Decide whether you and your Fiancé would like a religious or civil ceremony
Set a provisional date
If you opt for religious organise a meeting with your minister/priest/rabbi
If you opt for civil book the ceremony venue or registry office
Check legal requirements regarding marriage certificates and other requirements such as Banns/Notice
Set a realistic budget, and decide between yourselves and parents who will pay for what
Choose your Maid/Matron of Honour, Best Man and other attendants (make sure they’re available and willing)
Compile a provisional guest list to get a rough idea of numbers
Discuss ceremony and reception venue options and arrange to view them
At least make a provisional booking of any favourite venues, you don’t want them getting snapped up while you’re still deciding
Once you’ve decided on a venue make a decision about timings
Once you’re happy with venue and timings pay the deposits required
Decide (with Fiancé) colour schemes and possible themes you might like
If you want to hire a professional wedding planner now is the time to do so
Send out save the dates if you are planning to
*8 - 10 Months Before*
Shop for your wedding dress - remember you’ll need plenty of time for alterations and custom designs
Once your dress is chosen shop for accessories and shoes
Research and book your photographer
Organize wedding insurance
Book Bridal suite for your wedding night
Discuss menu options and drinks packages with your caterer/reception venue. Arrange a tasting appointment
Book your band/DJ/live entertainment
Order your wedding cake, make sure you have fun having a tasting session first
Start thinking about your Honeymoon destination Discuss your wedding flower ideas with a florist
Book transport to and from your venues (remembering transport for parents and attendants too)
*6-8 Months Before:*
Begin your beauty and personal health regime
Confirm your menu and drink choices with caterer
If you’re having a religious ceremony discuss readings and music with your minister/priest/rabbi
Order your wedding stationary
Decide on flower choices and book your florist
Book your Honeymoon and confirm first night bridal suite booking
Find out if you need Visas, inoculations or any other course of medication (example: malaria tablets) for your honeymoon
*4-6 Months Before:*
Book a consultation with your hairdresser to discuss possible styles
Remind your Fiancé to get his and his attendants outfirs
Choose gifts for attendants
Confirm your order of service and have it printed
Compile a gift list if you’re having one
Choose and order wedding favours
Start to plan your rehearsal dinner and tot up number of guests
Choose your wedding rings
Start thinking about make up plans
Discuss possible Hen night plans
*2-4 Months Before:*
Send out Invitations, venue/accommodation details and directions, menu choices, gift lists and any other information for your guests. Or you can choose to send out an information pack once guests confirm their attendance.
Keep an updated list of acceptances and refusals
Make sure that any accommodation has been booked for family members where applicable
If you’re having a religious ceremony book a time and date for a rehearsal
Check your Fiancé and his attendants are on track for the day and outfits have been ordered
Book beauty treatments such as: fake tan, nails waxing etc
Purchase any new make up needed OR book make up artist
If you’re choosing to do a speech start writing your ideas down now
Discuss special requests and play list choices with your DJ or band including first dance choice
Write or choose your wedding vows
*1-2 Months:*
Contact any guests you have not had an RSVP from
Confirm final guest numbers and other details with your reception venue and/or caterers.
Have your final trial with your hairdresser before the big day
Arrange a final fitting for your wedding dress preferably taking one or two of your attendants with you, they’ll need to learn how to help you into your dress for the big day
Try your dress on with all your accessories so you know how it will look and if you are missing anything
Draw up a seating plan for guests
Finalise your speech details and practice it.
Re-confirm bookings for suppliers and deliveries to the venue eg cake and flowers
Order your honeymoon currency
Make a list of must have shots for your photographer and let photographer know
If you’re changing your surname write to banks doctor inland revenue and any other official bodies you need to, to give them notice
Wear in your wedding shoes a little by wearing them around the house
*2 Weeks Before:*
Have your final haircut and colour before the wedding
Attend your rehearsal dinner
Have the hen and stag parties!!! ENJOY!
