Wedding Wednesdays: 10 Things to Do on the Morning of your Wedding.

Hi!

It's here - the big day you have been planning for months.

Here are my 10 things to do the morning of your wedding.  Mine was on Saturday & I made sure to do all of these things :)

1. Drink lots of water

You will be on your feet most of the day & you have lots to do so stay hydrated!  Try doing this as early on as possible, so you don't need to pee every 5 seconds in your wedding dress haha.

2. Eat!

Have a good breakfast & then graze throughout the day after that.  I took photos at a wedding once where there was no food until the reception at 6pm - absolute insanity.  I have actually put 'eat breakfast' & 'eat lunch' onto my wedding day timeline to make extra sure we don't forget.  You might be a little nervous, but hangry is definitely worse haha.

3. Wear flats

Be comfy when you get ready - you don't need to wear your heels yet.  I wore my slippers!

4. Wear something comfy to get ready in

Shirt wise, try something with buttons so you don't have to lift it over your freshly done hair & makeup. I actually wore PJs with a fluffy robe over the top - so good, especially in the middle of Winter!

On that note - don't wear a bra, if you have a strapless or backless dress - you don't want strap marks in your pics.

5. Make time for your parents

This is a big day for them too, so make sure you spend some time with them while you are getting ready.  I got fully dressed with my bridal party & then did a first look with my parents, which was super special.

6. Getting ready playlist

Tunes always set the mood!

7. Organise your wedding accessories

Lay everything out so you know where everything is.  This also makes for nice pics.  Make sure you have everything out you want a photo of so your photographer knows.

8. Have a plan for your phone

Either charge it up so it has enough juice for the day... or set it to flight mode & go tech free!

It really is up to you on this one, but make sure you have a plan for your phone.  I popped mine on flight mode so I could use it for taking my own pics, but didn't get distracted by social media or messages.  Noone should be calling you - everyone should know to call you designated person with any questions or issues.  Everything else can wait until after the wedding!

9. Relax

The planning is done - relax!  Take a deep breath, meditate or do yoga, if that's your thing (or a bubble bath perhaps?) & set yourself up to have a fabulous wedding day.

10. Start celebrating 

Crack open a bottle of bubbles & get started while you get ready.  Mimosas for breakfast anyone?  Be sure not to drink too much alcohol though, drink plenty of water & don't forget to eat!!!

______________________________________

Don't sweat the small stuff - everything might not go to plan, but that's OK.  You are going to end up marrying the love of your life & it's going to be great regardless of what happens.   No more planning today - just delegate, don't panic about anything & enjoy!

Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The Day Before Checklist

Hi!

We're here - we made it!  Your big day is tomorrow :).

My wedding day is actually tomorrow (27th July 2019) - which is why you have a bonus Wedding Wednesday... on a Friday... haha.

Today, these are the things that I am doing.

1. Double check you have everything with you

I know you made a checklist & you double checked you packed everything, but check again.  There is (hopefully) still time to go & get something if you forgot it (socks, ties, undies, anything!).

2. Make sure everyone knows what they are doing

Do a quick run through just to check everyone knows their role.  Do your bridesmaids know which order to work down the aisle?  Is one of your guests pressing play on the music at the ceremony?  Who is carrying the rings?  The more you run over things, the more likely it is to run smoothly.

On that note, do you have a list of suppliers & their contact info?  And do you have a designated person to contact suppliers if they aren't there or if something is wrong... or for your suppliers to call if something happens.  You absolutely do not want this person to be you!

3. Set up the venue

I have a venue which sets up the tables,place settings & any in house decor etc. but all of the personal decor is for me to set up.  Check with your venue when you can start doing this & try to do it as soon as possible.  The day before is obviously preferred, but some only do day-of setup.  If this is the case, have a concrete plan & assign someone you trust to set up for you (again, you do not want to be doin this yourself!).

4. Enjoy your evening and have an early night

Probably the most important thing!  Have a wonderful, relaxing evening with your wedding party & have an early night.

Congratulations!!!!!  Have an absolutely wonderful day - make sure you enjoy it :)

Tell me your wedding stories below.

Did these checklists help towards a stress-free, enjoyable day?
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: Your Wedding Day Packing Checklist.

Hi!

If you are reading this, you are likely fast approaching your own wedding day.

And if you are like me & you love a good list, you will probably be thinking about making a wedding day packing checklist.

This list will definitely vary from couple to couple, but below is my checklist that I will be using on my big day.  The pinnable version is a little more generic for you to use for you.  Contact me for a downloadable version, or if you would like me to edit in any way for you!

