Wedding Day Countdown

Planning your wedding can be very stressful, however with good organisation and by breaking down your wedding plans into manageable 'bitesize' sections, you can minimise any stress and enjoy the planning and run-up to your big day! At Madeline Isaac-James, we aim to make choosing your wedding gown an enjoyable experience, and to help you with all your other plans, we've created a useful wedding countdown to help minimise any stress even further.

As soon as possible:

Check date availability and book your preferred date and time with the priest, minister or registrar.
Set yourselves a budget for your wedding and stick to it.
Start viewing different wedding venues, and once you have a preferred venue that suits your budget, book it - particularly if it is a very popular venue or you're planning your wedding on a Saturday in a busy season (May-September) - dates can often be booked up a year or more in advance.
Choose your type of ceremony, make an initial list of whom and how many guests will be attending.

7-12 months before the wedding:

Start attending local wedding fayres - these can provide a great 'one-stop shop' for many different suppliers - everything from balloons, florists, doves, photographers, to car hire. If you are using caterers, musicians/bands, toastmasters, start obtaining quotes and check availablity.
Think about what kind of wedding cake you would like and start collecting ideas - wedding magazines are a great source of inspiration for wedding cakes and themes. Also think about transport - do you want a vintage car, a horse drawn carriage, or something else?
The really fun bit - think about your wedding dress - the colour, the fabric, the style as well as accessories. If you have a particular theme, you may want to link this with your gown. Visit Madeline Isaac-James first to set the bar for service and fabulous gowns, and then when you come back to us to finalise which gorgeous wedding gown you want, get ready to enjoy a nice glass of ice cold bubbly when you order your dream wedding dress! We recommend that you order your gown at LEAST 6-8 months in advance of your wedding date - allowing sufficient time for your wedding dress to be made for you, and allowing sufficient time for any alterations. Remember that we are happy to store your wedding gown for you until your big day at no additional charge, and we are fully insured for this.
You will need to book many of the suppliers well in advance to ensure you get your preferred choice for your chosen date, so book your wedding photograher, entertainment, videographer, florist and wedding transport as soon as you feel you've found the right company for you - ensuring that the choices you make are within your budget.
Select your bridesmaid dresses and accessories.
Take a look at wedding insurance - you just never know and it's likworth the premium for the peace of mind.
Start looking at honeymoon locations. Don't forget to check out the internet for any special offers and deals you may get by booking online (but make sure you book with a reputable company with all appropriate professional memberships and insurances).

6 months before the wedding:

Order your wedding stationery and favours.
Meet with the registrar, priest or minister to discuss your order of service.
Go through the wedding menus with your chosen caterer or venue.
Think about what you would like on your wedding list - it's a very helpful service for guests and saves duplication (you can only do so much with three toasters....) and visit department stores for inspiration. Many stores offer a wedding list service - often with online ordering which your guests may find useful.
Consider sending out 'Save the Date' cards.

3 months before the wedding:

Check that you have all the appropriate pre-marriage documents and certificates.
Finalise the details of your colour scheme for your venue decorations (flower arrangements for the top table, guests' tables, and around the venue) and of course, you and your bridesmaids' bouquets (style/size/colours) and buttonholes for the groom, best man, father of the bride and ushers.
Finalise the wedding guest list and send the invitations. Remember to keep a list of who has been sent an invitation, and who replies. Preferably put a date on the RSVP so that guests know they need to confirm by a certain date (and so you have sufficient time to advise the venue of final numbers).
Choose the gifts for the best man, bridesmaids and your attendants.
You may need to arrange accommodation for attendants and guests.

6-8 weeks before the wedding

Organise the final fittings at Madeline Isaac-James for your wedding dress. Make sure that you (and the bridesmaids) are wearing the shoes you intend to wear on the day to all fittings, and if possible, wear the lingerie that you plan to wear on the day.
Finalise fittings for the groom, best man, father of the bride, and ushers.
Have a hair and make-up rehearsal. Remember to bring your headdress with you so that the hairdresser can show you different options.
Finalise your seating plan for wedding reception.
Plan the wedding rehearsal with the priest, minister or registrar.

2 weeks to go:

Arrange your honeymoon and going away clothes, including passports, tickets and visas. Make sure you've got sufficient travellers' cheques, insurance, car hire and any other documentation you need for your honeymoon destination.
Advise your venue of the final number of guests and plan the table setting, place cards etc.
Finalise details again with all your chosen suppliers, and arrange for bouquets for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom if you wish.
Try all your wedding clothes on and make sure all fits correctly and all is comfortable.

1 week to go:

Arrange a wedding rehearsal.
Nominate someone to look after your wedding dress and the groom's outfit after the wedding (particularly if the groom's outfit is hired and needs to be returned).
Wrap all the gifts for the bridesmaids, best man and attendants.
Arrange all fees for the church or registrar, and entertainment.
Do one last check on all documentation required including passports for the honeymoon.
Give all documentation to a sensible, reliable person for safe keeping (best man? chief bridesmaid? mum?).
If you're having your hair cut and coloured, or any kind of fake tan, arrange for this in the week before - not the day before!

The day before :

Enjoy a nice manicure and pedicure, and perhaps a relaxing treatment at your local beauty salon or spa.
Relax, have a long hot bath and an early night.

The Big Day

Have a good breakfast.
Get your hair and make-up done and take your time getting dressed in your beautiful wedding gown.
Give yourself plenty of time to reach the church or registrar and always allow for any last minute hiccups. Remember that sometimes things don't always run according to plan - just try to be relaxed and remember that no matter what happens - this is one of the most important days of your life, so try to stay calm and enjoy yourself.

Most importantly - RELAX and enjoy your day!!

Wedding day countdown provided by Madeline Isaac-James, Farnborough, Hampshire. Offering beautiful wedding dresses for discerning brides that want the very best in service and style. Covering Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, London and the Home Counties, with a beautiful wedding dress shop and bridal boutique in North Camp Farnborough, covering Farnborough, Camberley, Farnham, Aldershot, Frimley, Guildford, Reading, Southampton, Basingstoke, Hartley Wintney, Fleet, Bagshot, Bracknell, Wokingham, Woking, Ash Vale and surrounding areas.