Wedding Checklist Part One: Planning 12-18 Months Before the Wedding
Your wedding might be far away, but it is great to start planning around 18 months. It might seem like a lot of time, but it helps make your day extra special. Here are some practical steps to guide you 12-18 months before your wedding.
- Decide and Set Wedding Dates In Malaysia, there are specific popular months for weddings, typically for Chinese couples, so pick a suitable date and then begin searching for available venues.
- Create A Budget Discuss with your new fiancé and decide which parts of your wedding are most important to you. It is okay if you can’t figure out all the details immediately, but you can start building a foundation. Keypoint? Calculate a percentage of your current income and spend only on what you can afford.
3. Create Your Guest List First, consider your wedding venue and budget while choosing who you are inviting to the wedding.
Next, think about the TOTAL NO. OF GUESTS (Bride side + Groom side).
Now, choose between a charming, intimate venue for a small group of guests OR a spacious wedding venue that can accommodate all your guests. Make sure to check the maximum capacity of the venue.
- The Style Of Your Wedding If you have a specific style in mind, the wedding venue should be able to complement it. For example, a rustic theme might not fit well in a high-end hotel. Both elements should align for your execution to be flawless.
- Ask A lot of Questions When it comes to your wedding venue, there is no such thing as too many questions. The more you know about their operations, the better you can determine if it is the right place for your celebration. Prepare a list of questions in advance to make your visit smoother.
- Consider A Destination Destination weddings are on the rise in popularity. If you are a couple who is living abroad, seek inspiration from those who have done it before. Just keep in mind that planning for another country might pose some challenges.
4. Send Your Save-The-Dates
Even if your plans aren’t finalized yet, it is brilliant to send save-the-dates to the guests you want to attend. It allows them to reserve the date for your wedding well in advance. Here are some recommended save-the-date etiquette tips to include in your wedding checklist:
- Confirm Venue First Do wait until your venue is officially booked-in before sending out save-the-dates.
- Keep it Brief Please note that it is not an invitation but just a brief notice to inform guests about the when and where of your wedding event. No excessive details of input, but ONLY the date and location at this stage.
- Send In Advance Save-the-date is to give your guests ample notice to keep that date free. Sending them too close to your actual invitations renders them ineffective, so send them no later than a year before your big day.
Wedding Checklist Part Two: Planning 9-12 Months Before the Wedding
As the ceremony date approaches, the excitement builds. Now is the moment to delve into the finer details of your celebration. These months are ALL ABOUT customising your wedding to match the vision you have in mind. Let’s get into the important aspects of this process an in-depth wedding checklist like below:
- Pick/ Choose A Theme Or Colour Palette (aesthetic of the venue, what you actually like)
- Shop for Wedding Dresses/ Renting For Wedding Dress (social media research, have a list of questions ready, continue to shop/try dresses until you reach an ‘Aha’ moment, and stick to your budget.)
- Booking Vendors – Hire a Wedding Planner or a Wedding Coordinator, Photographer, or Caterer. Seek recommendations, select packages, and establish your budget in advance. Now, you’ll need to determine the order of importance for professionals based on your budget, with the highest-ranking at the top and the lowest at the bottom.
- Form a wedding party: It’s time to propose to your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Express your gratitude for their friendship by inviting them to stand by your side from the beginning to the end of your wedding. The earlier you ask, the smoother the process will be.
- Book Guest Accommodations for Distant Travellers While many guests can likely arrange their accommodations, you may need to lend a hand if they are coming from afar or another country. Securing lodging for everyone can be a daunting task, so keep this advice in mind:
– Notify your guest well in advance
– Keep track of names and details
– Explore negotiation options whenever feasible
Wedding Checklist Part Three: Planning 6-9 Months Before the Wedding
As you approach the final stages, the reality of your big day sets in, which is fantastic because it means your wedding day is just around the corner. This time frame allows you to add those final touches to your plans. The sooner you complete these tasks on your wedding checklist, the more time you’ll have to relax and eagerly anticipate your wedding day.
- Bridesmaid Dress Shopping and groomsmen Suit Shopping (Budget Renting/Buying, Alteration Costs, matching bride’s Theme)
- Booking for Entertainment, Flowers, Hair & Make-up Stylist
- Select Wedding Cake – Indulge your sweet tooth by scheduling a tasting session with your fiancé. The possibilities of colours, flavours, and design choices are truly limitless.
- Plan Your Honeymoon (Decide on your destination, choose the departure time, consider using wedding gifts/angpow to fund your trip, and ensure both you and the groom are equally excited about the choice.)
Wedding Checklist Part Four: Planning 6 Months Up To the Day of Your Wedding
As the months dwindle into weeks, it is natural to experience a blend of excitement and jitter. While most of your planning is complete, there are still some final touches and tips to consider as you approach the final stretch. Ready to tick-off more boxes from your wedding checklist like below?
