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6 months or more before your wedding: Decide on the type of wedding, number of

guests, style of reception and a budget.

Choose the venue and time for the ceremony and reception.

Check venue and caterer availability and book.

Select and book a celebrant or meet the minister or priest at your church.

Secure your best man, groomsmen and bridal attendants’.

Draw up a provisional guest list.

Decide on a wedding theme and colour scheme.

Choose the type of music.

Select your wedding gown.

Look for a photographer and/or videographer.

Order wedding transport.

3 months before you should have: Chosen attendants’ dresses and outfits.

Arranged hire and fitting for menswear.

Decided on the reception menu with the caterer.

Finalised ceremony details including music.

Ordered invitations and other stationery.

Compiled the wedding gift list or organised registry.

Ordered the cake.

Booked the florist.

Bought the rings.

Chosen gifts for attendants, each other, parents and mementos for guests.

Booked wedding night accommodation and honeymoon travel.

Had a trial makeup and hairstyling.

Planning checklist

Even the simplest wedding requires careful planning to ensure everything runs like clockwork.

Over the final 4-6 weeks: Confirm all arrangements for the ceremony

and reception.

Have final fittings for men’s outfits, bridesmaids, and bridal gown.

Organise hen and stag parties.

Prepare a final seating plan for the reception and write place cards.

The last 1 or 2 weeks: Confirm post-wedding arrangements with

attendants’, parents and friends- returning hired clothing, care of bride’s gown, storing wedding gifts.

Prepare speeches.

Wear in shoes, bride and groom.

The last week’s tick boxes: Ceremony rehearsal.

Check attendants’ understand their duties at the service and reception.

Manicure and pedicure.

Ensure you have the marriage licence from the Department of Internal Affairs. Three working days is required to process the application.

Run through the programmes for ceremony and reception, checking all the details such as who is collecting flowers, order of service, cake delivery.

Drive the route to ceremony venue to check transport times.

Plan a detour route in case of delays.

The final days: Collect any hired items for the reception.

Arrange for the honeymoon luggage to be delivered to the reception venue.

Then relax, and enjoy your gorgeous day!

After the honeymoon: Write personal thank you letters for gifts

received.

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