1. Wedding rings
2. Speeches and vows
3. Wedding dress x 2
4. Suit pants & jacket, shirt
5. Shoes x 3
6. Jewellery
7. Underwear & socks for both Mack & I
8. Tie
9. Bouquets and buttonholes (I'm not having flowers - if you have flowers, it is likely your florist will deliver directly to the venue)
10. Wedding cake (again, your baker might deliver to the venue, but we are picking ours up)
11. Shawl, gloves, hoodies and other warms
12. Contact list of all suppliers and emergency contacts
13. Thank you gifts for the wedding party
14. Wedding decor (dream-catchers, LEDs, fairy lights)
15. Overnight bag with clothes & toiletries for the mini-moon (3 nights away)
16. Oh Shit Kit (my Oh Shit Kit here)
17. Hoops, lawn games
18. LED & fire props (with fuel)
19. Fire safety gear
20. Snacks
21. ID for celebrant, just in case (passport or birth certificate), along with wallet, house keys, phone

Tick each thing off as you pack so you know for sure everything is in!
Hx

____________________________________________

Hello - editing Hannah here.

So, I actually wrote all of my checklists last year, when I was only a few months into planning.  Now that I'm in the process of packing for my wedding in real life, I realised that this checklist was a little generic for me & really isn't that helpful.

I decided to keep the above list here, in case someone finds a broader guide useful to them.  I, on the other hand, have now written a comprehensive list for my own wedding.  A lot of the things on my list are a little different to most, as we have a lot of decor & activities happening that most people might not have, so the pin-able checklist below has all of the main things I believe would be applicable to the majority.  I have then left a lot of blank spaces for you to add your unique items.  I thought it would be better to have each item as a separate line so you can actually check of each thing as it is packed.

Which do you prefer?

:)

Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The 2 - 1 Week Checklist.

Hi!

Your big day is fast approaching!  Hopefully by now, you are all ready to go & aren't too stressed. Don't forget to do the last little things so your day runs smoothly.

1. Try on your outfits

Because you just never know.  At least if you are a week out & you realise you have gained or lost some weight, there is still time to fix it!  One of my friends got dressed on her wedding day & it didn't fit... so... you know.  Just try it on again.

2. Write wedding speech and/or vows

If you are giving a speech (which every newly wed couple should at least say thanks for coming!), now is the time to write them.  Same goes with your vows if you are writing your own.  Do not leave to the day of!  It might also be good to proof other speeches for the day (your dad, the MOH, the best man etc.) - I don't want long speeches, or embarrassing speeches so this will be a thing I will be doing (or getting my mum or another person to check for me).

3. Check in with all vendors one last time

Because, again, just in case.

4. Confirm final details

Make sure all details are locked in & good to go - finalise anything you might not have finished yet.  Maybe the run sheet, photography list or seating plan.  Whatever it is, get it done now.

5. Greet out of town guests

Now is the time people from out of town start arriving.  Chances are they are coming into town for you, so take the time to greet them when they arrive & see them before the actual wedding.

6. Pack everything you need for the big day!

And I mean everything.  Put everything in boxes, suitcases, bags, whatever you need & put them all together in the house (or even better, the car!) ready to go so you know everything is there.  Think all attire & accessories, guest list, all decor & lighting, speeches or vows, an emergency oh shit kit (a whole post on this soon), a contact list for all suppliers & any one on your wedding party who might need to be contacted, any food or booze you are taking with you, overnight bag (toothbrush/toothpaste, soaps & other toiletries, PJs, getting ready outfits, clothes for the following days if required).  Have a checklist & tick each thing off once it is in & good to go.

Wedding Wednesdays: The 2 - 1 Month Checklist.

Hi!

Here we go with another wedding checklist.

I am 2 months out from my own wedding right now - we are really getting down to the pointy end of the planning now :).  There are quite a lot of little things to be done!

1. Make sure you have applied for your marriage license

Number 1 priority for sure!  Our celebrant is doing this for us - just make sure it is more than 30 days out (Australian requirement).

2. Touch base with your vendors

Check in with all confirmed suppliers, just to make sure they are still good to go!

3. Print programs, menu cards and other stationary

Now is the time to print all required stationary for the day.  I actually printed only invitations & am foregoing all other printing, because it is a cost that adds up & ultimately ends up in the bin.  If you really want to print everything, then go for it - if not, pop all of your details on your wedding website, or consider using chalk boards to let your guests know what is happening.

4. Have your final gown fitting

I would do this about 6 weeks out - close enough to the day that you likely won't change shape too much, but far enough out that there is time to alter if required.  When you go to the fitting, take your shoes & accessories with you so you can see the full final look.

