Organising a wedding can be a daunting process, especially as many couples have never coordinated an event quite as big or important. But try not to stress or panic about all the things you’ve yet to do.
We know the time and effort that goes into planning a wedding, and it’s no small feat. The best thing to do is follow a practical checklist that offers suggestions on what to do at each step of your wedding planning. And that’s exactly what we’ve created here.
Below, you can find a handy 12-month wedding checklist designed specifically for you, the groom. Organised by months, you can see what needs to be done as your wedding day creeps nearer.
A groom’s wedding to do list
What to do 12 months before the wedding
With 12 months to go, you’re at the start of your wedding planning journey. If you’re unsure of where to start, always begin with location and guest numbers.
Create a wedding guest list
It’s almost impossible to choose a venue without first knowing how many guests will be attending your wedding. At this point, you certainly don’t need a confirmed list with exact numbers, but having an estimate will allow you to make future decisions, like picking your venue.
Start with an ‘A’ list. This should be a list of absolute essential people you couldn’t imagine your day without. Then, create your ‘B’ list. This might be family members you rarely see or people who could be bumped up should any ‘A’s be unable to attend. Don’t hesitate to veto people you definitely don’t want to see at your wedding.
Pick a venue
Once you have a rough estimate of numbers, you can begin to look at beautiful wedding venues that can be the backdrop to your big day.
First, think about your options – do you want a church wedding, a registry office celebration or a civil ceremony?
You should also consider the location – do you want a local wedding or are you happy to travel? If your families are from two separate locations, will you meet in the middle somewhere? Perhaps you want to get married where you and your partner first met. Whatever your decision, ensure both you and your fiancé(e) are happy with your choice.
Venues can get booked up quite far in advance, particularly during the peak wedding season of April to September, so start looking as soon as possible to get something confirmed.
Choose a best man
Choosing a best man can be tricky if you have lots of options available, but it’s a decision that’s best made sooner rather than later, particularly if you want some help with the planning.
So who should you pick? While you could always pick your ‘favourite’ brother, friend or cousin, you may also want to pick tactically. Who has the best organisation skills? Who would be most comfortable making a speech and helping you on the day? Most importantly, who is going to throw the best stag do?!
It’s becoming more popular to have two best men, so don’t necessarily limit yourself to one.
9 months before the wedding checklist
Book your wedding suit appointment
Whether you’re hiring a suit or having a bespoke suit custom made, now is the time to look into the style and colour you’re after.
Before your appointment, take the time to browse Pinterest or Instagram for some ideas, making a list of the materials, patterns and colours you like. There’s a huge range to choose from and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. If that’s the case, set your phone down and book an appointment with us. We can advise you based on what is popular, what style suits your wedding theme, and much more.
Your suit should reflect your personality, and you’ll also want to pick something you feel comfortable in. At your appointment, you can try on a range of suits and get measured to ensure a perfect fit.
Things to do 6 months before wedding
Start planning your playlist
Music is essential to get the evening party started, and you generally have two options: live band or DJ.
If you’d like a live band, take the time to research local musicians and find a local gig. This will give you the chance to hear their set live before you go ahead and book. Wedding fayres are another great place to find suitable bands and musicians.
Should you choose to hire a DJ, send a list of songs or artists you love in advance. This will help them to understand your music taste, or the kind of music you’d love to dance to on your big day. Don’t forget to throw some of your partner’s favourites in too!
To make this task a little easier, and ensure your guests are involved, add a ‘song requests’ section to your RSVP. This way, your guests can request their own favourites and potentially save you a big job.
Plan your honeymoon
While not technically an aspect of your wedding, your honeymoon is probably the most important holiday you’ll ever go on. If you want to leave soon after your wedding, it’s best to book the trip around six months ahead of time.
Location is crucial, so take the time to research places you and your partner would love to go. Think far and wide and choose a honeymoon destination that perfectly reflects your personalities.
