Wedding Planning Checklist
Some might say your wedding day is one of the best days of your life, a day that some of us dream about from a young age. While it’s an exciting time, the responsibility and organisation it takes to execute is incredible. Throughout this blog, each stage of planning is explored, with advice and guidance if you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of planning a wedding.
12 to 16 months before the big day
This is when you should have a good idea of your overall budget and deciding limits for different aspects. You should be considering who to invite to get an idea of numbers and starting to think of a suitable venue. To make sure you get the venue of your dreams, you should arrange viewings and meetings their wedding coordinators. At The Devonshire Hotels, we encourage couples to plan a visit to our venues to visualise having your special day with us. Once you’ve found the perfect venue, you’ll need to get in touch with your local registrar. Check they are available on your preferred date, before you pay the deposit for your venue.
9 to 12 months before the big day
At this time, brides should be searching for their perfect wedding dress. By now you should have an image in mind as to how you would like your décor. Start shopping around for florists, and venue dressers. This is also the time to secure your key suppliers, such as caterers, bands/DJs etc. You should try to book any photographers, videographers, musicians and DJs sooner rather than later, as the best ones are usually booked up at short notice. If you’re struggling to find suppliers, we have several recommended suppliers we regularly use at The Devonshire.
6 to 9 moths before the big day
Once your suppliers are all secured, and you know everything you need is available for your date, send your guests a ‘Save the Date’. This isn’t a formal invitation, as the finer details may not have been confirmed yet. This is just so your guests can book time off work, arrange childcare and organise accommodation (if necessary). You should also be looking for your wedding bands, sampling cakes, and finding bridesmaid’s dresses. Finding a bridesmaids dress that everybody is happy with is a very difficult task, so the sooner this is done, the better!
4 to 6 months before the big day
Your invitations can finally go out! It’s recommended you do this more towards the six month mark so your guests have plenty of notice. In addition, grooms wear will need to be ordered as this is all tailored, so can take a while to arrive. If you are having a church wedding, now is also the time to book any transport to take you to your reception venue. Four months before the wedding, you should aim to have confirmed your attendees, leaving you to focus on the finer details like table plans and place settings. Try aim to have your placement cards printed as late as possible because there can always be last minute changes to your guest list.
Three months before the big day
Hopefully by this point you’ve managed to get all of the above sorted. Well done for getting the hard part out of the way! Be sure to communicate during this time with your venue so they can brief their team and prepare for your day sufficiently. The bridal party should have had their hair and makeup trials, to ensure they know what they want on the day. This will also help when shopping for wedding jewellery.
Finishing touches
In the week prior to your wedding, you need to organise your playlists, make sure your table plan and place cards are printed and organised accordingly. Finally, your day has arrived, and it’s time to enjoy all of the hard work you have put in, and remember what it’s all about. At The Devonshire Hotels and Restaurants Group, we pride ourselves in managing all of the elements of the day, taking any stress away from you.
To speak with one of our dedicated wedding coordinators, please email weddings@thedevonshirehotels.co.uk, or call us on 01756 718155. Also please click here more information.
Jody Holden
Group Weddings and Events Coordinator