Wedding Arrangements

12 Months before the wedding day:

• Choose the Wedding date – decide whether or not you would like to have the wedding in the summer or when it is cooler, remember you may have to think about the people who will be coming from abroad.
• Decide on the budget that you will be working from – and especially who will be paying for what. It is best to get this out of the way as it makes things clear from the beginning and prevents confusion.
• Your Health and Beauty routine – It might be a good idea to start thinking about finding a beautician that you trust so that you can start arranging facials, body toning, etc.
• The Venue – make sure that the venue is easily accessible, that there is adequate parking facilities and that it is big enough to accommodate your guests.
• Decide who needs to be invited – remember you will need to take into account the size of the venue and also the fact that you may have to account for extra people as Asians are renown to bring every Hitesh, Amit and Dharminder.

8 Months before the wedding day:

• Check Civil wedding requirements – check whether the date that you have planned is available and also consider the venue. The recent change of law means that you are able to say your vows almost where-ever you like.
• Consider your colour scheme so that you know what you will require when you are looking for flowers and decorations
• Find your pundit/priest – talk to him to let him know your requirements e.g. whether English translations will be needed.
• Mandaps – if you are considering a traditional wedding then you will need to look into renting out wedding furniture such as the mandap, doli, chairs etc…
• Start collecting the requirements that your pundit may ask of you, as you may need to get some of these from abroad.
• Invitations and Wedding stationery – make sure that you research thoroughly and you bargain.
• Flowers – consider what types of arrangements you will need – the garlands, table arrangements, petals (to throw and for the mandap) and for the flower girls should you have them.
• Wedding cake – decide on the type of wedding cake that you would like and discuss this with your baker.
• Music – If you would a like a DJ then make sure that you book him well in advance as they tend to be booked up during the wedding season. Make sure that you talk to the DJ and let him know what you would like. Many DJ’s also offer lights, smoke pumps and indoor fireworks.

5 Months before the wedding Day

• Rental equipment – Reserve these now e.g. china, silverware, marquee etc…. as you may discover that depending on the season of your wedding these items might be difficult to find.
• Bride’s Wedding clothes – if you are having a traditional wedding consider which shade of red looks good on you, have proper fittings, and visit your designer as often as you can to avoid any disappointments
• Bridegroom’s wedding clothes – consider the colour scheme, what the bride is wearing, go for fittings and visit your designer as often as possible.
• Invitations – Finalise your guest list accounting for gatecrashers.
• Beautician – By now a beautician should be chosen, have regular facials every three to four weeks, choose the type of make over and the hair style you want.
• The bride should help co-ordinate and find wedding day attire for both mothers.
• Decorations – finalise who will be your hall decorators and confirm what colour the decorations would be and decide on the theme, whether balloons or flowers etc…
• Food & Drink – decide on the type of food that you will be having e.g. veg, non-veg, halal etc. and whether or not alcohol is to be made available to your guests.
• Honeymoon – the bridegroom should have finalised the details on where they are going, where will they be staying etc….

3 Months before the Wedding Day

• Jewellery – the bride should have chosen the type and design of jewellery she wants, whether it is something delicate or something big. Do not buy from the first shop you like something, look around and make sure you that you BARGAIN.
• Mandap – finalise in writing the type of mandap you want and make sure it is available.
• Photographer – consider the types of photos and album you want e.g. matt/gloss finish, size/format of potos, etc.
• Invitations – mail out invitation cards, ensuring that the ones going abroad are sent as soon as possible, include a map of directions.
• Men’s Wedding attire – final decisions should be made on what the family men are going to wear, e.g. suit or kurtar pyjama.
• Wedding license – book the Civil wedding date and pick up your wedding license.
• Registry wedding arrangements – the bride and bridegroom should decide what clothes they will be wearing. The bride needs to choose the type of make over and hairstyle she wants.
• The food and drinks arrangement need to be made if guests are invited back to the bride or bridegroom’s place.
• Make sure the wedding rings are chosen and ordered.

2 months before the Wedding Day

• Wedding day accessories – decide on the things that you will need and start purchasing. The small things are always forgotten like purse, mirror, lipstick or handkerchief.
• Make a selection of beverages with the caterer if you are having a Reception Party.
• For out of town guests – sleeping and travel arrangements will need to be made, as guests from abroad will be relying on you.
• Written agreement should be obtained from everyone involved i.e. photographer, videographer, DJ, beautician etc.
• Flower girls/ Candle girls – try and arrange their outfits and go for fittings. If it is left to the individual to decide what they wear, they might wear something that does not go with the scheme.

4 weeks before the Wedding day

• Dress fitting – meet your designer for a final wedding dress fitting, make sure that it is what you want and it fits perfectly.
• Final check on both mother’s and family member’s outfits.
• Hairdresser – organise a different hairstylist and beautician for the ladies in the family.
• Honeymoon – pack your suitcase and purchase any last minute outfits, e.g. swim wear, sandals, etc.
• Purchase your going away outfit – make sure it is something comfortable so that you do not have any problems on the aeroplane/during the journey.
• Calendar – make a list of the events happening on the wedding day, e.g. Beautician arrival time, photographer and videographer arrival time etc.

2 weeks before the Wedding day.

• Entertainer(s) – provide a list of music for the DJ or band that you would like played during special events such as first dance.
• Wedding Rings – pick up your wedding rings make sure that they fit properly and the correct engraving has been done.
• Prepare seating arrangements for the wedding and the reception, if necessary. It is recommended that you do have seating arrangements for the reception, as guests do not think whether it is appropriate to sit at the front or should it be the family members.
• Honeymoon arrangements – order and pick up your traveller cheques, confirm all the reservations i.e., if your staying in a hotel on your wedding night, flights, hotels, cars etc.
• Speeches – ensure that the person doing the speech knows and prepares for one. There is nothing worse then putting someone on the spot and making himself, herself or yourself be embarrassed.

1 week before the Wedding day.

• Instructions should be given to the wedding party on what you would like them to do on the day of the wedding.
• Have your rehearsals for the flower or candle girls, if necessary.
• Make sure all wedding outfits fit properly. It is still not too late to make adjustments as long as they are not too drastic.
• Arrange for a responsible person to be given the amounts that the professionals are to be paid on the day of the wedding.
• Finalise with your caterer the total guest count.
• Confirm with the out-of-town guests that they have transportation and sleeping accommodation.
• Check with your florist and/or balloonist that everything is OK and they will arrive when scheduled.

THE BIG DAY.

• It is not too late to change your mind because you cannot return after you have taken the big step
• Make sure that you allow two to three hours for dressing, so ensure that the beautician arrives on time.
• Photographer/videographer – they might want to take photos before the ceremony so make sure you allow one to one-half hour.
• Try and relax, remain calm and remember to enjoy yourself, it’s your BIG DAY.

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