This afternoon we have a BIG dose of wedding planning advice for you. January and February are very busy months when it comes to wedding planning. Many couples get engaged over the Christmas and New Year period. The beginning of the year can mean many couples who are already engaged kick-start their wedding planning with only a few months to go before their big day. If you fall into any of these categories, chances are that you have just started to feel the strain of wedding planning. Panic not! You are in good hands. When I first started the blog 10 years ago I was also a wedding planner. I have planned many, many weddings and for each one I used this 12 month planner. It was my essential wedding planning bible.
So today I am delighted to share it with you to make your wedding planning journey that bit easier. It even comes in an easy to use, downloadable PDF. I hope you find it useful.

12 Month Planner

12 months before the wedding

• Pick a date for your wedding
• Decide what sort of wedding you want; take your time with this
• Write up your guest list and decide on numbers
• Work out your budget and find out if any family members will be able to contribute
• Work out how you are going to spend your budget and work out what is important to the both of you and divide up the budget accordingly
• Open a wedding bank account
• If having a church wedding, visit your priest and book the church
• If having a civil ceremony, contact your local registrar to book the date and time and an appointment to give notice of marriage
• Book a wedding planner if you want someone for Full Planning
• Research venues, visit top 3 – 5
• Start looking at blogs/internet/magazine ideas and inspiration
• Don’t make any rash decisions, think about it all and weigh up your options on all decisions to be made
• Organise your engagement party

11 months before the wedding

• Make final decision on your venue and book
• Book Your Photographer
• Take out wedding insurance
• Bride; Go dress shopping
• Choose your best man, bridesmaids and ushers
• If reception venue requires a marquee, book this along with furniture and any equipment
• If you need to hire in outdoor caterer and bar, look for these and get menu ideas
• Look for wedding invitations
• Compile names and address for guest list and send out save the date cards if you decide to have them

10 months before the wedding

• Book your wedding planner if you want someone for partial planning
• Decide on your band/DJ/entertainment and book
• If venue is providing food, talk through the options with them
• Decide on themes and colours
• Book the videographer

9 months before the wedding

• Select a florist and visit them, talk through your ideas, book.
• Bride; Go shopping with your bridesmaids for their dresses
• Groom; Look at suits for you and the groomsmen

8 months before the wedding

• Contact rental companies and book chairs, tables etc. (if needed)
• Start planning your honeymoon and book
• Make a start at ring shopping
• Order the wedding cake

7 months before the wedding

• Check your passport, visas etc. (for honeymoon)
• Book the time off work
• Book the transport for the wedding party and cars for bridal party
• Bride; Book your hair dresser and make-up artist
• Draw up a gift list at chosen department store/charity/honeymoon (these need to be ready to send out in the wedding invitations)
• Order Rings

6 months before the wedding

• Send out wedding invitations if you are not sending out save the dates
• Finalise arrangements for the venue and the church
• Bride; Buy wedding accessories, shoes, headwear, veil, and bag
• Organise the Stag and Hen party
• Book your wedding planner if you want someone for on the day co-ordination
• Attend pre-wedding counselling or wedding classes if requested by the church, or start to visit regularly if required for the ceremony
• If you are adding any DIY elements to your wedding, projects should be on their way by now.

5 months before the wedding

• Groom; You and the men get the rest of your outfits, shoes etc.
• Decide on decoration for reception venue

4 months before the wedding

• Book your wedding night hotel, if you are not staying at the reception venue
• Look at options for favours if you are having them
• Plan the ceremony and reception music
• Choose gifts for bridesmaids, best man, and parents
• Send out invitations if you have already sent out save the dates

3 months before the wedding

• Decide on guest book ideas
• Decide on how to display table plan/escort cards
• Decide on wedding post box for cards and presents
• Select readings for the ceremony and give to the relevant people so they can practice
• Choose hymns for the ceremony or songs if a civil
• Bride; Go for fitting of your dress and also your bridesmaids

2 months before the wedding

• Get Order of Service made up and printed
• Chase guests who have not sent an RSVP
• Put together seating plan
• Make or order place cards and table number/names
• Bride; Have hair and make-up trial
• Bride; Buy wedding lingerie
• Groom; Enjoy your Stag Do
• Bride; Enjoy your Hen do

1 month before the wedding

• Write your vows if you are choosing to use your own
• Finalise every detail and double check bookings with all suppliers
• Confirm honeymoon reservations
• Pick up wedding rings
• Delegate jobs for the wedding day i.e. give someone the guest book to look after
• Confirm numbers and food allergies with the caterers and draw up final seating plan
• Groom; Write your speech and make sure the best man, father and anyone else giving one have done their’s as well
• Both try and wear in your wedding shoes around the house, put socks or stockings over the shoes so they don’t get dirty

2 weeks before the wedding

• Complete final song list for the band or DJ if you have any special requests for them and send it
• Bride; Go for your final colour and or cut with your hair dresser and have a final practice run
• Bride; Draw up a list for your change of name, ready for when you get back from honeymoon
• If possible get a final walk through at the venue with the suppliers so everyone knows where and when they need to be. Final walk through with wedding planner

1 week before the wedding

• Confirm details with all participants
• Confirm all details with all suppliers
• Supply the venue with suppliers list of requirements i.e. band/DJ set up time, setup space for florist
• Supply the venue and church/registrar with a schedule of all the suppliers delivery and set up time and contact numbers
• Groom; Get your hair trimmed and any last minute beauty treatments
• Do your honeymoon packing
• Get honeymoon currency

2-3 days before the wedding

• Bride; Pick up your dress
• Bride; Get your nails done and any last minute beauty treatments
• Hand over all favours and name cards to the reception venues or decorator/planner
• Call car rental companies for final pick-up times for the day
• Write up wedding day time table and give to the bridal party so they know where and when they need to be anywhere

1 day before the wedding

• Sort out any monies to be paid to suppliers on the day and give to family members or planner to look after
• Get an early night

On the day

• Relax!
• Give wedding rings to the best man
• Make sure that the designated family member/planner has the final payments for the suppliers
• Designate someone to work with the photographer so they know who everyone is for the group shots
• Bride; Once you are ready, give your make up to either your mum or your bridesmaid to look after
• Make sure that everyone has their flowers once they have been delivered
• Bride; Put your engagement ring on your right hand
• HAVE FUN………..It’s your wedding day, the best day of your life!!!!!!

Click on the image below for your FREE downloadable Planner