Countdown to the big day
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Tuesday 31st Jan 2006.
PLANNING a Wedding is not something you can leave until the last minute!
MOST people associated with the wedding industry recommend that the main items - church, reception, venue, photographer / videographer - are booked at least 12 months in advance; and up to 24 months for the most sought after people and places at the height of the season.
Wedding dresses, be they hand made or shop brought, often take up to six months to prepare, and even florists, bakers and wedding card specialists require plenty of notice to ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly.
With all this in mind, the following timetable should give you a good idea to what needs to be done when - and by whom!
THE WEDDING TIMETABLE.
UP TO 24 MONTHS TO GO.
Decide the date and place of the wedding
See church minister re: arrangements
Book reception venue
Book caters
Book Photographer
Book Videographer
Book Reception entertainment
Order transport
Decide number of guests and make list
Start looking for somewhere to live
Book honeymoon
Book register office and give notice to the registrar
NINE MONTHS TO GO
Choose Bridesmaids, best man and ushers
Choose wedding dress to hire or buy
Order wedding cake
Start collecting for bottom drawer
Compile list of wedding presents
THREE MONTHS TO GO
Order invitations
Confirm church arrangements, including the calling of banns
Buy wedding shoes, head-dress, veil etc
Buy Bridesmaid's dresses and accessories
Order flowers
Choose wedding rings
Arrange outfits for mothers
Apply for passports
If catering at home, make arrangements for food, drink etc
Groom, best man, fathers and ushers should arrange hire of suits.
SIX WEEKS TO GO
Send out invitations
Arrange beauty salon appointments / hairdressing etc
Choose Hymns and music choice
Minister to approve hymn and music choice
Order the Order of Service sheets from printer
Choose presents for bridesmaids
Confirm travel and hotel bookings
TEN - SEVEN DAYS TO GO
Take head-dress to hairdresser to decide style
Meet with the best man, bridesmaids and ushers to finalise arrangements. Give the best man money for fees and tipping
Give Order of Service sheets to ushers with two copies to minister
Start packing for honeymoon
Lay out wedding ensemble and going away ensemble.
THE WEDDING DAY
Assuming a 2pm wedding, the bride's timetable will run something like this:
8.00 Shower or relaxing bath
8.30 A good breakfast
9.00 Polish nails
9.30 Hairdresser
11.00 Best man arrives to collect luggage / greeting cards
11.20 Bridesmaids / pageboys arrive
12.00 Make-up
12.30 Bride and bridesmaids dress
1.00 Photographer arrives
1.30 First car takes mother and bridesmaids to church. Bridesmaids wait in Church
1.45 Wait in porch and line bridesmaids up behind you. Verger will greet you.
2.00 The ceremony.
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