Planning your Reception: A step by step guide

Photo TWK Studio

Your wedding reception is the most expensive and memorable party that you’re ever likely to plan. If you would like it to run as smoothly as possible, it’s time for some very careful planning!

Step 1: Save The Date 

First things first, before anything you will have to decide on your wedding date. Nothing else can be planned let alone booked until you have this finalised. if you dream of having a spring wedding you will have to book things as soon as possible. Early September and October are the busiest months for weddings, which could possibly have an impact on a number of your important details and decisions.

Step 2: The Guest List 

Every bride and groom want to be surrounded by their closest friends and family on their big day. Trouble is, who makes the all important guest list when there’s a budget to stick to?

Fantasy Vs Reality: 

The number of guests you’d like to invite and the number you can actually afford to invite are often two completely different things! Determine the exact number of guests your budget – and venue – will allow.

Lists, Lists, and More Lists: 

Split the list between you, your partner and both sets of parents. People who are not so important to you may really matter to your parents, in-laws or even grandparents – after all, it’s not every day that a family member gets married. Just prepare yourself for a few polite negotiations, and don’t be afraid to be firm in your final decision.

Include all Members of the Wedding Party: 

You'd be pleasantly surprised just how many soon-to-be married couples forget to include themselves and their bridal party in their guest list!

Children or No? 

If you would like to include children in your guest list, consider putting aside a separate play area for them at your reception (complete with toys and little games), or hire a responsible sitter for a few hours to keep them well occupied. if you’re wanting a child-free wedding day, it’s very important to tell your guests – it’s a good idea to add a line to your invitations that says: “Adult-only event.”

The Final Cut: 

This is the inevitable hair-pulling, anxiety-triggering part for many brides and grooms. If uninvited acquaintances politely pester you to attend, kindly let them know that you would have loved to have been able to invite more guests, but simply couldn’t afford to. A fabulous alternative is to invite everyone to the ceremony and cocktail party, and then just a select number of those closest to you to the dinner afterwards.

Recruit an Organiser: 

When it comes to posting your invitations, choose one person to handle this often mammoth task. The mail-out should be done all at once, checking each invitation against a list to ensure no-one is accidentally forgotten. As the RSVPs start to filter in, have your delegated organiser keep a list of those who will be attending, and those who won’t be for whatever reason. this will assist in keeping track of final guest numbers. 

Step 3: Perfect Timing 

Photo: Studio Impressions Photography

If your budget is really tight, you can have a wedding breakfast/brunch at a restaurant at around 9 am which of course means that you’re going to have to hold your ceremony quite early. This option wouldn’t work in winter but could be wonderful in summer or on a crisp spring or autumn morning. This is the least expensive option as you can serve loads of lovely fresh fruit salad, yummy pastries ... in fact just about anything that’s light and fresh accompanied by champagne and lashings of coffee with the cake.

A morning wedding ceremony followed by a sit-down lunch or an afternoon ceremony with a stand-up cocktail party are the next lower-cost options but the most popular is a mid to late afternoon ceremony followed by a sit-down dinner and dancing. The timing of your wedding is completely up to you and as long as you celebrate it in the style and the way that you want, it doesn’t matter if it’s a picnic in the park or a bang-up ball, as long as you have fun.

Step 4: Seating Plans 

When it comes to the final seating plan, you may want to involve both sets of parents as they are bound to have ideas on who should sit with whom (and who should be separated!). Their thoughts and advice will hopefully make this difficult, time-consuming, but oh-so-important task a little easier! 

You should advise your reception venue of the layout of the tables well in advance and on the day, they will place the seating plan on an easel for the guests to see as they come in for the meal. if it is free seating at the designated table you won’t need to have place cards but if you are particular about who sits next to whom, then the staff will also place corresponding place-cards on the tables beforehand. 

Photo from the wedding of Carolyn and Nick, SR Photography

Step 5: The Big Day! 

To ensure everything runs as smoothly as a well planned event should, you’ll need to draw up a timetable of what happens when.

Photos: 

Usually straight after the ceremony the photographer will take shots of the couple with the bridal party, parents, grandparents and all the guests before whisking the couple away to a chosen location for staged photos. At this time the guests are usually left to their own devices for at least an hour and often more, so it’s a good idea to organise cocktails and canapés at the reception venue for them.