*1 Week Before:*
Church/Venue rehearsal
Start to pack for honeymoon
Check tickets, passports and any other travel requirements
Go through any last minute details with your attendants, venue and suppliers
*The Day Before:*
Attend your beauty treatment appointments
Arrange for luggage and any other necessary items to be sent to reception/first night venue
Help decorate reception venue if necessary
Have a relaxing evening and head to bed early to be nice and refreshed in the morning
*YOUR BIG DAY!!!!!!*
Get up nice and early, so that you give yourself plenty of time to relax and get ready without having a mad rush.
Make sure you eat breakfast, your nerves might tell you you’re not hungry but you’ll feel better with something in your stomach and you don’t want to faint at the ceremony
Have your hair and make up done
Get dressed with the help of your attendants
The Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids leave first, followed by the Bride and her Father
Now it’s time to make your entrance. Enjoy your day xXx
Thank you was very helpful for me qhile planning and not doing where to go next. And some important stuff I forgot about xx
CommentAuthorNicoleW665
love this list although i hate that the best stuff starts around months before and i still have over a year!
When we met: August 2009
When we announced engagement: December 2015
When we will get married: September 2017
CommentAuthorMaxineP89
Done everything for the "as soon as possible" We are now in limbo as everything else seems to be 8 to 10 months before - we still have 18 months till the wedding Great list though and really helpful
Looking forward to becoming the 3rd and last Mrs McLauchlan
CommentAuthorStephH96
Nicola, Maxine - the list is only a guideline. if you feel like you want to do something earlier you can do. x
CommentAuthorSusanM34
Yep, definitely agree with Steph! You think you have ages, but suddenly you realise that you only have 5 months left and you haven't booked your car yet ..... ooops! Time comes around too fast.
Became Mrs Maunders on 22nd October 2016!
CommentAuthorHannahbride2be
Thank god someone has done this! It's 65 weeks till my wedding and I have only booked the venue!
CommentAuthorLoraineP11
fabulous list but mine will be shorter as we are hoping to get married in October this year! registry office, midweek. Im really excited . The venue is sorted as my daughter has a lovely big house which she is letting us use. We are on a tight budget but we will have the best we can afford. Lots of things will be handmade such as decorations, invitations. Cant decide on colour for my dress too many to chose from.
CommentAuthorAnikaM60
Really helpful list
CommentAuthortinytamara
This list has really helped me
CommentAuthorNicoleW665
bumping for a new member
When we met: August 2009
When we announced engagement: December 2015
When we will get married: September 2017
CommentAuthorSvitlanaM
If you have money, you can hire wedding planner.
CommentAuthorKymD91
Does anyone have a to do list on marrying abroad?!? Xx
CommentAuthorFlossie
I've bumped the official thread Kym.
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorCharmainey88
Thank god for this list, now to write down what I have missed lol xx
Can't wait for my happy ever after
CommentAuthorDanielleB147
hi, totally new to all of this! recently engaged and went to my first ever wedding fayre today- still clueless haha! however this list has made me feel better. Our date is 3 years away but its never too early to plan is it? a 'friendly' debate going on with the other half and myself lol, xx
CommentAuthorWizbit89
HI Danielle,
Our wedding is May 2018 and my OH is completely refusing to help or plan as its still too far away. I have planned loads and just run things past him which he nods or grunts at! I have had to majorly put my foot down and tell him he has to pick his BM and groomsmen by new year so they have enough warning and time to decide if they want to do it or not which he has finally agreed to!
3 years is a long way off, I would start making mood boards of what you like for each thing, maybe decide on a budget and start looking at venues as they can book up early, but you don't need to sweat the smaller stuff yet :) xx
CommentAuthorLaurenD45
We are getting married in less than 6 weeks and the h2b has only this week started taking an interest. Suddenly he has demands and opinions on everything.
Have the conversations early and set stuff in stone or you will end up "up the wall" like I currently am hehe
CommentAuthorHarrietA35
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These are actually very similar to the checklist on ******* haha. They are pretty great though. I'd recommend using ******* though because it's essentially this but interactive. as in you can check things off and write notes. It's pretty solid! xoxo
*******EDIT : SITE AND COMPANY NAME DISGUISED IN LINE WITH FORUM RULES. MODERATORS
CommentAuthorGemmaS391
So much to do!!! Really helpful to see it all written down like that, thank you!
