So you’re now engaged and eagerly waiting to get hitched. The next big step in your life requires a lot of planning, so prepare to roll up your sleeves and put your compromising skills to the test. You’ll find it handy for a successful married life. If you’d like to plan your wedding by yourselves, you might want to keep reading this one! Around 1.5 to 2 years before the wedding, create your own wedding binder. This will become your wedding idea holder as you stick into it anything you see yourself including in your celebrations. At this stage, you also need to set yourself a budget. With this budget, you can decide what kind of party you’d like to organise and the most important people you’d like to be there. It would also be wise to set a date and book the venue, catering, and the church if making use of one. This is especially important if your wedding is in peak season! If you’re getting married in a church in Malta and you’re Maltese, make sure to apply for the Cana course during this period
Around a year before the wedding, make sure to prepare your family and friends who will be part of the bridal or groom’s party. Start looking for bridal wear, wedding attire, flowers, cars, a photographer and videographer, as well as a band—especially if you specifically want one professional over another or have a very strict budget to abide by.
Six months before the wedding, make sure that you choose and buy your invitations, as well as start making honeymoon plans. Meet with the priest or officiant taking care of your wedding. Also, make sure to get the bridesmaids’ dresses and make plans for the groom to also find a suit. Book any extra chairs and lighting systems if needed, as well as a florist. Maybe also create a draft timetable for the day.
Four months before, select and order the cake. Provide your best man and maid of honour with your guest list so they know whom to invite to the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Make sure you start dress fittings in case any alterations are needed. Moreover, you need to schedule any hair and make-up artists from now, as well as choose the music for your wedding ceremony. If you’re planning a destination wedding, then make sure to send out invitations to your guests so that they have time to book their flights. It may be wise to hire a wedding planner for a destination wedding, as this will allow the couple more time to actually enjoy planning the little things, while the planner takes care of all the rest!
Three months prior, finalise the menu and the flowers. Order any souvenirs or choose a charity to donate souvenir money to. Make sure to purchase any undergarments necessary. Finalise the running order for the ceremony and the reception. Also, by now you should purchase the rings!
Two months before the wedding, start by contacting all vendors again to make sure all’s well with your bookings. Meet up with the photographer and videographer for any pre-wedding shoots. If it’s a civil wedding, relevant paperwork needs to be ready by now. The same applies for the civil papers for a church wedding! Go through the playlist with the entertainers. Finally, enjoy your bachelor/bachelorette party!
One month before the wedding, make sure that all invitations have been sent, and no one important has been missed. Also, organise your last fitting. Start sending out final payments and double-check times for hair, make-up, and vendors. Make sure to assign seating positions if necessary, as well as write vows if it’s a civil wedding.
Finally—your wedding week is here! Make sure to iron out final details by reconfirming timings with vendors and delegate, delegate, delegate! Go pick up your dress and suit, and brides, make sure to break in your wedding shoes. Also, pack for your honeymoon beforehand, so that you won’t need to worry about that during your special day!
Despite all this, those who want to avoid all the stresses that wedding planning could bring and enjoy the journey as it goes may want to consider hiring a wedding planner. Wedding planners are able to put together a fabulous wedding in about 2 to 3 months!
By Nicole Borg
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