Advice...

hey im a newbie and my wedding is long way off... but just wondering what is it do i have to be booking now... ive my church and venue booked just its all new to me so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi b2bdec2014, Congratulations on your engagement... I take your date is in December 2014? If so you are very organised already having your venue and church booked! If I were you I would concentrate on things like photographer, band and videographer. I would also be looking at dresses but only because I love looking at wedding dress - and I spent ages choosing mine. You have LOADS of time for that... Enjoy all the planning

hi peacockgirl... thanks for you reply, and thanks for the congrats yeah its dec 2014, 12/12/14 cant wait... would love it in 2012 but we are we buidling our house so just cant afford a wedding at the moment too. yeah ive booked the church and venue (the week after we got engaged) i was just so excited... yeah on the net looking at dresses all the time, cant wait to start going looking

This is the list I have/am using...be warned it is long hope it helps..it helped me. [b:j3y3xz4a] Church & Ceremony[/b:j3y3xz4a] Book church – date, time, priest Book Pre-Marriage course Attend pre-marriage Book ceremony musicians & singers Complete forms and send to Registrar at least 3 months prior to wedding date Request Baptismal & Confirmation certificates from Parish Office Meet with priest to discuss readings, music & ceremony details & complete marriage papers Create Mass booklet Choose readings and prayers and select people to read at ceremony Decide on music to be performed during ceremony & update Mass booklet Provide draft mass booklet to priest to review prior to printing Organise to have mass booklets printed Provide copy of music and mass booklet to musicians few weeks in advance Provide printout of readings/prayers to readers at least 1 day in advance Organise Altar Servers Organise Eucharistic Ministers if necessary Arrange church donation Arrange altar servers donation [b:j3y3xz4a]Hotel[/b:j3y3xz4a] Book reception venue Meet with hotel wedding manager to discuss details – Choices for meal, Wine, pre and evening reception etc Organize seating arrangements for guests - Prepare Table Plan Confirm names for each of the pre-booked hotel rooms Decide on flowers for tables Discuss option of pre-reception musician Discuss time to sit for dinner and contingency for delays Arrange date / time to deliver wedding cake & organize display, knife etc Confirm Bar Extension and Resident's Bar facility Decide on dinner menu, vegetarian options, type of wine etc Confirm final guest numbers for reception & submit table seating plan to wedding manager - 2-3 days in advance [b:j3y3xz4a]Band[/b:j3y3xz4a] Review recommendations for bands View band playing at wedding Select band & pay deposit to secure booking Contact band 2 weeks beforehand to re-confirm Date / Time to play at wedding Determine when balance due to be paid [b:j3y3xz4a]Wedding Cake[/b:j3y3xz4a] Decide on style and size of wedding cake Decide on icing colour Decide on decoration for top of cake Purchase 3M x 15mm ivory ribbon to trim Purchase cake boxes for guests not attending wedding & post cake Organize delivery of wedding cake to hotel day beforehand [b:j3y3xz4a]Florist[/b:j3y3xz4a] Book Florist Meet with florist to discuss ideas, provide sample of bridesmaid colours, and brides dress style Decide on colour & style of bride's bouquet Decide on colour & style of bridesmaid's bouquets Decide on flowergirl style - basket or pommadour Decide on style of church arrangements - 3 arangements on altar, candle arangement, pew ends, bay trees etc Decide on Corsage & Boutonnieres Bouquets for mother, mother-in-law & Nana Meet florist in church few weeks beforehand to discuss floral arrangement & positioning [b:j3y3xz4a]Invitations & Stationery[/b:j3y3xz4a] Select style and colour of stationery Decide on Wording for Invitations, Thank You & Reply Cards & order stationery Prepare Accommodation list to include with invitations Prepare directions to church and hotel to include with invitations Buy Stamps & Silver gel ink pens Collect addressesin advance for all guests Write Day invitations and post 6-8 weeks in advance Write Evening Invitations and post 3-4 weeks in advance Receive Reply cards and confirm final guest numbers [b:j3y3xz4a]Bride's Apparel[/b:j3y3xz4a] Decide on Bridal Gown and pay deposit Bridal shoes Accessories - Handbag Bridal tiara / hairpiece Bridal gown alterations Bridal gown - final fitting and collection [b:j3y3xz4a]Bridesmaid & Flowergirl Apparel[/b:j3y3xz4a] Bridesmaid dresses Bridesmaid shoes Accessories - Jewelry Flowergirl dress Flowergirl shoes Bridesmaid dress alterations Collect Bridesmaids dresses and pay for alterations [b:j3y3xz4a]Groom & Groomsmen Apparel[/b:j3y3xz4a] Groom's