Well….how did we go???
2 destination wedding celebrations, 2 weeks apart, on different sides of the world !!
First was our home weekend celebration in the Hunter Valley and then our Destination Wedding in Walt Disney World Florida, onboard the Disney Cruise Line ship “The Magic”!
It was a huge
undertaking as not only did we organise both celebrations but also the travel
plans & itineraries for our guests that travelled to the USA with us. Our budget was tight and we had to drop off a few planned things (including my
shower/kitchen tea & the bachelor/bachelorette parties) so as not to run to
far over budget.
However, with the benefit of hindsight while these would have
been fun the only thing I really wish we done was take an external photographer
on the cruise with us, as the on-board service was terribly amateur and disapointing.
My checklist started in black and once completed the items for Hunter Valley Wedding are Pink and items for our Disney Wedding are Blue
18 Months - completed! WOOO
HOOOO
§ Set Wedding Date
§ Set preliminary budget
§ Research and visit ceremony
sites
§ Research and visit
reception locations
§ Meet with different
officiates
§ Think about a color scheme
or theme
§ Meet with and book a Day
of Coordinator (DOC)
§ Have your engagement ring
appraised and Insured
§ Begin to think about
bridal party
§ Groom – begin to think
about bridal party
§ Start looking at Wedding
Dress ideas
§ Sent out engagement
announcements
§ Engagement Party
§ Create Wedding website
§ Attend Bridal
Shows/Showcases
§ Make a list of vendors to
contact
§ Prepare preliminary guest
list
§ {Disney} Begin Wedding research
12 Months - completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ Set final budget
§ Select a ceremony location
§ Select a reception
location
§ Select an officiate
§ Select a photographer
§ Select a videographer
§ Organise accommodation for
guests
§ Organise accommodation for
us
§ Finalise colour scheme or
theme
§ Think about centerpieces
& bouquets
§ Meet with different bands
or DJ’s and select one
§ Select and ask bridal
party members
§ Groom – select and ask
groomsmen and best man
§ Make & send Save
the Date’s (along with guest information)
§ Think about where we want
gift register
§ {USA} Begin honeymoon
research
§ {Disney} Set Wedding Date
§ {Disney} Ceremony
& trip Save the Dates
§ {Disney} Think about a
colour scheme & theme
§ {Disney} Prepare
preliminary guest list
9 Months - completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ Decide whether you want to
have a band or DJ
§ Select a florist (bring
pictures and floral ideas to appointment)
§ Think about number
& type of cars
§ Give maid of honor the
guest list for your bridal shower
§ Send bridesmaid newsletter
– DIY Project
§ {Disney} Create gift
registry
§ {Disney} Add gift registry
details to wedding website
§ {USA} Start guest
itinerary research
§ {USA} Begin thinking/collecting welcome bag items
§ Finalise guest list
§ Select and order/make
invitations – DIY Project
§ Purchase stamps for
invitations (have them weighed)
§ Purchase envelope seals –
DIY Project
§ Order mother of the
bride/groom dresses
§ Purchase
tiara/headpiece/hairpins
§ Order veil
§ Engagement shoot (booked
for Sept)
§ Order your wedding gown
§ Order bridesmaids gowns
§ Order flower girl dresses
§ {Disney} Select and
order/make invitations – DIY Project
§ {Disney} Engagement shoot
choose location
§ {Disney} Engagement shoot
book
§ {Disney} Purchase table
cameras
§ {Disney} Order USA your
wedding gown
§ {Disney} Select a ceremony
location
§ {Disney} Cake &
Champagne Location
§ {Disney} Select a
reception location
§ {Disney} Select an
officiate
§ {Disney} Select a photographer - we should have done this & taken someone with us!
§ {Disney} Organise Cruise
accommodation for guests
§ {Disney} Organise Cruise
accommodation for us
6 Months - completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ Select & book cars
§ Order Cookies
§ Schedule hair trials
§ Schedule makeup trials
§ Arrange guest
transportation
§ Buy your shower outfit
§ {Disney} Check passports
§ {Disney} Update your
registry and check for any discontinued items
§ Shop for and order wedding
rings
§ Purchase wedding day
jewelry
§ Purchase cake serving set
§ Purchase toasting flutes
§ Purchase
ring pillow
§ Start facials
§ Select
and order wedding cake
§ Plan
ceremony (writing vows, music selections, readings, etc.)
