower confetti, everything!

3.       The bride and groom must begin working on their speeches

4.        Update the guest list to accommodate any changes.  Call anyone who did not RSVP to confirm if they can make it

5.       Arrange the pearls or any other jewellery and accessories that will be worn by the bride as well as the bridal team

6.       Buy stockings and lingerie as well as bath oils, foam bath and perfumes.  This to pamper yourself on the big day so as to stay relaxed before the ceremony begins

 

2 Weeks Before

1.       Do the final confirmation of the guest numbers with the caterer

2.       Work out the programme of the ceremony and reception and print it out.  Work out how long each person can talk

1 Week Before

1.       Assign a friend to be in charge of your gifts for when you go off to your honeymoon

2.       Double check to make to sure your dress fits well (hope you haven’t gained any weight!)

3.       Check to make sure the cake is ready and collect it for safe keeping

4.       Finalise the programme  and print it

5.       Do a rehearsal in the church to make sure everyone knows what they are doing on the big day

6.       Buy everyone involved in the organising of your wedding a gift as a token of appreciation

7.       Buy the groom a gift, something special and sentimental, but not too expensive; remember it’s the thought that counts

 

One Day Before
 

1.       Enjoy a nice day with your husband to be, cause that is the last time he will see you until you walk down the aisle

2.       Do not sleep too late.
 

On Your Wedding Day

1.       No need to wake up early, make sure you have enough rest.

2.       Read your bible – a message will relax you and give you time to reflect on your big day

3.       Take a nice long bath

4.       Have a light meal do not eat too much

5.       Do your nails (or have someone do them for you)

6.       Pamper yourself, use those bath oils we talked about and go get a massage and facial if possible

7.       Moisturise your skin well

8.       Put your dress on carefully to make sure your hair and makeup is in tact

9.       Give your parents gifts to thank them for their help and support

10.   And finally enjoy your day ladies and don’t worry about the small stuff coz guests don’t even notice it anyway.

After the Wedding/Honeymoon

1.       Check to make sure all rented items have been returned.  Remember, all contracts have your name on them so you will be held accountable for breakages or losses

2.       If possible, contact all the service providers (or at least a few) to thank them for their service.  You don’t have to, but it’s just out of courtesy you know.  If necessary complain about anything they did not do right.

3.       Marriage has begun people!  God bless yal and may you live happily ever after