It Runs Like This: 

The announcement is made by the MC,“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr & Mrs ... " Guests applaud as the couple make their way around the room to greet their guests. After the couple have settled in the MC starts the speeches and hands the microphone onto the next speaker and so on. The cake is then cut and then everyone sits down to enjoy a relaxing dinner.

Speeches and Cutting the Cake:

traditionally the speeches and cake cutting come after dinner is finished but why not break with tradition and do things a little differently combining both of them with the cocktail hour?

The Bridal Waltz: 

After dinner the couple’s first dance as man and wife is announced. After they have been around the floor a couple of times the groom then dances with his mother and mother-in-law, the bride dances with her father and father-in-law and then the rest of the bridal party and guests join in.

The Farewell: 

Before the couple leave the bride throws the bouquet to all the single women and the groom throws the bride’s garter to the single men. It’s up to the couple if they want to have a formal going away. It's not often that you see the old tin cans tied to the car now as most couples catch a taxi or hold the reception where they are staying. Of course it’s up to you if you want to party on but do make sure to let your guests know if this is the case.

Photo from the wedding of Steven and Kellie, Adore Photography

WORDS: Rhonda Bannister & Ginny Cumming

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Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Weddi-quette - How to be a great wedding guest in 10 tips

Image from the wedding of Ben and Anna; Sugarblush Photography

Weddings are glorious occasions full of friends and family, tasty food, laughter, music, and of course, one very loved up couple who have just discovered wedded bliss. Everyone wants to be the ideal wedding guest, but there always seems to be that one individual who has missed the wedding etiquette memo. Prevent yourself from being that guest by taking on board our list of 10 easy ways to stay on bride and groom's good side.

How to be a great wedding guest in 10 tips ...

1. Be on time! If you do arrive late to the ceremony be sure to enter as quietly as possible and take the first available seat. Don't try for one up the front or make anyone move for you.

2. Reply to your RSVP as soon as you can. The couple will have to have set numbers for their venues, and replying late to an RSVP can become problematic for them.

Image from the wedding of Alana and Drew; Chesterson Smith Photography

3. Don't talk during the speeches, no matter how boring they are!

4. Don't post photos of the wedding to social media without getting permission from the couple in advance. 

Studio Sixty Photography

5. If the couple have set a dress code, (this would be listed on the invite) dress accordingly. And also a good thing to note, if you're going to be doing a bit of walking in between reception and ceremony, consider appropriate footwear – this one is more for you than the couple!

6. Don't get too drunk – there's nothing more cringe-worthy than an overly intoxicated guest.

7. Turn your mobile OFF during the ceremony, and make sure to double check that you don't have any alarms set that will go off even when the phone isn't on.

Image from the wedding of Iman and Karina

8. Double check your invite for all miscellaneous info. For example, if the couple have asked for no under 18s, don't bring your kids.

9. Most couples are extremely proud of the wedding that they have put together so try not to compare their wedding to anyone else's.

10. As the couple have invited you specifically, make an effort to thank them and wish them well. 

Have we missed something? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Diamond Daze: 5 Tips to help you choose your dream ring

Image from the wedding of Keith and Vanessa - Salt Studios

As one famous woman once said, "If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it." If you and your partner are looking to "put a ring on it," you have most probably begun to think of, or have perhaps entered the wonderful world of, engagement rings. Designing or choosing your dream ring can be a very daunting task for both men and women. Whether you are on a Tiffany's budget or have tight purse strings, fret not! Ensure this is the magical moment you have always hoped for by being in the know of all things ring. After all, you are going to be wearing it every day for the rest of your married life. Here are our tips to help you make your bling decision ...

1. Shop Around
Not only is your engagement ring an investment, it will also hold an incredible amount of sentimental value for you and your future husband.To ensure your total happiness with your ring, it really does pay to shop around.This way you will know exactly what you want and ultimately feel more confident in your purchase. Follow our HowTo guide to become an instant expert.

Image from the wedding of Brenton and Rachael - Focus Films

Did you know that women wear their engagement and wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand thanks to ancient Egyptian customs?The ancient Egyptians believed that the vena amoris (vein of love) was the only vein in the human body to run directly from the heart to the tip of this finger. Très romantic!

