The Wedding Planning Checklist

With everything you'll have on your mind when you're getting ready for your big day, if you don't have a wedding checklist you're asking for trouble.

No matter how good your memory is you'd be very unwise to rely on it for every little detail you have to remember concerning your wedding.

It's such an important day for you it would be a crying shame if it was spoiled simply because you failed to plan properly in the first place - and a properly constructed checklist is the very best way you can ensure that all of your wedding plans come to fruition.

Creating a wedding checklist tailored to your specific needs and desires will certainly help to relieve the inevitable stress, particularly as the special day gets closer.

Some of the things you should put on your checklist are setting the wedding date and time, reserving the date with a florist, photographer and DJ; reserving the church and reception location. These are the first things that should be done in the planning stages six to twelve months before the wedding day itself.

Other important things for your checklist include planning a budget, choosing the wedding party and ordering the invitations. You also need to make arrangements for a wedding dress, hairdressing and makeup. Not forgetting that you also need to arrange for co-coordinated clothing for your wedding attendants and, of course, you need to arrange the all-important wedding rings with a jeweler.

All of the above major things should be arranged as early as possible so that you have plenty of time for the small details later.

An example Wedding checklist:

- Decide on Wedding date and time.

- Cost a budget and decide who will pay for what.

- List how many guests to be invited (for each party).

- Investigate and book ceremony location, church/temple and venue

- Contact the priest for availability on the date & time and set up an appointment

- List all the services you will require :-
Attorney , cakes , flowers , jewelery , invitations , dress designers , make-up artists , hair stylists , photographer (still and video) , decor , dance instructors , car hire , music (set up appointments to get quotes and portfolios)

- Decide on bridesmaid, flower girls etc and include them in initial dress fitting

- Choose best man and master of ceremonies.

- Honeymoon location and plans - air tickets, passports etc.

- Follow a diet plan if any of the retinue need to slim down even a few pounds.

- Choose Stores and set up a Bridal registry.

- Order wedding rings.

- Order invitations.

- Streamline guest list.

- Make appointments with : Hairdresser, make up artist.

- Plan the menu.

- Collect wedding rings.

- Confirm honeymoon reservations.

- Mail Invitations.

- Set up (day before) beauty salon appointment for manicure, pedicure.

- Final dress fittings for you and entire retinue.

- Appointment with DJ to select music.

- Contact all service providers and ensure all arrangements are on track.

- Confirm all transportation including honeymoon.

- Arrange to move belongings to new home, if required.

- A day or two before the wedding plan a rehearsal.

- Send out/call re reminders for the rehearsal.

- Hold rehearsal.

- Pack for honeymoon.

- Confirm all final details with service providers.

- Caterers to get final guest count.

- Manicure and pedicure.

- Confirm hair stylist and make up artist for the wedding day.

- Procedures for the wedding day to be discussed with Fiance , parents and retinue.

- Hair Stylist and make up.

- Eat something and stay hydrated.

- Pack change of clothes for after the ceremony.

- Show up to the wedding!

Remember, as long as you keep yourself organized with a checklist and give yourself plenty of time to complete each task, you'll have the ultimate reward of a happier and more stress-free wedding day.