weddings > planning > the master plan

 

 

The Master plan:

There is so much to do and every wedding is different, the basic rule is do what you want to do because it is your day and nobody elses. Below is an overview of what may need to be done.

Good Luck!

24 to 12 Months Before:

Announce your engagement

Organise a night for the families / in-laws to meet

Decide on a tentative wedding date. Generally the church/location, reception and photographer availability should aline themselves first. This of course depends on your individual priorities.
Outline a budget for the wedding.

Get prices and pencil book a reception with your fiancé as early as possible.( let the reception house know that you will give them an answer by X date ) Co-ordinate the date and time that you choose for both your ceremony, photographer and reception.

Check the availability of the photographer you want.

Decide on the location of ceremony -

  • Church
  • Cathedral
  • Garden/Park
  • Hall
  • Beach>
  • Mountains

Select the celebrant, minister or registrar for the wedding ceremony.

Set the Date.

Set the style of wedding 

  • Formal (Black Tie) 
  • Semi formal (suit and tie) 
  • Informal (suit)
  • Cocktail Party 
  • Smart Casual 
  • Casual
  • Theme
  • As You Are

Make a full guest list of both families and friends, before cutting it back.

Arrange the premarital counseling or marriage preparation classes with your celebrant.

Select a color scheme for your wedding and reception.

Soon after setting a wedding date, select your bridesmaid and/or maid of honour and invite them to participate.

Agree on the style of wedding 

12 to 6 Months Before:

Shop for your wedding gown, headpiece, veil, and other accessories. 

After selecting your bridesmaids/maid of honour, record their names, addresses, phone numbers and clothing sizes. Talk about dress styles and footwear

Select professionals to provide the following for your special day ...

These professionals often are booked months in advance, so contact them as early as possible.

Reserve any marquees, tables or chairs or decorations for your reception

Register with the bridal gift registry of your favorite store.

3to 6 Months Before:

Set a deadline for your families' completed guest lists.

Order wedding invitations ASAP, thank you notes and place cards

Choose your wedding rings.

Send out your invitations AT LEAST ten weeks before the wedding.(in this area accommodation can be hard to find, so think of your guests).

Compile a list of names for the bridal shower guests.

Arrange any necessary transportation for the wedding party

Coordinate your wardrobe with lingerie

Schedule appointments for a dental examination

Begin looking for a place to live or choose a mortgage broker

Discuss honeymoon plans with your fiancé. 

 

2 Months Before:

As gifts arrive, enter descriptions next to the names on the Guest List and write thank you notes. DELEGATE this to someone.

Buy and wrap your bridesmaids' gifts. 

Check on the dates if using a dressmaker for the completion of your gown and the bridesmaids' dresses.

Organise vaccinations, passport, visas, tickets and confirm your hotel reservations for your honeymoon.

Purchase or book groom's clothes

Plan where to dress on your wedding day.

Choose your ceremony and wedding reception music.

Finalise plans and designs with your florist.

Talk final details with your photographer .

Discuss final plans with the caterer.

Finalise plans for the wedding cake and or delivery

Arrange a meeting with your videographer

Plan the wedding rehearsal date with the officiant.

Book accommodation for out-of-town guests. DELEGATE this.

Begin wedding dancing classes

Choose the readers for your ceremony

Buy the special lingerie and stockings that your dress requires.

Buy or make your bomboniere

Compile all government marriage requirements. (you need a FULL month)

Contact the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in your state if you are intending to change your name. 

1 Month Before:

Have your wedding rings engraved.

Continue writing thank you notes as gifts arrive.

Set dates with bridesmaid for any parties

Schedule an appointment to have a trial  on you hair and makeup .

Confirm that your bridesmaids have purchased their wedding accessories.

Schedule a fitting for your gown.

Have each bridal attendant be responsible for making and keeping her own fittings.

Choose your Master of Ceremonies and discuss the routine at your reception

Order your disposable cameras for the guest tables at reception.

Ask your family or friends to make speeches at your wedding. Be strict about the time length -suggest maximum 5 minutes per speech.

Book appointments with the beautician for a manicure and pedicure, massage or facial

Remind the Best Man to organise the buck's night out

Remind the Matron of Honour to organise the hen's night out

Make any necessary arrangements for after-the-wedding cleanup, return of rental equipment, and transportation of gifts. 

Have programs printed.

2 Weeks Before:

Continue writing thank you notes.

If you are getting your bridal gown made, have your final fitting

Begin keeping your wedding day clothes in one place and check them off against a list you make for your wedding day

Confirm all your bookings for peace of mind

Confirm numbers to your caterer or reception centre

Try on your wedding dress with all the accessories you will wear on the day including: veil and/or head-piece, shoes and stockings, lingerie and jewellery

Discuss requirements with your Master of Ceremonies

Write your speech if you are doing one. Practice this daily

Arrange the seating plans and write place cards

Pack your clothes for the honeymoon. Remember cameras, film, sun lotion and contraceptives.

1 Week Before:

Organise something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue

Pack for your honeymoon. Organise travellers cheques, travel insurance and make copies of your travel documents to leave with your family

Give your bridal party their gifts

Attend the rehearsal

Assign responsibilities -handing our programs, pining on corsages and boutonnieres to bridal party

Make some time to relax with your fiancé.

Pamper yourself with beauty treatments

1 Day Before:

Have your nails painted or manicured

Pack an overnight bag for your wedding night

Organise snacks and champagne to have on your wedding day while getting ready

Organise for family members to make any necessary payments on the day or to collect items such as CD's, personal crystal glasses, flowers etc

Check that groom is prepared and all details finalised.

Lay out your wedding dress and all accessories needed for your wedding day, including an emergency kit (nail polish for ladders in stockings, lipstick, face powder, quickeze, safety pins, deodorant, mints)

Rehearse your speech

Take a long relaxing bath and get to bed early

Drink plenty of water.

YOUR WEDDING DAY:

Sleep in if possible and have a good breakfast

Drink plenty of water early in the day, as you will have a period of time where you can't.

Let yourself be pampered by your manicurist, hair stylist and makeup artist

Make sure you eat before the ceremony, even if you don't feel hungry

Enjoy the day and every time you can, take the chance to look around you and "take a moment". These "moments" will be your memories for the rest of your life.