After
the euphoria of the engagement, you may find yourself simmering down with
practicalities. Planning a wedding can certainly feel like a giant mountain of
tasks you have to handle. But fret not— no matter the scope and size, it’s all
down to proper planning and time management. So, allow us to run you through a
comprehensive, month-by-month wedding planning checklist!
Twelve months to go…
You
have a lot of time on your hands. Enjoy the feeling of being engaged— share
news of your engagement with the people that matter. Take stock of your wedding
and honeymoon budget with your fiancé and start thinking about your wedding
theme and style.
Eleven months to go…
Hire
and meet with your wedding consultant and discuss details. If you are planning
on doing a traditional Chinese wedding, discuss the customs and rituals you
would like to include. Select an officiant or solemniser and start meeting with
photographers, caterers, florists, and musicians. Reserve locations for the big
day, including the tea ceremony, wedding banquet, and reception.
Ten months to go… nine months to
go…
Choose
and order your wedding gown, as well as your qipao or cheongsam if you are
planning on doing the Chinese tea ceremony. Start making orders for your complete bridal look and
accessories, such as the veil, shoes, and jewellery.
Share
your theme and rituals in detail with your vendors so they might customise
their services. Also, start determining the menu to be served at your
reception, ensuring that you include guests’ special dietary needs!
Eight months down… seven more to
go…
Do
a gown fitting to make sure you’re still the right size for your bridal
outfits. Select your bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories, as well as that of
your flower girls and ring bearer. Choose your florist, keeping in mind all the
venues to be decorated.
Put
your head together with your fiancé to discuss wedding rings, especially if you
want a certain style or special engraving. Research honeymoon spots as well!
Book your photographer, videographers, musicians, and entertainers. Prepare the
flow of the programs, including the rituals and ceremonies, and then begin
making wedding invitations.
Six months, five months…
Go
wedding cake tasting and select your bakery of choice. Reserve transportation
to be used during the big day, and then arrange reservations for rehearsals for
both wedding banquet and wedding dinner venues.
Four months, three months…
Have
the groom try on and order his tuxedos and other wedding day attires. Arrange
and organize his groomsmen’s outfits. Go over your wedding day hairstyle with
your hairstylist. With all the conventional details down, you can now
brainstorm on special activities you can do, such as a bachelorette party or a
post-wedding brunch.
Two months before your wedding
Prepare
and mail the wedding invitations! Do another gown fitting and organise your
gowns’ delivery and pickup dates— the groom should also do the same for his
attire.
You
may be receiving gifts around this time, so don’t be too busy so as to forget
to write thank-you notes. With your parents, start shopping for a gift to give
your fiancé. Your honeymoon travel plans should already be ironed out during
this time, especially if it involves travel. Do final preparations and send out
invitations for your rehearsal dinners and practice runs.
One month before your big day
The
busiest month! Confirm your orders and discuss delivery times with your
vendors, starting with your florist. With your wedding planner, you can
determine seating and table arrangements for guests. Also, be sure to
correspond with wedding ushers about their individual duties. Confirm
reservations for all venues, from the tea ceremony to the honeymoon.
Finalise
your invitations. Call anyone who hasn’t RSVP’d and send the final headcount to
the caterer or your wedding planner. If your honeymoon is a send-off affair
right after the ceremony, you might even need to start packing for your
honeymoon.
The day before your wedding
For
Chinese weddings, the bride and groom have their shang tou hair-combing ceremony the night before the wedding in
their respective homes. It is a ritual that represents their transition into
married life and adulthood.
That
aside, the last day should be one for tranquillity, composure, and looking
forward to a new light-filled chapter of your life together.
The bottom line
Planning a wedding is equal parts exciting and
exacting. Should you require any assistance, you’ll be happy to know that here
at Blissful Brides, we aim to take the
stressful load of your wedding planning needs — from evening gown rentals to
searching for your wedding venue. So, are you ready to live the wedding of your
dreams? Ease the search for wedding vendors and make it simpler by getting
a quote from us today!
