12-18 Months Before (or as soon as possible)

1. Book the ceremony venue, whether it is in a church or licensed venue.
2. If you are to be married at a licensed venue, book the date with the registrars of your local borough and the borough in which the venue is situated (can only be done 12 months before).
3. Post your notice of marriage at your local registry office.
4. Book your reception venue. Many of the best venues will be booked up to 18 months in advance (especially during the popular summer Saturdays), so act quickly.
5. If separate caterers are required, book them also just to be on the safe side.
6. Think about choosing your attendants - Best Man, Chief Bridesmaid, Ushers and Bridesmaids. No decision needs to be made just yet.
7. Start looking at dresses. Decide whether you are hiring, buying "of-the-shelf" or having a made-to-measure dress and look around accordingly.
8. Similarly, start looking at styles of grooms and attendants clothing and decide whether you hiring, buying or having jackets made to measure.
9. Choose the colour scheme for the day.

9-12 Months Before

1. Decide on your attendants - Best Man, Chief Bridesmaid, Ushers and Bridesmaids.
2. Choose and book your wedding transport.
3. Choose and book your photographer.
4. Choose and book your videographer
5. Choose and order the wedding dress (if off the shelf dress is to be hired or bought then 3-6 months is sufficient).
6. If you are having a room dresser or ordering chair covers, book them now.
7. Take out wedding insurance.
8. Start to compile a guest list to get an idea of numbers.
9. Start looking for a florist.
10. Book Honeymoon.
11. Book time off work well in advance (include the day or two before the wedding).

6-9 Months Before

1. Book Florist.
2. Start looking for a cake supplier.
3. Choose and order the bridesmaid dresses.
4. Choose and book your wedding day entertainment.
- DJ
- Band
- Ceremony music
- Church music
- Background music for during the wedding feast.
5. Choose and order the groomswear and attendants' clothing (especially if made-to-measure items are being ordered).
6. If you are having one, book your Toastmaster and Master Of Ceremonies.

3-6 Months Before

1. If you are having a civil ceremony, choose your two witnesses.
2. 6 months before is the time for the bride to start her beauty programme (see our beauty section for further details).
3. Visit your hairdresser 6 months before the wedding for a consultation. This way he/she can advise you what to do between then and the wedding day to achieve perfect results.
4. Finalise guest list for invitations.
5. Order invitations and other stationery (approximately 4-5 months before).
6. Order your cake (check with reception venue that they will supply a cake stand and knife).
7. If you are having a church wedding, confirm arrangements with the minister and discuss the service, music and readings with him/her. Also, arrange for the banns to be read in church.
8. Select and buy shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids.
9. Choose and order your wedding rings. The more elaborate the ring, the more time you will need.
10. Arrange for any necessary vaccinations or visas for your honeymoon.
11. If you are having one, book your children's entertainer, magician or bouncy castle.
12. Order your firework display if you have decided to have one.
13. Book any extras for your reception, such as a caricaturist.
14. Organise your wedding gift list. This may take longer than you think (especially if you are doing it yourself). If you are placing it through a store, this task will be quicker. Make sure the list is complete and ready to send by the time you send the invitations out (see 1-3 months).
15. Book your first night hotel if it isn't going to be at the reception venue.
16. Purchase your wedding day lingerie so you have it available to wear at all dress fitting sessions.
17. Arrange your Stag and Hen parties early, especially if you are planning something more elaborate than a night at the pub.

1-3 Months Before

1. If you are having a civil ceremony, confirm the date with the local registrars three months before the wedding.
2. Three months before, check your passports. If the bride is planning on travelling under her married name she will need to contact the passport office for the necessary paperwork, which will need to be signed by the minister or registrar.
3. Arrange the order of service of order of the day.
4. Select music and readings for ceremony.
5. Send invitations (approximately 2-3 months before). Keep a note of acceptances and refusals as they arrive.
6. Discuss colours and designs with your chosen florist and order the bouquets and table flowers.
7. Compile play list (and don't play list!) of music for the DJ & choose the song for your first dance.
8. Grooms should order shoes and accessories (wedding cufflinks, boxer shorts, printed shirts, etc.)
9. Order favours your guests approximately 2 months in advance (the more ambitious they are, the longer they will take). You can give approximate numbers at this stage if you haven't received all your invite replies.
10. Choose the food and drink for your wedding feast. Arrange a suitable time to taste a sample of the menu and wines. Arrange children's menu and address any special dietary requirements or vegetarian dishes.
11. If your venue or your caterers are not providing wine for any reason, order it now in good time for the day.
12. Choose and purchase gifts for your Best Man, Bridesmaids, Ushers, Fathers, Mothers and anyone else you wish to thank.
13. If wedding gifts arrive prior to the wedding, which often is the case, send thank-you notes as they arrive and update gift list if necessary.
14. Notify banks, insurance companies, doctors, dentist, etc. of change of brides name, if applicable.
15. Place wedding announcement in the local newspaper.
16. Shop for your going away and the honeymoon outfits.
17. Hold your Stags and Hen parties (one month before is sensible, however, if you are more adventurous you could go within a week or two of the wedding!).
18. Order any disposable cameras and/or guest comment albums, etc., for the reception.
19. Choose and order any additional table or room decorations, i.e. candles or candelabras, balloons, etc.

