To Start:

• Set a provisional date for your wedding and decide on the type of ceremony i.e. religious or civil.
• Provisionally book the venue and your first night hotel room/bridal suite. Book early to avoid disappointment. Decide on the type of catering you want, whether it will be a sit-down meal or buffet, select your reception menus and book the caterers.
• Compile a provisional guest list to establish an estimate of guest numbers for the ceremony, day and evening receptions. This will help you budget accordingly and choose the size and style of venues.
• Select and book your photographer and the type of music and entertainment for your ceremony and reception.
• Order the cake. The final design and colours can be decided later.
• Book transport to and from the ceremony and reception for the bridal party, making sure that you view the actual vehicles that you will have on the day.
• Start thinking about the style of your wedding dress.

5 Months To Go

• Choose outfits for the groom, best man, ushers and pageboys, and accessories for the chief bridesmaid or matron of honour, bridesmaids and any flower girls.
• Decide on the style of flowers you want and the amount of arrangements required to include bouquets, buttonholes, venue and ceremony displays, table centres and gifts for mums, and book your preferred florist.
• If you have any very young children as guests arrange for something to keep them entertained i.e colouring books, crayons etc.

4 Months To Go

• Organise you wedding stationery! Invitations, order of service, menus, place cards and thank-you cards. Don’t wait to order your Thank you cards until after the wedding. The same amount of time is required to create these and generally you’ll want to send them out as soon as you’ve opened your gifts! Buy a guest book for people to sign on your wedding day.

·   Choose your wedding rings.

• Compile a gift list.
• Finalise wedding cake design and colours.

If going overseas on your honeymoon, check your passports for validity and give thought to your surname after marriage. If you intend adopting your husband's surname and wish to travel on your honeymoon in your married name, obtain passport application forms from a post office. Arrange for any necessary visas to be issued and possible vaccinations.

3 Months To Go

• Send out your invitations and have your gift list ready for those who request it. It is not considered appropriate to include your gift list with the invitations but is preferable to include it in an information pack sent out to those guests who accept your invitation.
• Make sure you obtain your minister or registrar's final approval for your order of service before going to print!
• Choose your going away outfits.
• Discuss hairstyles with your hairdresser. Take along any veil or headdress that you are interested in, a picture of your dress if possible and an idea of your colour scheme.

2 Months To Go

• Best Man and Chief Bridesmaid to arrange stag and hen parties.
• Upon receipt of acceptances from guests, send out an information pack containing maps and directions to your venues, local accommodation information, details of your gift list and any other relevant information.
• Arrange for credit cards in your new name (if you are changing your name upon marriage).

1 Month To Go

• Book your final hair and beauty appointments (earlier if you know that your hairdresser is very busy), and your make-up artist if you are having one. Confirm whether you will be going to the salon on the day or having stylists to your home.
• Send final number of guests to the caterer and the reception venue.
• Prepare speeches and start practicing!
• Check that all items of wedding clothing for the bridal party are on schedule for fitting and delivery or collection.
• Choose and buy presents for attendants, family and friends.
• Finalise your reception table plans and perhaps come up with alternative ways to name your tables.

1 - 2 Weeks To Go

• Have Final rehearsal at the venue for the ceremony.
• Wear-in your wedding shoes.
• Order foreign currency and/or travellers cheques.
• Enjoy your hen and stag parties!
• Put together a list of telephone numbers in case of an on-the-day emergency such as a local cab firm, doctor's surgery and all the suppliers that will be attending or delivering items on your wedding day, e.g. cake maker, florist, transport etc.

On The Day

• Get up in plenty of time and try to stick to your timetable. Have a relaxing bath and, even better, include a massage and be sure to eat breakfast.
• Prepare yourself in plenty of time so you do not feel rushed. If you are going to a salon to have your hair done don’t forget to take along your headdress, veil or flowers.

Above all, relax, enjoy the day and have fun!