Wedding Checklist

Following is a fairly comprehensive list for a traditional marriage, pretty much in a time line, of what you may want/need with your wedding – crossing off what you don’t want will pretty much determine how formal the ceremony and reception will be.

The Early Stages

  • Announce your engagement
  • Select a date, keeping in mind other events – Valentine’s Day will be busy for other weddings (but romantic for you, and you’ll never forget an anniversary) and your humble writer chose 3:00pm on a September Saturday – the same time as kick-off in a football grand final, which didn’t thrill some of the guests!
  • Pick a time of day and location
  • Work out a budget and how those expenses will be shared
  • Get the guest list happening (consult with both sets of parents, too) – separate into who MUST be invited, who SHOULD be invited and who it would be NICE to invite (do you want children at the wedding?) – and give plenty of notice to overseas/interstate guests
  • Book the church or location and the celebrant (if you are thinking of a garden wedding at home see if there needs to be any improvements made)
  • Choose and order your bridal gown if going traditional
  • Choose the rings
  • Decide on a honeymoon destination – if overseas, get your passports (or check for 6 months validity on existing) and visas if necessary. (Vanuatu and the Pacific are nice)
  • Choose a photographer (do you want video?) – and a location
  • Choose the Best Man, Maid of Honour, Bridesmaid(s), Groomsman(men), Flower Girl, Ring Bearer and Usher(s) – one for 50 guests should suffice – and a Master of Ceremony (can also be Father-of-the-Bride)
  • Reserve the Bridal Suite for the wedding night
  • Think style and colour scheme and choose the attendant’s dress and accessories – you don’t want a bridesmaid in scarlet taking the limelight!
  • Choose music for the ceremony and reception
  • Choose a wedding gift for each other
  • Select a cake/decorator
  • Book any rental items (cars, suits)
  • Finalise the guest list and order invitations (and any other stationery, including place cards and thank you notes)
  • Decide on table decorations and wedding favours (gifts) for guests
  • Book the honeymoon
  • Set up a gift registry (think about the price range guests can afford)
  • Consider a honeymoon registry
  • Buy shoes and accessories (break the shoes in before the day!) and wedding lingerie
  • Send out invitations – RSVP should be 4 to 6 weeks prior to the date. Keep a record of RSVP and gifts received
  • Send out thank you notes as gifts arrive (you’ll thank yourself for this after the wedding!)
  • You may want to book accommodation for out-of-town guests
  • Book hair, make up, nails for the day of the wedding
  • Choose attire for the groom, father of the bride, best man, usher(s) and ring bearer
  • Send wedding announcement to newspaper
  • If you’d like a Guest Book, choose an attendant and decide where and when guests should sign (church or reception)
  • Plan a lunch or dinner with the bridesmaids and give them a gift at that time
  • Organise a driver for arrival and departure
  • Choose a reception menu and required alcohol and soft drink
  • Consider wedding insurance

Getting Closer To The Day

  • Confirm details with the celebrant or minister
  • Final fitting for dresses (bride, bridesmaid, flower girl)
  • Do a seating plan for guests
  • Choose the flowers (bridal party, ceremony and reception)
  • Do a timeline for the wedding and reception
  • Consider a trip to the dentist (some brides/grooms do like whiter teeth and you don’t want toothache on your honeymoon!)
  • Contact any guests who haven’t replied
  • Confirm catering arrangements and guest numbers
  • Choose a going away dress if not leaving in your bridal gown
  • Pack for the honeymoon, pick up tickets
  • Have the post office hold your mail while you’re on honeymoon, cancel newspapers etc.
  • If leaving the reception by car, have the luggage (and passport, tickets etc) in the car the day prior
  • If you are having a receiving line, decide who stands where – also the seating at the bridal table for special guests
  • Decide on speeches
  • Meet with photographer
  • One week out – the church rehearsal
  • Pick up rings and check they fit
  • Choose a song for the ‘first dance’
  • Familiarise yourself with the guest list – some of them you may be meeting for the first time!
  • Provide wedding party members with a list of events
  • Arrange for someone to return the rental items
  • Arrange a table at the location or reception for gifts
  • Give the Best Man cheques for celebrant’s fee, catering etc
  • If having a Buck’s Night/Hen’s night – don’t have it the night before the wedding!!

On The Day!

  • Give the groom’s ring to the bridesmaid and the bride’s ring to the Best Man
  • Enjoy the day! (and laugh if a few little things go wrong)
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