Image from the wedding of Kieran and Ashley - Adori Studios

2. The 4 Cs

Luckily for us, jewellers the world over have a standard, yet simple, diamond grading system commonly known as the four Cs:

1. Carat
This refers to a diamond's weight, not its size.A carat is made up of 100 points, so a 75-point diamond weighs 0.75 carats, a 50-point diamond weighs 0.50 carats, a 25-pointer weighs 0.25 carats and so on.

2. Clarity

Clarity takes into account the naturally occurring imperfections, both on the surface (blemishes) and internal flaws (inclusions), of a diamond. A diamond with fewer inclusions is more valuable. Keep in mind that every diamond is unique - and very rarely do jewellers come across a flawless stone. Most importantly, don't worry too much about these slight flaws, as they cannot be detected by the naked eye and certainly don't affect a stone's beauty!

3. Colour

Think of this as the sparkle factor - colourless diamonds are the most sought after (and expensive) as they allow the most amount of light to reflect from the stone. Diamonds are scaled according to how much they vary from the whitest colour possible. While most diamonds are a shade of white (the most expensive ones are graded according to their lack of colour) they are also available in a range of different hues deemed as ‘fancy’ colours.Think blues, reds, greens, pinks, yellows and brown.

4. Cut
While environmental factors determine a diamond's carat, clarity and colour, skilled craftsmen are responsible for giving your diamond its 'brilliance', the light that shines from the heart of the diamond, thus giving your hand serious dazzle-factor. Cut refers to a diamond's proportion, polish and symmetry and is an extremely important factor in the overall look of a stone, as a diamond's cut defines its beauty, quality and worth.

Image from the wedding of Lachlan and Natalie - Todd Hunter McGaw

3. Pedal to the Metal
Gold, silver or platinum?

The most important rule when designing or buying your engagement ring is to choose a metal that best complements your skin tone and the colour of your stone. Not sure where to begin? Depending on your budget, there is an extensive range of metals to choose from.

Platinum:
Rapidly becoming the metal of choice for wedding and engagement rings, platinum will beautifully complement your diamond thanks to its polished satin-like finish. Exquisite and incredibly durable, platinum is the strongest precious metal, with a guarantee to last a lifetime. Composed of 95% platinum and 5% other alloys, platinum is hypo-allergenic, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin and other allergies!

10 Karat Gold:
Considered as a low- end alloy at less than 42% pure old, 10 karat gold is not recommended for wedding and engagement bands, as it lacks the shine factor that any diamond deserves!

14 Karat Yellow or White Gold:

Traditionally the most popular choice of metal for wedding and engagement bands. An alloy made up of 58.5% pure gold and 41.5% other metals results in a stronger ring to support your fancy rock. Ideal for those who work with their hands, 14 karat gold is resistant to rust and tarnishing and is, quite importantly, easy to repair and polish. More affordable than 18 karat gold, it is great value for money!

18 Karat Gold:
Rich in colour, 18 karat gold consists of 75% pure gold and 25% alloys, making it a softer and more malleable metal than 14 karat gold. Keep this in mind when wearing to avoid tiny scratches occurring.

24 Karat Gold:

100% pure gold with a deep and rich colour, 24 karat gold is too soft to be used in rings.

Silver:
Perfect for the budget-conscious, silver is a very soft and malleable white metal. Because of this, silver is great if you are after an intricately designed wedding or engagement band. However, silver is likely to tarnish and discolour, so consider buying a silver band initially and upgrade to a different metal in the future if you are on a tight budget now.

Palladium:
A lustrous silver white metal, palladium is less expensive than platinum because of its lower density. Perfect for those with sensitive skin, palladium won't tarnish and is scratch resistant. Plus, because of its naturally-white hue, palladium doesn't require ongoing maintenance to ensure it remains fabulous for life!

Image from the wedding of Aiden and Carleen - Emma Naylor Photography

Trending around the globe at the moment is the movement to put a stop to the dangerous, and sometimes deadly diamond trade. By taking precautions to ensure your engagement ring is sourced from a conflict-free zone, ask your jeweller or retailer where their diamonds originate from. Purchasing an engagement or wedding ring diamond should not support child and unpaid labour, violence, unsafe working conditions, cause harm to the environment, and most importantly, should not have financed a civil war. Keep these things in mind when searching for your future finger bling!

