So, what do you do now?! Well, here is a countdown which might help.

12 Months before

• Choose a wedding date.
• Decide on your budget.
• If you are getting married in church you will need to agree on the arrangements with your local minister.
• If you are getting married in a register office, you will need to give notice to the Registrar
• Decide on the number of guests and make a list
• Book the wedding reception
• Book musicians, band or DJ for the wedding reception
• Book any wedding entertainment you might be having.
• Book the caterers - if your venue is not doing the catering
• Book the photographer and videographer
• Book the wedding cars
• Book the florist - bouquets and button holes and check who is doing the church flowers
• Book the honeymoon and apply for a new passport (i.e. The bride may wish to travel under her married name, but be prepared to be unable to travel until your wedding date, as your old passport will be invalid).
• Order the cake.
• Book an over night stay in a hotel room/bridal suite.
• Start looking for your wedding dress. Decide whether you want it handmade, a designer or ‘off the peg’ dress.
• Decide on your bridesmaids and ushers.
• Decide on your ‘Best Man’.
• Confirm all bookings in writing.

6 Months before

• Attend initial fitting for the wedding dress
• Choose the brides wedding shoes and accessories
• Choose the wedding attire for the groom, best man, bridesmaids, fathers, mothers and ushers
• Choose the brides and grooms wedding rings
• Order your wedding favours.
• Order the wedding invitations and other stationery.
• Take out wedding insurance, if required.
• Arrange to see your hairdresser or barber about what hairstyle you want on your big day. Brides should take along a picture of the dress and veil or headdress and other accessories to help the hairdresser create a hairstyle that will compliment and finish off the look.
• Book a beautician for your wedding day, if required

3 Months before

• Buy your Marriage licence from the registrar
• Send out the wedding invitations
• Decide upon your wedding list, and make it available to all your wedding guests
• Advise your guests to book any overnight accommodation now while there is still availability
• Confirm your ceremony details with either the registrar or the minister
• Decide upon your chosen wedding music or hymns
• Arrange for the ‘Order of Service’ sheets to be printed
• Buy gifts for the best man, ushers and bridesmaids
• Discuss the seating plan with the venue
• Arrange to have any vaccinations done for your honeymoon, if required
• Start to plan your hen and stag party

1 month before

• Arrange for a final fitting of your wedding dress.
• Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the reception venue.
• Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the caterer - if different to the venue.
• Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the florist.
• Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the photographer and videographer
• Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the company supplying the wedding cars.
• Reconfirm the honeymoon arrangements.
• Reconfirm all your entertainment.
• Finalise the seating plan with the venue.
• Arrange a date for a wedding rehearsal, if required.
• Send out thank you cards to all guests who have responded to your invitation.
• Contact any guests who have not yet responded to your invitation.
• Organise a date when you can pick up you’re wedding party outfits.
• Write the wedding speeches ( groom, best man, father of the bride).

Within 7 Days of the Big Day!

• Have the wedding rehearsal.
• Pack for your honeymoon.
• Organise with a close friend to have an emergency wedding kit, just for the bride, containing makeup and a repair kit for the wedding dress, so you can be ready for any minor hiccups through the day.
• Give your ‘order of service’ sheets to the minister.
• Order your foreign currency and / or travellers cheques for the honeymoon  - if required.
• Give the best man a list of all the wedding services involved in your wedding day, in case they need to be contacted

The Day before

• Have the day off and chill out. Difficult I know when there is so much to think about but try!!
• Brides have your nails manicured.
• Grooms go and have your hair tidied up around the back and sides.
• Spend the rest of the day relaxing.
• Try and get an early night