Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting stages of your life. You’re going to marry the person of your dreams, what could be better? However, the thought of this planning can be overwhelming for some people. This is where a wedding planning checklist can come in handy. It will organise you and make sure you won’t forget anything!
To help you, we have put together some important things to write on your checklist. We’ll start with things to do first and finish with last minute details. Let’s go!
1. Budget
First thing’s first, you need to plan how much you want to spend on your wedding. Then you need to elaborate your budget: what do you want to make a priority? On which parts do you want to allocate the most money? Once you have a budget, you can start looking at venues, decorations and vendors to fit your price limits.
2. Guests
Now you know how much you want to spend, you can choose your guests accordingly. Your budget may not allow for a huge list of guests, so you’ll need to decide who you want there the most. It is often the case that more guests get invited for the reception after the dinner, so you can involve more people at the wedding party.
3. Wedding planner
A wedding planner will be like your fairy godmother during the planning. She will take away your stress and will know all the best venues and vendors to make your day successful. Having a wedding planner is especially beneficial if you have a busy schedule outside of wedding planning. You can carry on with normal life knowing everything to do with your wedding is being taken care of.
4. Venue
Once you have your guest list, you can start the search for your ideal venue which has capacity for all guests. Look for somewhere that suits your style. It could also be a good idea from a financial and convenience point of view to hire a venue in which you can host each part of your wedding. As a result, you don’t have to think about guest transportation during the day, nor guest accommodation.
5. Theme & decor
Now you have your venue, you can decide on how you want it to be styled! This is one of the most fun parts. What colour scheme do you want? Do you want a particular theme that means something to you as a couple? Flowers? Arches? The list is endless! Pinterest is amazing for inspiration.
6. Vendors
To make your decor dreams come true, start thinking about hiring your florists and other decoration suppliers. Your wedding planner will know the best vendors to suit your style. Other vendors to hire include caterers, entertainers (such as a live music group or DJ), and a photographer/videographer.
7. Save-the-Date cards and invitations
Design your save-the-date cards and invitations to suit the style of your wedding. Include an RSVP and make sure you set a date you want your guests to confirm by.
8. Outfits
Start looking at potential wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses to allow for fittings. Buying a wedding dress is a beautiful moment, we hope it’ll be a memory you can treasure forever. Also look for outfits for the groom and groomsmen. It is a nice touch to incorporate a similar colour scheme to the bridesmaids’ and groomsmens’ outfits. For example, their ties could match the colour of their dresses.
9. Officiant
If you have opted for a non-religious ceremony, hiring an officiant is the next step. Nowadays, it is becoming common for couples to choose friends or family members to do this. More traditionally, there are professionals who carry out the ceremony.
10. Transportation
If your guests need a way of getting from A to B on your wedding day, it is time to start thinking about hiring transportation. There are so many options of transport: cars, coaches, taxis etc…
11. Menu
Think about what you want to eat on your wedding day. Consult your caterers regarding what options they have and arrange a menu tasting. A tasting will give you the opportunity to know if you like the menu or not.
12. Cake
Whilst we’re on the topic of food, now could be a good time to think about your cake.
13. Rings
You and your husband can go and choose your wedding rings together, or you can leave it as a surprise. Just remember to get them ready on the morning of the Big Day!
14. Styling
Organise who you want to do the bride’s and bridesmaids’ hair and makeup. It is always a good idea to organise a makeup and hair trial to work out timings and make sure you and your bridesmaids are happy.
15. Seating
Often the hardest part for couples is deciding where to seat their guests at the ceremony and banquet. Think about who would like to sit with who and whether or not you’d like a top table.
16. Vows
The time has come to write your all-important vows if you have chosen to create your own. Make them personal and rehearse them so you are ready for your big moment.
17. Gifts
Show your guests your appreciation with a small gift. Knowing what to get can be difficult, but here we have compiled a list of ideas for guests’ gifts. We hope it helps!
18. Songs
Speak with your partner and family about what songs you’d like to play at your wedding and reception. Once you have a list, you can send this to your chosen DJ/musician to make sure they’re prepared.
19. Relax
Now sit back and relax, most of the planning is now done. Consult with your wedding planner about a wedding coordinator to ensure the smooth running of your big day from start to finish. This will remove last minute panicking as they will resolve any issues on the day.
Here are some things to think about when creating a wedding planning checklist. Of course, a wedding planner could be a huge help during this process. To work with our expert wedding planner, you can write to us at info@svadbavispanii.ru to get the process started.