Wedding of Sam and Jessica - Nick Murray Photography

4. Kaleidoscopic HuesIf diamonds are not really your thing, or aren't within your budget, why not look to include fun and fashionable coloured jewels or gemstones. Not only are they popping with colour, some also believe gemstones contain healing qualities.

Image from the wedding of Liam and Stacey - Sterling Studios

Engrave an extra meaningful phrase onto the inside of your ring or get your husband-to-be to surprise you with one he has thought of himself.

Image from the wedding of Linda and Jeremy - Emma Attard Photography

5. Set the Scene
More and more women are choosing to have their engagement rings set in unique ways to really make their, and their husband-to-be's, mark on this special ring.The list of options for having your ring set really is as long as your imagination, so be as creative as you want! Still stuck? A great way to begin is to consider your most treasured photograph. How would you choose to frame this in your home? Choosing a setting for your engagement ring requires the same process, so make sure you have the right set to suit your style and taste.

Wedding of Natasha and Roman - Photography by Kieron

Before you buy ‘the ring’ make sure you:

1. Know the ins and outs of the ‘four cs’ before purchasing.

2. Research, research, research! Know the market price and set a budget prior to buying.

3. Diamonds last forever so buy the best-quality diamond you can afford.

4. Ask your friends and family for a referral and of course, only deal with reputable jewellers.

5. Always obtain a written guarantee or certificate detailing the value of the stone.

6. Keep your insurance up to date, especially as soon as you buy your ring.

Words: Rachel Wood

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Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Get the latest issue here.

Keep Calm and Don't Forget Your Husband

This week is all about grooms. We recently asked you on Facebook to share your favourite groom pictures with us, and we've been inspired to spend the week looking at our grooms - weddings aren't aallll about the brides of course. To start our week off we're sharing with you an article from our current issue of QB (get it here).

Words: Sara Holmes

Forgive and Forget
Be forgiving – if he forgets to pick up the invitations you asked him to, don’t freak out. He’s not perfect and didn’t do it on purpose to upset you. The last thing he wants to do is stress you out at a time like this, so try and look for the silver lining and come up with a solution together. Perhaps take the chance to have a quick coffee out together and pick up the invitations before work the next morning.

Wedding of Matilda and Evan - Ben Clark Photography

Dress to Impress
Let him pick his suit for the wedding. You may need to provide some gentle guidance, but be kind and take his opinion into consideration. He has to wear it for the whole day, so make sure he’s comfortable. Men aren’t as used to being in pain for the sake of fashion as we ladies are, so if he’s complaining about his suit itching during the fitting then put that one aside or he’ll be restless for the entire day.

Wedding of Hilton and Paulina - Casey Jane Photography

Food Glorious Food
They don’t say “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” for nothing. Most men are food-focussed creatures and he’ll love to have some input into the reception menu. Sample different menus together and make a decision as a team. Also, find out what his favourite flavour is for the wedding cake and surprise him with it on the day, or if he’s a sweet tooth, take him along to the cake tastings.

Read Between the Lines
Try and ask him for his opinions on issues during the decision making process. However, if he doesn’t want to help out with choosing the napkin colours or selecting lace for the invitations, don’t sweat it. Try not to mistake this for him being uncaring. Just because he doesn’t mind what the colour of the tablecloths is or which centrepiece is used doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about you. He’s happy as long as he gets married to you at the end of the day.

Wedding of Raki and Laura - Yulia Photography

Keep Him In the Loop and Listen
While he may not care about the cutlery placement, he’ll most likely want to have some input into the venue selection and band or DJ. Consult with him on all the ‘big’ decisions. Even if he doesn't have a preference, he'll appreciate that you value his opinion. Let him know how you’re progressing with the planning. He may not want to know every little detail, but it’s good for both of you if he stays informed. If you come across some trouble in the planning process, he might surprise you with an original solution you would never have envisaged. It always pays to listen to what he has to say – sometimes we all need someone with a different perspective to simplify situations that may seem complicated to us.