§ {Disney} Send out 1st
edition WDW Cruise newsletter
§ {Disney} Check on guest
list for WDW and send out information packs to those attending
§ {Disney} Purchase cake
serving set
§ {Disney} Purchase toasting
flutes
§ {Disney} Organise ring box
§ {Disney} Select and order
wedding cake
§ {Disney} Plan ceremony
(writing vows, music selections, readings, etc.)
4 Months - completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ Order / make bridal shower
thank you cards – DIY Project
§ Purchase / make ceremony
decorations (pew bows, personalized aisle runner, etc.) – DIY Project
§ Shop for or make favors
§ Order / make tags
& custom labels for favors – DIY Project
§ Start wedding gown
fittings
§ Decide on bustle (one
point, two point, French, etc.)
§ Purchase all undergarments
for gown including a slip, stocking, garters, etc.
§ Purchase throw away garter
§ Purchase wedding day shoes
§ Purchase comfortable shoes
for reception (slippers, sneakers, flip flops, etc.)
§ Purchase a guest book or
frame for sign in picture
§ Purchase cake topper
§ Schedule ceremony
rehearsal
§ Book rehearsal dinner
location
§ Order / make rehearsal
dinner invitations – DIY Project
§ Decide where you want to
take photos after the ceremony
§ Plan back up locations for
ceremony and photo sessions in case of rain
§ Purchase flower girl
basket
§ {Disney} Arrange for Photo
session in WDW
§ {Disney} Arrange &
purchase Honeymoon add ons / check Honeymoon register
§ {Disney} Check on guest
list for WDW and send out extra information packs to those attending.
§ {Disney} Shop for and
order contents for fish extenders
§ {Disney} Order / make tags
& custom labels for favors – DIY Project
§ {Disney} Purchase wedding
day shoes
§ {Disney} Purchase
comfortable shoes for reception (slippers, sneakers, flip flops, etc.)
§ {Disney} Travel booking
& itinerary prep for guest group
§ {Disney} At 120 days book in, select on-board activities & get PALO dining room!
3 Months - completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ Attend bridal shower
§ Send out bridal shower thank you cards
§ Buy any ribbon or
packaging you will need to wrap wedding favors
§ Purchase bridal party
gifts
§ Purchase bridal party
jewellery
§ Purchase Bridesmaids shoes
§ Purchase Bridesmaids
clutch
§ Purchase flower girl shoes
§ Purchase flower girl
clutch
§ Purchase flower girl
jewellery & tiara
§ Purchase flower girl gifts
§ Purchase ring bearer gifts
§ Purchase parent gifts
§ {Disney} Organise favors
with Rosie from DFTW Floral
§ Meet with officiate and go
over ceremony in detail
§ Purchase or make ceremony
programs
§ Send out invitations
(don’t forget to have them hand cancelled)
§ Groom - order tuxes and
have all groomsmen measured
§ Groom – buy groomsmen and
best man gifts
§ Meet with reception
location and finalise menu
§ Send out rehearsal dinner
invitations
§ {Disney} Send out 2nd
edition WDW Cruise newsletter
§ Purchase items for slipper
basket (slippers, baskets, ribbon, bags, tags)
§ Schedule hair color appointment
for week before wedding
§ Meet with florist and
finalize floral details - how many centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, place
card table arrangement. Also design and types of flowers and view/approve
sample centerpiece
§ Order table linens and
check on tiffany chairs & colours
§ Organise Popcorn Bar
(glass jars, popcorn, bags, scoops & signage) – Changed to Candy Bar
§ Purchase items for place
cards
§
{Disney} Organise Day Spa for wedding day
§ {Disney} Send back
planning package
§ {Disney} Buy any ribbon or
packaging you will need to wrap wedding favors
§ {Disney} Finalise Photo
session in WDW
§ {Disney} Check on DCL
reception location & order cake
2 Months – completed! WOOO HOOOO
§ {Disney} Organise MK Shoot
flowers with Disney
§ Shop for items that will
go in out of town gift bags
§ Wrap and finish all favors
§ Make petal cones & ceremony
packs
§ Select first dance song,
bridal party entrance songs, mother/father dance songs, cake cutting songs,
etc. and give to Band or DJ
§ Create must play and do
not play list and give to Band or DJ
§ Organise vendor
information packs (contact numbers, instructions, photo’s)
§ Write up vendor
questionnaire (meals, allergy requests)
§ Finalise seating
arrangements
§ Prepare must take photo
list (& samples) give to photographer
§ Make final vendor
appointments & distribute information packs
§ Host bridesmaid’s lunch
§ Make or order menus for
table – DIY Project
§ Make or order table number – DIY Project
§ Purchase stands (easels) for table
numbers
§ Break in wedding day shoes
§ Make sure you have
something, old, new, borrowed and blue
§ Give MOH list of people for Bachelorette
party
§ Get together pictures you want displayed
at reception (baby pictures, engagement pictures, family wedding photos, etc.)
