PLANNING
Decide on the details Once you’ ve got your venue booked and know your wedding date, you can start to plan in all of the other elements that make up your day, like your photographer, entertainment and catering. Contact suppliers you like the look of to find out their prices and availability, and then hold meetings with them so you can get to know them ahead of your wedding.
Send your‘ save the dates’ Around a year before your wedding is a good time to send out save the dates, the earlier the better, especially if you’ re getting married in the summer months during peak holiday season.
Try on dresses Whether you already have an idea of the style you’ d like, or have no clue what to choose, make some appointments at bridal boutiques and get a feel for what suits you. Some people fall in love with the first dress they try on, others don’ t discover‘ the one’ until much later, but enjoy the process of experimenting with different looks until you find a dress you love.
It’ s a good idea to start looking for a dress around a year before your wedding date, as some boutiques have long lead times when it comes to ordering and altering dresses.
Dress the bridal party Once you’ ve chosen your dress, it’ s time to plan the looks for your bridal party. Whether you’ re hiring or buying, going for the same for everyone or embracing a mismatched look, once you’ ve got an idea of the aesthetic you’ re looking for, get the group involved in helping to find key items. Send your invites
Around 4-6 months before the big day, you’ ll want to send out your invites. It’ s helpful to include information for guests such as accommodation and transport options; the more information the better, as you don’ t want to be inundated with questions on the morning of the wedding!
Book your trials Before your big day, most hair and makeup artists will offer you the chance to have a trial. This is a good way to experiment with colours and styles, and work out what’ ll go best with your dress and accessories.
Final payments Around a month before your wedding, you’ ll need to make your final payments to your suppliers. This can be a good time to check in with them too, to see if there’ s anything else they need from you ahead of the day, and to finalise timings and details with them.
Make your seating plan Once you’ ve had your RSVPs back, it’ s time to tackle the seating plan( if you’ re having one) and confirm dietary requirements with your venue.
Set up If you’ re having a DIY wedding you’ ll likely have access to your venue a few days before your wedding, so use this time to set up and arrange for suppliers to drop off things like tables, decorations and glassware. If the venue is doing the setting up for you, then check with them to find out what they’ d like you to give them, e. g. decorations and table settings.
Get some rest Weddings are wonderful, but are very long and tiring, so make sure you have some down time in the lead up to your big day, and try to get some early nights! If you’ re having beauty treatments such as your nails done, book these for a couple of days before the wedding.
Celebrate! The big day is finally here and you’ ve prepped like a pro. Congratulations!
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