Setting the Date

You are bound to have your own criteria for setting the date for your wedding and you are sure to receive help and advice from friends and relatives — even if you don’t want it!. But there are some practical considerations which will restrict your freedom in setting the date and you may also want to take note of the cultural significance of certain times of year.

The most significant consideration is the availability of your registrar or priest as well as the venue for your ceremony and reception so these must be among the first things to agree as you start to arrange things. The arrangement of all other aspects of your wedding will revolve around these primary arrangements so it it important to get them right.

Here are a few things to take note of:

Get a general idea of the availability of your guests around the time you plan to have your wedding. Find out when they are taking holidays and other events which may prevent their attendance.

Find out whether any work commitments will conflict with your choice of wedding date.

Certain religions prohibit wedding ceremonies at certain times of day or on certain dates. Your officiant will be able to advise you.

In England and Wales marriages can take place on any day of the week but must be between 8 am and 6 pm although Jewish and Quaker ceremonies are excepted under Special License or a Registrar's General License. Additionally Marriages can not take place on Christmas Day or Good Friday.

Church weddings generally do not take place on Sunday or on Saturday in Synagogues. Registry offices are closed at the weekends.

There is some superstition surrounding the choice of day for a wedding. Consider the following:

Monday brides will be healthy
Tuesday brides will be wealthy
Wednesday brides do best of all
Thursday brides will suffer losses
Friday brides will suffer crosses
Saturday brides will have no luck at all

Despite the above most people seem to get married on Saturday probably because it is so convenient for working guests!

Guest’s medical should also be considered. Hayfever sufferers will want to avoid certain months of the year. If the bride suffers discomfort at a particular time of each month some forward planning to cover this will be necessary.

The Romans used to celebrate the feast of the dead and the festival of the goddess of chastity in May and so this month has acquired a reputation as a poor choice of month to get married:

Marry in May, rue the day!
Marry in May, unhappy for Aye!

A June marriage was considered to auger a happy marriage because the Romans honoured Juno, the goddess of love and marriage.

Spring and summer weddings are most popular in temperate climates as this makes good weather more likely although holiday destinations can be found for the honeymoon which guarantee good weather at all times of year.

Next time I will be discussing your wedding budget and how to reduce it.

1st article - A Wedding Checklist

Hello,

As this is my first foray into the world of wedding-related blogging I am going to start with probably the first serious job you will face in preparing for your wedding: your check list. There is always the worry that something is missed out or not given the right priority.

I will be using parts of this list as a basis for my upcoming articles and the list itself will be updated on a regular basis.

So here is the checklist I used for my own wedding in 2005 which seemed to work pretty well:

6 to 12 months prior to the wedding
… … Set the date
… … Work out your budget
… … Write your guest list
… … Book the ceremony venue
… … Book the reception venue
… … Order the groom's clothing
… … Order the wedding dress and accessories
… … Choose your bride's maids and any other attendants
… … Order attendants outfits
… … Announce your engagement through newspapers
… … Book caterer
… … Book florist
… … Book photographer and video photographer
… … Book band and/or DJ
… … Book musicians

3 to 6 months prior to the wedding
… … Complete your guest list
… … Order invitations
… … Get yourselves on a guest list
… … Order wedding rings
… … Order hairdresser and makeup artist
… … Order wedding cake
… … Make honeymoon reservations
… … Book honeymoon night accommodation
… … Book accommodation for guests (if necessary)
… … Purchase gifts for attendants
… … Purchase favours for guests
… … Reserve tent (if necessary)
… … Reserve lighting equipment
… … Confirm wedding dress delivery date

2 to 3 Months prior to the wedding
… … Post the invitations
… … Meet with the priest or officiant to discuss the ceremony
… … Organise the menu and agree with caterer
… … Agree final floral arrangements with the florist
… … Select song list and agree with the band
… … Select music for the ceremony and agree with the officiant
… … Agree schedule and checklist of portraits with the photographer
… … Schedule and agree beauty treatments
… … Reserve any rented equipment for the ceremony or reception (speakers, PA equipment etc.)
… … Organise day-after gathering
… … Schedule physical and blood tests

1 to 2 Months prior to the wedding
… … Write your vows (if you are using your own)
… … Purchase guest book
… … Send wedding announcement to newspapers
… … Collect or check wedding dress and bridesmaid's dresses and accessories
… … Collect wedding rings
… … Finalise ceremony schedule
… … Finalise reception schedule

2 to 4 weeks prior to the wedding
… … Arrange seating with the reception and agree with venue operators
… … Review ceremony and reception arrangements with all services
… … Rehearse personal vows
… … Practice makeup and hair
… … Pick up marriage license

1 to 2 weeks prior to the wedding
… … Confirm final seating numbers with the caterer
… … Arrange writing of place cards
… … Address wedding announcements
… … Pack for honeymoon

The day before
… … Post the wedding announcements
… … Give the attendants their gifts
… … Rehearse ceremony
… … Rehearsal dinner

The Wedding Day
… … Run through personal vows
… … Schedule plenty of time to get ready
… … Don't panic!