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Wedding Planning Checklist - 12 month Countdown

On average, couples in the UK spend around about a year planning their big day.

12 months is a perfect amount of time to get exactly the wedding you want - not too rushed, not so far away that you’ll get impatient! But where do you actually start? When do you do what, and when? Fear not, I’ve put together the ideal countdown checklist for your year of wedding planning.

12 months to go…

• Sit down and get your budget laid out - how much do you have, who is paying for what, and what are your major priorities for spending?
• Set a date, if you haven’t already (but have a back up date handy just in case your perfect wedding venue isn’t available on your first choice!). Check that date with the most important guests before you finalise anything.
• Assemble your wedding dream team - think about your bridal party, organise helpers and consider hiring a wedding planner
• Start putting together a rough guest list. This can change later but you’ll need an idea of headcount before you start shopping for venues, caterers and other suppliers.
• Begin your venue search and start making enquiries. 
• Contact an officiant for your venue.

11 months to go…

• Start looking at your wedding design. Do you have a theme or colour scheme? This will have an impact on the type of venue you go for, and what else you need to get sorted.
• Lock down your chosen venue and figure out what, if anything, you will need to bring in yourself - ie. tables, chairs, lighting, etc.
• Think about what food you will be having at the reception, and start making enquiries with caterers. Arrange some food tastings if you would like.
• Think about whether you need wedding insurance.

10 months to go…

• Start looking at what kind of dress you’re going to be going for. Make initial appointments at bridal shops to start trying some on - you never know how long it might take to find the perfect one!
• Research your wedding suppliers that will get booked up soon depending on the month you’re getting married - photographers, videographers, florists and musicians.

8-9 months to go….

• Lock down your wedding suppliers and put down deposits.
• Look into hotels for guests coming from afar, consider block booking some rooms at a nearby hotel.
• Start planning your honeymoon!
• Look into what kind of bridesmaids dresses you might go for, start syncing your diaries for a few days you can go try them on (allow up to six months for something custom made)
• Look at what decor you would like and need to get sorted outDesign a save-the-date

6-7 months to go…

• Send out your save-the-dates
• Think about setting up a wedding website where you can share information about the day (to be later shared on the invitations)
• Update your guestlist
• Start ordering or buying decor you need 
• Research stationery designers or off-the-shelf designs for your invites, place cards, table plan, etc
• Make sure your passports are in date for your honeymoon.

4-5 months to go…

• Confirm your menu and drinks order with the caterer
• Decide on your flowers with your florist
• Go for some wedding cake tastings and order your cake
• Book transport to and from your wedding, including your honeymoon transport
• Set up your gift list registry
• Start looking into your groom and groomsmen outfits
• Book your hair and make up trials
• Decide on your hen and stag plans.

2-3 months to go...

• Send out your invitations
• Order groomsmens outfits
• Confirm the order of service with your officiant and check you have all the legal necessaries
• Confirm the schedule of events for the day with your suppliers
• Choose your wedding rings
• Organise a date for a rehearsal if you need one
• Book any necessary beauty appointments
• Have your hen and stag dos!

1 month to go…

• Send a final headcount to your caterer, venue and anyone else who needs to know
• Make or arrange your final payments to suppliers
• Break in your wedding shoes - both of you!
• Try on your entire wedding outfit to check if you’re missing anything
• Confirm your seating plan
• Send a must-have shot list to your photographer
• Send a must-play list to your DJ
• Chase up any guests who haven’t replied
• Check in with all your suppliers
• If you don’t have a planner, assign someone to be the go-to person on the day for any suppliers who have questions, send all your suppliers a contact number for them
• Buy or order thank you gifts for your bridal party and parents.

2 weeks to go….

• Get a haircut if you’re planning one
• Order your honeymoon currency
• Arrange for someone to collect any gifts at the end of the wedding, and oversee any hired decor

1 week to go…

• Do something relaxing alone or just the two of you, take a wedding-free day!
• Pack your honeymoon and first night bag
• Handover all the seating plans, place cards and other reception decor to your wedding planner or assigned person

1 day to go….

• Make sure all your decor and accessories are at the venues or will be brought to the venues
• Try to relax! Take some quiet time with your partner, enjoy a meal with your family, attend your rehearsal and get a good night’s rest!

Don’t panic if you haven’t or won’t be able to stick to this kind of plan - every wedding is different and you have to do what works for you! And of course, if you’re looking at this list and thinking ‘oh my goodness, there’s more to do than I thought!’, we’re here to help. Benessamy are the wedding experts who can help you through any and all aspects of wedding planning - we’re just a call away!

Val

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