3- 6 Months Before the Wedding
- Wedding Party Gifts, Select Wedding Rings -complement your sparkling engagement ring with a matching wedding band for your partner. Allows ample time for resizing and engraving!
- Think about your accessories!
- Wedding Portrait
- Order your wedding card or crest invitations. (Personalisation, signature style, theme and others)
- Book For Rehearsal Dinner Venue
Discover a venue where your immediate family, closest friends, and wedding party can gather the night before your big day. It is also a perfect opportunity to distribute gifts to your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
1- 3 Months Before the Wedding
- Hair & Make-Up Trial, Dress Re-fittings
- Arrange Notice of Marriage/ROM/ Marriage Licence
- Prepare Tea Ceremony List
- Get Favours
1 Month/ 30days Before Wedding
- Finalise Seating Arrangements – Reach out to guests who haven’t RSVP’d, make necessary adjustments to the seating plan, establish a final headcount for caterer and venue. Confirm Vendor Details – get in touch with the photographer, caterer, florist, and baker to ensure all arrangements are in order. Address any last-minute requests promptly.
- Order Necessary Rentals – Consult your venue, guest list, and desired them before renting chairs, tables, lighting, and any décor required both for the ceremony and reception/ dinner.
- Secure Your Officiant Regardless of your wedding venue, you need someone to officiate the ceremony. Take time to research several officiants, read online reviews, and arrange in-person meetings before making your selection
- Compose Your Vows – Tap into your emotions and write heartfelt vows that express the best things about your partner. Authenticity is the key, and your words will leave a lasting impression on everyone present.
- Pick Up Your Wedding Dress – attend the final fitting to ensure alterations are perfect, and keep your dress well-protected. No liquids should come within 10 feet of it.
- Arrange transportation: Get A Limo, or Book Posh Cars.
One Week Before the Wedding
- Beauty Treatments, Spa Days, Nails Extension & Lashes
- Comfort Test your Wedding Shoes/Heels – Like any new pair of shoes, wedding footwear can be uncomfortable if you haven’t broken them in beforehand. Spend 30 minutes each day in the weeks leading up to your wedding day wearing your shoes. This way, you’ll confidently walk down the aisle without discomfort/chaffing. Thank yourself for being so brilliant with this on your wedding checklist!
- Plan for Time Off – If possible, consider taking the week leading up to your wedding off from work. Time off gives you the opportunity to concentrate on final preps and offers a much-needed mental break before one of the most significant events in your life.
The Day Before Your Wedding (24 Hours Wedding Checklist)
- Review Your Speeches and Vows – Although you have likely put a lot of effort into them, the day before your wedding provides an opportunity to solidify your speeches and vows. Spend time practicing them in front of a mirror and address any uncertainties.
- The Rehearsal – Typically held in the evening before the wedding (although it can occur at any point during the week leading up) A rehearsal allows family members to meet up and helps alleviate some pre-ceremony tension.
- Prioritise Early Rest for the Night – Weddings are enjoyable but can be emotionally intense for the couple. Do get enough rest to help you tackle the day at your best!
- Write a Heartfelt Message/Letter to Your Partner – Express your love and appreciation by writing a message or an open letter to your partner. Encourages your partner to open it on the morning of the wedding as a way to start what might be a slightly nerve-wrecking day.
THE OFFICIAL DAY OF YOUR WEDDING
Up and Rise early for your bridal make-up and hairdo.
- Arrive Early / Ahead of Schedule On your wedding day, arriving early is a smart move. Being well-prepared will make it easier to navigate the day with minimal stress. Check with your venue about their arrival time, which will also provide an opportunity to meet the registrar and discuss any specific details. For Asian Chinese, allow ample time for the groom to pick up the bride at the home/ or hotel.
2 . Consider First Look The first-look option is becoming increasingly popular among couples. It allows you both to share a brief, intimate moment a couple of hours before the ceremony. While some may prefer the traditional aisle reveal, others find this private time to relax and cherish a special moment with their other halves.
3 . Embrace the Moment/ Enjoy Yourself Lastly, the most important is to remember to have fun and savour your big day. It is rare for everything to go perfectly according to the plan (with the assistance of a wedding planner, most likely 80% of things go on smoothly), so try to chill and enjoy the company of your closest friends and family. P.s: Your wing-woman wedding planner is ticking off most of the wedding checklist on your behalf!
After The Wedding
- Return Rental Gowns and Tuxes
- Review Wedding Vendors
- Finish with Thank You Cards
- Change Your Name
- Order Your Photo Album or Review Photos/ Video Contents from Photographers & Videographers
- Enjoy your honeymoon
How do you find this complete A-List Wedding Checklist? Check off those to-dos, and release an ooh-huh after ticking off most of it when the timeline arrives! We think you make it great!
