What to do three to six months before your wedding

Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming experience of what needs to be done and when. The following tips will put your wedding planning on the right track towards an incredible wedding day.

• Make final wedding ring selections and order engraving if appropriate
• Select accommodation options for out-of-town guests and provide information in wedding invitations
• Schedule fittings for bridesmaid dresses and place orders for dyed shoes if not already completed
• Make an appointment with your caterer to make final food selections
• Make an appointment with your florist to firm up ceremony and reception floral needs
• Order wedding invitations, thank you cards, printed napkins, printed matchbooks, and ceremony programs
• Mothers of the bride and groom should finalise their attire for the big day
• Address wedding invitations and include maps and accommodation information
• Finalise musical selections for the ceremony and reception with the appropriate musicians
• Arrange transportation for the wedding party to move from the ceremony site to the reception
• Contact your local marriage licence bureau to secure your marriage licence
• If you decide not to engage a planner or caterer, check with your reception venue to determine alcohol requirements and licencing and purchasing information
• Bride and groom select post-wedding and honeymoon attire
• Discuss rehearsal dinner ideas with groom's family, who hosts the event
• Make arrangements for religious documents if applicable
• Determine the master of ceremonies for your reception if not available through the reception site venue
• Shop for and purchase gifts for wedding party
• Bride and groom shop separately to choose a wedding gift for each other
• Make an appointment at the beauty salon to experiment with hairstyles and makeup to minimise stress on the day of the wedding
• Make arrangements for preservation of your wedding bouquet if you plan to have it preserved
• Make arrangements for the production of a slide show about the newlyweds' life together to be exhibited at the wedding reception.

Once you've addressed these planning elements, you can be sure that your wedding planning is solid and you'll experience the most fantastic day of your life.