5. Create playlist/plan songs for the day

If you have a DJ or a wedding band for the reception, you don't have to worry a whole lot about this.  But don't forget to think about the music situation for the following times:

• Processional (walking down the aisle)
• Any music before or during the ceremony
• Music for during the signing of the certificate
• Recessional (back up the aisle)
• Cocktail hour
• The first dance song
• Dinner music
• Any specific songs you want to be played

6. Finalise the run sheet

Lock in exactly what will happen on the day & when.  On top of that, tell your guests!  I am posting my runsheet on my wedding website for all guests to read - guests hate it when they don't know what should be happening & when etc.  A whole post coming on this soon - wedding runsheets.

7. Finalise numbers for the caterer

Find out from your venue/caterer exactly when the cut off is for final numbers & let them know on time.  Your RSVP due date for guests should be 2 or so weeks before this date, so you have time to chase any stragglers.

8. Choose gifts for your bridal party etc.

Gifts for your wedding party aren't super necessary, but I think it is nice to thank them for the time, energy & money they have poured into helping you get to your wedding day.  Don't go something generic - these people are your nearest & dearest so actually think about it & give them something meaningful.

9. Hen/Buck parties

You shouldn't have to do anything for these other than show up!  Definitely discuss dates with your wedding party before plans get under way.  I would recommend doing this a few weeks out from the wedding if possible (although my hen night is 2 weeks out because my maid of honour's schedule).

10. Book beauty needs - hair cuts, mani-pedi etc.

Think ahead of time about all of the extra things you might want in time for your wedding day.  Are you spray tanning?  Are you whiting your teeth?  Do you want a manicure & pedicure, or perhaps a facial?  When did you last cut your hair?

I booked my haircuts for the first half of this year in December, in preparation for wedding - my final haircut is 2 weeks out from the day.  I have a mani booked along a couple of days out from the wedding.  I am going this close to my wedding day because I am a disaster when it comes to keeping my nails looking good!

11. Wedding rehearsal arrangements

If you are planning a rehearsal dinner, get these plans locked in.  I don't think it is really expected anymore to essentially host another event for everyone before the wedding itself (& even if it was, it is such a huge additional expense that isn't that necessary!).  I would, however, recommend at least having a catch up with everyone who is playing a part on the day to make sure they know when they need to be wear, what order to walk down the aisle, what song to play when etc. to ensure the day runs really smoothly.

12. Break in wedding shoes

There would be nothing worse than getting blisters on your wedding day!  Be sure to walk around the house or office or wherever wearing your shoes in so they are super comfy ahead of wearing them at the wedding.

13. Ensure you have accessories, underwear, tie, handbag etc.

Make a list of everything you need/want to wear & make sure you have it all - all jewellery, shoes, underwear/lingerie, handbag, tie, shawl/gloves.  Pack it all together so you know it is ready to go.

Once all of these things are done, there isn't much left!  That way, your last month leading up to your big day should be relatively stress free.

Here you go for pinning - contact for PDF.
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: Venue Checklist.

Hellooo!

I talked about choosing the right venue for you a couple of weeks ago & in that blog I mentioned that it was a good idea to go to the venues with a checklist of all of the questions to ask.

This is that checklist!

Whilst, of course, you don't have to prepare & you can expect the venue to lead you into the right direction of everything you might need to know, I think it's a good to have an idea of what you want to know.  It is likely that you haven't planned a wedding before (or at least not that many) & so you might not know what you need or what to ask.

Before you go to your shortlisted venues, you should already have an idea of what you want for your wedding; add these things to the checklist before you go & check that they are allowed.  For example, I wanted fire at my wedding - that is a huge one to ask rural properties before I fall in love with a venue, especially if it is a deal breaker for me!

You can see all of the things I recommend asking below.  It is, by no means, an extensive list; it is a great starting point to find out the main things about the venue before choosing it for your wedding.

The big ones definitely are:
- Maximum capacities & minimum spends - no-one likes surprises later!
- Packages & inclusions - again, no surprises!  Make sure the inclusions give you what you want, whilst also don't break the bank
- Catering - where is it coming from & what are the house rules surrounding this.  If you have to source your own caterer, make sure that the venue doesn't have a list of preferred suppliers first & also consider that this might bump the cost of your wedding up!
- Alcohol - also where is it coming from & what are the rules. Licensing laws in NSW/Australia can be quite strict so be sure to ask if BYO is allowed, or what the license for that venue is.  If spirits are on your list of must-haves, ask about those now too - not all venues provide spirits.
- Terms & conditions - know what you are getting yourself into upfront & know what the payment & cancellation policies are.

Also think about logistics - try & get a picture in your head of how your day will run & where everything will happen.  Ask about wet weather plans (if outdoors) & rules surrounding signage, noise & decor.  You don't want to plan an elaborate day only to find your can't do these things later.

