Artistique Wedding Photography- Your Wedding Check List

www.ArtistiqueWeddingPhotography.com.au

Your Wedding Check List

I am Principal Photographer at Artistique Wedding Photography based at Toowoon Bay on the Central Coast, NSW. Australia. I have captured hundreds of weddings in my 8 years as a full time professional award winning wedding photographer.  Often I meet couples soon after they have become engaged and other than setting their date and venue, they quite rightly follow the next step which is booking a photographer.  At this stage they may not have booked a Celebrant, Cake Maker, Florist, Make-Up / Hair Stylist, so at our planning meeting, I can give recommendations for suppliers they will need.

It is a good idea to following a Check List in your wedding planning as there are so many aspects to your special day and it would be easy to miss something.  There are wedding planner diaries available, but below is a checklist I have put together for you:

Soon after your engagement:

Let your family and friends know your news now you are engaged.

Think about what sized wedding you would like, how many guests?

Work out a suitable budget for your wedding day.

Where would you like to have your ceremony, in a church, a beach, garden, park, indoors etc.

Do you want your ceremony at the same location as your reception?  Look at potential Reception venues and book once you have chosen your date.

Look at composing your guest list.

Decide on wording and stationery design for both your Save the Date and Wedding Invitations.

Choose your Bridal Party and MC.

Decide on your wedding planner if you are having one.

Get ideas for wedding attire, visit shops, magazines etc.

8 Months before your wedding day:

Book your Celebrant and meeting

Book your Photographer and meeting

Book other suppliers

Order any further equipment, hireage you may need.

Order your Stationery

Send out Save the Date cards

Arrange for honeymoon time off work

Book honeymoon

Book wedding night accommodation

6 months before your wedding:

Arrange transport for your wedding day, if you haven’t already done it.

Confirm your guest list

If you have overseas guests, send their invitations

Decide on and order your wedding cake.

Plan your rehearsal date and dinner with guest list.

4 – 3 months before your wedding:

Send out non overseas invitations

Select your wedding rings and order them for sizing and any engravings

Choose bridal jewellery

Choose and order brides maids dresses

Check with the Groom that he is organising groomsmen attire

Meet with your Celebrant and decide on your type of ceremony, vows etc.

Organise caterer meeting and tasting

Organise cake tasting

Decide on the music for your wedding and first dance

Organise dance lessons

Purchase wedding day lingerie and wedding night garments

2 Months before your wedding:

Buy a gift for each other

Purchase thank you gifts for bridal party and parents

Prepare your formal family photo list for your photographer

Organise Stag Night and Hen Party

Book your hair and make up trial (I offer a pre wedding photoshoot in the 2 months before the wedding so this is often planned for the same day).

Calculate travel time from venue to venue on your wedding day.

5 weeks before your wedding:

Liaise with Celebrant regarding marriage licence.

Send out Wedding Day Itinerary and delegate tasks

Purchase a guest book

Prepare or purchase guest favours

Make sure Groomsmen have all their attire organised

Write your speech

3 weeks before the wedding:

Have final dress fitting and make sure all lingerie, shoes and accessories fit too

Reconfirm all of your bookings

Guests who haven’t yet RSVP’d need to be contacted and attendance confirmed.

Send in your Runsheet for your Reception to your MC and Photographer

2 weeks before the wedding:

Let caterer know your final guest numbers and any special meal requirements along with number of guests who are children

Complete the seating plan along with place names

Confirm guest numbers for any post wedding meals with guests

1 week before the wedding:

Make sure all speeches are completed and order of speeches

Wear your wedding shoes around the house a few times to break them in

Check with cake maker regarding wedding cake delivery time

Check delivery time for flowers

Delegate someone to pick up guest book and gifts from your Reception

Confirm travel / honeymoon arrangements

Pack bags for wedding night and honeymoon along with important travel documents

Pick up dress and other wedding attire and store in dry place

Have your rehearsal and dinner

The day before:

Have your nails done

Relax and sleep well

On your Wedding Day:

Confirm arrival of flowers and cake

RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY!

www.ArtistiqueWeddingPhotography.com.au