Introduction
There are a lot of things to consider when planning a wedding, and some of them might not even be on your mind yet. You need to make sure that you have everything planned out months ahead of time so that you don’t miss any deadlines or other important steps. If you’re getting ready for your special day, use this checklist as a guide!
Set the date
- Choose a date. The first step in wedding planning is to choose a date that works with your schedule and budget. Don’t leave it too late to book the venue—this is one of the most important things you’ll need to do, so try not to put it off.
- Make sure you have enough time to plan the wedding itself. You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute when there are still so many details left unfinished!
- Plan for a honeymoon afterward as well; this is another thing that should be planned well in advance of your wedding day itself
Hire a planner or choose to do it yourself
A wedding planner is a perfect way to keep expenses down, and it can also help with things like booking venues, organizing your schedule, and dealing with any snags. If you’re planning your wedding, consider what areas you would like to delegate to someone else—what tasks are most stressful for you? For example: maybe it’s easier for you to coordinate transportation than organize seating charts or select floral arrangements.
Either way, everyone involved in the wedding must understand the budget constraints before beginning. It’s also important that everyone involved has a clear idea of what kind of wedding they want; otherwise, there will be mounting frustration from everyone involved when things don’t go as planned (or even worse: if no one knows what kind of wedding they want).
Wedding Singer/Entertainer
Choosing a wedding singer or entertainer is one of the most exciting and important decisions you will make as part of your wedding day. You want someone who will create the right atmosphere, get everyone up on their feet, and make sure that everyone is having fun.
To ensure you pick the right person for your style, choose someone with experience performing at weddings like these wedding singers in Central Coast. Don’t hesitate to ask for references from other couples who have utilized their services before, or check out their online reviews from past clients (if they have them). Finally, ask about availability so there are no surprises on the big day, you don’t want to be left scrambling for an entertainer last minute.
Create the guest list
The guest list is the most important part of your wedding planning because it’s the core of who you are as a couple. It will define your day and shape your future as newlyweds, so make sure you don’t leave anyone out.
But before we dive into how to create your wedding guest list, let’s take a look at what kind of numbers we’re working with here:
- The average number of guests per wedding in Australia is 135 – which means that if you invite 100 people, you should expect somewhere in the region of 35-40% RSVPs (which is pretty good!).
- You can always hope they’ll bring dates or partners—but even if everyone brings only one person extra on average, this means 80% attendance! That would be great news if it were true… but unfortunately, human nature being what it is: some people won’t come without an invitation; others might feel awkward about not having received one, and still more will simply forget they were invited altogether… so while having more than 100 guests isn’t uncommon, having a full house isn’t something most couples can count on.
Musical Instrument Preparation
- Make sure you have the correct equipment. For example, if your voice teacher has given you a song to sing for your performance, make sure you know how to play it on your instrument and that it’s in good working order.
- Check that it is in good condition. Even if an instrument has been well maintained by previous owners or users, over time some products can deteriorate or become damaged and need replacing or repairing before use. You may want to take photos of any damage so that if anything happens during transport or storage after the wedding day (e.g., scratches on a table), this evidence can be used when making claims with insurance companies or other relevant parties like venue owners/managers etcetera)
- Make sure all accessories belonging to musical instruments are present such as stands/mounts/mics etcetera depending on what type of music will be performed e.g., acoustic guitars don’t need stands but electric guitars do. If not included, these items will need to be purchased from a music shop like this music shop in Melbourne before playing (or at least checking out what’s available). It might also be worth asking friends who play similar instruments whether they have spare accessories which could be borrowed – especially if there aren’t any leftovers from other musicians’ sets already booked for hire at the same venue! This saves unnecessary clutter around busy venues where space tends not to be plentiful.
Pick the venue
The venue is the most important part of your wedding. It’s where all the magic happens, after all! You’ll want to take some time to consider what kind of venue you want and how it will suit your needs as a couple.
With so many different types of venues available, there’s no shortage of options for you and your partner—but remember that it’s normal for one or both partners to have certain preferences or requirements for their day. For example, if you love hosting big parties with lots of friends at home but want something more intimate with just your immediate family, then having an outdoor backyard bash would probably not work well for either one of you! Make sure whatever venue you choose provides everything needed so everyone’s happy with the result—and don’t forget about budgeting either!
Choose your wedding style and tone
Choosing your wedding style and tone is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the planning process. Choosing your wedding style will help inform every other aspect of your planning: what kind of venue to book, how much you should spend on food, and whether or not to hire a photographer. It’s worth taking some time to think about what you want from a wedding—from your dress choices to the music that gets played at the reception—and developing an overall theme for it all.
If you’re having trouble deciding on a theme, here are some helpful questions:
- What was my favorite part of childhood?
- What are some songs I’m really into right now? (Or maybe even just one song.)
- If I could travel anywhere in the world for my dream honeymoon destination, where would it be?
Notice of Intended Marriage Application
Notice of intended marriage is one of the most important documents you will need to begin planning your wedding. The Notice of Intended Marriage form (NOIM) is a legal document that lets the Australian Government know about your upcoming nuptials. You can complete this at any time before or after you have decided on a venue, but it must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the date of your wedding.
