PLANNING | Your Ultimate Wedding Plan Checklist

Every single person deserves to have the wedding of their dreams. The main problem that a lot of people have when they start planning their wedding is that they have no idea what they need to plan. They sit there hunched over a table with their friends and family, staring at a blank wedding checklist. Knowing the timeline is crucial if you want to understand what is happening every step of the way.

18 Months before the Wedding

A year and a half before the wedding, you need to make sure that you set your budget. You also have to decide on your venue, and book it. A lot of wedding venues sell out years in advance and this is especially the case if it is a prestigious or popular building. You have to remember that you will be renting out the whole building for that day, or even over a couple of days so availability is crucial if you want to have the wedding of your dreams. When you have set your date and venue, you then have a solid foundation to work with when it comes to your guest list because you will understand how many guests you can have and how much it is going to cost as well.

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It also helps to know if you are going to have it in a church or as a civil ceremony. A lot of people choose to have a marquee as well, but this is all down to your personal preference. Another consideration is to decide whether or not you want to have wedding insurance. This will cover you if for some reason the event gets cancelled, and although the whole cost might not be refunded, you can expect to get a portion of your money back.

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12 Months before the Wedding

The big day is coming around faster than you’d think! It’s time to choose your ushers, best man and even the bridesmaids. Now is a great time for you to send out your “save the date” cards. Also, think about booking your photographer and even your Wedding videographer in Cardiff as they can be booked well in advance. Your transport will need to be arranged and if you are having a band, it’s time to book them in. Bands are often touring or booked into various events months in advance, so make sure that you get this sorted.

Lastly, your catering. Your caterers will ultimately be one of the most important factors in your wedding service. If your food isn’t everything you thought it would be then there is a high chance that your guests will think so as well. For this reason, you need to make sure that you spend some time getting to know your catering company. Go for tastings, try different ones and make sure that you are confident in their ability to provide a good service. It also helps to know if they have catered for the number of guests that you are having as well.

9 Months before the Wedding

Now it’s getting exciting. It’s time to go and pick your wedding dress! You don’t want to do this much earlier because you don’t want to risk the dress being too big or too small when the time does come for you to get married. On top of this, you will also want to make sure that you have your groom’s outfit. You can go for multiple fittings as the date approaches and there are plenty of tailors who would be happy to adjust any outfit for you if you do happen to put on or lose weight.

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6 Months before the Wedding

6 months to go! You’ve probably got the pre-wedding jitters already but that’s nothing a bit of planning can’t help. Magicians, fireworks and flowers come next. You don’t need to book these too far in advance as many florists and entertainment providers are very lenient when it comes to time and dates. When choosing the cake, try and make sure that you sample plenty of different flavours. Don’t be afraid to include a bit of personality! Wedding favours are also a must-have, but don’t worry about filling them up just yet. It helps to have the boxes or bags ready, and any message cards that you plan on having on the table. You can put your almonds, sweets or party favours in them in a couple of months’ time.

3 Months before the Wedding

Time is now passing by faster than ever. It is 12 weeks until you are due to get married. Now it’s time to book your honeymoon and buy your Baunat wedding rings. You can even choose the hymns, poems and readings that you plan on having as well. It also helps to book your vicar or your registrar. A lot of people choose to write their vows a bit later, but you can’t beat being prepared. Try and start drafting them now, so when the time does come for you to put pen to paper, you’ll find it much easier. Now is also a brilliant time for you to start wearing in your wedding shoes, writing your gift list and so much more.

The Final Weeks

In the final weeks, it helps to confirm the numbers with the caterers and even the venue as well. You will also want to brief your bridesmaids and your best man. It’s time to collect your outfits, go for a manicure and pedicure and get plenty of beauty sleep! The big day is just around the corner and your dream day is going to be everything you’ve ever wanted it to be.

If you have any last-minute things to take care of, now is the time to do it. You might even want to find out how everyone is going to get there and to even find out how you are going to get to the venue yourself. Make sure that everyone is up to date on the times and that you have the rings, most importantly! If you are taking your pets with you, as many people often do, make sure that you have their food and water bowl as well as plenty of toys to keep them happy.

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Shafonne Myers is a certified wedding and event planner who longed for bridal inspiration that looked like her. She has created a website and magazine that brings bridal inspiration to plus size brides. She does speaking engagements educating the world about plus size brides and self confidence.
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