Choose Your Battles
If you’re both inflexible on a certain detail it’s important to learn to compromise – it’s his day too. And who knows, if you let him have this one, the next time an issue arises he may be more willing to do things your way.

Wedding of Liam and Stacey - Sterling Studios

Forget Him Not
Write him a little note to slip in or pin to his suit for him to find on the day. Remind him about the day you first met or your first kiss and how excited you are to be spending the rest of your life with him. Men don't like to admit it, but they’re big softies on the inside and even the toughest of them can feel a little jittery on their wedding day. Include any little in-jokes you may have to make him smile and just tell him why you love him.This little reminder will calm his nerves and put him in a great mood for the day.

Even the calmest bride can become overwhelmed at times, but don’t forget that he’s there for you and you are both there to support each other. Enjoy your special day together and remember that in the end it's your love for each other that matters most.

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Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Get the latest issue here.

10 Fantastically fun bridal shower games

Here's a fun way to end our week of wedding planning - bridal shower games! 

Milque Photography and Films

There is no ultimate bridal shower without games. Having games will be a great way to bond the families, keep comments PG rated for the grandmothers, aunties and little cousins and remove the awkward conversations. These tasteful bridal shower games are inexpensive and will keep guest entertained all night. 

1. Toilet paper dress and veil
With a large supple of toilet paper, toilet paper dress and veil is the prefect excuse to be a designer or a model of a day. In small groups pick a model and make a bridal gown, veil and accessories all from toilet paper. Let the bride pick the winners who gets eternal bragging rights and even a prize. Great for scrap booking and has blackmailing potential too! Warning: It creates a lot of mess.

2. Marshmallow game
A shower game favourite is the bubble gum game. Everyone ask the bride questions about the groom. Each time she answers a question wrong, she has to put a marshmallow in her mouth.

3. Pass the bouquet
An alteration of the childhood party game of pass the parcel, a bouquet is passed from guest to guest as the music plays. Whenever the music stops, the guest holding the bouquet is eliminated leaving the rest of the guest to battle it out to win the lucky bouquet.

from the wedding of Christopher and Natalie | CKMetro Photos

4. Name that herb

Place a couple of herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano and coriander in a cup and place a lid with holes over it. Pass the containers around as guest tries to identify the mystery herb. Cover your guests eyes with a blindfold to up the level of difficulty.

5. Guess the Groom
Having a couple shower? This game is sure to bring hoot, hollers and laughter. The groom and 4 of his guy friends lines up as the bride is blindfolded. She then feels each male calves and tries to identify which leg is the grooms. The roles can then be switched around and the groom must identify his bride's legs.

Wedding of Matilda and Evan | Ben Clark Photography

6. Two truths, one lie
This is a great ice breaker for guests that are unfamiliar with each other. Each guest tells everyone three experiences with the bride; two are true and one is false. Guest then guess the lie.

7. Words of Wisdom
Pass our pretty blank cards and pens to guest to share advice for a long lasting, happy marriage such as recipes, poems, quotes and tips. Collect the cards and the bride read tries to identify the owner of each card then tie them on a little tree for safe keeping.

From the wedding of Iman and Karina

8. Paper bags and panty hose.
Give each guest two paper bags and a knee high panty hose. Each guest wears the paper bags as gloves. Have the maid of honour as the referee, on the count to three, its a race to be the first to put on a pull up your panty hose.

9. Weigh In
Place a scale in the middle of the room and guest take turn weighing their handbags. Give prizes for the the lightest handbag, the heaviest handbag and the one closest to the bride's handbag.

10. What's the bride wearing?
Test your guest observation skill with this simple guessing game. After all the guest have arrived and has been greeted by the bride, hand out a card and have the guests guess what the bride is wearing while the bride is in another room. Bring the bride back and have each person read their neighbour's card aloud. The most accurate wins.

From the wedding of Mark and Sonya | Capture the Memories Photography

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Thanks to our guest contributor, Anna, for these fun games.

Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Choosing a celebrant - who will marry you?

Image from the wedding of Joel and Rebecca | Karen Buckle Photography

A celebrant is the person who conducts your wedding ceremony. The person who effectively 'marries' you. Choosing a celebrant can be hard, particularly if you're not sure if you want a religious ceremony or not, but we've come up with a guide to picking your perfect celebrant.