Perhaps you want a relaxing beach holiday in the Maldives, or to enjoy the hustle and bustle of an exciting city like New York. If pebbled streets and cosy cafes are your thing, the towns of Italy could be more desirable. Whatever destination you land on, consider how you’ll get there, where you’ll stay and the kinds of travel documents or visas you might need. Remind your partner to book in her maiden name if she won’t change her passport prior to flying!
Learn to dance
Choreographed first dances have taken the wedding world by storm, and they make for the perfect photo opportunity. Stun your guests with perfect dance moves by taking a few dance lessons or even learning a full routine. There are plenty of classes available, so find one that’s local to you.
Send out the wedding invitations
Whether you sent a ‘save the date’ or not, you should plan to post your wedding invitations within six months of the big day. This gives people plenty of time to respond with their dietary requirements or special requests and book local accommodation if necessary.
As the groom, it’s your responsibility to chase your side of the family or friends who don’t respond within a few weeks.
Choose your menu
Catering is an absolutely essential part of any wedding. Your guests should be well fed and watered ready to dance the night away with you and your new wife or husband.
Your caterer will likely offer a menu tasting, allowing you to trial the food in advance of your wedding. This is a fun activity that you and your partner can enjoy together, whether you want a formal sit-down meal or an informal buffet. There may also be the option to trial some wine or wedding cake, too.
What to do 3 months before wedding
Order rings
Ordering your rings doesn’t need to be done too far in advance – three months should be more than enough time. You can go shopping for your rings together, and order any additional extras you might want, like engraving.
As the groom, it should be your job to pick the rings up and keep them safe until your wedding day, when they’re entrusted to the best man. Upon collection, check the engravings are correct.
Choose a gift for your fiancé(e)
Surprise your fiancé(e) on the most important day of their life with a heartfelt gift. Whether it’s a card with a meaningful message, a piece of jewellery or something that’s an inside joke for you both, it’ll likely put them at ease and calm their nerves in the morning. Leave it with a bridesmaid or the mother of the bride so your partner receives it before your ceremony.
Other gifts you might want to consider are groomsmen gifts and family gifts. During the speeches, it’s your job to thank your suppliers, including the venue and the caterers, but also to hand out gifts to the mother of the bride, the father of the bride, the maid of honour and the bridesmaids. Think about what you’ll get for each of them. It can be as simple as a bouquet of flowers.
2 weeks before the wedding checklist
Things are edging closer! While most items on your to-do list should be checked off by now, there are some finishing touches to consider if you’re the groom.
Check your speech
Take the time to review your speech, but don’t make too many major changes at this point. Changing large sections will likely only stress you out when it comes to speaking in front of your wedding party, so stick with what you have.
Practise makes perfect, so read your speech out loud a few times and perhaps even practise it on your groomsmen.
Things a groom needs on his wedding day
The big day has finally arrived, despite feeling like it never would. You’ve planned everything meticulously over the last 12 months, but there are some final things you’ll need to remember on your wedding day itself.
Stay calm
Of course your wedding day is going to be nerve wracking. You may not be nervous at the idea of marrying the love of your life, but the thought of standing up in front of lots of people, completing your speech or performing your first dance gives you the shivers. Consider what is most important about the day – being joined forever with your favourite person – and try not to let the nerves take over.
Gifts for the groomsmen
You bought your gifts for the groomsmen a few months before your wedding, so don’t forget to pack them on the actual day. Alternatively, you can hand them out on the morning of your wedding before the ceremony.
Text your wife
Just because you can’t see your fiancé(e) in person before you get married doesn’t mean you have to ignore them completely. Sending a simple text message can let them know you’re thinking of them and that you can’t wait to spend the rest of your life together.
ENJOY IT!
Our final point is to enjoy your wedding day. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the day really does pass in a blur of people, conversations, food and music. Where possible, grab some time on your own with your fiancé(e) to embrace all your emotions and breathe. You might even enjoy observing your guests from a distance, watching as they create amazing memories on your wedding day too.
