YOUR WEDDING CHECKLIST

Here is a handy checklist to help you plan your perfect day

18 - 12 months to go

Congratulations! You're engaged!

Now is the time to have an engagement party and tell everybody your fabulous news. Now it's time to get about planning your special day.

First thing is to get yourself a big wedding folder

Don't worry you'll fill it with all your fabulous wedding ideas and suppliers details.

Talk Budget

It's good to talk budget. Talk to your family members to see if they'll contribute to your wedding. Why not get a dedicated bank account for all your wedding costs.

Guest List

When talking budget, this is the time to have an approximate idea of numbers, just so you know what budget you can work to. So, prepare a draft guest list.

Let's get the Bridal Party started

Right, by now you should know who you would like as your maid of honour, your best man and who else you'll have in your wedding party. Why not throw a little soiree and announce who's in the cool gang? It's always nice spending time with close friends and family. It's also a good time to talk wedding and your needs…assign those tasks out!

Venues, Venues, Venues!

Visit lots of venues, view them all and get prices. There are some amazing venues in Sussex, so why not make yours a good one!

Have A Look At These Venues

It's a very important date!

If you've got the date in mind book the venue. You don't want to loose the venue of your dreams because you didn't book earlier enough.

Wedding Fair Diva

Get yourself to a few wedding fairs. They're a brilliant place to get some inspiration and ideas. You can talk to the exhibitors and see if they can provide the service you require. All the exhibitors are there to help, so get contact details, mull them over and ask for quotes. If you love them book them! You don't need to give specifics at this point.

Registrar and venue

By now you should know where you'd like to get married so book the church or an approved venue for ceremonies. Book the time and date with your minister or registrar.

Wedding Dress, colour and theme

There's no time like the present to get some idea about your wedding dress. Have a look in magazines, online and on Pinterest to get some fabulous ideas and styles.

12 - 9 Months before

Wedding Dress

By now you should have tried on main wedding dresses to fine your perfect dress. Now is the time to order your perfect dress.

Order Bridesmaids' Dresses

You've got the colour and style in mind and all the bridesmaids are going love what they're wearing on your big day.

Book your Photographer and Videographer

You've had a good look at their portfolios and you've chosen the one that suits your personalities the most. Get them booked up as soon as possible.

Book the caterers

You've chosen the venue and now it's time to get the caterers in...try their food to see what you would like for your wedding breakfast.

Hair & Make-up

It's all about you! Get the make-up artist and hairdresser to do some trials on you and see what style you like. If you love them, then book them.

Entertainment

You've decided on your entertainment, whether it's a band, DJ or a string quartet... get them booked now as you'll be disappointed if you can get the band you want.

Save the Date

Send out 'Save the Date' cards, these are just as important as your actual wedding invitations. Design them so they show a little of your personalities and just give your guest a little hint of what your wedding is going to be like.

Transport

There's lots of ways to travel to your wedding, it could be by a London bus, horse and carriage, old vintage car, VW camper van or you could just walk. Which ever way you decide make it a good one... and book them.

9 - 6 Months before

Flowers

You've got your theme, style and colours in place. Talk to your florist about your favourite flowers, budget and design. Consider how you'd like your bouquet, centrepieces and buttonholes to look.

Have A Look At Our Flower Gallery

Cake

Cake tasting is the way forward… have a consultation and tasting session with your cake maker to decide on your requirements.

Have A Look At Our Cakes Gallery

Gift List

Finalise your gift list or if you don't have a list and you would prefer money, then add a lovely, polite poem to your wedding invitations.

Stationery

The design of your stationery is really important as this is the first thing your guests will see as to what your wedding will be like. Make it as personal as possible...all those finishing touches make all the difference. We are able to create your table plan, favours, name settings, table numbers and confetti cones to match your wedding invitations.

Have A Look At Our Stationery Gallery

Venue Décor

This is a good time to talk wedding styling/venue décor. Are you going for a vintage feel or more classic? Book time with your supplier to discuss drapes, chair covers/chair dressing, centrepieces and they'll create that WOW feeling you're after.

Have A Look At Our Delicate Details Gallery

It's all about you! Shoes, accessories and underwear.

Your dress is ordered, so now it's time for some fabulous shoes and accessories. If you want a bespoke headpiece or jewellery then we can design some thing for you. Chose your underwear wisely, make sure you try it on with your dress.