Research
The best place to start is to visit the Australian Government Register of Marriage Celebrants website to see the List of authorised Marriage Celebrants and ensure your proposed celebrant is authorised.

Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
You can submit your NOIM up to 18 months prior to, but no later than one month, before the marriage ceremony. Special circumstances to allow the shortening of minimum notice time of marriage is in the Marriage Regulations 1963.

From the wedding of Natasha and Roman | Photography by Kieron

Meet your Celebrant
You should make an appointment to meet your celebrant to discuss the procedure of the ceremony, any uncertainties and other wedding arrangements to ensure they suit your needs and will compliment your special day.

Written Confirmation
Confirmation of your wedding arrangements should be given to the marriage celebrant in writing ahead of time. You are also required to provide the original copy of your birth certificate and evidence of any prior marriages that has been dissolved by divorce or death. Your celebrant should have all the necessary paperwork to preform your marriage.

Fees
Under the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, marriage celebrants are entitled to charge a fee for their service. Fees may vary and it is important you come to an agreement with your celebrant and obtain a written statement of all fees and charges before asking him/her to hold a date.

Change of Celebrant
If for any reason you wish to change marriage celebrants, ensure the Notice of Intended Marriage form is transferred to your new celebrant.

The Ceremony
On the day, it is important that the marriage celebrant identify themselves to the public, be responsible for validating the marriage by saying reading out section 46 to the required witnesses, hear the vows and sign the Marriage Act 1961.

Brisbane Marriott Hotel

Make sure that you are comfortable and on friendly terms with your celebrant. This means that you won't hesitate to ask questions if you are unsure about anything, and will feel more at ease during your ceremony.

Head to the Queensland Brides website for a list of local and friendly celebrants.

QBx

Thanks to our guest contributor, Anna, for this helpful guide.

Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Budgeting your wedding

They say you can live on love, but love alone won't pay for your wedding. In 2012, the average cost of a wedding in Australia is $36 700. According to IBISWorld, food accounts for the highest proportion of wedding expenditure, followed by flowers, stationery and other expenses. Venue hire, clothing and photography were a little further down the list. 

From the wedding of Justin and Angela | Focus Films

Where does your money go?
Food services - 31%
Flowers, stationery and other expenses - 26%
Venue Hire - 20%
Wedding dresses, clothing, and accessories - 12%
Photography and film production 11%

Breaking down a wedding
With an estimated of 119 000 couples walking down the aisle in 2012-13, it's a good idea to understand what you can shuffle your budget on.

• Cake and venues - Be aware that cakes and venues are likely to rise in price as people earn more, so what price you've been quoted now may not be the same price you see a year from now. 
• A pretty penny - Flowers and bouquets can be an intense spend that can shock many, but if you plan your flowers according to season, you cans save yourself importing costs. 
• Photos, printing and video - As technology increases, it has made printing, photography and filming much easier, which has lowered their total costs. 
• Food, food, food - With 30% of your budget spent on food, make sure this is one area you don't change your mind on. 

How about a destination wedding?
Funnily enough, a destination wedding can be a way to drastically drop the cost of your wedding. With less guests and more economically priced venues and accommodation, they As couples are increasing style savvy, a destination wedding might be a cheaper yet attractive choice to maintain your budget limitations. With destination weddings becoming increasingly popular, why not cast overseas and have an exotic wedding for half the average price. It is a good excuse to to escape family drama or simply have a combine wedding and holiday overseas. 

Cameron Highlands, YTL Hotels

Why not head over to Great Destination Weddings to see if one is right for you?

QBx

Thanks to our guest contributor, Anna, for this helpful guide.

Check out Queensland Brides at www.queenslandbrides.com.au, Facebook and Twitter. Get the latest issue here.

Check? Check! A handy guide to planning your big day

Wedding of Jasmine and Matthew | Photofactory Bali

Planning a wedding is a big task that can be a costly and stressful without the right preparations. This step to step guide will keep you on track and prepared leading up to your special day. With a range of decisions to make, things to order, items to buy and dates to remember, having a folder and checklist will help you stick to your budget and keep everything organised.

6 - 12 Months prior to wedding

• Date - set it!

