A perfect wedding day begins with preparations
If your wedding is in less than 6 months, do not worry, just get started as soon as you can and work down the list confidently.
This checklist will be your best friend till the wedding day ... Read More
9 to 12 months
It’s a date!
One of the very first decisions you should make that helps you to plan for the rest of the wedding. Have a few dates on hand to give you flexibility for venue booking. Consult a geomancer if you are into it.
Announcement
Set a date for both families to meet. They would love to be the first to know the good news! Hiring a planner. Consider the scale and complexity of your wedding, and decide if you require to engage a wedding consultant to assist you.
Setting a budget
Talk to both family about expectations, wedding style and budget. Start drafting your guest list Sit down and list the names of everyone you plan to invite.
The Right place
If you have a location in mind for wedding banquet or reception, check right away for availability. Venues get booked much in advance, so please do not put this off at all.Do not merely view the place on the internet, go see it for yourself.
(Note: months of April, June, September, November and December are popular months)
Select your bridesmaids and groomsmen
Give each one a list of duties and responsibilities. They can definitely help in contributing ideas and do some leg-works for you.
8 months
Start a wedding journal
A picture speaks a thousand words. Collect magazine tear-outs and web print-outs of ideas and designs you like, fabrics samples, and etc. Then organize them in a folder or a notebook. Bring it with you whenever you are visiting a vendor. This will help them to visualize what you want.
Save-the-date
If you are inviting overseas guests, it is nice to inform them about the date now. This leaves them enough time to take leave and plan their holidays around it.
Wedding style
Decide on the theme, colour, style and mood for the wedding. Start listing the things you need and vendors to engage to accomplish this.
Shopping for the wedding attire
Shortlist at least 3 boutiques and make an appointment. Take time to decide if you are comfortable with the designer and services; never be pressurized into signing a contract on the first visit.
*If a suit is not part of a package, decide if you are getting an off-the-rack or custom-made suit.
Picture Perfect
Almost all photographers now have a website that showcases their portfolio. Make a shortlist of those whose work you like and arrange to meet at least 3 of them. Chemistry counts. Choose one who you are comfortable with his personality, service and pricing. Again popular dates are often taken up very early, book them as soon as you can.
Engage your hair & make-up artist
Check if your friends or bridal house has anyone to recommendation. Arrange for a trial session. If possible, also arrange a makeup session for your family’s member and bridesmaids.
Attire for your bridesmaids and groomsmen
If you need to them to order a dress or a suit to complement the wedding theme, it is fair that you pay for a part or the entire cost of the attires. ... Read More
Pre-wedding photo-shoot date
Discuss with your photographer the date for pre-wedding photo-shoot. It is typically done about 3 months before the wedding day to allow time for development of photos and albums.
Start a beauty regime
Discuss with your beauty consultant on ways to look radiant on the wedding day.
Plan for Honeymoon
Plan and start booking tickets and accommodations for your honeymoon. This allows you to take sometime off wedding planning and relax. Book accommodations If you have overseas guests, you can send them a list of recommended of hotels (with a few price range) and activities they can do there for them to consider. Delegate this task to a resourceful bridesmaid or groomsman. 5 months
Prepare entertainment for the day
You may be considering a live band or entertainment; it’s time to start looking for one now. Make a list of preferred songs.
Rings for life
Start looking out for wedding bands as you shop for other things. Most jewelry shops sell ready-made wedding bands and some have customization service as well.
Shop For Bridal Accessories
Check with your bridal designer on the type of accessories you need to purchase – be it shoes to match the gowns, a headpiece for the veil or a necklace – it’s always wise to start looking early. Catering If your venue does not provide food, you’ll need to cater. Check your guest list for anyone has special diets such as no pork, no lard, gluten-free and vegetarian.
Book your wedding transportation
Get a groomsman to take care of arranging transportation for your family, helpers, photographers and videographer.
4 months
First bridal fitting
Arrange for your first bridal fitting for this month. You should see the basic structure of the gown now. Second fitting should be 3-weeks to a month after this.
Design your wedding stationary
Decide on the design of your wedding invites and other stationary. If your venue does not provide invites, you need to start looking for your own now.
Discuss family traditions
Find out the family traditions on wedding. Ask for the list of items you need to prepare. Your parents will be happy to help you to prepare these items.
Engage your florist
Your chosen florist should understand your requirements and is able to create your wedding style. Be firm with your budget and try not to get swept off by other choices of designs.
Order Your Wedding Cake
If you plan to have a real wedding cake (good for you!), start looking for a baker now. Discuss the styles, flavours, designs and cost with them.
Legal matters
You can register for your marriage online at http://www.rom.gov.sg/. You will need the names and identity card numbers of your 2 witnesses, together with the solemniser name and license number. ... Read More
Second bridal fitting
Arrange for your second bridal fitting for this month. The details of the design should be ready by now, left with finishing touches and slight alteration if needed.
Pre-Wedding photo shoot
Discuss with your photographer the style and venues to go on the photo shoot day. Try to make a site visit before the actual day. Consider the design of your gowns, the weather and the timings when selecting venues.
