12-6 Months  before the Wedding

Place notice of engagement in the newspaper

Plan and host an engagement party - maybe have engagement portraits done - many photographers have incentives available for this occasion to allow you to get to know them better. Penelope Bridal can assist with ideas for a Stunning Formal dress for your engagement party.

Decide on wedding date and time

Very importantly, discuss a budget with you fiancé and parents and decide on a cost limit

Keep written records of all your Wedding planning 

Choose Bridesmaids,Groomsmen & Flower girl and Pageboy

Choose your Wedding Gown from Penelope Pink Bridal

Don't forget to look at Bridesmaid Dresses at Penelope Pink

Choose wedding rings

Contact wedding coordinator for consultation

Consider and choose a theme for your wedding

Arrange a consultation with a wedding decorator and choose decorations. This person should be able to help you with the ordering and hire of equipment - chairs and tables, chair covers, red carpet, bubble blowing machines and other decorations such as a cake arch, signing table and backdrops

Draw up a guest list and think about whether or not you want children at the wedding and especially the reception

Choose and book ceremony and reception venues

Consider options for Groomsmen's attire  rental or purchase

Choose and book a photographer and consider having your wedding filmed

Select your wedding cake

Organize Caterers and/or Function Venue

Select a location for the wedding ceremony to take place and book a minister or celebrant

Work with the minister or celebrant to give notice of intention to marry

Talk to your chosen minister or celebrant about Marriage Preparation courses or investigate other options

Consider honeymoon ideas including first night locations not too far from the place of your big day and make bookings

If going overseas for your honeymoon, check that both passports will be current for at least six months after planned travel or
apply for new or renewal of passports if necessary

Obtain birth certificate a full birth certificate is required for passports

Begin a personal health and fitness program

Select music/musician/DJ for ceremony and reception

Organise wedding insurance

Organise travel insurance

Organise wedding cars

6-3 Months Ahead

Order wedding stationery - invitations, envelopes, gift suggestion cards and discuss the option with the stationery of returning later for seating cards and thank you cards, also plan the order of ceremony and reception so you can order printing for these booklets/cards at the same time

Make an appointment with a florist, discuss colour schemes and decide arrangements

Choose Master of Ceremony for the reception

Consider honeymoon attire and luggage and make decisions on your options

Register with a bridal gift service and select gift choices

Arrange immunisations for overseas travel

Discuss insurances and wills for your future together

Check your level of health cover to arrange health insurance

Make a shortlist of hairdressers and beauticians and arrange trials for hair and makeup - take your veil and headpiece or a loan veil and headpiece from Penelope Bridal.

If you have not already, look at options regarding shoes, lingerie and accessories available from Penelope Pink for the entire Bridal party and finalise your decisions remembering special accessories may require some time to order.
 

2 Months Ahead

Mail wedding invitations and registry lists - if possible draw up an excel spreadsheet for handling your RSVPs as they come in

Talk to your Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids about what you'd like in terms of a Kitchen Tea party, Bridal Shower, Hens Night and even just nights out with you and your Bridal party.

Decide on a menu and drinks with your catering/reception centre

Book any wedding apparel that needs to be hired

Meet with the Photographer/Videographer at various sites for Your day, working together for a checklist to be followed that won't leave You disappointed. Be clear about what you want. You will not get a second chance. It is too late to try and organize on the Big day.

Look at luggage and honeymoon attire options

Select ceremony readers and ushers for the church or wedding venue and reception (or you may wish for your parents to welcome guests as ushers at the reception venue).

4 Weeks Ahead

Confirm all bookings and arrangements made

Arrange for any name changes

Finalize your plans with the Stationer regarding seating cards and thank you notes 

Ask those people assigned to speak at your wedding to prepare their speeches. If your worried about what someone is going to say check their speeches before the Big day. Don't feel guilty it's your Special Day.

Schedule wedding rehearsals and notify those involved. Make this event fun - maybe a casual dinner out afterward with the entire party

Purchase gifts for special people involved with all the planning and help and wrap these up together with a thank-you note

Purchase a Guest/Thought book, toasting glasses and a Feather Pen, Garter and Ring Pillow.