CommentAuthorCindyD7
im getting married april 2019, how soon should i start booking things? xx
CommentAuthorNicoleW665
Cindy, it wouldn't harm to start booking things now to be honest - some vendors fill up fast x
When we met: August 2009
When we announced engagement: December 2015
When we will get married: September 2017
CommentAuthorKatieD57
I got engaged on Christmas Eve and my mind has been going 100 miles an hour on what i need to do and when! This is a great guide! Thank you!!!! Xx
CommentAuthorSarahW9216
I'm already planning like mad for our Oct 2019 wedding , and I'm already driving my OH mad.. I have loads too do and his and my families to sort out..
Counting down the days till I'm Mrs B
CommentAuthorFutureMrsW
The time really does fly! You can never start too early, especially when it comes to big things like venues and photographers, they can book up fast x
CommentAuthorJenniferR20
Great list. Still in the whirling pool of I'm engaged, Where do we start!? Thank you
CommentAuthorMaxineP89
Just checking on the "to do" list. Seems like we are a little ahead of ourselves (thankfully) still 10 months to go, but time is flying
Looking forward to becoming the 3rd and last Mrs McLauchlan
CommentAuthorFutureMrsW
I have been going through this to make a personalised to do list and thought of something else that might want to be included
The week before - write special cards or letters to each other for the wedding morning
:)
CommentAuthorKatieW528
brillaint list... we have just started planning our wedding and there is so much to decide and organise... dont really know where to start
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CommentAuthorKellyA203
Great list thanks. In hindsight I wish I had picked my dream venue before writing up a potential guest list. Now I'm really limited by where I can put everyone. The blessing of having a massive family.
CommentAuthorGeorgeP35
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CommentAuthorHannahM6047
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CommentAuthorMariaB122
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Heeeey Girls! So excited my wedding will be early next year! As I will be planning it myself due to a limited budget I need some websotes, inspirations and checklist. So far I found this nice Infographic. Do you think its good? Thanks!
*********EDIT: LINKS DELETED FOR BREAKING FORUM RULES. PLEASE READ THE FORUM RULES. MODERATORS
CommentAuthorShawneen
I got engaged to my H2B just before Christmas there and our Wedding Date is 21.09.19. We have already booked our venues for the ceremony and reception, we have booked the photographer and dj. Our flowers are sorted and we will be sending out our Save the Dates very soon. We are in talks with different companies at the minute about cars, cake, favours and suits and dresses, etc. Finding it a bit hard to get things in our colour theme though.
CommentAuthorBathrobesU
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nice
CommentAuthorLatiina
Thank you, very useful checklist !!
CommentAuthorthedeadred
Fantastic checklist! Will be using when things start to grt closer... still got another 5 years yet and I’m already nervous haha!
CommentAuthorNickyL99
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I now need a list to make sure I have all the lists completed.
CommentAuthorStaceyN460
This is brilliant thanks for this. Just got engaged and have no idea where to start but this list will definitely be of good use :)
CommentAuthorKathyR66
Amazing !!!
CommentAuthorPaulaG548
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Thanks for the good tips. Congratulations on all of your engagements! Unfortunately, weddings are the kind of thing a lot (most?) of us only plan once, so it's hard to come in knowing what you're doing. What you need is a checklist or a schedule. I started with TheKnot but it's not easy to use. Then I found templates and created my own wedding check-list with good scheduling.
CommentAuthorChristinaB25
edited
Hi, I use wedding planning checklist from wedding forward blog. I prefer this one because it's have all things not to forget while wedding planning. I saw some at brides and theknot. Who use from them?
CommentAuthorChristinaB25
Hi, I use wedding planning checklist from wedding forward blog. I prefer this one because it's have all things not to forget while wedding planning. I saw some at brides and theknot. Who use from them?
CommentAuthorEmilyJ24715
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That’s very helpful! I so need to start my planning! All I have so far is my florist, venue and my dress basically! I’ve booked this new wedding florist called **************** and I’m so happy with them! And for my dress I went with Jenny Packham.
