Planning A Wedding: A Free Checklist For Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and time-consuming process. To help you stay organised, there are many free wedding planning checklists available online. These can help you manage your time and to-do list, right up until your big day and beyond. They can also help keep everyone involved in the wedding updated. Checklists can be customised to your requirements and can include month-to-month timelines, on-the-day reminders, and specific tasks such as vendor requirements, photography poses, and tasks for your coordinator.

Choosing a date

When choosing a date, it's a good idea to be flexible and choose up to three dates in case your first choice is unavailable. You can then talk budget and decide who is contributing what.

Once you've chosen a date, you can start to book venues for the ceremony and reception, as well as officiants, photographers, videographers, caterers, DJs/bands, florists, and planners. You can also send out save the dates to your guests.

Budgeting

Planning a wedding can be expensive, so it's important to set a realistic budget that fits your financial situation. This will ensure you can enjoy your special day without unwanted stress.

To start, assess your financial situation. Consider your current savings, capacity for future savings, and contributions from family members. Talk budget and decide who is contributing what. Once you've set your budget, you can determine your priorities and figure out where your money will be going.

Use a detailed checklist to break down your wedding costs into manageable sections, ensuring that every aspect is accounted for. Allocate funds based on your top priorities to maximise your budget. For example, if a stunning venue and world-class dining are important to you, allocate a larger portion of your budget to these areas. Alternatively, if you value live music over flowers, invest more in entertainment and reduce your floral budget.

From the obvious expenses, like your venue and catering, to miscellaneous costs you might not have considered, like thank you cards and photo albums, there are many elements that should factor into your wedding budget. A comprehensive checklist will help you manage your budget more effectively and avoid any unexpected surprises.

Venue

The venue is likely to be one of the biggest decisions you make when planning your wedding, so it's important to get it right. First, you should make a rough guest list so that you can immediately rule out venues that are too small or too big. You should always choose a venue that allows for a few extra people, and remember that weddings are social events that require plenty of space for free movement, mingling and dancing. If you hire a venue that's too big, your guests might feel lost in the space.

When you're deciding on a venue, it's a good idea to view it when it's set up for a wedding. If this isn't possible, ask to see photographs or a seating plan of the room at capacity. You should also consider the location and accessibility of the venue. If your loved ones are travelling to your wedding, they may need nearby hotel accommodation.

Some venues may have other attractive offerings, like an in-house wedding planner or floral arrangement services. Assess each site's customer service and consider if it's a good fit for you and your partner. Before booking, spend some time reading reviews on sites like WeddingWire and The Knot.

Once you've chosen your venue, you'll need to pass your finalised seating chart to your planner, day-of coordinator or the venue staff. You'll also need to give your venue a final headcount the week before the wedding.

Photography

Planning a wedding can be a stressful experience, but creating a comprehensive wedding photography checklist can help you to create a gallery of unforgettable memories. It's a great way to ensure you and your photographer are on the same page and that no precious moment is missed.

It's advisable to start the wedding planning process early on, and the same goes for your photography checklist. Start by creating a list of must-have photos, from bridal portraits and centrepieces to the dance floor. Think about the images you want from your photographer, from the morning of your wedding to the post-wedding dancing. You might want to capture candid photos of you and your bridal party getting ready, along with the finer details of your wedding day look.

Don't forget to include photos with your wedding party, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any other loved ones. These are the people who have supported you throughout the wedding planning process, so make sure you have photos to remember this special moment. You could also ask your photographer about their standard wedding photo list, which will cover all the basic pictures you'll want to be captured.

Finally, consider creating a custom checklist to inspire you and keep you organised. This could include photography poses to try or tasks to be handled by your coordinator. By staying organised, you'll have more time to enjoy the process and each other in the lead-up to your big day.

RSVPs

You can use a free, professionally designed checklist that you can print off, or create your own. Your checklist can be a month-to-month overview or an on-the-day reminder list. You can also create specific wedding checklist templates, such as tasks to be handled by your coordinator.

Make sure you know exactly where everyone is sitting and pass your finalised seating chart to your planner, day-of coordinator or venue staff.

Frequently asked questions