Planning Your Wedding

With so much to think about and so many choices, where do you start? Dining by Design can provide you with some wonderful inspiration and now offer you somewhere to store your thoughts and plans. Like every good list, the fun comes in ticking each item off, so ladies and gentlemen - pens at the ready. . .

First things first . . .

* Tell family & friends about your engagement
* Place an announcement in your local paper
* Open a wedding savings account
* Organise wedding insurance
* Set a budget & decide who is paying for what
* Choose your attendants

1 year to go . . .

* Choose whether to have a religious or civil ceremony
* Decide on an ideal date & time
* Visit possible venues & reserve a date for your favorite

11 months to go . . .

* Book your venue & contact your registrar as soon as possible
* Draft a guest list
* Book time with us to discuss menus & your equipment - ie marquee, chairs

10 months to go . . .

* Choose your wedding dress and schedule fittings
* Select the outfits for the attendants
* Reserve accommodation for out-of-town guests
* Discuss & book the entertainment with us

9 months to go . . .

*
* Book your photographer/videographer
* Decide on your florist and the necessary items to come from them
* Organise your wedding cake
* Review budget & make adjustments (this is an ongoing process)

8 months to go . . .

* Arrange your honeymoon & travel insurance
* Select your stationary - don't forget order of service, place cards, invites, menus & thank you cards

7 months to go . . .

* Choose your wedding rings
* Decide the details of the day, including readings & vows
* Meet with the celebrant (registrar, priest, minister etc...)
* Arrange the transport

6 months to go . . .

* Begin your beauty regime
* Finalise your gift list & choose what you would like
* Go through music selection

5 months to go . . .

* Choose or start to make your favours
* Arrange any visas & vaccinations for the honeymoon, if necessary
* Consider dance lessons for first dance

4 months to go . . .

* Arrange the stag & hen dos (IMPORTANT)
* Address all invites & prepare maps & directions to go with them
* Think about the areas of your life that will be affected by your name change & make arrangements - i.e. the post!

3 months to go . . .

* Buy & wrap gifts for the attendants
* Send out invites, with local accommodation & transport info for the guests
* Book your hair, beauty & make-up appointment
* Update the plan with us

2 months to go . . .

* Update gift list
* Encourage the speech writing by your fiance , father & best man
* Send wedding announcement to local paper
* Chase any unanswered invites
* Consider any extra accessories i.e. ring cushion, cake knife & stand etc
* Give your photographer the final list of photos wanted

1 month to go . . .

* Finalise seating plan
* Get the marriage license
* Have a rehearsal at the venue with the attendants
* Book currency & travelers cheques
* Confirm final numbers with us & venue
* Run through lat minute details & confirm plan with florist & photographer
* Have stag & hen dos - allow time to let hair grow back etc...

Day before . . .

* Set-up rooms, double-check all details then relax and get an early night

The big day . . .

* Be punctual, relax & enjoy all your hard work!