Asian Wedding Checklist

The OccAsianZ Indispensable Wedding Checklist

So you’ve just got engaged and this time next year you’ll be walking down the aisle.  But between now and then lies a world of planning, scheduling and decision making. 

Hosting the perfect Asian wedding can be complicated, even with the invaluable help of a wedding planner, but good organisation is the key.  So use our Wedding Checklist to make sure you arrive at your big day on schedule, on budget and unstressed – ready to enjoy your moment.

12 months before the wedding

• Choose a date for your wedding, checking that it’s suitable for your most important guests and that it doesn’t clash with other major commitments.
• Work out your budget and make approximate allocations for all the main elements of your wedding ceremony and reception.  This might sound boring but it would be a disaster if you spent your entire budget on the venue and then had to skimp on the catering...
• At the same time, calculate the number of guests you want to invite, as this will affect later decisions such as the venue and the catering.
• Book your priest or celebrant.
• Start looking at venues and as soon as you come to a decision, make a firm booking – the most popular places are snapped up quickly.
• Pick a theme for your wedding so you have some idea about styling and colour co-ordination for the clothes, decorations, stationery and flowers.
• Begin your research into what sort of wedding dress you want to wear and where you’re going to get it from.
• Send out ‘save the day’ notices to all your guests, while you sort out the design and printing of the formal invitations

6 months before your big day

• Book any transport for yourselves and your guests to take people to and from the venue, and between venues if your ceremony takes place in more than one.
• Select your honeymoon destination and make the travel arrangements.  Don’t forget, you’ll be travelling under your new married name and you’ll need to change your passport before you go.
• Settle on a designer for your dress and schedule your fittings.
• Start to source appropriate shoes, jewellery and accessories, along with your groom’s outfit, to complement your own wedding outfit.
• Choose your wedding rings together if you didn’t already exchange rings at your engagement.
• Take out wedding insurance to protect you from the unexpected.
• Dispatch the invitations to all of your guests and keep a note of their replies.
• Finalise your wedding list, so guests can select the gifts they want to give you.
• Book hotel rooms for your guests that are travelling from further afield.
• Plan the decor for your venue and choose the details of your mandap.
• Appoint a florist and give them details of your overall theme and colour choices.
• Choose your caterers and sample a tasting menu.
• Make your entertainment bookings – classical musicians, a band, dancers, a magician or a DJ – work out all that you will need throughout the festivities.
• Book your photographer and videographer – check out their portfolios and discuss with them exactly what you require.

3 months to go

• Don’t forget to apply for your marriage license – you won’t be man and wife without one.
• Book your hair stylist for the day and exchange style ideas.
• Select your make-up artist.
• Have regular facials, manicures and pedicures from now onwards to make sure you look your very best on the day.
• Finalise the details of the wedding ceremony, the decorations and the menu with your wedding planner and all involved.
• Order wedding favours and buy any gifts you will be presenting during the ceremonies.
• Appoint the baker for your wedding cake.

1 month and counting

• Settle on your choice of music with the band and/or DJ – especially for that crucial first dance.
• Tackle the hardest job of all – the dreaded seating plan!
• Arrange any vaccinations you need for the honeymoon.
• Attend your final dress fitting.
• Take a short course of dancing lessons if you feel nervous about the first dance.
• Finalise your cake design with your baker.

2 weeks – it’s not long now

• Speak to all the subcontractors involved to finalise the very last details, ironing out any last minute problems.
• Make sure all the speeches have been written.
• Work out a detailed schedule of timings for all the festivities.

1 week and time’s flying

• Pick up your dress and have a final dress rehearsal with full hair and make-up to ensure that your look is perfect for your moment in the spotlight.
• Practice walking in your wedding shoes, especially if they are high heels.
• Pack for your honeymoon and pick-up any last minute travel essentials.
• Have a final meeting with your wedding planner.

On the eve of the festivities

• Schedule time for your last-minute beauty treatments.
• Make sure your groom has a haircut.
• Greet your guests that are arriving from further afield.
• Enjoy your sangeet, mehendi or rehearsal dinner.

The Day itself has finally arrived!

• Make sure you eat some breakfast to settle your nerves.
• Relax and enjoy the process of getting ready.
• Spend a few precious moments with your mother and your sisters before the excitement carries you away.
• Enjoy this special day that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Take it day by day and week by week and what seems like an insurmountable mountain of planning will soon become a smooth pathway towards your perfect day.  As every good wedding planner knows, failing to plan is planning to fail, so start making your lists and don’t be afraid to ask for help – that’s what we’re here for.