LOVE AND MARRIAGE

9 - 12 months before

• Announce engagement • Choose wedding date and time • Check with important guests that they are free that date • Work out a budget for your wedding and reception - and agree on who is paying! • If appropriate decide on a theme for the wedding • Hire a wedding planner if necessary • Start looking for venues for the wedding and the reception • Find a wedding officiant (the person who will be marrying you) and agree on their fee

8 months before

• Book venue for the wedding and the reception • Meet and hire a photographer or a videographer if you’re filming the wedding • Meet and book caterer and discuss possible menus • Draw up initial guest list • Book live entertainment and/ or a DJ if necessary • Choose your best man or best woman

6 – 7 months before

• Start planning honeymoon • Finalise guest list • Purchase wedding invites • Book a florist • Draw up a timetable for the wedding and reception • Look at cost of transport to the wedding and the reception • Think about wedding clothes – and whether you

need to be measured for a suit or a gown

4 – 5 months before

• Buy wedding rings • Go for suit or gown fittings if appropriate • Draw up a wedding gift list • Book honeymoon • Make sure passports are all up to date • Start thinking about the music to be played at the wedding and reception • Book hotel room for wedding night • Provisionally book hotel rooms for guests coming from out of town

2 - 3 months before

• Touch base with all your vendors (e.g. photographer, caterer etc.) to make sure that everything is going to plan • Ensure that any necessary deposits have been paid • Finalise the menu with the caterers • Review music playlist for the reception • Send out invites • Select and order wedding cake • Meet with officiant to finalise details of the wedding

1 month before

• Get marriage licence • Chase up all guests who haven’t RVSP’ed to their invites • Confirm hotel bookings for guests coming from out of town • Pay vendors in advance • Work on seating plan • Write individual vows if necessary

1 week before

• Have stag or hen party • Liaise with all vendors that everything is going to plan • Discuss with photographer or the videographer any special requests you have • Give licence to the officiant

1 day before

• Final check with the best man or woman that everything is going to plan • Relax! • Have an early night!

Wedding Day

• Have breakfast • Have fun – this is the best day of your lives!

After the Wedding

• Send out thank you notes no later than a month after your wedding • Check that everything has been paid in full and any deposits have been returned • Register your change of name if that’s appropriate