A Useful List To Help You Plan Your Big Day....
Church & Ceremony
Book church – date, time, priest
Book Pre-Marriage course
Attend pre-marriage course -
Book ceremony musicians & singers
Complete forms and send to Registrar at least 3 months prior to wedding date
Request Baptismal & Confirmation certificates from Parish Office
Meet with priest to discuss readings, music & ceremony details & complete marriage papers
Create Mass booklet
Choose readings and prayers and select people to read at ceremony
Decide on music to be performed during ceremony & update Mass booklet
Provide draft mass booklet to priest to review prior to printing
Organise to have mass booklets printed
Provide copy of music and mass booklet to musicians few weeks in advance
Provide printout of readings/prayers to readers at least 1 day in advance
Organise Altar Servers
Organise Eucharistic Ministers if necessary
Arrange church donation
Arrange altar servers donation
Hotel
Book reception venue
Meet with hotel wedding manager to discuss details – Choices for meal, Wine, pre and evening reception etc
Organize seating arrangements for guests - Prepare Table Plan
Confirm names for each of the pre-booked hotel rooms
Decide on flowers for tables
Discuss option of pre-reception musician
Discuss time to sit for dinner and contingency for delays
Arrange date / time to deliver wedding cake & organize display, knife etc
Confirm Bar Extension and Resident's Bar facility
Decide on dinner menu, vegetarian options, type of wine etc
Confirm final guest numbers for reception & submit table seating plan to wedding manager - 2-3 days in advance
Band
Review recommendations for bands
View band playing at wedding
Select band & pay deposit to secure booking
Contact band 2 weeks beforehand to re-confirm Date / Time to play at wedding
Determine when balance due to be paid
Photography/Video
View albums and previous work.
Seek recommendations
Wedding Cars
View cars in person
Check for PSV insurance test and license
Seek recommendations, read testimonials
Wedding Cake
Decide on style and size of wedding cake
Decide on icing colour - Ivory fondant icing
Decide on decoration for top of cake
Purchase 3M x 15mm ivory ribbon to trim
Purchase cake boxes for guests not attending wedding & post cake
Organize delivery of wedding cake to hotel day beforehand
Florist
Book Florist
Meet with florist to discuss ideas, provide sample of bridesmaid colours, and brides dress style
Decide on colour & style of bride's bouquet
Decide on colour & style of bridesmaid's bouquets
Decide on flowergirl style - basket or pommadour
Decide on style of church arrangements - 3 arangements on altar, candle arangement, pew ends, bay trees etc
Decide on Corsage & Boutonnieres
Bouquets for mother, mother-in-law & Nana
Meet florist in church few weeks beforehand to discuss floral arrangement & positioning
Invitations & Stationery
Select style and colour of stationery
Decide on Wording for Invitations, Thank You & Reply Cards & order stationery
Prepare Accommodation list to include with invitations
Prepare directions to church and hotel to include with invitations
Buy Stamps & Silver gel ink pens
Collect addressesin advance for all guests
Write Day invitations and post 6-8 weeks in advance
Write Evening Invitations and post 3-4 weeks in advance
Receive Reply cards and confirm final guest numbers
Bride's Apparel
Decide on Bridal Gown and pay deposit
Bridal shoes
Accessories - Handbag
Bridal tiara / hairpiece
Bridal gown alterations
Bridal gown - final fitting and collection
Bridesmaid & Flowergirl Apparel
Bridesmaid dresses
Bridesmaid shoes
Accessories - Jewelry
Flowergirl dress
Flowergirl shoes
Bridesmaid dress alterations
Collect Bridesmaids dresses and pay for alterations
Groom & Groomsmen Apparel
Groom's ensemble - decide on colour and style
Groomsmen suit hire - decide on colour and style
Lads to go for fitting
Collect Lads suits & ensure everyone tries on full outfit on 2 nights before wedding
Jewellery
Bride's wedding ring
Groom's wedding ring
Bride's necklace
Coins for ceremony
Beauty
Bride's facials
Bride's hair cut & colour
Bride's Make-up - Pre-consultation
Bride's Hair - Pre-consultation
Bride's Manicure & Eyebrow shaping
Bride's Body Exfoliation & Body Wrap
Bride's Fake Tan
Bride's Hair - Wedding day
Bride's Make-up - Wedding day
Bride's Nail Polish - Wedding Day
Bridesmaid's Nail Polish - Wedding Day
Bridesmaid's Make-up: Wedding day
Bridesmaid's Hair style: Wedding day
Miscellaneous
Organise Cars for Bride & Bridesmaids
Ribbons to decorate cars – 35mm width, 6 metres per car – Bridal White
Gifts for all attendants
Have engagement ring cleaned week of wedding
Organise lifts for non-driving guests
Attend Hen party
Attend Stag party
Dentist check-ups and cleaning
Organize / Pack clothes for Fri/Sat night in hotel
Organize / Pack for honeymoon
Honeymoon
Prepare itinerary
Book Flights
Book Hotels
Book Car Hire
Organise Travel Insurance
Check passport & driving license validity
Organize folder for honeymoon of Itinerary, flight tickets, hotel booking details, maps, guide books, driving instructions, drivers licence etc
Wedding Day & Post-Wedding Day tasks
Pay Altar Servers, church caretaker & Church Donation
Ensure all guests have transportation from church to hotel
Deliver Bride & Groom luggage to bridal suite
Review table seating arrangements outside function room and ensure they are correct
Ensure table flower arrangements are correct
Pay suppliers, Bestman usually preforms this task.
Return suits to suit hire shop
Purchase & Write Thank-You cards and post