Your wedding checklist
MANILA, Philippines — Every woman dreams of having her storybook wedding. This is the one day in her life that has to be perfect. We all know that the best, most memorable weddings are those organized in advance. Thinking of all the necessary arrangements can be a nerve-wracking experience. Keeping a master checklist is the best way to organize every detail of the event and keep track of your deadlines.
12 months before your wedding
• Decide on the type of wedding and reception you will want.
• Consult your preferred church to select the date and hour of your wedding. Book ahead as popular churches are usually reserved way in advance.
• Determine the location of your reception and reserve the club, hotel, restaurant or catering hall if it is not to be at home.
• Engage a caterer if your reception is to be at home or in a garden.
• Determine the number of guests you would like to invite.
• Choose your bridesmaid, groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer, maid or matron of honor and best man, secondary and principal sponsors.
• Order invitations and announcements. Order note paper for thank-you notes.
• Plan your honeymoon, reserve hotel and make travel arrangements.
• Plan your pamamanhikan.
Nine months before your wedding
• Your music is a big part of the wedding reception. Know what type of music you want for your church service and reception.
• Make appointments for counseling with your priest. Go through the necessary process and form-filling that the institution requires of you and your fiancé.
• Meet up with your Save-The-Date video team. Discuss concepts, locations and logistics. For the next three months, make sure to finalize every aspect of the production. Apart from the hairstylist and makeup artist, seriously consider hiring a fashion stylist to create a cohesive wardrobe for your video. Remember, the video is not only a visual representation of your relationship but is an even more enticing invitation to your major event. There are a lot of Facebook groups that are helpful such as “Wawies” group that provides detailed and honest feedbacks on different wedding suppliers.
• Order your gown and those of your attendants.
• Make a guest list and ask the groom and his family to send you theirs. Determine approximately how many guests each family may invite.
• Make an appointment with photographers and videographers and reserve them for the day and time of your ceremony and reception.
• Select china, crystal and silver patterns.
• Select gift ideas for your bridesmaids, groomsmen, principal and secondary sponsors.
• Register with a bridal registry of your choice and put the information with your invitations.
• Address and assemble invitations.
Six months before the wedding
• Shoot your Save-The-Date video. This may take several days to produce. In the next three months, make sure to constantly coordinate with your video producer to make sure that the finished product would have the aesthetic and message, which you wish to relay to your guests.
Three months before your wedding
• Mail invitations of your wedding. Make sure to include a copy of your Save-the-Date video with your invitation.
• Hire limousines for transporting the bridal party to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception.
• Notify your attendants about their fittings and accessories. If possible, have shoes made to order in one lot.
• Schedule an initial fitting of your wedding dress.
• Reconfirm arrangements with the reception site or caterer including menu, table arrangements, drinks/bar, decorations, linens and parking.
• Make a hairdresser appointment if you intend to have your hair done on the day of your wedding.
• Order the wine if it has to be outsourced.
• Make housing arrangements for out-of-town attendants and guests including hotel rooms.
• If you are hiring an independent florist, make sure to go over your ideal arrangements and props.
• Select wedding rings.
• Remind your groom or the best man to arrange his own fitting.
• Order wedding giveaways.
One month before your wedding
• Get your marriage license.
• Make a list of your honeymoon clothing and be sure it is cleaned, pressed and ready to pack.
• Check on all accessories for you and your attendants.
• Make final arrangements with all professional services.
• If you are changing your name (ladies, Philippine law does not require you to do this! You may keep your maiden family name if you so choose!), make sure you do so in all documents such as driver’s license, credit cards and bank accounts.
• Check your luggage to be sure it is adequate and in good condition.
• Have your maid-of-honor arrange the details for your bridal shower and despedida de soltera.
• Plan the seating for the bridal table and parents’ table(s) at your reception and make out place cards for them.
• Notify your wedding party of the time of rehearsal.
• Plan your rehearsal dinner.
• Have a final fitting with your couturier.
One week before the big day
• Make sure you call all professional services.
• Contact the facility, caterers for last-minute details.
• Make sure your wedding giveaways are all accounted for.
• Secure your guest list book and entrust it to your maid- of-honor.
• Go to the spa for a facial, hot oil and massage.
• If you do not plan to be booked in a hotel on the day of the wedding, make arrangements for a place for your bridesmaids to dress.
• Have a final hair and makeup review with your stylist.
• Make sure that you get your license by the middle of the week.
• Contact your priest to go over last-minute details.
• Make final confirmations from all your service providers (makeup artists, hairdressers, travel agent, formal wear rentals, etc.).
• And last but not the least, secure your wedding dress as well as the gowns of your entourage.
With all the above preparations, you are finally ready for your perfect wedding day!
