It is better to start planning a wedding six months before the occasion. In this case you may avoid hurry and disappointment because best photographers and toastmasters are occupied.
As soon as you decided to celebrate a wedding, you should start saving money if you don’t have the necessary sum.
You should think on what the marriage registration ceremony will be like. Besides the registry office, there is also onsite registration.
Onsite registration may be:
— in a restaurant;
— outdoors;
— thematic (in any other place interesting for you).
Consider that onsite ceremony costs more.
If you want a cost-effective wedding, you may reduce such items of expenses:
Bride’s dress (great sum of money goes to this item)
Hall decoration
Nuptial car. You may ask for a prestigious car from your friends.
Restaurant. Specify the possibility to bring your alcohol to the restaurant.
Wedding rings.
Cake. You may buy not a brand cake but order a copy in a confectionary, a copy of a rather good quality.
Make invitations buy yourself.
Fix the wedding date
It’s necessary to define the ceremonial date in advance.
2 months before
Buy wedding rings
Precise the guests list
Buy a suit, shoes and all the rest for the groom
Decide about honey moon and travel route
Present documents to the registry office
Applications to registry office are accepted at least a month before, not more than 2 months before the wedding.
Documents for application to the registry office:
Application about marriage (filled in the registry office before presentation);
2 passports;
Receipt on paying state tax 200 rub. For St. Petersburg: payment requisites are the same for any district (print receipt)
certificate of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (if any previous marriage);
marriage permit (for minors).
Define data’s style
Think about the style of the wedding.
It may be a classical wedding or a thematic one: retro-wedding, “Rock`n`Roll” style wedding, nobleman wedding, wedding “Viennese Ball”, “Disco” style wedding, “Venice carnival” wedding, “Country” wedding or any other. Often newlyweds celebrate wedding inspired by their profession and hobbies. For example, a stewardess may celebrate her wedding in a plane. Here it depends on your fantasy and possibilities.
Wedding style is defined by such items:
Way of holding – buffet, banquet, ball, wedding picnic, wedding - club party, wedding- reception, wedding -cocktail.
Design style - made in certain tonality with some specific colors (for example, browns may prevail in a retro wedding), objects or accessories. Of course, it's not just about the design of the hall, but also the image of the bride and groom, transport decoration, design invitations, etc.
The atmosphere and the general essence of the Wedding, reflecting the soul spirit of bride and groom - romantic and lyric wedding, funny and catchy, extreme and casual, elegant, austere and pretentious, emotional or democratic etc.
Wedding story and scenario.
1 month before
Make a try of hairdo and make-up
Fill and send the invitations
Ask the invited about their preferences in drinks
Buy alcohol and nonalcoholic beverages
Buy glasses
Buy (order) decorations for cars
Fit the dress
Decide on hall decoration
Order wedding trifle (cards to offer seats to the guests, stickers for champagne, bonbonniere, nominalserviettes for the table, prizes for contests with toastmaster)
Chest formoney(used intoastmasterscontests)
Make a scenario for the buy-out
Plan the events for the second day
Inform the guests on where to come
Book a room for the wedding night (if you are going to spend it in a hotel)
6 months before
Start collecting any information on weddings
Choose bridesmaid and the best man
Book a restaurant
Book a photograph and videographer.
You should start looking for a photograph and videographer right now, it is especially actual for regions with lack of professionals.
Discuss with your videographer the possibility to make a Love Story and the time for it (usually 1-2 months before the wedding).
Think about a place for the guests to go after registration in the office:
Go to a small buffet in the restaurant while the newlyweds are walking by the city
If there are few guests, they may be present at newlyweds walk.
2 weeks before
Visit a beauty salon
Precise definitely the number of guests
Make a plan on offering seats to the guests in the restaurant
Take a few dance lessons with a choreographer (for wedding waltz)
Order a cake
Order bride’s bouquet
Buy all the necessary for the honey moon
Make a minute-by-minuteplanfortheweddingdayitself, bridesmaids,moms, dads, brothersandsisters
Make the wedding walkrouteandcoordinate itwith the photographerandvideographer
Discuss with your photographer the places (locations) and photo-set time.
3 options are available here:
Before the wedding;
At the wedding day (usually after registration);
After the wedding.
3-4 months before
Book cars for the cortege
Book a bus for guests
Gather information on nuptial salons
Buy or order the dress and the accessories for it
Buy shoes
Buy lingerie and stockings
Call all the invited and ask if they will come
Buy or order invitations (still not send them)
Book a toastmaster and musicians
Find and book a hairdresser and a make-up artist
1 week before
Hold bachelor and bachelorette party
2-4 days before
Make a control call to hairdresser, operators, toastmaster, musicians, drivers
Start wearing the shoes so that they don’t hurt on the wedding day
Prepare all the necessary for buy-off and car decorations
Buy fruitand perishableproducts
Buy or order a loaf
General rehearsal of wedding dance
Pack the bags for honeymoon
The day before wedding
Prepare snacks for the arrival ofthe groom
Do manicure, pedicure, etc.
Prepare theroom forthe wedding night(if itis not going to be in a hotel)
Bring beverages to the banquet hall
Decorate the placeof the banquet
Pick up thecake
Preparesandwiches, fruit, champagne, sodafor the walk
Book a taxifor the evening
Wedding day
Pick up bride’s bouquet
Spendthe most important dayin the lifewith a smileon faceand happinessin eyes.