The Wedding Diaries - Ultimate Wedding Checklist

I realised with a jolt of surprise that it has been 4 months since my last The Wedding Diaries post - which means there are now just 9 months to go!

As you can imagine, wedding planning was put on hold slightly over Christmas, but that doesn't mean we haven't made a lot of progress since I last filled you in - not only has Mr MM been trying on wedding suits, but I have actually chosen my dress! No spoilers though.

Something I have noticed whilst wedding planning is that there seems to be a distinct lack of helpful wedding checklists online. This will be the first wedding for the both of us {and hopefully the last...} so we cannot be 100% sure that we're not missing any of the important elements. When I went to find a handy to-do list, I was surprised when I struggled to find a good one.

So here's mine!

I hope it can be of some use to other brides and grooms to be - you can pin this post to your Wedding boards on Pinterest for those moments of wedding planning panic! Also, please do leave a comment below if you can think of anything I have missed. Not only will this be a huge help to all the engaged couples reading the post - but it will also be a huge help to me and Mr MM...

T O B E G I N . . .

Browse Pinterest, wedding magazines, wedding blogs and Google for inspiration

A C C O M M O D A T I O N

For the bride the night before the wedding {+- bridesmaids}
For the groom the night before the wedding {+- ushers}
For immediate family the night before the wedding
For the wedding party the night of the wedding
For guests the night of the wedding

T H E B R I D E

Arrange to go wedding dress shopping
Choose wedding dress

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Arrange sessions for measuring and fittings, plus when to pick up dress
Request fabric swatch if required

Wedding shoes {Have a look here if you need some inspiration!}
Veil
Underwear {and take to your dress fittings}
Jewellery {earrings, necklace, bracelet, hair accessories}
Choose hair and make-up artist

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Arrange trial before the day
Confirm booking and timings for arrival on the day

Arrange who is helping you get ready on the morning of the wedding, and confirm timings of when they should arrive
Choose bridesmaids +- maid of honour +- page boys
Buy bridesmaids' dresses +- page boys' outfits

C A T E R I N G

Choose caterer

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Confirm booking and timings closer to the day

Arrange menu tasting
Choose dishes for wedding breakfast

Confirm when caterer needs to know final numbers

Choose canapés
Arrange food for evening reception
Arrange alcohol and soft drinks - including arrival drinks, drinks for the wedding breakfast, drinks for the toast, and evening drinks
Decide on type of wedding cake {individual cupcakes, single/double/three tier}
Arrange wedding cake

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Confirm booking and timings for pick up or delivery of cake

C E R E M O N Y

Organise ceremony

If civil ceremony, need to liaise with local registry office
Pay fees

Confirm timings of ceremony
Check parking arrangements {check whether fee}
Organise rehearsal if a church wedding
Organise bellringers if a church wedding
Choose readings
Choose readers
Provide readers with copies of readings
Choose music

For before the ceremony whilst guests are waiting
Processional
If a church wedding, hymns
Signing of the register
Recessional

Arrange musicians {organist, singer, string quartet}
Provide wedding party +- guests with confetti for end of ceremony
Display arrows/signs to reception venue if guests have to travel between venues

D E C O R A T I O N S

Box for cards
Wedding favours
Guest book
General decorations for reception venue with wedding theme {signs, photos, frames}
Table numbers/names

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Activities for children {colouring books, toys, 'kids' table'}
Choose first dance
Disco

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment if using a DJ
Confirm booking and timings for set up and arrival on the day
Ensure PA system included/provided at venue
Decide on specific song requests

Book live music for evening

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Decide set list
Confirm booking and timings for set up and arrival on the day
Check whether they require refreshments, dinner and room for getting ready

F L O W E R S

Decide what flowers you require i.e. bridal bouquet, buttonholes for groom's party +- immediate family, bridesmaids' bouquets, flowers for bridal party's hair, decorations for ceremony venue, centrepieces for wedding breakfast, garland for head table, decorations for reception venue etc.
Choose florist

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Arrange sessions for discussing choices
Confirm booking and timings for pick up or delivery of flowers

T H E G R O O M

Choose suit

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Arrange sessions for measuring and fittings, plus when to pick up suit
Request fabric swatch if required

Shirt +- waistcoat
Extras including tie, bowtie, cravat, tophat, handkerchief, cufflinks etc.
Shoes
Underwear
Write speech
Choose ushers
Organise ushers' outfits +- fathers of the bride and groom

G U E S T S

Decide guest list
Send 'Save the Date's
Send invitations
Create seating plan once guests have RSVPed

O N T H E D A Y

Allocate family and friends to each 'on the day' job
Provide wedding party and immediate family with schedule of timings for the day
Decorate the ceremony venue - check whether this can be done the day before
Deliver order of services/programmes to ceremony venue
Confirm what time bridal party and groom's party are meeting in the morning and where
Decorate the reception venue - check whether this can be done the day before
Organise pick up of any last minute items such as flowers and the cake

O P T I O N A L E X T R A S / O T H E R

Arrange dinner for wedding party and immediate family the night before the wedding
Arrange breakfast/lunch/coffee for wedding party and immedate family the day after the wedding
Any extra catering elements, such as sweet buffet, 'Pimp your Prosecco', hot chocolate station, cake table, popcorn and candyfloss cart, ice cream van or bicycle - the choices are endless!
Gift list
Gifts for wedding party, parents, family and friends who have helped with your wedding
Hen do
Stag do
Honeymoon
Wedding cars
Wedding insurance
Wedding rings
Ring box
Insure engagement and wedding rings

P H O T O G R A P H Y

Choose photographer

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Confirm booking and timings for set up and arrival on the day

Create photo list
Organise engagement shoot
Choose videographer

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Confirm booking and timings for set up and arrival on the day

R E C E P T I O N

Choose reception venue

Pay deposit and arrange timings for final payment
Confirm booking and timings for set up and arrival on the day
Confirm what is provided with booking i.e. linen, crockery and cutlery, glassware, chair covers, cake stands

S T A T I O N E R Y