Okay, I’ve spoken a lot on Twitter recently about my wedding checklist, so I thought it was about time I shared this with you! I started it a year ago, and I’m still adding to it now, 5 weeks before the wedding! There are things on the list that I never would have thought of before last February… Of course, you think of the big things like the dress and the venue and the cake, but it wasn’t until I started planning that I realised I needed to be thinking of things like updating my EHIC, or double checking how many chair sashes are included in our wedding package…

There’ll be some things missing from the list that you might expect to see there (transport, or hair stylist for example), and some more obvious ones, like the caterer or DJ are missing because quite a few things are included in our wedding package. But this is a list tailored specifically to our wedding. Early on, I separated it into things to buy/to book/to do/extras…so I’m going to keep that going now, though there’s no particular order. Okay, are you ready? Deep breath…

TO BUY

The Dress
The Shoes
Underwear
Garter (unless you’re borrowing)
Bride’s Jewellery
Bride’s Hair Accessories
Bridesmaid Dresses
Bridesmaid Jewellery
Bridesmaid Hair Accessories
Suit
Shoes
Groomsmen’s Suits
Groomsmen’s Shoes
Wedding Rings
Centrepieces
Centrepiece Accessories
Top table decor
Umbrellas (just in case!)
Confetti
Guestbook
Placenames
Wedding Party Hangers
Lipstick
Advice Cards
Signs for Hashtags
Balloons
Present for other half
Thankyou presents for wedding party

TO BOOK

Venue
Photographer
Venue decor
Florist
Cake
Favours
Honeymoon
Table runners
Hair cut and colour
Spray Tan
Wax
Dinner tables for evening before/day after

TO DO

Decide on which person/people to allocate to each item on the checklist
Decide on Budget
View Venues
Choose Venue
Give Notice of Marriage
Pay Ceremony Fee
Choose Witnesses
Create Guestlist
Choose Stationery
Send Save the Dates
Send Invites
Have dress fitting (and follow up appointments)
Meet with florist
Meet with baker/have cake tasting
Meet with photographer
Order Signage
Create ‘must play’ song playlist for Reception
Choose aisle music
Choose 30 minutes pre-ceremony music
Choose 3 songs for register signing
Choose readings for ceremony
Seating Plan for Wedding Breakfast
Wear in shoes
Make emergency wedding kit
Get name changed on passport
Get name changed on EHIC
Send ‘must have’ shotlist to photographer
Have menu tasting
Have engagement shoot
Create running order for the day
Get Bridesmaid’s dresses altered
Decide on Bridesmaid’s hair
Collect wedding rings
Get engagement ring polished
DIY items for centrepieces
Organise afternoon entertainment

EXTRAS

Find something OLD, NEW, BORROWED and BLUE
Book time off work
Confirm arrangements with vendors
Give vendor contact details to Maid of Honour
Make arrangements for day before at the venue (check in time, nails, dinner etc.)

And along with all of these things, you have to take into consideration how time consuming it will all be. I spent my free time for WEEKS searching for our signage for example, and the seating plan is a bloomin’ nightmare! I think our final plan is version 5 or 6! Whilst it can be stressful, and time consuming, and the checklist seems never ending, I’ve LOVED planning our wedding. It’s been such a special experience, and I won’t know what to do with myself when it’s over!

More and more things are getting ticked off the list AND IT’S SUCH A GOOD FEELING! Bring on the next few weeks 😊