Choosing the date, time and theme of the wedding is the initial step to putting your wedding together.

• Budget

It is important to do research on reception, transportation, flowers, apparel, stationary and photography to get a good idea of pricing before determining your budget and allocating your spending. Discuss the budget and location of funds either with your bank or family members.

• Location location

When looking for a location, consider if the season and theme of your wedding is suited to the location. Ask about offer packages in conjunction to accommodation, reduced rates for special event groups and discounts on honeymoon packages. When you have found the perfect reception and wedding location, reserve it!

• Guest list

It is important to discuss your guest list with your fiance and families. Are you going to have a small intimate wedding or a huge celebration? Keep in mind, the number of guest attending will determine the overall budget. Ask yourself, who can you not imagine getting married without and who should not be welcomed to your special day. Setting these ground rules will help avoid problems later on.

• Honoured roles

Choose your bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls, ring bearer etc. These are the people who will stand beside you are your future husband to support and encourage you for your special day. You may also decide to choose an MC for the night, some couples choose a close family member or friend not in the bridal party to look after the flow of the reception.

• Invitations and gift registry 

This area gives you a lot of room for creativity. Start customising and looking at invitations, thank you cards and begin to send out save-the-date cards. DIY wedding stationary can save big bucks and can be fun to do with help from your bridesmaids. Help your guest with giving by signing up for your gift registry online.

• Reservations

Discuss the honeymoon and select your photographer, florist, caterer and/or videographer of your choice and book them in for your wedding day. Don't be fooled, these are big jobs. Finding the right flowers, choosing your menu, and finding the right photography package should have much thought put into them.

• Wedding rings

Have a basic idea before you head out to the jewellery stores and allow yourself plenty of time to browse, research and price rings. This will help you make the right choice. Consider the form of your ring; if you enjoy sports or music you should opt for a slimmer ring with round edges whereas if your work is hands on you may rather a solid metal ring without stones. Don't forget to inspect for quality; wedding bands have the manufacturer's trademark and quality mark e.g. 18ct or PLAT.

From the wedding of Alex and Edward | Studio Impressions Photography

4 - 5 Months prior to wedding

• Order stationary and book transportation

Invitations, envelopes and programs should be ordered and all required transportation should be booked. Start addressing and sending out invitations. If you are planning to have a destination wedding, you should send invitations out ASAP to allow your guess plenty of time to book flights and accommodation.

• Decor Decisions

Now is also a good time to decide on your wedding decor. Pick your theme or style and decide on how you want your ceremony and reception to look. From glasses to flowers, the devil is in the details.

• Flowers

If you've made your style choices you'll be able to decide on flowers. Give your florist plenty of time to come up with the perfect arrangements for you.

• Finalisation

Your guest list, arrangement with your florist, time date and location for the rehearsal dinner should be finalised and, if desired, a wedding announcement can be placed in the local newspaper. You may also want to consider accommodation for your out-of-town guests.

• Celebrant picking!

Depending on the kind of ceremony you're having there are different kinds of marriage celebrants. Whether you want priest, pastor, or just a friendly face, you'll need to do some research to find who is right for you.

• Wedding attire

Pick the dress! Take a bridesmaid or your mum along with you for the best advice. Depending on your personal choices, you might find that choosing the bridesmaids' dresses first will help you narrow down your dress selection. Don't forget the men in your bridal party either!

Wedding of Alaina and Mitchell | Peter Chrichton Photography

2 - 3 Months prior to wedding 

• Cake

You choice of cake should tie into the theme and style of your wedding. From the two tier classic cake with bold colour palette and customised patterns, to a chocolate filled, pearlised finished overflowing cupcake stand, your choice is not limited to the traditional white visioned multi-tiered tower. Don't forget to buy the cake knife!

• Wedding Vows

Start customising your vows. If you have the heart but not the words to describe it, why not ask someone for help; whether it is your mum, maid of honour or even the internet, outside opinions can help.

• Legalities

Check thoroughly that you have fulfilled, or will fulfil, all of your state and/or country marriage license requirements.

• Seating 

When putting together your wedding reception seating, consider the different variables that come into play including families, children, the party animals, those with similar ages or interests, people with special needs and couples.

