The perfect "I Do": Our essential guide to a stress-free wedding
Updated: Jul 15, 2020
Things to do as soon as you become engaged
Share your good news with your immediate family and friends {Framily}
Arrange a family meeting involving both sets of parents
Start marriage counselling
Start saving extra and set a wedding budget
Allocate tasks and who is responsible for it
Arrange a first meeting with your Sheikh or Imam, minister or priest, registry office or civil venue to set a date for your wedding
Send ‘Save the date’ notifications all guests
Make appointments with bridal boutiques and suit couture
Decide with your partner your witnesses, bridesmaids and groomsmen.
12 months before the big day
Announce your engagement to your extended framily
Optional: set a date for your engagement {or traditional} party
Think about the type and size of of wedding you'd like and create a guest list
Start looking at venues and options
Think about wedding theme and colours
Select your bridesmaid and groomsmen
Send out save the date cards, messages or emails to guests
10 months before the big day
Decide on your venue and pay deposit
Book your Imam, registrar or cleric
Purchase wedding insurance if you need one
Consider hiring a wedding planner or assistant if you need one at BeJustFab1
Set up a messaging group to keep your friends up to date about your wedding
Decide and book photographer (and videographer)
8 months before the big day
Order your wedding suit and dress as well as accessories
Order your brides maid and groomsmen outfits and accessories
Decide and book a wedding caterer, florist, transport, cake maker and honeymoon
Contact BeJustFab1 if you need them to hire furniture or linen
6 months before the big day
Decide where to book accommodation for your & your guests wedding night
Order wedding favours from BeJustFab1
Set up a gift list or Aso ebi
Decide and order stationery, rings etc
Keep an eye on your diet and weight
Sort out your honeymoon arrangements if you are having one
4 months before the big day
Order bespoke dressing gowns from BeJustFab1
Plan your stage do and hen night
Decide and order gifts for each other, your parents and anyone else in the wedding party you'd like to treat
Purchase or make your decorations from BeJustfab1
Book your transport
3 months before the big day
Go for your first wedding dress fitting
Have a meeting with your videographer & photographs and discuss your must-have shots
Meet your Caterer to plan the wedding menu
Send out your wedding invitations & reminder messages
Arch out your order of service details
Start drafting your speech and vows
2 months before the big day
Have more marriage counselling
Double check your priorities with your partner about your future plans. i.e when to start a family, careers, housing etc
1 month before the big day
Book a house sitter to take care for your plants, pets or children while on honeymoon
Have another gown/suit fitting and arrange a collection date for your wedding it
Finalise details with your vendors so that they know what they're delivering, where and what time.
Send your order of service/programme of event to printer or hire BeJustFab1 to do
Reply wedding gifts with thank you cards
Order a wedding guest book or sitting plan for display
Finalise seating arrangements and design place cards or hire BeJustFab1 to do
Confirm head count with caterer
Take your pre-wedding photo shoot
Try on your wedding accessories before the big day
Have a wedding rehearsal
Finalise your song lists with your DJ or wedding musician
3 days before
Confirm wedding day transport
Treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure
Arrive at your hotel with your wedding party
Ensure parents and close family stay has checked in too
Have a spa day
Pray a lot
Run through programme and expectations with your wedding party
Communicate with your partner, diffuse any last minute nerves
2 days before
Run through roles and responsibilities with your wedding party (e.g. greeting and seating guests, checking vendors)
Make sure all wedding wears are packed or laid out
Confirm arrival time with hair stylist and makeup artist
On the day
Allow plenty of time to get ready
Ensure photographer and videographer are with you and your partner
Immerse yourself in the day, enjoy every moment and relax
Carry your partner along
After the wedding
Post your thank you cards and messages
Stay in touch with your photographer and/or videographer as they work on finishing your videos, photos, album and/or DVD
Pray a lot
Reminisce on your day of joy with your partner
Open your wedding gifts
Get ready and go on your honeymoon
After the honeymoon
Have a thanks giving service if you want one
Have your wedding outfits cleaned and preserved
Call and thank all/most family and friend that attended your wedding
Arrange to change the surname on your driving licence, passport, bank etc, if necessary.
Review and receive your shoots and clips with your videographer and photographer
Arrange a watch party with your wedding guests
Carry on with marriage counselling
Practice positive attitude always
Go on dates
Fall in love over and over again
Stay in love
Attend marriage seminars with your partner