Asking the venue about what they have onsite first is also a great idea; you can try & plan your room setup & decor around what is already onsite to save on costs there.  Just make sure to ask if anything costs extra (I have heard horror stories about these types of hidden costs!).

And that's it!

I hope you find this useful & it helps find the best venue for you!  You can pin the below image, or contact me for the PDF version.

See you next week.
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: Choosing the Right Venue

Hi there!

I hope you guys are all doing well.

This week, we turn our attention selecting the best venue for you both.

Choosing a venue should be one of the first things you do once you get engaged - you can't set a date without a confirmed venue!

Your venue should be the driving force for all of your wedding planning decisions - it should set the scene for the day.  And it should make your life & wedding experience as stress free as possible.

I'm based in Sydney, Australia & there are literally HUNDREDS of wedding venue options, just in the metro area.  Once you get out to the mountains, the south coast, the Hunter Valley & many other regional areas, there are hundreds more!  It's insane. It's so easy to get swept up in all of the excitement of planning a wedding & into all of the wedding packages that you get from all of the prospective venues that you forget what you actually want. Or worse, how much money you are working with.

On top of the extensive options, you also have to consider what you are signing up for.  I have worked in hospitality & events for a long time now & I love it, but holy shit are there some places that give my industry a bad name!  You need to make sure your venue's event planner has their shit together (& is responsive to your emails & calls), that the catering is good, that the decor suits you (& in some instances that the venue doesn't imply the decor is included in the price only to find out that it isn't closer to the date), that the expectations from both sides are clear, plus many more things. As well as all of these considerations, you also must factor in that there is a high chance that you haven't done this before & could probably do with some guidance haha.

There are so many variables & every couple is different so it's hard to find a one size fits all approach to finding the perfect location.

Here's how I recommend choosing the best venue for your wedding.

1. Talk about what you want

I talked about this in my first wedding checklist - if both of you write down your top 3 requirements & then discuss to create the ultimate top 3, you know exactly what you are looking for in a venue.  With these in mind, you will notice that you eliminate a lot of options.  For us, I was looking for somewhere that would allow us to have fire (if you are from Australia, you will know how much of a mission that would be!), a venue with a country view (ruling out everything in a city) & a venue that was all inclusive for the most part, but allowed us to personalise it to fit us as a couple.  As an additional thing, we wanted to make sure that it was accessible for our guests & accommodation was close by for everyone.

In doing this, you also know what vision you have & what venue you need to do that.  Whether that be a vineyard, a church, a farm, a harbourside restaurant, a beach.  Refine your search to only venues that fit this vision.

2. Have a rough guest list before you start getting into venues

All venues have a max capacity, so know a rough number before you start shopping venues.  It would be so heartbreaking to find the perfect space for you & then realising that you have 300 guests in a venue that can only hold 100.  I am a huge advocate for a small wedding, but if a really big day is more your style, then make sure you know that going in.

3. Shortlist to no more than 5 & visit all of them

Noone needs to shop around more than 5 shortlisted venues.  You have already picked your top venues based on your requirements, so trust those instincts.  That being said, be super critical of every venue when you go & visit.  Have a checklist (my checklist coming soon for this) & ask the same questions to every venue.  Make sure you aren't going to be blindsided later by hidden costs you didn't ask about upfront.

I would also strongly recommend getting a quote from your shortlist before you visit them.  Ask them all for exactly the same requirements so their quotes are comparable.  It is good to pop all of this info in a spreadsheet so you can see everything at a glance.

When you do all of your site visits, also make sure that you take pictures of all of the important areas (cocktail hour, reception space, ceremony space if its on the same site, anything that's important to you) so that you can remember what everything looks like when you get home to discuss options.  I have visited my venue twice now & I still can't remember all of the areas...

4. Think about inclusions

It might seem like a great idea to customise your own day & DIY everything.  And if that really is for you, that's amazing - there are many venues out there that provide beautiful spaces for exactly this.  But it can get expensive & can be a lot of work, so keep that in mind.

For me, I will go to the ends of the earth to DIY everything for someone else's wedding. I really do love planning events & weddings!  But for my own day, I really wanted somewhere where I could rock up, do the thing & leave without worrying about doing anything at all!  I went for an all-inclusive option, off a shortlist which had 2 DIY venues, 1 mostly-inclusive option & then the venue I chose.

