Checklist - 9 to 12 months before

The couple should make checklists as they are organising their wedding so that they can tick them off as they go along and keep tabs on what they have ordered and what they need to do.

9-12 months before the wedding the couple should have announced the engagement in newspapers, organised a wedding planner if necessary, bought a wedding book and set up a filing system for receipts and other details and decided on the type of wedding whether it be civil or religious. Once the type of ceremony has been decided on the couple should meet the religious minister or registrar to discuss the ceremony. They should then organise for their families to meet if they have not already done so and choose a wedding date. The budget should always be at the forefront of their minds and should be decided upon at the earliest stage possible.

This is the time when family members should be asked to step in and take on some of the preparations. The couple should then choose and book venues for the wedding and reception and investigate potential photographers to have an engagement photo taken. Menus and cost estimates should be gathered from caterers and an insurance for the wedding purchased.

It is then necessary to choose a best man, bridesmaids, pageboys and ushers and look into florists and what flowers will suit the season the couple is getting married in. Appointments should be made at this stage for the wedding dress to be tried and chosen and a honeymoon destination agreed on. Once this has all been organised a guest list should be drawn up and the decision made as to whether children are to be invited or not.