• Trials

Your hair and make up along with your headpiece and veil should all be trialled prior to your wedding day to ensure it is secure and exactly how you dreamed it to be.

• The program

Begin putting together your ceremony program, you will find this is a helpful checklist in itself to make sure you've got all of the nitty gritty details set. Music, speeches then plan the ceremony and reception, make sure your MC is aware of all these details too!

• Hens & Bucks

You're almost finished, all that's left is to get down and boogie. Traditionally the maid of honour and best man will plan their respective parties, but you'll need to help in choosing the date and other finer details.

From the wedding of Brett and Tianna | Just One Moment Photography

Week of the wedding 

• Double check!

Check with your major suppliers that everything is on schedule and ready to go.

From the wedding of Brenton and Rachael | Focus Films

Day of the wedding

• Get Married!

If everything has been checked off you should have nothing to do but enjoy your day and get married!

Moss Flowers

QBx

Thanks to our guest contributor, Anna, for helping us out with this post.

Wedding Words: a helpful glossary for the newly-engaged

This week on the QB blog we thought we'd share with you some great hints, tips, and essential info for planning your wedding. Look out for bridal shower ideas, wedding budgets, tips for choosing a celebrant, and a good old fashioned wedding checklist. Today we thought we'd start with a glossary. We all know that when we start something new there is a whole new collection of words we have to suddenly learn. It's the same with weddings, and if you're only newly engaged, this helpful guide to wedding lingo might be a great help! 

From the wedding of Leah and James | Celebrations Studio

À la Carte: a style of menu which allows for guests to choose which meal they would like from a set menu. À la carte actually translates as "according to the menu". 

From the wedding of Hayley and Leo | Studio Impressions Photography

Bomboniere: this is also known as a wedding favour. Bombonieres are given out at weddings to thank the guests for attending, and can also be a small reminder to your guests of your wedding day.

From the wedding of Thomas and Jessica | Feather and Stone Photography 

Boutonnière: a small flower arrangement usually worn by the groom, ushers, groomsmen, and the bride and groom's fathers. The boutonnière is worn on the left lapel of the man's coat or jacket.

From the wedding of Alexandra and Fortunato | Peter Chrichton Photography 

Charger: an oversized plate used for top table decor. A charger is usually made of glass or crystal, and dinner china is placed on the charger during a wedding reception. 

From the wedding of Dylan and Chloe | Mihaja Photography

Fondant: a thick, creamy icing that can be moulded and sculpted easily on cakes.

Milque Photography and Films

Garland: a woven rope of flowers or ribbon often used on pews and tables for decoration.

Watt Restaurant and Bar

Hors D'oeuvres: an appetiser typically served before a meal, especially during cocktail hour. Also known as finger or cocktail food.

Watt Restaurant and Bar

Inclusive: a term generally used by wedding vendors and caterers, inclusive refers to a price that includes service charges and sales tax. E.g. when hiring a function room you will want to be sure to ask if the room rental cost is inclusive, as some venues will add a service charge to your bill on top of room rental.

From the wedding of Iman and Karina

Pastillage: a pastel coloured paste made of sugar, cornstarch and gelatin. The paste hardens and is used to make small icing decorations to put on cakes such as flowers. 

An Island Hideaway

Prelude: The prelude is the songs or music that welcome your wedding guests when they arrive at the ceremony venue. 

From the wedding of Glen and Thais | Andrea Thompson Photography

STDs: don't panic, this isn't something you can catch! An STD is a 'save the date' card given to guests before handing out the wedding invitations. Today, couples are also making online STD cards which can be emailed to their guests, and are usually given to out of town guests for a destination wedding. 

From the wedding of Christopher and Natalie | CKMetro Photos

Tiers: the individual layers in a whole wedding cake. Usually, the tiers will decrease in size as they are layered.

From the wedding of Alissa and Angus | Jess Marks Photography

Thermography: a more economical alternative to engraving wedding invitations. The printer uses ink and a powder resin combined with heat to reproduce the raised lettering effect of engraving.

From the wedding of Natasha and Roman | Photography by Kieron

A White Bar: a drink bar where only white alcoholic beverages are served such as white wine, vodka, champagne and gin.

QBx

Thanks to guest blogger Stephanie for this helpful guide.

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