Plan your big day
50 helpful tips to
help you plan everything for your big day
1. Start your wedding plans early, start your preparations from the day you
get engaged.
2. You must decide with
your partner exactly what sort of wedding you would
both would like. Formal or informal? Intimate or extravagant?
3. When it is time to
choose the date of the wedding, allow yourself enough
time to plan the wedding of your dreams.
4. Once you have
decided on the venue for the ceremony, book it as early as
you can. Popular dates during the summer, are booked anything up to a year in
advance.
5. Money is an
important factor which must be taken into consideration and a
realistic budget should be set. Then arrange a meeting for everyone who will
be contributing towards the cost involved in the initial discussion.
6. You must both decide
at an early stage who will be paying for what. You
don't want any nasty surprises at a latter date and nor does your dad!
7. Consider buying some
wedding day insurance. Many companies now offer
packages to cover accidents prior to and on the big day itself - just in case.
8. The reception venue needs to be booked and confirmed as soon as possible.
It is a good idea to visit as many possible reception venues as you can to
compare what each one has to offer. It is a good idea to ask for written
quotes so you can make your decision at home without feeling pressurised.
9. You now need to
compile a guest list and then decide on the type of
catering your require. A lunchtime buffet works well when your guests are a
mixture of young and old. It also keeps costs down. A formal sit-down meal is
wonderful but is also your most expensive option.
10. Ask the experts'
advice on getting value-for-money and your best choices
of drinks for the number of guests.
11. The caterers will
have many years experience on menu planning so take
there advice when given. They will have lots of valuable experience about what
works and what doesn't.
12. Once you have found
a suitable venue, book the date, time and exact
room(s) you will need in writing. Ask for written confirmation in return.
13. If you would like
menu cards for the centre of the tables ask your
stationers to print them and place-names if you are having a sit-down
reception. It would be a good idea to have two large table plans to post
either side of the dining room.
14. Ask your parents to
help with the seating plans to avoid any family
upsets.
15. Now it is time to
start looking for a wedding dress for the big day. You
may be surprised how long it takes to make a gown, even one brought
off-the-peg. The minimum notice for any gown is about eight weeks.
16. Consider the colour
of your skin when choosing the shade of your dress.
Pure white only really suits brunettes or black brides, blondes and redheads
look better in ivory.
17. Try on as many
different styles of dress as you can. Some wedding dresses
have little hanger appeal but look wonderful once they are on.
18. Wedding dresses are
expensive so you could consider hiring the dress. You
can hire a one-off designer gown for about the same as you would pay for an
off-the-peg manufacturer's dress.
19. Decide on your
'something old, something new, something borrowed and
something blue'. This is the prefect opportunity to wear treasured family
jewellery and gifts from very special friends.
20. Go shopping with
your bridesmaids to choose dresses that suit them all. If
they are of varying ages, use a theme rather than asking teenagers to wear the
frills and flounces that only look cute on the under-tens.
21. Sit down with your
groom and work out what he will be wearing. Most men
hire their wedding attire and this needs to be done about for weeks in
advance.
22. Once you have chosen your dress, buy suitable bridal lingerie and take it
to one of the fittings to ensure a perfect fit.
23. You now need to
arrange to photographers and a professional to video your
big day. It would be a good idea to interview them and ask to see examples of
their work and only book someone who seems flexible and has lots off ideas.
Get confirmation of the booking in writing.
24. Setting a colour
theme for the whole wedding can make it easier when
choosing your dress, the bridesmaids' outfits, the flowers and the reception
decorations.
25. Visit a number of
florists but not on a Saturday when they are usually
very busy. A good florist should work with you to create something to suit
your individual style of wedding. Be wary of anyone who just shows you
pictures of 'standard' bouquets.
26. Ask your florist to
prepare two very special bouquets as thank-you for
both mums. These are traditionally presented by the groom during his speech.
27. Invitations need to
be sent out about two months in advance. There are
many different designs from the formal to the hand-made.
28. Book your wedding
transport and confirm the exact model of car and the
colour if it's part of your theme.
29. If you want your
new surname on your passport to take on honeymoon, apply
for the name change as soon as you can as this can take some time.
30. Start shopping
around for the best deals for your honeymoon. Room
upgrades, champagne, flowers and a free dinner are readily available for
honeymooners.
31. Once the honeymoon
destination has been decided upon ask about necessary
visas and make an appointment with your doctor for any inoculations.
32. Help your mum and
future mother-in-law to choose their outfits. Ask your
florist to design special corsages to match their colour schemes.
33. Go shopping with
your groom for your wedding rings. It is a nice idea to
have the rings engraved inside. Even just your initials and the wedding date
is very romantic.
34. For the reception
you will have to decide on the type of music you would
like. A DJ is always a good option as they can play a variety of music. If you
want to have live music, listen to tapes from potential groups and try to hear
them live at least once.
35. If you ar having a
live band, remember they need to take regular breaks so
you will need some kind of entertainment to fill in the gaps. Ask your venue
about facilities for taped music.
36. Visit your baker or ask your caterers to recommend someone to make the
wedding cake.
37. Save about half the
cost of your cake by getting a clever mum or friend to
make the basic cake then take it along to a professional to have it iced and
decorated.
38. Ring around all the
local department stores and ask to be sent details of
their wedding gift list services. Choose one or several stores and spend an
afternoon choosing your gifts with your groom, your mum or your best friend.
39. Ask someone in your
family to be in charge of the guest list, ticking off
names as and when they accept. Your venue will probably want you to confirm
final numbers a week or two in advance.
40. Obtain permission
from your venues to throw confetti. If this is not
permitted, tell your guests to bring rice, which the birds will eat, or rose
petals.
41. A month before the
wedding visit your venue when it is not being used and
plan your room decorations. Flowers everywhere are expensive and two well
placed displays can be just as effective.
42. Book your first
night accommodation. Visit all the local hotels and ask to
see the bridal suite. Check what 'extras' are included in their honeymoon
package, like a chauffeur-driven care to drive you to the airport the
following morning.
43. Buy a supply of
disposable cameras and put a couple in the centre of each
table at your reception. This gives your guests something to do and you should
get a supply of wonderful behind-the-scenes informal pictures to supplement
your album.
44. You need to buy
gifts for the best man, ushers and bridesmaids. Get the
gifts inscribed with your names and your wedding date.
45. Have a trial-run at
the hairdressers a week or two before the big day.
Take along your headdress and veil and even a polaroid camera to make
recreating your wedding hairstyle easier.
46. Treat yourself to a
make-up lesson with a professional. Take careful note
of all the colours they use and how they use them so that you can do the same
on your wedding morning.
47. It would be a good
idea to pack your honeymoon cases and take them to your
first night hotel the day before the wedding.
48. Nominate one of
your bridesmaids or a close friend to pack up your wedding
attire following the reception and store it for you until after the honeymoon.
49. Assemble a small bag with your wedding day essentials, like a hanky, a
lipstick, a aspirin, a comb and hair grips and ask someone to keep it for you.
50. Smile, relax and above all have a wonderful day.