Wedding Countdown

Weddings-With-Style Countdown to your wedding day:

Create Folder | As Soon As Possible | To Book | Six Months Before | One Month Before
Two Weeks Before | One Week Before | The Day Before | On The Day
Create Your Wedding Folder:
Buy a lever arch binder and add dividers with the following list on the index:
  • BudgetFolder
  • Cake
  • Cars/Taxis
  • Ceremony
  • Dresses/Suits
  • Entertainment
  • Flowers/Bouquets
  • First Night/Honeymoon
  • Gift List
  • Guest List
  • Hair and Beauty
  • Hen/Stag Party
  • Photography
  • Reception Venues
  • Ring
  • Stationery
  • Table Plan/table decorations
  • Videography
  • Misc

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As soon as possible:
  1. Start Gathering Information about weddings. Bridal Magazines
  2. Visit bridal shows.
  3. Buy magazines to get ideas.
  4. Collect brochures, photographs, adverts, articles and web pages of things that you like and file them in the binder.
  5. You will start to see a colour, theme or style appearing - Make a final decision on style / theme / colour of wedding.
  6. Open special wedding bank account.
  7. Decide on savings plan and budget.
  8. Set a wedding date determined by church or venue availability.
  9. Give notice of marriage.
  10. Draw up guest list.
  11. Make appointment with Vicar or person conducting ceremony - discuss service, vows, hymns and music, reading and poetry, plan your order of Service.
  12. Order stationery including Place Cards, Menus, Orders of Service (Ask for a proof before printing. You can get lots of advice for wording in the many glossy magazines).
  13. Compile a gift list and choose a company to handle your gift list.
  14. Choose attendants.
  15. Nominate two witnesses.
  16. Start looking for outfits.
  17. Nominate roles - who does what.
  18. Take out wedding insurance.

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Book:
  1. Caterer and order cake.
  2. Church/ceremony venue.
  3. Decorations such as balloons, table decorations.
  4. Entertainment.
  5. Favours.
  6. Fireworks.
  7. Flowers.
  8. Hairdresser (Make appointment for day of wedding for you and your bridesmaids; also make appointments in between for, trims, highlights, colour etc ).
  9. Honeymoon (Check passports are valid and Check what Vaccinations, visa and insurances you require).
  10. Make up Artist (Make appointment for day of wedding for you and your bridesmaids; also make appointments in between for any other treatments you may want such as manicures and facials).
  11. Photographer.
  12. Reception venue.
  13. Toastmaster.
  14. Videographer.
  15. Wedding Cars.
  16. Wedding night at hotel remembering bottle of Champagne!
  17. Wedding planner.
  18. Pay a deposit on booking and ask for receipts and written confirmation (it is usual to make the full payment at least 2 weeks before the wedding).
  19. Finally begin your health and beauty, and fitness regime (this does not mean go on a crash diet, but if you plan to lose one pound a week, by eating a healthy diet and increasing your fitness levels, then you could look a picture of health by the wedding!!!).

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Six Months before:
  1. Order wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses.
  2. Make appointments for fittings for dresses as it may take 2-4 fittings.
  3. Buy lingerie.
  4. Finalise mens attire and hire or buy.
  5. Decide hair styles and make up with hairdresser and makeup artist (Take a picture of dress and photographs of any headdress, hairstyles and make up you may be considering).
  6. Send invitations and gift list details, directions, accommodation (If guests are travelling a distance arrange for them to meet at a hotel or pub before the ceremony and perhaps put on some sandwiches for them).
  7. Decide wedding music.
  8. Finalise order of service.
  9. Choose wedding rings.
  10. Confirm all bookings made so far.
  11. Organise hen / stag do's.
  12. Buy gifts for parents and attendants (Buy personal items, for example jewellery or something inscribed, that will remind them of the day. You may also like to buy presents for others who have helped).
  13. Visit the florist once you have orderd dresses & discuss flowers.

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One Month before:
  1. Check that you have marriage authorities (notice).
  2. Finalise guest list and contact guests that have not replied.
  3. Organise place cards and seating plan, table names, decorations for tables, balloons, favours, candles, rose petals etc for reception.
  4. Make appointment with venue/caterers to finalise details, including welcome drinks for reception and finalise menus for day and evening reception.
  5. Inform florist on number of button holes required.
  6. Attend dress and menswear fittings.
  7. Finalise stationary order for place cards and order of service sheets.
  8. Organise speeches - Remind groom, best man and others to prepare speech.
  9. Write any special vows / readings and give to minister or registrar to check.
  10. Finish buying clothes and other essentials for honeymoon.
  11. Arrange foreign currency and travellers cheques.

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Two weeks before:
  1. Make an appointment with all suppliers to finalise details and make final payment.
  2. Arrange final fittings for dresses and suits.
  3. Wear shoes at home to 'break them in around the house, so that they are comfortable on the day.
  4. Give photographer / videographer a list of must take shots.
  5. Collect foreign currency and travellers cheques
  6. Enjoy your Hen and Stag parties.

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One week before:
  1. Prepare a timetable for the wedding day to include hairdressers, taxis, make up, flowers arriving, guests arriving, wedding cars arriving.
  2. Give a list to all involved so they know their roles and responsibilities.
  3. Arrange collection of clothes and other accessories - Pick up dresses and suits.
  4. Finalise arrangements with the hairdresser and make up artist.
  5. Practice vows and readings.
  6. Attend ceremony rehearsal and follow this with a family meal so that everyone can meet and know exactly what is expected of them on the day.
  7. Check music is organised (for example church organist, CD's to be played at welcome reception etc).
  8. Pack case for honeymoon and pack case for venue if you are changing to go away.
  9. Arrange for snacks and champagne to be in your hotel room on your wedding night.
  10. Book taxi or arrange transport for going away.

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The Day before:
  1. Speak to all attendants and people involved and check they know what is required.
  2. Give rings and monies to best man.
  3. Check groom has finished his speech.
  4. Arrange for button holes and orders of service to be collected by the ushers.
  5. Take seating plan, menus, table decorations, presents for bridesmaids, cake etc to venue.
  6. Have luggage, overnight bags and car taken to the hotel.
  7. Treat yourself to a massage and manicure.
  8. Relax and have an early night.

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On the Day:
  1. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
  2. Have breakfast and one glass of bubbly.
  3. Have hair and makeup done.
  4. Put your engagement ring on your right hand or give it to someone responsible to look after.
  5. The ushers should arrive at the ceremony 40 minutes before, direct guests to their seats and hand out orders of service and button holes.
  6. The church bells should ring 30 minutes before the service.
  7. The bridegroom and best man should arrive at the ceremony 20 minutes before, allowing time for photographs and then take their seats in front right hand pew.
  8. The guest should be seated 15 minutes before, see the Weddings-with-Style Seating Plan for more information on where to sit.
  9. The bridesmaids and brides mother should arrive ten minutes before, the brides mother is escorted to her seat by an usher and the bridesmaids wait outside for the bride.
  10. Have a fabulous time and enjoy your big day!

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