Wedding Planning Check List - Decorative Details, Wedding and Event Decoration Hire Specialists, Gloucestershire

Planning your wedding can be very stressful. It often seems like a daunting process and couples generally have very limited knowledge of where to start, the different stages involved or the timeline for when aspects should be completed. Therefore we designed this checklist to help ease your burden and assist you in planning the worry-free day of your dreams.

Our Wedding Planning checklist includes a breakdown of all the main things you need to organise and details the average stages at which you would research and book these elements. This includes dress shopping, creating your guest list, organising the legalities, booking your venue, arranging wedding services such as venue decoration and all other aspects required to plan your perfect wedding.  

We have based this on an average planning time of 12 months, though every wedding is unique to each couple. We've known couples to take less than 3 months to plan their wedding, whilst others have taken 2 years or more. With that in mind, the checklist is designed to give you a helpful guide when planning your special day, though please amend and use it according to your individual requirements and time frame.  

We would love to know if this has helped you organise your special day. Feedback from our readers is always welcomed so please leave us a comment below. Additionally, if you enjoyed the contents of this post please share it so that others may benefit from reading it. Here's our Wedding Planning Checklist...​

Wedding Planning Checklist

Initial Tasks (once you’re engaged or when you start to plan)

• Talk with your partner about the sort of wedding you envision. Make sure you both want the same things and determine how to incorporate elements you both want to ensures it’s a mix of both your styles and tastes
• Determine a rough number of guests. This may impact  your choice of venue
• Draw up a budget
• Ask your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
• Choose potential wedding dates and ensure key members of the wedding party are available on those dates
• Decide if you would like the ceremony and reception at the same or separate location then research potential venues
• Optional - host an engagement party

 
12 Months Before The Wedding

• Research and consider options for your ceremony and venue decoration
• Research potential wedding suppliers, e.g. decoration, photographer, florist, invitations, cake, music, hair and make-up etc
• Consider wedding insurance options
• Decide on a date and send Save the Date cards – this is especially important if you're getting married abroad or during a very busy time of year
• Decide what type of entertainment you would like and research options available
• Visit potential ceremony and reception venues and book once you’ve found your perfect match
• Bride: begin wedding dress research

8/10 Months Before

• Contact furniture hire companies if you require any large items for the ceremony or reception such as tables and chairs
• Decide on ceremony music, e.g. what would the bride like to walk down the aisle to, if you’re having a Church service, what hymns would you like, what would you like to walk out as the new Mr and Mrs to?
• Bride: finalise your choice of wedding dress. Arrange payments and any alterations and fittings that may be needed
• Research and book a band and/or DJ for the reception
• Research accommodation for guests
• Book Photographer and/or videographer
• Book wedding venue decoration
• Book wedding service suppliers such as the cake, florist, hair and make-up
• Decide if you would like a honeymoon. If so, research destinations and book once decided

​6 - 8 Months Before

• Meet with your chosen venue decoration supplier to discuss your requirements, e.g. colour scheme, theme etc. This is best performed at your venue as the supplier will then gain a better understanding of exactly what you want.
• Start planning the Hen and Stag parties - well not you, delegate this to your Best Man and bridesmaids!
• Book Groom and Groomsmen’s suits
• Start gathering addresses for guest list - create a spreadsheet or a similar recording method to help you keep track of the RSVPs
• Research wedding transport
• Ensure passports are in date for your honeymoon -  order new ones if necessary

4/6 Months Before

• Organise the legalities — you must give at least 3 months’ notice to the registrar or priest/religious celebrant
• Research, choose, order and send invitations
• Decide on prayers, readings and music — check with your priest / registrar
• Organise mass or order of service booklets, if required
• Attend formal marriage preparation sessions and counselling  (for catholic marriages)
• Choose Bridesmaids’ dresses
• Arrange travel vaccinations if necessary
• Book wedding suppliers, e.g. decoration, wedding transport, florist, hair and make -up etc
• Research wedding rings
• Meet with florist to discuss and select options, if necessary
• Bride: research and book hair and make-up

2/3 Months Before

• Bride: attend dress fittings
• Choose and order wedding rings
• Organise gifts for parents, Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, each other and any other necessary parties, if required
• Bride: organise and attend hair trial
• Bride: organise and attend make-up trial

4 Weeks Before

• Bride: have final wedding dress fitting
• Make any last-minute adjustments with suppliers
• Finalise details for mass booklets / order of ceremony
• Review RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet responded

 
2 Weeks Before

• Deliver a list of your must-have shots to the photographer and videographer. Include who should be in formal photos and determine when should be taken
• Give your venue/caterer a final guest head count
• Create or order your table plan
• Create or order your guest place name cards

 
1 Week Before

• Supply your wedding coordinator or venue with a list of supplier requests such as a table for the DJ or setup time and space needed by decoration suppliers, florist etc.
• Call all wedding suppliers to confirm arrangements
• Create a timetable for the day
• Give ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers
• Bride: begin to get all your preening and preparation for the big day, e.g. manicure, massage, waxing etc
• Bride: do a full wedding dress rehearsal from underwear to veil. This is a great time to check things like how you will manage bathroom visits!
• Pack an overnight bag for the reception
• Pack for the honeymoon
• Organise any money that needs to be paid to suppliers on the day

2/3 Days Before

• Groom: go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear, preferably with your Best Man and Groomsmen to enable them to collect theirs also
• Confirm pick-up times with the wedding car company
• Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary last-minute changes
• Arrange for someone to return any rentals
• Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding

The Day Before

• Sort out payment (write cheques/organise cash) for any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception
• Ensure the cake is on track to be delivered to the reception venue
• Get a good night’s rest
• Ensure flowers, if required, are on track to be delivered to the bride’s house or wherever she is getting ready tomorrow

Your Wedding Day!

• Introduce your reception coordinator and/or wedding planner (if you're having one) to your Bridesmaids and Best Man so questions or problems can be addressed
• Give the gifts for your parents etc to the Best Man, Bridesmaids or venue co-ordinator to be given out during or after the speeches
• Give your wedding bands to the Best Man to look after during the ceremony

After Your Wedding

• Return any rentals
• Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were especially helpful
• Relax!
• Begin the journey of your married life together