How Important Is A Wedding Timeline Checklist?

It is essential that you decide on a wedding timeline checklist, like most things when planning a wedding, the more organised you are, the more relaxed you will be on the big day. Where do you start?

Here’s a general wedding timeline checklist to get you started:

Wedding Styles: These days’ people get married in all sorts of strange places and outfits. So are you having a traditional or themed wedding? This dictates the rest so decide early on.

Wedding Venue: Decide on the date and arrange the venue so that you know for sure that this is the big day for sure, before arranging anything else. Make sure you book the church or ceremony in plenty of time as popular venues get heavily booked up to twelve months in advance. Book the reception at the same time. Decide on the budget at this stage and how many guests will be attending. Note: The registrar can be given notice anytime from twelve months before the wedding.

Wedding Transport: To and from the ceremony and reception. This again may need booking way in advance as again the good ones are the most heavily booked. I find the three quotes rule used in business is a great principle to adopt when finding suppliers for your wedding, anymore than that and you will make the planning even more stressful. Three quotes should be enough to show you the differences in charges and should give you enough information to tell whether a supplier is overcharging or not.

Wedding Photographer: Whether you are having a photographer, videographer or both, they need booking. Research and get quotes and meet the actual person doing the photography if you can. The last thing you want is a scruffy, annoying individual, who’s ambition is to photograph glamour models, who snaps away at your wedding guests and keeps asking everyone to ‘love the camera’. Make sure you take a look at their portfolio.

Wedding Hierarchy: Decide on the best man, ushers, bridesmaids and page boys if you are having them. Choose carefully as not to offend those that don’t get picked.

Wedding Shopping: Now the best bit, you can shop for dresses and suits. This is the most fun part of wedding planning for most. Again, decide on a budget and stick to it if you can. Don’t forget many people hire suits and dresses these days so it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Wedding Reception: Arrange caterers and entertainment for the reception. This is also essential to arrange well in advance, especially if you are having a marquee and band etc. The more elaborate a wedding is the more important organising the wedding timeline is.

Wedding Flowers: You need to decide on the florist and style of flowers at this point. Again get quotes and try and see some of their previous work and designs.

Honeymoon: Start organising the honeymoon early, especially if you are travelling during holiday times, school summer holidays, Christmas or Easter etc. Book an overnight bridal suite if necessary if you are living together already.

Wedding Cake: Decide which supplier you will be using and what style of wedding cake. Traditional or modern, fruit cake or sponge, hard icing or soft, again get quotes. You also need to decide on the accessories on the cake. You can even have models made of you both these days to put on top, so there are many options when designing your dream cake.

So… hopefully you are a bit clearer about what you need to arrange. I know it seems a lot but if you break it down into manageable sections and have help and support it soon all falls into place. It’s a bit like a big fruit pie; if you try and eat it all at once you will struggle but a slice a day is very easy to deal with and a most enjoyable experience. But not just before your wedding day ay? Enjoy and be happy.