5. Keep your budget in mind

It is definitely helpful to have an ideal total figure in mind for your wedding before you start shopping venues.  Stay away from venues that price you out from the beginning so you aren't disheartened later.  The venue will be your biggest expense - for me, I'm actually spending 55% of my budget on my venue (which includes most decor, all food & beverage, as well as accommodation for 2 nights for my entire wedding party).  I'm spending a lot in this area (40 - 50% is pretty normal), but I am not spending a whole lot on anything else (I'm not having flowers & I'm using as much of the venue inclusions as possible).

6. Consider the guest experience

Yes, your wedding day is yours & it has to suit you as a couple.  But you do have to consider your guests at least a little bit.  Think about the location (how far do people have to travel), possible accommodation options for guests, transportation options, accessibility (specifically surrounding elderly guests, or those with accessibility issues).  Also think about the season of your wedding & whether the venue will be hot or cold & what you will need to do to make sure everyone is comfortable (think water, fans, bug spray, sunscreen, or fire, heaters, blankets etc.).

I have a winter wedding in the mountains this July... It's definitely going to be cold.  And I want an outdoor ceremony.  But I have ensured that I have fire pits & blankets available, along with having a super relaxed dress code so people can dress appropriately.

After our wedding day in July, I will share all of the details about our wedding venue; for now, I hope this list makes sure that you choose the best venue for your wedding day!

Until next week.
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The 5 - 3 Month Checklist.

Hi!

I hope you are all doing really well.

Welcome back to another Wedding Wednesday.  I know I have missed a couple - life got a little crazy!  I think I'm back on track now, so normal blogging should resume (also keep an eye out for our latest meal prep adventures - this is coming to you in March!).

Today we are 5 months out of my own wedding, so it is checklist time!

From 5 to 3 months out, we are getting down into the nitty gritty - the fine details!  Most of your decisions should be made by this time.

1. Design and send out invitations

I would definitely think about sending out your at least 4 months out from the wedding date.  I will write a whole post on invitations soon, but they should always contain all of the information a guest needs to know about the day.  I would strongly recommend going digital for your RSVPs - much easier than asking your guests to post back the card to you & much cheaper for you, saving on stamped envelopes!  Refer to my wedding website post to look at my recommendations for online sites & RSVP options.

2. Have a menu tasting, and lock in your menu

Lock in a time with your venue and/or caterer to taste the menu & wines & confirm these details!  Some venues/caterers include this complimentary, others charge for it, so check this before booking your tasting.  If it costs extra, I would highly recommend doing it anyway - money well spent to make sure your guests are going to be happy with the food!

At this meeting, also discuss dietary requirements of your guests & how they handle them on the day.  Also check the cut off date for getting those requests in.

3. Have a hair & makeup trial

I know trials can be expensive, but they are oh so worth it!  By doing a trial, you can work out exactly what you want before the day, so when your hair & makeup team arrive on the day, they know exactly what they are doing & how long it takes.  I also took photos of my bridesmaids with me to give my lady an idea of what their hair is like, their skin tones & what hair we are going for.  The less surprises on the day for everyone, the smoother everything will run!

4. Choose wedding rings

If you are exchanging rings as part of your ceremony, look at buying these now.  Whether you have a matching wedding band to your engagement ring, whether you want yours to match your partners, or not, it doesn't matter.  If you are ordering online, definitely do this sooner rather than later in case you need to get adjustments.

5. Organise wedding favours

It has become somewhat of an expectation to give a little gift to each of your guests as a thank you for coming.  When thinking about what to get, consider these things:

• The wedding industry has a thousand options of personalised/engraved/customised & overpriced favour options - remember, if each item is $3 - $6 a piece (or worse, more) & you have 100 guests, you are looking at $300 - $600+ for little gifts which your guests may not even take home with them.
• Look at options which match your theme, but also won't break the bank.
• Think about gifts your guests might actually want.  Not everyone wants a candle with your names on it, or a little succulent. 
• Consider options that, if your guests don't take them, you can actually take home & use yourself.  A jar of honey, tea, garden seeds?  Think about all of that money that literally goes in the bin if you can't use the favours left behind.

6. Start writing the ceremony

Your celebrant should be able to do this for you, or at least help you!  Think about the things you legally have to say, the cute fluffy stuff you want to add in, any readings or songs you would like in there.  Also consider how long you would like the ceremony to be & how comfortable your guests are going to be for that time.  For example, we are planning an outdoor wedding in Winter, so the shorter the better for us!

7. Organise an MC for the night

Depending on your setup & plan for the day, you may or may not need an MC.  If you would like one, now is the time to look at locking this in.  Your DJ/wedding band might offer this service, or you might have a friend or family member who is good at public speaking & wants to do it.

8. Start organising the seating plan

You won't necessarily know who is coming yet, but it is good to start thinking about where everyone is going to sit should everyone come.  Especially if you have a large wedding, or a situation where not everyone gets along.  Make sure you check with your venue how many tables fit in the space & how many people per table before you start.