Confirm Guest Lists
It’s been a few months since you made the guest list, check again to add or delete names. This helps you to decide on the numbers of wedding stationary to order.
Confirm the order of your wedding stationary
Always buffer about 10 to 20 percent more than your estimation (for writing errors and extra guests)
Remind these people of the pre-wedding photo shoot date and tasks
1. Your helper/s for the day
2. Make-up artist
3. Florist - for your bouquet and groom’s corsage
4. Bridal boutique - for your wedding attire
2 months
A time to Feast.Arrange for food tasting session. Also a good time for family get together.
Send Out Invites
Try to send invites out now, this allow your guests to plan their leaves early.
Choose your wedding music
Start compiling a list of songs into a CD. Select your march-in music, first-dish and first dance songs. Bring the CDs with you for the wedding rehearsal for sound check. http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20onmousedown=">http://www.ourweddingsongs.com%3c/a%3E
Ceremony programs
For church ceremony, discuss readings with your priest/pastors, choose those that are meaningful to you and your fiancé.
Decide on the rest of the ceremony programs and prepare a program booklet.
Attire for the little ones
Choose your flower girls and ring bearer, give a budget for their parents to purchase their attire. Purchase your ring pillow and flower baskets.
Shopping
Get stockings and special lingerie for the wedding gown and the wedding night.
Confirm a main coordinator
If you have a wedding planner, he/she will have a pretty clear picture of what to do and expect for the day. If you do not have one, find a trustworthy and super-organized friend to cover all duties from you a month before the actual day. He/she should be able to coordinate with the service providers and is committed to spend time to help you.
Write Your Vows and Speeches
Start drafting your wedding vows and speeches. Let it come from your hearts in your own words. In speeches, remember to thank your parents and all helpers. ... Read More
Surprises
If you plan to surprise him/her, it’s time to start planning. It can be a speech, a poem, a song, a photo montage; a dance or a simple gift, now’s the time to show how much he/she meant to you.
Confirm Attendance & Seating Plans
Start contacting your guests who have not confirmed their attendance.
Trial session for your hair, make-up and gown
If possible, plan the final fitting with your make-up trial so that you can see the complete look.
Reception table
A task for the bridesmaids! A trip down to the bookstore or gift shop to get pens for your guestbook, a box for red packets, tapes for emergencies and etc Wedding Day Survival Kit
Prepare your wedding day survival kit. http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20onmousedown=">http://www.singaporebrides.com/features/wedding_survival_kit.htm%3C/a%3E
2 weeks to go
Wedding Rehearsal
Decide on the date and time for your wedding rehearsal.
Make sure all the important people - your family, pastor/solemniser and helpers – are present. It usually takes an hour. Use this time to rehearse the pace of your march-in with the chosen music.
Hen’s and Stag night
Usually planned by your best friends, these parties happen around this week.
Thank you gifts
Create a list consisting of names of people that you need to prepare gifts for. Prepare either a gift or a red-packet for each of them.
• Bridesmaids, groomsmen, all other helpers
• Solemniser • Tea ceremony (for junior family members)
• The boy who opens the door of the car
• Driver • Photographer
• Videographer
• Make-up artist
• Parents
• Others: _____________
1 week left
Handing over the tasks and relax
Assign all tasks and everything you need for the wedding day to your wedding planner or main coordinator.
Red-packets can be passed to the groomsman.
Payments to suppliers can be passed to the groomsman or wedding consultant.
Collect your wedding attire They should be stored on suitable cover bags, bring them home and hang them in an airy corner of the room where there is not much people passing around. This prevents the dress from creasing.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen should collect their attires by this time too.
Collect Your Legal Documents
You should have received the reminder from ROM to collect your original marriage certificate, and two other sets of papers.
Logistical Plans
Prepare final itinerary with time, task and addresses of all locations and send a copy to your photographer, videographer, makeup artist and helpers. Reception team should have copies of guest attendance lists and seating plans.
1 day before
Relax and pamper yourself
Go for your spa treatment, manicure and pedicure.
Flowers
Send either the groom or groomsman to collect all flowers for the day – your bouquet, bridesmaids’ posy, boutonnieres, and bring the car for decoration. Remind him to store them safely in the fridge to ensure freshness and also remember to bring it in the morning!
For the hotel
If you are staying in the hotel on the wedding day, prepare a set of clothes for the next day, toiletries, and everything you need for dressing up for the wedding.
The Wedding Day
Enjoy the day Relax and give yourself plenty of time to get ready and enjoy. Smile!
Tips:
Delegate
– You’ll make everyone feel that they are part of the fun and excitement.
Do consider their weakness and strengths when delegating.
Time management
- Make sure you give a deadline to all the on the tasks you plan to do and those that you had delegated.
Follow up
–the most important part of planning a wedding is to make sure you follow up closely with your vendors and helpers.
Budgeting
– always work within in a budget but be flexible too
– if that pair of shoes is $50 more than you expected, just spend a bit lesser on something else.
Wedding Checklist