2-4 Weeks Before

1. Arrange a wedding rehearsal for the ceremony.
2. Draw up the completed guest list after all the replies have arrived. Chase up any replies not received.
3. Draw up a table plan or have one professionally produced for you.
4. Write out place cards.
5. Inform caterers of the final guest numbers.
6. Confirm final numbers for favours.
7. Make sure your guests have directions to the venue and details of train times, local accommodation, etc.
8. Double check that all is in order with regard to the wedding outfits.
9. Have final fitting for men's outfits.
10. Have a rehearsal of your wedding day beauty treatments (just a good excuse for a facial, really!). Do this around 4 weeks before the wedding.
11. Visit your hairdresser around 4 weeks before to try out different styles. Don't forget to take your headdress with you.
12. Make any necessary baby-sitting or pet care arrangements that may be necessary during your reception or whilst you are on honeymoon.
13. Collect wedding rings in good time - they may need re-sizing.
14. If you have a speech to prepare, start doing so now. You may well need to practice for a couple of weeks!!
15. Visit your chosen reception venue with your photographer to discuss views and ideal shots.

1-2 Weeks Before

1. Double check transport arrangements and times, etc.
2. Order travellers cheques or foreign currency for your honeymoon.
3. Make final checks on honeymoon arrangements and collect travel documents if you haven't already received them.
4. Groom - get your hair cut!! Leave it enough time to grow back a little.
5. Speak to your attendants and families, and allocate tasks for the day to make sure every detail is covered.
6. Speak to the reception venue and arrange for a table to be available to display your wedding gifts.
7. Put the final touches to your speech and check that every other designated speaker has done theirs.
8. Arrange transport for those guests who do not have any.
9. Double check arrangements with Photographer.
10. Double check arrangements with Videographer.
11. Provide order of service / order of the day to those who need to know in advance, i.e. musicians, best man, ushers, etc.

1 Week Before

1. Pack for your honeymoon.
2. Make final checks on dresses and accessories.
3. Make sure the grooms and attendants' suits have been delivered or collected.
4. Wear in your wedding shoes by walking round in them to avoid discomfort on the day. This applies to both the bride and the groom.
5. Check that the cake will be ready and delivered on time.
6. Confirm delivery of the flowers.
7. Confirm appointments with your hairdresser and make-up artist.
8. De-stress with a massage, beauty treatment or general pampering day. Relax!
9. Make arrangements for any outstanding payments to be made.
10. If you are planning on using your car on the day or the day after, fill it with petrol a couple of days before (and clean it!!).
11. Collect travellers cheques and foreign currency.

The Day Before

1. Pack overnight bags for your wedding night and arrange someone to drop them at the first night hotel on your behalf.
2. If you are going straight off on your honeymoon within 24 hours, arrange for someone (usually the best man) to collect your honeymoon luggage (including tickets, passport and money) and take them to the hotel or to whoever will be driving you to the airport.
3. Make arrangements for the best man to collect the rings.
4. Give copies of car keys or house keys to the necessary parties.
5. Make last minute checks with the reception venue to make sure everything is in order.
6. Make sure someone has been allocated to do the following tasks after the wedding:
- Deliver the wedding dress back to the brides home or if it has been hired, back to the stop.
- Return grooms and attendants suits to the shop.
- Take wedding presents back to the couple's or either parents' house.
- Take wedding cake home and store until the return of the bride and groom from their honeymoon.
- If you are having the bouquet preserved, someone will need to be responsible for taking it to the relevant specialist the day or two after the wedding.
7. Relax and prepare yourself!!

The Wedding Day

Relax and enjoy your special day!
All the very best form everyone at BridesofMerseyside.co.uk