9. Discuss photos with photographer

Even if you are hoping for natural, candid shots of your big day, it is still essential that you give a list of important shots to your photographer.  All of the family shots & bridal party shots, details you really want pics of, group shots etc.  There would be nothing worse than getting your photos back & realising you forgot to get a pic with your dad, or a guest that travelled half way around the world to see you!

10. Create a registry (if you are having one)

When you have a wedding, people want to give you something!  They just do.  If you want to have a registry, set this up now.  If you aren't having a registry, make sure you tell your guests what to get you.  Wishing wells are ever popular at the moment.  It isn't good etiquette to write gift information on the invitation - pop these details on your wedding website, or let your guests know another way.

This will be a busy time for planning - don't forget to take some time away from wedding planning & enjoy time with your husband or wife to be, as well as your friends.

Here you go for pinning - contact for PDF version.
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The 6 Month Checklist.

I am now 6 months out from my own wedding, so here is my 6 month checklist!

Planning a wedding isn't a marathon, it's a sprint at the end, so there isn't really that much that needs to happen mid way.  All of the big things should be locked in by now (or at least chosen) & the fine details can't really be done yet, so relax while you can here.

Things to do 6 months out:

1. Choose and order the wedding cake

If you're having a cake, now is a good time to find a baker & work out what you want.  Cake tastings are a good idea (although we aren't in the US here, where cake tastings are much more common, so you will have to book one, & it's possible you will have to pay for it).

Remember if you are having a 3 course dinner with dessert at your venue, your guests likely won't eat it, so don't buy an enormous cake!  If your venue/caterer isn't doing dessert, then order a cake accordingly.

2. Book any hire items you might need

If you have an all inclusive venue, this shouldn't be much of a concern, but definitely give it a thought at this stage.  For example, I have an all inclusive venue, but the ceremony will be outside, so I need to think about a wet weather plan.  If that wet weather plan includes a marquee then I need to lock that in!

If you have a DIY venue, make sure you have locked in everything - think about tables, chairs, marquees, flooring for marquees, catering kitchen, crockery & glassware, linens...

3. Research accommodation

Even though you are probably not booking the accommodation for your guests, it is a nice thing to do to research a variety of accommodation options in the area for your guests to choose from.  I am going to talk about this another time, but just remember that, even though this day is all about you, attending a wedding can be an expensive adventure, so make the whole experience as easy & enjoyable for your guests as possible.

4. Get all of your info onto your wedding website

Start off your guests experience well, by giving them all of the details!  There are many wedding website options (covering this soon), but at the very least, have a one stop shop for all of the wedding related questions.  This makes sure all of your guests know where to go & what to expect etc. - it also stops them from sending you a million messages to ask random questions!

5. Reserve hotel rooms

At the very least, you & your new hubby/wife need somewhere to stay!  I booked a venue with accommodation on site - so we, alongside our bridal party, have somewhere to stay the night before & of.  It isn't a requirement to book for your bridal party, but I decided it would be a nice gesture from us.  If you aren't going on a honeymoon right away, you might also like to book a few days away so you can enjoy being a couple.

Do whatever works for you, essentially - just make sure you think about where you are going to stay haha.

6. Book annual leave at work

There would be nothing worse than not putting in for leave at work early enough & then getting your leave request denied for your own wedding!

And that's it!

Try & enjoy not thinking about your wedding every waking moment this month :)

Pin it here - contact for the PDF version.

Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The 10 - 8 Month Checklist.

Another week, another wedding checklist!

My 10 - 8 Month Checklist - actually running relatively on time with this one!  I am now officially just less than 8 months out from my wedding date :).

This should be the time you start locking in all of your big ticket items - the good suppliers really do book up fast!  Think celebrant, florist, hair & makeup, reception entertainment.

Also start thinking about your decor & bridal party outfits.  It's good to get in early to give your maids/men time to get their attire in.

1. Design & send out save the dates

Once your venue is locked in, tell your guests when the wedding is happening!  Especially if some of your guests have to travel (we have people coming in from Melbourne, the UK & Russia).  Design wise, have a think about what you want your invitations, other stationary & your wedding website to look like & aim for a similar design.

2. Confirm your venue(s), if you haven't already

Sign that contract (after reading it of course) & pay the deposit to lock in the venue.  If you are having the ceremony & reception in different locations, lock them both in.

If you have an all-inclusive venue, that's great!  If you have a DIY venue, be sure to also lock in your caterers at this stage as well (a whole blog post on this to come soon).

