Your wedding countdown

From the minute you said yes to the moment you walk down the aisle, you need to plan, organise and arrange…here is your step by step plan

12- 9 months to go!

As soon as you’re engaged

Register to become a Modernwedding member

• Announce your engagement
• Have an engagement party
• Set your budget – use your budget calculator in Modernwedding planning tools
• Choose your bridal party and let them know
• Set a date
• Start looking for gowns
• Look at venues and locations for your ceremony and reception
• Decide on wedding bands
• Think about the sort of transport you’d like and the number of guests you need to accommodate
• Familiarise yourself with flowers that you like – colours, names, seasons
• Visit studios and decide which style of video, photography and wedding album you’d like
• Design a health and beauty plan (and stick to it!)
• Start your Modernwedding scrapbook, also check out the magazine for ideas
• Think about possible honeymoon destinations

Once you’ve set the date

• Speak to wedding coordinators and choose one if required
• Find and book your church/ registry office and celebrant
• Make arrangements for the marriage license
• Decide on a theme for your wedding
• Couture gowns need to be ordered at this stage
• Start looking for groom and groomsmen’s suits
• Think about the sort of bomboniere you’d like
• Book a venue and a caterer and themer if needed
• Write the guest list using Modernwedding guest list tool
• Look into wedding stationery and wedding vehicles
• Visit floral designers and bouquet preservation specialists
• Think about the flavour, design and size of the cake you’d like and visit bakers to taste-test some alternatives
• Choose a photographer and video producer
• Decide on what sort of music and entertainment you’d like for the ceremony and reception
• Look into dance lessons
• Have a look at gift registries and select one
• Look for your hairdresser and makeup artist
• Visit travel agents and get quotes and information for your honeymoon

6 – 3 months to go!

• Decide on the order of service
• Create a contingency plan for bad weather
• Prêt-a-porter dresses need to be ordered for you and your bridesmaids
• The suits need to be ordered from your bespoke tailor
• Finalise details with venue, themer and caterer
• Order wedding rings, bomboniere, stationery (invitations, order of service, place cards, thank-you cards)
• Book your transport, the entertainment for the reception and music/singers/ organ player for the ceremony
• Choose your florist, flower preservation specialist, cake designer and the style of each
• Discuss all details with your photography studios and have a pre-wedding engagement photography shoot
• Start dance lessons
• Select makeup artist and hairdresser
• Make any radical changes to your hair
• Compile a wish list for your registry
• Book your honeymoon and the accommodation for your wedding night

2 – 1 month to go

• Get all documentation from your celebrant, fill it out and return it
• Select people to make speeches at the reception and let them know
• Organise insurance to cover wedding gifts
• Buy your shoes, lingerie, jewellery and accessories
• Buy groom’s shoes and groomsmen’s ties
• Final fitting – ensure everything coordinates
• Collect your wedding rings and make sure they fit
• Finalise guest list, send invitations as well as your gift and registry details
• Record all RSVPs on Modernwedding guest list tool
• Order your flowers and wedding cake.
• Decide on how you’d like your flowers preserved
• Organise guest transport
• Decide on specific music to be played at the reception
• Choose your first dance song and practice dancing to it
• Have your trial makeup and hair
• Have a facial
• Buy presents for the bridal party
• Arrange your passport, visas, insurance, injections etc for your honeymoon
• Finalise all details of your honeymoon with your travel agent

1 month – 1 week!

• Make sure your celebrant has all of the paperwork
• Check that the speeches are being done
• Confirm that everyone knows their part and what they’re supposed to do
• Collect your gown and store it well
• Break in your wedding shoes
• Make sure all place cards are done
• Confirm all transport, photography, videography, music and entertainment bookings and details
• Confirm the order with your flower preservation specialist, florist and baker
• Trial your hairstyle with headwear
• Have a makeup retrial if needed
• Men’s haircuts
• Write thank you notes as you receive gifts
• Check your gift registry – just in case you need to add items
• Order foreign currency and traveller’s cheques and collect your tickets

1 week before

• Have a rehearsal of the ceremony
• Prepare bomboniere and place cards to be distributed according to table setting and deliver to reception venue
• Confirm all reception details, cake and flower preservation delivery arrangements, photographer and videographer’s arrival time and details and the arrangements for hair and makeup
• Have your rings cleaned and polished
• Get plenty of sleep
• Get a manicure and pedicure the day before
• Prepare your bridal party gifts
• Pack for your honeymoon
• Confirm honeymoon accommodation and re-confirm flights
• Enjoy!