Have A Look At Our Headdresses Gallery

Honeymoon

Book your honeymoon. This is something to look forward to. Have fun! Don't forgot your travel insurance and book time off at work.

6 - 3 Months before

Bridegroom

Let's find your bridegroom something nice to wear.

Bridegroom's Bridal Party

Once the bridegroom has sorted his attire, it's time to sort out the best man, ushers and Father's and anybody else you wish to add to your Bridal party.

Should of put a ring on it!

Chose a wedding ring that you love, it's going to be on your finger for the rest of your life, so make it a good one!

Finalise the Guest list

Your RSVPs should have been flooding in by now, so you've got a good idea how many guests are coming to your wedding. If people haven't responded a polite nudge is in order.

Book your first night accommodation.

It's the first night as a married couple. Quite a few venues will give you the honeymoon suite complimentary. If they don't, chose somewhere that you both love.

Vows, readings, Hymns and Poems.

Now's the time to start writing your vows. Decide on who's doing the readings and poems. Also you need to confirm your Hymns, if you're having any.

If you are having a ceremonial wedding choose your wedding songs that will be played when you walk down the aisle, when you sign the register and your exit music. I loved choosing my wedding music, we both chose the song that meant something to us.

3 Months before

Dress Fitting

Make sure your wedding dress fits you. If any alterations are need this is the time to start thinking about it. With your wedding shoes, I would start breaking them in, wear them around the house, just so they don't hurt on your big day.

Hair and make-up

First dance ideas

Are you having a first dance? Well why not make it memorable? Have dancing lessons or just chose a fabulous song together that you both love. Don't forget it doesn't have to be a slow one.

Party music

If you're having a DJ, tell them what songs you love to dance to and also tell them the ones you don't like.

Buy gifts

Why not get something personal for your Bridal party? There are some fabulous websites out there that do some amazing handcrafted personal items. Have you tried Etsy or Folksy?

Write your speeches and Thank Yous.

These are hard to do. Take your time and think about what you would like to say...just share the love. It's all about the love.

Buy a Guest Book

You could design your own, get your creative juices flowing.

Hair and Make-up

Have a trial run of your hair and make-up. Don't forget to take any head-pieces you might have.

Final fitting for Bridal party

Arrange a time for your final fitting for your bridesmaids, pageboy and your flower girls.

Confirm details with all your suppliers

Just double check that all your suppliers have been paid and they've confirmed back to you.

Witnesses

If you haven't decided already on your witnesses this is the time to do it. It could be a family member or someone from the Bridal party.

Ideas for Hen & Stag Do

Get prepared for you Hen or Stag do.

Honeymoon Shopping

Go out and get yourself some new cloths for your honeymoon. If you're going to a hot destination, get yourself a fabulous bikini.

Venue

Confirm with your venue your timings, such as, arrival, photos, welcome drinks, sit down meal, speeches, evening guests arriving and cake cutting.

1 Month Before

Hair trimmed

Now is a good time to get your hair trimmed just so it has a few weeks to sort itself out for your wedding.

Photographer and Videographer

Provide them with essential shots that you want. They would have done their homework and looked round the venue to see where would be good to take some pictures. Also they'll have a good idea about both of your personalities .

Outstanding Payment

Just make sure everybody has been paid.

Final numbers

Start getting you final numbers together and chase anybody that haven't replied.

Hen & Stag Do

Go and enjoy yourself with your friends and family. Let your hair down and have a fabulous time.

1 Week Before

Now is the time to confirm numbers with your Venue and Caterers

Confirm Timings

Confirm timings with your suppliers and let your Venue know what time your cake, flowers and décor will arrive.

Collect Bridal Party Outfits

Bridegroom's party to go and collect their hire suits and the bridesmaids to collect theirs.

Have a final rehearsal

Brief your bridesmaids, best man and ushers on your/their roles for the big day.

Have a little pamper

Get your nails done and have a relax….it's been hard work organising your wedding, you deserve it.

Get them bags packed

Start packing it's time to go on your honeymoon!

Write Thank you notes and wrap gifts

If you can try and wrap them to the theme and colour of your wedding.

The Day before the wedding

Your dress

Lay out your dress, accessories, make-up and perfume you need.

Bridesmaids

All your bridesmaids and flower girls have brought round their dresses.

Rings

Give the rings to the best man

Relax

Have a nice little pamper with your bridesmaids. Don't have a facial. Open a bottle of champagne and enjoy!

Get some sleep

Try and get some sleep... you've got a big day tomorrow!

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