ensemble - decide on colour and style Groomsmen suit hire - decide on colour and style Lads to go for fitting Collect Lads suits & ensure everyone tries on full outfit on 2 nights before wedding [b:j3y3xz4a]Jewelery[/b:j3y3xz4a] Bride's wedding ring Groom's wedding ring Bride's necklace Coins for ceremony [b:j3y3xz4a]Beauty[/b:j3y3xz4a] Bride's facials Bride's hair cut & colour Bride's Make-up - Pre-consultation Bride's Hair - Pre-consultation Bride's Manicure & Eyebrow shaping Bride's Body Exfoliation & Body Wrap Bride's Fake Tan Bride's Hair - Wedding day Bride's Make-up - Wedding day Bride's Nail Polish - Wedding Day Bridesmaid's Nail Polish - Wedding Day Bridesmaid's Make-up: Wedding day Bridesmaid's Hair style: Wedding day [b:j3y3xz4a]Miscellaneous[/b:j3y3xz4a] Organise Cars for Bride & Bridesmaids Ribbons to decorate cars – 35mm width, 6 metres per car – Bridal White Gifts for all attendants Have engagement ring cleaned week of wedding Organise lifts for non-driving guests Attend Hen party Attend Stag party Dentist check-ups and cleaning Organize / Pack clothes for Fri/Sat night in hotel Organize / Pack for honeymoon [b:j3y3xz4a]Honeymoon[/b:j3y3xz4a] Prepare itinerary Book Flights Book Hotels Book Car Hire Organise Travel Insurance Check passport & driving license validity Organize folder for honeymoon of Itinerary, flight tickets, hotel conf #s, maps, guide books, driving instructions, drivers licence etc [b:j3y3xz4a] Wedding Day & Post-Wedding Day tasks[/b:j3y3xz4a] Pay Altar Servers, church caretaker & Church Donation Ensure all guests have transportation from church to hotel Deliver Bride & Groom luggage to bridal suite Review table seating arrangements outside function room and ensure they are correct Ensure table flower arrangements are correct Pay Band Return suits to suit hire shop Purchase & Write Thank-You cards and post Six to Twelve Months Before # Buy engagement ring. # Meet each others parents, if you haven't already. # Announce engagement in newspaper. # Phone clergy to set date. If having a registry office ceremony, phone the local Registrar's office and have an application form posted to you. # Establish budget: decide who will pay for what expenses. # Book reception venue. If having reception at home, choose a caterer. # Choose attendants. # Compile a guest list: ask both sets of parents to do the same. # Update passport. # Book photographer and videographer. # Book florist. # Buy wedding dress, veil, shoes, and lingerie. # Book musical group for ceremony and reception. Four to Six Months Before # Get everyone's guest lists together and compile final list. # Order invitations and other wedding stationery. # Book wedding day transportation. # Reserve wedding night accommodation. # Book honeymoon. # Order wedding cake. # Register for gifts at department store. # Buy wedding bands. # Hire or buy attire for attendants. # Update travel documents and get inoculations for honeymoon, if needed. Two to Four Months Before # Complete and mail written Notification of intent to marry. # Meet with celebrant to finalise details. # Make final music selections for ceremony. # Choose readings. # Make appointment with hairdresser to try out different styles. # Book hotel rooms or B&B's for out-of-town guests. Ask for a group discount. # Agree food and wine plan for reception with caterer or banqueting manager. # Post invitations. One Month Before # Buy gifts for each other and your attendants # Notify family and wedding party about wedding rehearsal. # Schedule final dress fitting. # If changing name, complete all necessary paperwork. # Pick up honeymoon tickets. # Schedule an appointment with make-up artist. Two Weeks Before # Pick up wedding dress: try on entire wedding ensemble. # Have facial. # Notify reception venue or caterer of final head count. # Decide on seating arrangements, if having a sit-down dinner. # Write and practice wedding speeches. # Hen and stag party. One Week Before # Put celebrant's fee and offerings to sacristan, altar boys and organist in sealed envelopes: give to best man. # Confirm honeymoon arrangements. # Purchase traveller's cheques for honeymoon. # Check credit cards are valid for duration of honeymoon. Pay bills. # Pack for honeymoon. # Pick up ceremony booklets and give to best man for handing out on the day. The Day Before # Pick up groom's attire. # Finalise seating plans for reception. Write place cards. # Attend rehearsal. Your Wedding Day # Have hair done in the morning. # Eat something. # Have tickets, passports, visas, travellers cheques, suitcases and other honeymoon necessities delivered to hotel and put in a secure place. # Wedding cake delivered to reception venue. # Bouquets delivered to bride's home; all other flowers delivered to church. # Get to church on time. # Present gifts to attendants and each other. # Relax and have fun