The Big Day Countdown
18-24 months to go
Choose the date and venue!
Many churches and civil ceremony venues need to be organised in advance, and your whole day will be planned around this date. Therefore, this should be your first port of call. If you want to be married on a special day, like St Valentine’s Day, or at a larger, more prestigious venue, you may need to book even earlier than this.
12-18 months to go
Choose your outfits and sort out your honeymoon!
The honeymoon is a real treat, especially after the stress of organising your big day! To this end, it should be arranged well in advance. Because the bride’s dress will be the centre of attention, it takes a great deal of time to choose. This needs to be accomplished as early as possible, as the groom and all attendants will then choose their outfits in relation to this focal point.
6-12 months to go
Well in advance, it’s a good idea to sort out rings and confirm the arrangements for the honeymoon, are your passports valid, for example? As the bride will probably have chosen her dress by now, it’s perhaps prudent for the groom to organise his suit, and those for his attendants, to match. Make sure you’ve measured your fingers and ordered the rings.
3-6 months to go
Having shopped around for the cake and for flowers, make sure the details of these are confirmed and that they can be delivered a day before, or on the day at the latest. Brides, you should already have approved the dress and been for a fitting, but it’s perhaps a good idea to have a second fitting around this time. Additionally, it’s prudent to organise a trial make-up session with your chosen beautician, ideally on the day you attend a dress fitting.
1-2 months to go
Contact all suppliers and confirm booking details and, if applicable, delivery arrangements. Organise stag and hen nights and if you’ve opted for a civil ceremony rather than a church ceremony, now is the time to make your civil application. Make sure that stationery has been ordered and sent out.
Less than a month! Crikey, it’s getting close now! Make a nuptial announcement to the local press. Have a final fitting of dresses and morning suits. Send out thank-you letters for wedding presents as they arrive and finalise numbers for the reception venue. Sort out a list of dealers and suppliers with whom to check delivery details. From this point on it’s a good idea to stop smoking and start using conditioners and moisturisers to ensure that your hair and skin look good for the big day.
Less than a week!!!
Have a dress rehearsal, checking your makeup and clothing. Arrange honeymoon suitcases and ensure you’ve bought everything you need for going away – sun tan lotion, bikini, reading matter for on the beach… Make final checks for delivery from suppliers and confirm bookings, then relax and enjoy the build up to your special day!
Less than 24 hours
Grooms, leave a short note telling your betrothed how much you love her and how much you’re looking forward to marrying her! Brides, have a long hot bath in the evening and a glass of wine! Make arrangements for your honeymoon luggage to be kept somewhere convenient for when you depart!
Awake early and have a decent breakfast so that your stomach isn’t rumbling when you say “I do!” Get ready in plenty of time and try your best to relax before leaving the house at a sedate pace! Ushers should arrive at the church before anyone else and be able to direct everybody to their places.
The bride’s parents and family sit to the left, while the groom’s entourage sits to the right. The groom and best man should arrive 15 minutes before the commencement of the ceremony. Once the bride and her father have arrived, the ceremony can begin!
Wedding Plans | In The Know | A-Z of Getting Wed | Gift List | Videos
- Be the perfect bride with the perfect day. Keep everything in one place when you sign up to Eternity. Click Here to find out more.