Consider ideas for "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". Penelope Pink Bridal can help you with ideas for the ‘new' and ‘blue' items.

Provide individual members of the wedding party a list of their responsibilities.

2 Weeks Ahead

Contact  newspapers for wedding notices

Purchase ribbon for the wedding cars and deliver to drivers together with any schedules or route information you'd like them to know. You don't want them getting lost.

Confirm numbers with caterer and reception booking

Check and confirm honeymoon bookings even if you have done so already

Order traveller's cheques and overseas money if going out of the country

Pick up wedding rings and make sure sizing is o.k.

All RSVPs should now be in, contact people who haven't replied, if you desire

Assist out-of-town guests with accommodation requirements, if you desire or arrange for someone to help in this area. Good idea to designate this job to someone reliable.

Finalise your seating plan paying special attention to VIPs such as Parents and Grandparents and give the final go ahead on seating cards
 

1 Week Ahead

Relax as much as possible. If you have done all the hard work already this is catch a breath time. The week before the wedding is the time to calm down and begin to enjoy this very special event. Success favours the well prepared.

Draw a seating plan for the reception based on RSVPs that guests will easily understand

Pack for your honeymoon: especially be certain of passports and tickets (pick these up from your travel agent)

Always keep Passports and tickets on you. Never pack them in your luggage. 

Visit the Church or wedding place to deliver decorations and the place of your reception to deliver the seating plan for the function centre to display prominently, and items such as Toasting Glasses too, together with gifts for special people involved which should be sat at each relevant person's reception seat (for a sit-down wedding)

Collect and try on your wedding outfits and check accessories

Give the caterer your final numbers

Organise someone to return hired clothes and equipment when your Dream day is over

Confirm equipment hire and wedding transportation

Get a tan, facial and a massage

Have your hair coloured, if necessary

Buy some black socks for the Groomsmen and Fathers

Settle all accounts with Your wedding suppliers or make arrangements for someone to handle this whilst on Your honeymoon, depending on each supplier's terms of supply

Arrange a hold on your mail while on your honeymoon or arrange for someone else to collect your mail

The Day Before

Confirm hair and make-up

Confirm when flowers and cake are arriving, also the musicians and/or DJs

Pack last minute items for your honeymoon

Have nails manicured

Remove any unnecessary tags from attire and accessories being worn

Arrange refreshments for the wedding party especially Summer Weddings.

Water is a good idea before and after the Wedding Ceremony and during the Photographers and Videographers shoot.  

Pack an emergency kit including needle and thread, safety pins, extra stockings, tissues, lipstick and band-aids

Lay out everything you need for the wedding day

Pack essentials for the wedding night, basically an overnight bag for the honeymoon

Finalize your schedule for tomorrow and give this to relevant parties

Give the Guest book to a trusted friend to distribute throughout the reception

Enjoy your day - have a lovely snooze some time

Get a good night's sleep

The Day - The Big Day!

Most of all enjoy every moment of today! Remember, today is the day that you will turn every head and heart, this is the day you've long been planning for, the day from which photos will long reflect and memories will forever be drawn. This is the day you are marrying your husband-to-be, the man you have come to be unable to live without! Love every moment of today!!! It will be over very quickly...and then the "ever after" commences!

All the planning has been done. All the planning and follow up = avoiding disaster.

So you don't have to worry. Just enjoy and please relax.

Have a typical breakfast that won't upset your body

Ensure you are wearing your engagement ring on your right hand

Ensure all Wedding Rings are with the Maiden of Honour and Best Man

Load into the first wedding car any items you'll need for the day or the honeymoon and have someone ensure these items are properly transferred to where you need them to be.

After the Honeymoon

Make an appointment to see photographer and videographer to see their finished work

Send thank you cards for gifts

Organize legals: wills, bank accounts and passports - all name change information

Have your Wedding Dress cleaned and bagged. Have flowers preserved if you desire

Have a Great Life...             

Love Yanni