3. Choose your celebrant

If you aren't religious, finding an officiant for your big day can be a challenge.  I actually found this part quite challenging to find a good one that will suit us.  We met another celebrant before choosing ours, & she was just not going to work out with our very non-traditional approach to marriage!

Sticking points we found were:
- A lot of the young, fun celebrants are very expensive (think AUD$1000 or more)
- Travel costs for going 2 hours of the Sydney weren't included in the prices

Take your time & choose wisely - make sure you & your fiance(e) meet them as well, and have a good old chat over a coffee!

4. Choose your florist

We aren't having flowers at our wedding.  No floral bouquets, centrepieces or anything else.  The amount of shocked faces I see when I say that!  Flowers are not a part of our lives - the only flower Mack ever bought me was made of metal.  So we took this one out altogether.  But if flowers are your jam, get in quick with locking in a florist - start researching them now, & aim to have one locked in at least 6 months in advance, if not now.

I will show you my bouquets at a much later date (probably after the wedding) - I love them!

5. Research and book hair & makeup

Hair & makeup was another massive challenge for me.  There just aren't that many, especially in the Blue Mountains.  And the ones that do exist are SO expensive.  I even went to an expo looking specifically for hair & makeup, & there were just none that suited me/weren't expensive.  It's important to me to have polished looks at my wedding, but it's not AUD$1800+ important.  I found mine from a Facebook ad actually, & she is affordable even with additional travel costs to my venue.  But I think $850 total is pretty reasonable to we locked it in!

6. Order wedding dress

If you are ordering a dress, remember it takes 3 - 6 months to come in (a general rule in Australia), so order with some time to spare, just in case.  Have your shoes ready to go before you order the dress so you can order a custom length, if that is an option.  I ordered mine a month ago, so around 8 months out.

7. Research invites and stationary

This goes alongside point 1 - think about the design you would like to go with so all of your wedding stationary matches.  We are doing save the dates & invitations only - no menus or programs or other stationary.  All good if you want all of the things, but remember this... the vast majority of your wedding stationary will end up in the bin.  Spend money on the things you will use again, or that people want to keep!  A wedding website is also a fabulous way to get the information out there without spending a fortune or printing lots of pages.  Blog to follow soon on the wedding website options.

8. Choose bridal and groom party outfits

Give your wedding party time to acquire the outfits you want them to wear.  Especially if you want them all to match.  Mack & I are going for mismatched outfits and the shape is entirely up to them.  I would much rather my girls choose an affordable outfit they will wear again, than spend a fortune on a dress they will only wear once.

9. Research reception entertainment

Good DJs & wedding bands book up early, so at least research what you want to go with, & lock them in as soon as you can.

10. Start thinking about decor / theming company

Decor can add up quickly, so I am a huge advocate for using whatever your venue has onsite for free (watch out for hidden costs on rentals!).  If you're DIY-ing everything (or even just adding a personal touch to the already existing decorations), take your time to work out what will have the most impact for your guests.

If you are not creative at all & you don't have crafty friends, you might want to consider a theming company - this can be super expensive!  But if big bod decor was high on your priority list that you made at the start, then maybe it is worth splurging here.

I picked a venue that is all inclusive - I will go to the ends of the earth to design & make things for someone else's big day.  But for mine, I want it all done for me haha.  We will be staying onsite & will be using the majority of the venue's decor & equipment.  I have then made a small amount of decor to make it a bit personal & Mack will go crazy with LEDs (because festival chic vibes with fire & LED is the look we are going for), but that is it!

Do what makes sense for the two of you as a couple, not what everyone else is doing :)

Here you go for pinning - contact for the PDF version.

Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: The 12+ Month Checklist.

Here we go with my 12+ months checklist.

This one I meant to post at my own 12 month mark... in July!  But never got around to it, but November is better than never!

Remember - if these things are for you, awesome.  If you need to add or remove things to suit you, do so :).

1. Engagement Party

This wasn't something high on my list of things to do (Mack & I took engagement photos instead, and then my maid of honour arranged a girl's day for me to celebrate being engaged - Hen Party #1 haha), but you should do this fairly early on if it's on your list.  Remember you're now saving for a wedding, so don't go too crazy spending lots on the engagement.

2. Set that budget & start saving

We will get to my budget spreadsheet in another blog, but get organised and start keeping track of what you have to spend and what you will spend it on.  The small things add up too, so don't forget to add these into your costs (not just the big stuff).

3. Research, research, research

Actually take your time looking at options.  Pintrest is great (I'll cover this separately too), but it is so easy to get carried away with ideas you might not be able to afford.  It took me 4 months of really thinking about everything to lock in a venue, and a further 3 or 4 months to start deciding on the decor and other small details.  Unless you are on a tight deadline, don't rush.  Think about it. Be really sure before you start spending money.

