Bridal Checklist

Below is a checklist of the sort of helpful tips that should completed to ensure the smooth running of proceedings on your special day.
Not everything in this list may apply, so use it as a starting point to formulate your own wedding day checklist.  

To do as soon as you can

These are the things that either affect everything else (like the wedding date) or are of greater emotional importance (like maybe the ceremony venue).

• Select a wedding date

• Discuss budget and who pays for what

• Set a limit to the size of the reception

• Discuss the style of reception

• Confirm date with officiant - Pay deposit

• Book Ceremony location - Pay deposit

• Book Reception location - Pay deposit

• Book Caterers if required - Pay deposit

• Book Photographer - Pay deposit

• Book Videographer - Pay deposit

• Book Hire Cars - Pay deposit

• Select Wedding dress - Pay deposit

• Schedule wedding gown fitting

• Select Bridesmaid Dresses - Pay deposit

• Schedule Bridesmaids fitting

• Start looking for Florist

• Start looking for DJ

• Start looking for MC

6 Months before your wedding day

At the six month mark you should have all your major services sorted and have a pretty good idea what you'd like for the rest.

• Book Florist - Pay deposit

• Book DJ - Pay deposit

• Book MC - Pay deposit

• Sign contract/agreement with Church/Council/venue for ceremony location

• Sign contract/agreement with Reception location

• Sign contract/agreement with Caterers

• Sign contract/agreement with Photographer

• Sign contract/agreement with Videographer

• Sign contract/agreement with Transportation company

• Sign contract/agreement for Wedding Dress

• Sign contract/agreement with Florist

• Sign contract/agreement with DJ

• Sign contract/agreement with MC

• Get a rough guest list together

3 Months before your wedding day

Getting closer to the day, you should have a pretty good picture in your head if how the day will unfold and how it will look. Now is the time to finalize the style of your day.

• Order Cake - Pay Deposit

• Choose Formal Wear for groom and attendants

• Book site hire equip (Marquee, dance floor, tables, chairs, crockery & cutlery)

• Book decorator - Pay deposit

• Book hairdresser - book trial style - Pay deposit

• Book make-up artist - pay deposit

• Coordinate make-up trial and pre-wedding photo shoot (and hair style too if possible)

• Organize Bridal Registry

• Finalize guest list

• Organize invitations/stationery

• Choose Honeymoon - pay deposit

2 Months to go before the wedding - Not long now!

• Send invitations

• Start getting weekly facials

• Book wedding night motel room - Pay deposit

• Start thinking about wedding vows

1 Month to go

Basically you just need to confirm with everyone (that you've not been in regular contact with) that they all have the correct date, time and venues.

• Confirm details with Ceremony Officiant

• Confirm details with Ceremony Venue

• Confirm details with Reception Venue

• Confirm details with Caterers

• Confirm details with Event Hire

• Confirm details with Decorators

• Confirm details with Photographer

• Confirm details with Videographer

• Confirm details with Transportation

• Confirm details with formal help

• Confirm details with Florist

• Confirm details for wedding dress

• Confirm Honeymoon suite details

• Confirm Honeymoon details

• Confirm details with DJ

• Confirm details with MC

• Buy the rings

• Schedule wedding rehearsal

• Confirm all accessories for your look are ready (Tiara, Veil, Earrings, Necklace etc)

• Buy gifts for Bridesmaids, Groomsmen, Ushers etc.

• Finalize Vows

1 or 2 weeks left - Tidy up all those loose ends

• Have make-up trial and photo shoot

• Have hair style trial - (with Veil)

• Finalize reception guest numbers and inform caterers

• Finalize reception seating and inform venue

• Pack for honeymoon

• Final consultation with Officiant

• Final consultation with Videographer

• Final consultation with Photographer

• Wedding rehearsal

• Pack a small bag with: Band Aids, safety pins, tissues, lip stick, needle & thread, hairspray, bobby pins, eye drops, analgesics & any other little emergency fixer

• Request tables for the presents, cake, wishing well, etc.

• Wear your wedding shoes around the house to wear them in (same with him if they're new)

• Write down a schedule for your wedding day, make copies and distribute to bridal party and helpers

The day before your wedding day

Relax and take it easy. Don't panic if some of your plans have fallen through. If you expect everything to be perfect you'll probably be disappointed, something always goes wrong. On the other hand, if you expect the day to be fantastic, it will seem perfect!

• Organize outstanding payments for wedding services in to clearly marked envelopes and give them to the Best Man

• Be prepared for a good (low GI) breakfast for tomorrow - You'll need the energy

• Prepare healthy snacks for the day - bet you forgot about lunch in your schedule?

• Touch base with everyone to ensure they're all prepared and organized

• Try to take it easy and get pampered - facial, manicure, etc.

• Have a herbal (sleepy) tea and get to bed early

• Sleep (if you can)

On your wedding day - Relax and smile and relax and smile.

• Relax.

• Eat breakfast you organized yesterday.

• Smile.

• Relax.

• Remember your emergency pack (Band Aids, stockings, etc).

• Relax.

• Smile.

• Relax.

• Smile.

• Enjoy the ride - You're getting married!