§ Buy frames for pictures
§ Purchase or make card box
§ Purchase baskets for programs
§ Purchase petal cone basket
§ Purchase items for
bathroom baskets
§ Have second dress fitting
§ Buy a wedding gift for h2b
§ Organise welcome party at
Crown
§ Organise Sunday brunch
& how/when supplies will be delivered & stored
§ Think about contingency
plan for brunch in case of bad weather
§ Groom – have a discussion
with your best man about his responsibilities
§ Groom – buy a wedding gift
for your b2b
§ Groom – give list of guys you wanted
invited to your Bachelor party to your best man
§ {Disney}Organise Visa for
Us & Guests
1 Months – completed! WOOO HOOOO
§Finalise wedding day hair (
also MOB, MOH and bridesmaids)
§Finalise wedding day make
up ( also MOB, MOH and bridesmaids)
§Organise DOC to have
midnight snack delivered to our room
§Prepare out of town welcome
bags – DIY Project
§Make place cards for
reception – DIY Project
§Write up DOC information
pack, run sheet & instructions
§Meet with DOC to go over wedding
day timeline
§Call guests who have not
RSVP'd
§Attend Bachelorette party
§Obtain marriage license
§Prepare bathroom baskets
§Have final dress fitting
§Arrange boarding for
scratchie
§ {Disney} Double check honeymoon
reservations & travel arrangements
§Make sure engagement ring &
wedding band are on home insurance
policy
§Groom – attend Bachelor Party
§Organise packing for
Wedding & Honeymoon - See Travel Checklist
§Prepare out of town welcome
bags – DIY Project
§ {Disney} Call WDW Florist
& have welcome pack sent to Hotel rooms
§ {Disney} Send out final information
pack to Guests
2 Weeks – Completed
§Have final hair colour
appointment for wedding
§Meet with and give final
payment to all vendors (go over all details and day of timeline with them for
the wedding day)
§Arrange for transportation
to the airport
§Prepare day of emergency
kit
§Prepare any speeches or
toasts for rehearsal dinner
§Give bridal party wedding
day packs
§Wrap bridal party gifts
§Write thank you card to all
bridesmaids and maid of
honor
§Pick up wedding gown
§Make sure you have all bags
and items for honeymoon ready (passport, airline tickets, traveller’s checks,
etc.)
§Groom – email groomsmen and
best man with wedding day timeline and all info needed for wedding day
§Groom – arrange breakfast
for groomsmen and best man for wedding day
§ Arrange for transportation
to the airport
Week
Before
§Host bridesmaid’s lunch
§Give reception location
final count/seating chart of people attending
§Make sure programs, menus;
place cards, etc. are all completed
§Have rings cleaned for
wedding day
§Have a massage to relax
§Groom – get your hair cut
and a manicure
§Groom – go with groomsmen
& best man to pick up suits.
§Place tips for each vendor
in envelopes
§Make sure wedding gown and
veil are pressed and have no wrinkles
A
Few Days Before Hunter Reception
§Prepare and drop off box to
the reception with accessories such as guest book, table
§cameras, toasting glasses,
cake topper, menus, favors, etc
§Prepare and drop off OOT
boxes to Hotels
§Make sure wedding gown and
veil are pressed and have no wrinkles
§Arrange breakfast for
wedding day when we are getting ready
§Bring all items to ceremony
location (unity candle, programs, cry packs, etc.)
§Attend ceremony rehearsal
§Attend rehearsal dinner
§Bring camera to rehearsal
dinner
§Check on supplies for
Sunday Brunch & get anything that is missing
§Groom – speak with
offending family members, re loading of photo’s onto public forums &FB
Day
Before – Hunter Reception
§Go get manicure and
pedicure with bridesmaids
§Lay out all wedding items
(jewellery, shoes, stockings, dress, veil,
§tiara/headpiece/hairpins, handbag with powder
and lipstick, etc.)
§Groom – give rings to best
man
§Attend Welcome Party
Hunter
Wedding Day
§Put petals in petal cones for ceremony
§RELAX, HAVE A GRREAT DAY
Day
After
§Attend weekend brunch
§Put top of wedding cake in
freezer
§Groom – make sure all tuxes
get back to tuxedo shop
2
Weeks After
§Have gown preserved
§Begin name change process
§Have favourite wedding
photo framed
§Send honeymoon pictures &
song selections to videographer