4. Choose a venue

Good venues fill up really fast, so definitely prioritise this!  Be sure to have a rough guest list before you start getting quotes, and get at least 3 or 4 quotes before you make a decision.  Have an idea in your head on the type of wedding you want (plated, buffet, cocktail, share platters etc.), and if you are looking for a DIY venue, or an all inclusive (another topic for another day!).  Also refer back to your 3 main priorities and be sure your venue can accommodate those things.

For example - finding a venue that allowed fire pits and allowed us to spin fire was the number 1 priority, so raising the topic of fire was the first thing we did.  FYI finding a venue that will allow fire in Australia is quite a challenge (which is partially why we are having a winter wedding haha).

5. Set a date

If you have a special date, then obviously this part comes before choosing a venue.  For us, we picked the venue and worked around the dates they had available for 2019.

Sending out save the dates doesn't need to happen now, although if you have people travelling internationally like we do, it is at least nice to let them know ASAP so they can start making plans.

6. Choose your bridal party

I will cover this topic in more detail in a couple of weeks, but this should be one of the first things you do.  Choose carefully!

7. Find a photographer and videographer

The good suppliers here in Australia book out so far in advance, definitely start looking at portfolios now and locking one in ASAP.  If you are looking for both photo & video, it might be more cost effective to find a supplier who does both.  Mack & I are going for photography only, despite so many people telling me we will regret it later.  I will let you know on that after the wedding, but I don't think we will.  We booked our photographer ages ago (he took our engagement photos and I just love them) - I will post soon some of the Australian photographer portfolios I absolutely love, but did not go with.

8. Attend a wedding expo

I have attended a few of these, and, to be honest, a lot of them a just overwhelming and not that helpful.  The best one was Blue Mountains Love, which has lots of local suppliers exhibiting - I found my celebrant here.  And there were lots of suppliers there that my venue uses regularly as well, which is really great.  I have seen smaller local expos in different areas, and I think they would be much more valuable than the large generic ones.  When attending an expo, go with something in mind that you are looking for, like hair & makeup, or a photographer, or wedding cars, so you can just ignore everything else and not get bombarded with information.

9. Start dress shopping

Another topic where a whole blog post on its own is coming soon, but definitely start this early!  You can buy off the rack, or get lucky with a sale, but generally, if you are shopping for a dress that you need to order in, it will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to come in, so be sure to leave yourself enough time!  Start early!  And be open minded - it'll make the whole experience a lot more enjoyable (more on this soon!).

10. Choose our wedding theme, colours etc.

Whilst you might have themes & colours in mind, lock it in only after you have confirmed your venue.  You really don't want to have a hot pink colour scheme if your venue has an orange carpet (or something equally hideous haha).  Or choose this before you choose your venue, and keep it in mind when you do site visits to make sure the venue matches your dream theme.

Pin this list for future reference - or contact me for the PDF version.

Join me next week for a conversation about choosing your bridal party.
Hx

Wedding Wednesdays: You just got engaged.

Kicking this series off with the initial checklist - the immediate things you should do as soon as you get engaged.

Before this series gets into full swing, let me say again that everything I say on weddings is my own opinion, and it is OK to not agree!  Mack and I are quite nontraditional in our approach so we haven't done a lot of the 'normal' things in planning for our wedding.  Take all of my checklists and do what makes sense to you - if you don't need or want something, take it out; if you want something that I don't mention, add it in!  It's that simple.

Here you have it - my first things first checklist :)

1. Announce your engagement!

Don't forget to hold off on the classic ring photo on Insta until after you have told your nearest and dearest.  You really don't want your mum or best friend finding out on social media!

2. Draft a budget

At the very least, have a total figure in mind of how much $$ you have to work with before you get going planning a champagne wedding on a beer budget.

3. Discuss with each other the type of wedding you both want

I recommend separately writing down your top 3 requirements, and then fusing them together to create your top 3 important wedding features to you.  This means that when you budget, you can splurge on those things, and compromise on everything else, because you already decided what is important and what isn't.

4.  Start thinking about the guest list, and how many people you want to invite

This really should be one of the first things to at least get a draft of; it makes it much easier to budget, choose venues & get quotes if you have a number in mind.

5. Enjoy being engaged!

This is a new stage of life, and it's so easy to storm in head first into the planning phase of the wedding.  Weddings can consume your every waking moment if you let it, so at least for the first couple of months, enjoy engagement.

And that's it!

Unless you have a really short lead time, you don't need to be doing anything else straight away!

Pin this pic to easily find it later - contact me if you would like the PDF version also!

Next week, we get going on the 12+ Month Checklist.

Hx