It’s fairly simple to fill out; all you need to do is answer basic questions such as where and when your ceremony will take place, what language it will be conducted in (if applicable), whether either party has been previously married or divorced – there are also questions regarding whether anyone present during the ceremony has religious objections against their marriage (this applies only if they want to object).
Draw up a budget
Next is to draw up a budget. Make a list of everything you want to include in your wedding: venue, catering, drinks, entertainment, and anything else you might need. Then get quotes from suppliers and calculate how much you can afford to spend on each item. Finally, decide what things are essential and which ones are not so important to the overall cost of your day—and live without them!
Dress it up
The dress you choose for your wedding day is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the planning process. It will be a reflection of your style and personality, so take your time to find one that suits you.
When it comes to bridesmaids, it’s important to know if all your bridesmaids are going to have their dresses or if they’re wearing something more casual like a jumpsuit or cocktail dress. While it’s not necessarily expected that all bridesmaids wear the same thing (and oftentimes I think this is better), there may be some pressure from family members if they do want everyone wearing matching outfits. You’ll want to consider what works best for everyone involved here, including budgeting and logistical concerns such as finding space in which everyone can try on dresses at once!
Make sure also not only do both groomsmen and ushers get fitted with proper tuxes but also that any ringbearer boys have their attire too!
Organize “Save The Dates” and invitations
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When should you send out Save The Dates?
A Save The Date is a card that is sent to your guests at least 3 months in advance of your wedding date. This gives them enough time to make travel arrangements, but not too much time for them to forget! Most couples choose between 6-9 months in advance.
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What should go on the invite?
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, keeping the text short and sweet will make it easy for guests reading their invitations on the go! Another tip: Keep their attention by adding photos or illustrations where possible – they can be as simple as a colored drawing or photo printed onto an otherwise blank card stock. You could even personalize each card with something unique! For example, if you’re having an intimate ceremony surrounded by family members, why not include everyone’s name on each invite? It’ll add some fun touches (and might even save someone from being forgotten).
Get your wedding party together
When choosing your wedding party, choose people who are representative of the relationship you have with the bride and groom. Your wedding party should be a group of people that you trust, can count on in times of need, and will support your relationship with them. Remember to choose people who will have a good time at the wedding!
Your guests should also be able to make their own choices about what they do during the reception. You want everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed enough so they can enjoy themselves without feeling like they’re being forced into doing something that makes them uncomfortable or upset about anything happening around them (and believe me: there WILL be things happening).
Select catering options and start food tasting (if necessary)
- Select catering options and start food tasting (if necessary).
- Find a venue that is suitable for the number of guests you have invited.
- Choose a menu that suits your tastes. If you don’t know where to start, consider whether you want traditional or modern dishes served at the reception, or if it’s better to have an open bar with snacks available throughout the night.
- Consider choosing a style of catering that suits the tone of your wedding: buffet style versus plated meal; formal dining versus sit-down service; hot breakfast in bed versus brunch menu items such as eggs Benedict or waffles (this one may be difficult given Australia’s climate); carving station versus fish & chips bar; outdoor garden wedding versus indoor reception hall…
Decide on the decorations for your ceremony and reception venue
While you are planning the decoration for your wedding ceremony and reception venue, you need to decide on the kinds of decorations that will be used. There are a lot of options available for decorating your wedding venue, including flowers, lights, ribbons, and confetti.
Decorations can be anything from simple to elaborate. You can choose traditional or modern decorations depending on what kind of look you want for your wedding day.
You can also choose decorations that match the theme of your wedding or the colors of your dresses/suits (if applicable).
Book entertainment for ceremony and reception; make speeches.
Book entertainment for ceremony and reception; make speeches.
The ceremony is the first thing that guests will see on the wedding day, so it’s important to get this right as soon as possible. If you haven’t already hired a celebrant or officiant, do so now. Choose someone whose personality matches your own and who has experience performing weddings in Australia. A good celebrant will know how to keep your guests entertained while they wait for the ceremony to begin, using announcements such as the bridal party introductions (whatever those might be) and readings from special guests if applicable. At least one week before the big day, confirm everything is set with your chosen entertainers: what time they should arrive at each venue; whether there are any extra fees involved with their services; and whether there are any other details that need ironing out before then—for example, do they need access inside your reception venue? It’s also worth confirming how long their performance will last—it’s best not to expect too much from them!
A wedding is a huge milestone in most people’s lives. Use this checklist to help you plan for yours.
A wedding is a huge milestone in most people’s lives. Use this checklist to help you plan for yours. If you follow it, you can’t go wrong!
- Choose a venue that fits your style and budget.
- Book any vendors needed, including florists and caterers.
- Create a wedding website so guests know how to find information about the big day.
Before you get too far into planning your wedding, take some time to make sure that everything goes smoothly on the big day itself:
Conclusion
Planning a wedding can seem like an overwhelming task, but we hope this checklist makes things a little easier. Don’t forget to take breaks and enjoy the journey!
