This article is the second part of our wedding planning content series, and you can find its sequel on the bottom of this page.
Just in case you’re here but lost our first post, check what’s necessary to be planned starting 1 year to the day until the 9th month. Some parts of this content are subsequent and rely on previous reading.
We’ll cover the wedding planning necessary between the 8th to the 6th months until the day you’ll swear eternal love.
Wedding Planning Between 8 to 6 months
Proceed with pending planning
In this series’ previous article, we mentioned that, by here, you should have already thought about your honeymoon destination and wedding venue in order to make a neat wedding planning.
Then, it’s time to do it! Book rooms, flights, venues, decoration according to the wedding theme; proceed with every pending on your planning so that you can move on to the next steps.
Remember to control your budget attentively and check out some hints below.
Book hotel and flight to honeymoon location
First, you should have decided on your honeymoon destination. You’ll certainly have a lot to talk about over the matter until you reach a consensus with your partner. Anyways, the odds are this is going to be an extremely pleasing and magnificent conversation.
Once it’s set, you can book both hotel and flights well in advance. This way, you will save quite a bit and have a long time to prepare yourselves, get to know the place, and plan what to do after you reach the place.
To make your hotel reservation, I recommend both of you reflect on: how tired are you from organising the event?
I say it because going to an agency and planning the entire trip is much easier, safer, and faster than doing it for yourself. The pro of doing it on your own is the costs will be way lower.
If you choose to plan the trip yourselves, here are some tips:
- Learn about the destination’s culture. If it’s a foreign country, learn a bit of the language so you don’t need to just rely on English.
- Check the traditions of the place and dates you will be spending there: will there be any local holidays? Any special events worth attending?
- Plan restaurants and other places you wish to go to and try to book a room nearby so that you do not face trouble in unknown places.
- Opt for reputed chained-branded hotels, and check for recent reviews to confirm if the place is still providing good service as their name suggests.
- If you are not very interested in the cuisine and going out to restaurants, look for an All-Inclusive package.
- Be selective when choosing your room. About 50% of your experience will be in it, which means if you make a mistake at this step, you will put the entire honeymoon experience at risk.
- Look for hotels that offer amusing accommodations and attractions: pools, fitness center, spa, natural environments, game rooms, etc. It is a very personal choice, but it will make all the difference to keep the whole week fun and exciting.
Meet with the event team (planners, vendors, etc.) and have a face-to-face conversation
If you follow this article’s step-by-step, at this point you will have already gotten in touch with a professional team to help you with your wedding planning, but you won’t necessarily have met them face-to-face.
It is a beneficial achievement to build some affinity and establish a connection with the professionals you work with. As they can give you a lot more tips and better understand what you look for through other communicative resources: your gestures, features, way of expressing yourself, and enthusiasm, you should dedicate some time to exercise your social skills.
There will also be serious moments between you and the people helping you bring your event to life, so you should get to know each of them personally so both create empathy for each other.
Reserve decoration and scenery items
Decided the theme, selected the venue(s), almost established the number of guests, idealized the wedding dress and the party attire… So many things have been done already, yet still far away from being over.
It’s time to set and reserve decorations, chairs, ornaments, flowers, and other aspects of the scenery with the planners’ support. You have a full checklist just in this topic, so take some time to give it the attention your event’s aesthetic deserves.
Choose Dress, Veil, and Undergarments
It’s the most awaited moment by far! Most women have their dreams come true just by trying a wedding dress, and this can be your moment too!
Be meticulous in your choice, try everything you love, and make it make-to-order. You don’t necessarily need to adapt to measures and standards, okay? What matters here is that you feel good in the dress, and you make sure its measures keep suitable on the ceremony day; neither less nor more.
Explore hair and makeup styles
The time is coming, so it is best to have everything set. After having your dress in mind, it’s time to idealize the entire look.
Choose the bridal party attire
At your event, you are responsible for your team’s look, so prepare your budget to accommodate one more item in the wedding planning…
The bridal party can liven up and bring elegance as much as the wedding venue or any other decoration element.
Their attire should correspond to the wedding theme – for a romantic theme, baby pink or light blue clothes help set the moods, for instance. Additionally, ethereal laces to complement white dresses, and classic suits in dark colors with bow ties to add a touch of elegance and traditionality can be a great choice for a romantic event.
Anyways, creativity’s the limit! And yet, you can look for inspiration on TV shows, books, magazines, Pinterest, etc. Don’t limit your ideas to just what comes directly from your own mind.
Make the guest list and send “save the dates” emails
At this stage, invitations still don’t need to be formalized. You just have to inform the possible dates and take the opportunity to discover your VIP guests’ availability.
Inform them of the dates you and your partner are considering to throw the event at, then ask guests to save them. Also, request feedback in case they can’t attend on your dates. Maybe it’s possible to adapt something for them.
Buy wedding bands
Time to say “I do” for a new ring?
“Finally, it was about time!”
I’m sure you’ll think like that when this moment arrives.
To make a perfect choice, take your experience with your engagement ring into consideration: was it good or bad, comfortable, elegant, etc.
For instance, if it was all flashy and contained some embellishments, you might not like a simpler piece. Conversely, going from a minimalist golden or silver ring to an embellished jewel may not be your thing.
Another interesting possibility is whether you want your bands to be kept a total surprise. If that is the case, talk to your spouse-to-be and make clear all your preferences and requirements are conveyed successfully. Be as clear as possible to guarantee the surprise is going completely positive on the ceremony day.
Wedding ring insurance
Better than any of the experts in our team, Investopedia has prepared an article that explains the reasons why you should consider the insurance in detail, and also teaches how to do it.
Give it the proper attention and consider this possibility.
Prepare the official invitations
Invitations should also follow the event’s theme. Colours, fonts, and many other features should contain your wedding theme’s identity.
Regarding its content, they must contain information like dates, time, address, and dress code, especially if you are planning an authentic and peculiar event. That means you’ll have to restrict the possibilities and choose a single date.
If it happens you need to reschedule, make sure to change it for a day included in your “save the dates”.
Wedding Planning: Your Ultimate Guide In Series
This is the most important article for those who think: “I’m engaged, now what?”. Here is where you’ve learnt how to give a follow-up to your wedding planning not to let anything escape from your control. Also, by the 9th month you’ll start to realize how overcoming and complex hosting a wedding can be. Starting from here, your checklist is about to double and you’ll remember each day you’re organizing a huge event.
Things will pay off in the end, you’ll see.
Keep following this series by checking its next article, making sure you know exactly what to do in order to host a flawless event.