Organizing a wedding on your own is doable, especially if you're on a tight budget. However, let me just say, it's quite stressful at times, exciting at most and frustrating sometimes. To keep me organized, I kept a monthly checklist/countdown. I researched also from wedding websites and magazines in order to come up with this list. Here it goes:
10-12 months before:
-Announce the engagement to family,friends,would-be sponsors
-Finalize the wedding date
-Chose and reserve church/ceremony and reception venue
-Decide on your wedding theme
-Estimate the wedding budget and stick to it
-Draft your guest list based on the budget
-Hire a wedding planner or coordinate tasks with close friends/relatives
-Decide on where you will live after the wedding
-Block off the date with your officiant/pastor/priest
-Complete your wedding entourage
6-9 months before:
-Check if there's no error in your baptismal certificates, NSO certified birth certificates and confirmation certificates. If there are any errors, make sure to correct the errors soonest possible time to avoid any inconvenience
-Get your National Statistics Office certified CENOMARS (Certificate of No Marriage) or Certified Proof of Annulment of Marriage or Divorce for foreigners
-Hire photographer,videographer,stylist
-Book the caterer. Ask your reception venue if caterer is accredited and if there's a need to pay extra for -non-accredited caterers.
-Research for your dream wedding gown and book your wedding gown designer
-Hire florist, musicians/mobile with DJ,cake supplier,make up artist, photo booth supplier,
-Book bridal car or ask if reception package has a free bridal car
-Start researching for your honeymoon or book a travel agent to help you
-Look for wedding rings or hire someone who makes customized rings. Be sure to bring printed samples or drawings should you wish to customize your wedding rings. Be ready with the words you wish to be engraved on the ring
3-4 months before:
-Submit church requirements
-Apply for marriage license
-Finalize details with all suppliers
-Book wedding night accommodations
-Submit repertoire / songs lists to musicians or DJ
-Select emcee/s and discuss flow of reception program
-Request for speakers (parents/sponsors/friends/bestman/ etc) and special performers of the reception
-Research on great prenuptial themes and discuss with photographer and schedule your prenuptial shoot
and trial makeup
-Have all your hair treatments
-Finalize booking of your honeymoon
2 months before:
-Finalize wedding misallets, invitation details and book invitation and misallets supplier or start asking the help of creative friends for your do-it-yourself invites and misallets
-Book hotel for wedding preparation and make-up
-Attend canonical interview
-Prepare reception seating chart and start confirming guests
-Start organizing the stag party and bridal shower. Ask help from maid of honor and best man
1 month before:
-Send invitations
-Confirm delivery dates with suppliers
-Attend stag party and bridal shower
-Delegate tasks to entourage
2 weeks before:
-Follow up RSVP
-Pack for the honeymoon
-Prepare payments in envelopes for suppliers
-Start grooming regimen
1 week before:
-Confirm final headcount of guests
-Organize bridal accessories
-Give reminders to entourage
-Rehearse wedding vows
-Turnover all plans and materials to wedding coordinator
-Go to confession
-Get as much rest as possible or go to a spa
1-3 days before:
-Get a manicure and pedicure
-List the things to bring to the hotel
-Check into the hotel
-Advise neccessary suppliers of your hotel room number
-Confirm bridal car pick-up
-Prepare robe for bridal preparation pictorial or just inquire if the hotel has one
-Rest
Big Day (Wedding Day):
-Relax, smile and enjoy your wedding
-Savor each moment
-Thank guests, friends, loved ones and sponsors and all those who helped make the wedding possible
-Thank and kiss your spouse
-Start your promise of forever
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