There are so many things to consider when planning a wedding that it may seem slightly overwhelming at first, but by breaking it down in to an easy to read wedding planning checklist and starting to plan enough in advance, you can alleviate some of the stress and enjoy what is undoubtedly one of the most magical periods in your life. As experts in wedding flowers, London florist Todich Floral Design knows a thing or too about how to plan a wedding and all the things you need to consider as a bride.
Here we would like to share our knowledge regarding all the different things that should be on your wedding planning checklist; from finding the perfect shoes to pre-booking hotel rooms for guests. Undoubtedly you’ve already thought about your wedding flowers, bridal bouquet and dress, but you may not have considered readings, toasts or your actual vows. Then there is entertainment, catering, save-the-date cards, favours and thank you gifts. But fear not, as we say, it can be quite simple when you know how.
• Start a wedding folder where you can compile and file cuttings and ideas from wedding and bridal magazines, wedding florists, lifestyle magazines, recipes, ideas for food, cake, themes and decorations
• Work out your budget. Will you get a loan? Or pay for it all yourself? And will you receive any input from either family. Add up everything so you have a clear figure in mind
• Decide on your wedding party; best man/men, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ringbearer/s. And allocate someone to plan your hen night – that’s one less thing to worry about!
• Start work on your guest list, being sure to bear your budget in mind. For example, if you have £2,000 to spend, but you want 200 guests, that only leaves you £10 per head, which is not very much
• Look for and hire a wedding planner, if you so wish
• Decide on your venue and reserve your dates. This is a very important first step as lots of places get booked up well in advance. Plus once you have your wedding date confirmed, everything else can be planned around that
• Source and decide on your photographer. It’s important to find someone you feel very comfortable with and whose style you like. Discuss what kind of photos you want and be happy they understand your brief before you sign on the dotted line
• Start meeting entertainers and caterers. This is a fun bit; you get to see lots of people perform and try lots of yummy food! Then get them booked
• Find ‘the dress’. Starting this fairly early on gives you plenty of time to look around and get alternations, or something custom made if that’s what you want
• Reserve hotel rooms at, or in and around your venue for guests
• Register your wedding list, if you have one. Or nowadays many people opt for vouchers or money towards their honeymoon with a travel agent instead
• Optional: start a wedding website. Lots of couples like to do this now as with things like Wordpress it’s quite simple to do. But don’t feel this is a ‘must do’
• Send save-the-date cards and select and buy your invitations
• Start planning your honeymoon, make sure your passports are up to date and schedule any appointments for vaccinations you may need if you going somewhere far flung
• Decide on your bridesmaids’ dresses. This may involve several trips or ‘debates’!
• Meet with your vicar, registrar or other official performing the ceremony, as you need to feel comfortable with them, understand the format of the ceremony, and also communicate anything you want
• Reserve any electrical equipment or other large equipment you may need for the day, including portable chairs or toilets for outdoor events, lighting, microphones etc.. if these are not provided by your venue
• Research and book a florist. A good florist will be able to come up with a proposal based on an initial discussion with you about your personal style, colour preferences and taste. Don’t worry if you know nothing about flowers; that is what we are here for! Items to consider within your wedding flowers include; bridal bouquets, bridesmaids’ bouquets, wedding corsages and buttonholes, wedding ceremony flowers, wedding reception flowers, table arrangements and thank you bouquets
• Arrange transportation for the wedding party
• Start thinking about the wedding day schedule; what will happen when on the day
• Call up your invitations supplier and check their status, if you haven’t received an update
• Select and buy your wedding cake and let your florist know if you think you’d like to add wedding flowers to your cake
• Start looking for your wedding shoes and ensure bridesmaids do the same if you are shopping separately. Start the first of your dress fitting if you need them
• Source and book hairstylists and beauticians if you’re not doing it yourself
• Start compiling your music playlist or find and brief a DJ
• Finalise your menu and wedding flower designs. The cost of flowers and food can depend on seasonality so you may need to wait until now to finalise what will be available at the time
• Decide upon and order favours for guests. A popular option now is to incorporate the ‘DIY’ approach and make these yourself. Or alternatively go for potted plants which can double as wedding table arrangements if you want to save on costs
• Make and finalise your list of people giving any readings and toasts
• Finalise the order of the ceremony and your wedding day schedule
• Optional; print menus if you like, and the program of your schedule
• The big day is getting close now so confirm everything with all your suppliers again, and meet with your DJ and photographer to finalise your photo schedule and music plan
• Send out your invitations. You’ll need to set aside a day for this if you are addressing them yourself!
• Enjoy a fabulous hen night; hopefully someone else will have planned this bit!
• It’s nearly time now! So gather together all your RSVPs and finalise the guest list
• Schedule your last dress fittings; hopefully not much should change in the next month!
• Settle as many of the final supplier payments as you can
• Confirm appointment times with your hairstylist and beautician, and arrival times for any other suppliers like your florist, any entertainers and the DJ
• Send out directions to your transport providers, like taxis and limousines
• Draw up a table plan which shows where all your guests will sit at the wedding reception
• Buy any thank you gifts for bridesmaids, best men, mothers of the bride and groom
• Write your vows, if you are doing this yourself
• Reconfirm arrival times with all of your suppliers
• Delegate out small tasks for the wedding day, such as who will carry your bridal bouquet and be in charge of gifts
• Send the wedding day schedule to your bridal party
• Pick up your wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses
• Send final guest numbers to the caterers and all venues involved in your wedding day
• Start to break in your wedding shoes by wearing them around the house
• Optional; book a spa treatment, relax, enjoy, and look forward to your big day!
