Most important and most neglected

Indian Wedding Planning Checklist

• Choose a special date to tie the knot
• Decide the number of guests, location and time of day for the wedding
• Determine wedding budget and how the expenses will be divided between groom and bride
• Determine how your wedding itinerary would look like
• Organize a system to track payments made and the party who made the payment
• Create and consolidate a guest list from both bride and groom side
• Determine unavoidable factors which may impact your chosen wedding date (e.g. weather, elections etc.)
• Reserve wedding ceremony site
• Reserve wedding reception site
• Reserve wedding photographer
• Reserve wedding videographer
• Decide on the matrimonial theme and colour
• Order or renew passport & visa for honeymoon
• Reserve your marriage officiant (priest, qadi,minister etc.)
• Reserve wedding ceremony musicians
• Reserve wedding decorator/florist
• Reserve wedding caterer
• Reserve wedding reception entertainers / musicians / DJ
• Decide who will be your bridesmaids and best men
• Decide who will be the master of ceremony
• Reserve rental items needed for wedding ceremony
• Reserve make-up artist, hair stylist and costume stylist
• Reserve bridal night suite
• Finalize guest list and obtain invitation mail addresses
• Decide and purchase wedding card invitations; include map of the site for wedding ceremony and reception
• Create online invitations
• Prepare a list of wedding helpers (usherers, gift attendant, reception stage coordinator, food & beverage coordinator etc.) and their responsibilities
• Begin planning for your honeymoon
• Reserve wedding cake
• Reserve wedding transport including decoration for wedding car and wedding party entourage
• Rent or purchase wedding attire for bride and groom
• Rent or purchase wedding attire for bridesmaids, best men & parents
• Decide and purchase party favors, wedding door gifts and gifts for wedding helpers
• Plan activities for out-of-town guests both before and after the wedding
• Consider bleeching or cleaning your teeth
• Mail wedding invitations and/or e-mail e-invites
• Keep track of all invitations and RSVP. Same list can be used to track gifts received and send thank you notes
• Rent or purchase bridal accessories
• Purchase bridal shoes
• Purchase jewellery (thali, wedding rings, etc.) and arrange for engravings
• Consider and arrange for security escort for bride party who will wear heavy jewellery
• Finalize your food and drinks menu with caterer
• Arrange for a bridal portrait or pre-wedding photoshoot to be taken
• Confirm wedding ceremony details and what to bring with marriage officiant
• Contact guests who have not responded and finalize seating arrangements
• Create a detailed timeline of the wedding ceremony & reception
• Provide your service providers a copy of the detailed timeline
• Form your receiving line and decide how they will usher the bride and groom into the wedding site
• Provide your photographer a list of special photos you would like taken
• Provide your videographer a list of special people or events you want included in the video
• Provide your DJ the songlist you would like played at your event
• Prepare wedding site road guide boards, guestbook and gift containers
• Prepare and decorate your home
• Start a wedding-planner file in which you keep all correspondence, ideas, quotes, contact details, samples etc. If everything is in one place, it’s less likely to get lost.
• It’s a good idea to open a special bank account for wedding expenses. This will help you keep tabs on what you are spending.
• Make arrangements with the priest and decide on a date and time and get your wedding puja list.
• Decide the number of guests, location and time of day for the wedding
• Confirm with the priest who will be bringing what (from the bride’s party and groom’s party).
• Determine wedding budget and how the expenses will be divided between groom and bride
• Work out your provisional guest list consulting both families.
• Collect estimates from all wedding professionals.
• Determine how your wedding itinerary would look like
• Always book early to avoid disappointment. Book your ceremony location.
• Organize a system to track payments made and the party who made the payment
• Choose the caterers.
• Choose the wording, design of your invitation and wedding programme. Maybe include a map of how to get to the venue.
• Book your photographer and videographer, after deciding whether you want them at home first.
• Set your dates for pre-wedding celebrations.
• Bride – start looking for your wedding outfit and accessories because once you’ve done that the style and theme of the wedding can start taking shape.
• Groom – decide the style of formal wear you will be wearing (maybe the bride would like some input).
• Buy your wedding ring.
• Choose your outfit, accessories, your going away outfit and your honeymoon wardrobe. Look at them as a whole, not as separate items.
• Order your flowers – petal flowers, garland and decorative arrangements.
• Decide on the menu and drinks if you are having any. Remember also any before and after meal snacks and sweets.
• Decide your ‘official’ cars and work out who is going to need help with transport from friends and relations. Overseas visitors may prefer to be driven, rather than cope with new road rules.
• Make up your mind what type, if any, of music you are having.
• Order the wedding cake.
• Make an appointment at your hairdressers for your wedding day.
• Choose any extras such as monogrammed napkins, tablecloth, candles etc.
• Check out our accommodation guide for out of town guests.
• Notify anyone required to make a speech.
• Compile a gift list and register for gifts.
• Designate someone to do the buttonholes.
• Brides family-buy all gifts for wedding party and get any made-to-measure clothing done.
• Grooms family – buy all clothes, jewellery and gifts for the bride and also buy your suit and not forgetting any accessories, tie, shoes, socks, cufflinks etc.
• Send out your wedding invitations, together with a sketch map showing how to get there and where to park.
• Decide about honeymoon destination.
• Check passports etc if travelling overseas.
• Maintain good contacts with all your wedding professionals.
• Confirm appointments with menhdi wala, hair-dresser, beautician and mala (don’t forget the right length for the mala).
• Bride and Groom – get together and arrange seating plan for the head table and guests. Make sure you consult both families.
• Apply for the marriage licence.
• Collect all wedding clothes and have them all ready to wear.
• Make sure you have all pooja items together.
• Confirm your mandap decorations.
• Bride – do a trial run with your make-up artist and hairdresser if required.
• Groom – finalise your official wedding car and decorations.
• Confirm all your bookings from wedding to honeymoon.
• Start packing for your honeymoon (pack light).
• Give final numbers to your caterer.
• Chase up late invitation replies and finalise guest list.
• Bride – try on your wedding outfit with all your accessories especially shoes. Pack a tote bag – refer wedding planner.
• Groom – get a pre-wedding hair cut if required.
• Confirm all bookings.
• Pick the venue key if required.
• Chase up guest who haven’t RSVP’d.
• Confirm final guest list.