Planning your wedding - 2

Six months in advance, finalise the guest list, order the drinks for the reception, book the hairdresser and the beautician, book the flowers.

Remember that you'll need to order the bride's bouquet, the bridal party's bouquet, the flowers to decorate your home, the church and wedding venue.

Decide about your wedding list if you are having one. At this point, you may decide to have the wedding invitations and thank you cards printed. Think about souvenirs, whether you want to buy or make them. Start preparing the ceremony booklet. (Usually the case for religious weddings)

If you haven't dreamt enough about your honeymoon, tough. Now is the time to get practical about it. Plan the honeymoon and make the necessary reservations if you intend to go abroad. Check that you have a valid passport, the right visas and inoculations if you are planning to go to some exotic place outside Europe and the USA.

It's wise to have a medical and get any important dental work done to try to avoid last minute emergencies. You'd be surprised! Anyway, you want to make sure that you go into the marriage strong and healthy!

If you are inviting people from abroad make sure you mail the invitations well in advance. Three months ahead is plenty of time. You want to give them enough time to make the necessary arrangements to travel to your wedding. You can also buy two champagne glasses and have them engraved to be used upon the cutting of the cake.

Brides: start a 'beauty countdown' to look your best on your big day. Visit www.TheWeddingSite.com for more information.

Two months in advance make arrangements to have the banns published at the Marriage Registry and at the Curia. Check the men's fittings.

At this stage, you may decide to buy the wedding rings and have them engraved. It is advisable to have the pre-wedding photographs and video taken round about this time as well.

As the big day approaches, approximately one month before the wedding, check out the bride's dress and those of the bridesmaids for any alterations that might be necessary.

Talk to your maid of honour and best man about those all impending hen and bachelor parties. Confirm your honeymoon flights, accommodation, and all that you had planned for the honeymoon.

Go back to confirm all arrangements and contracts. Finalise the guest list and give the exact figures to the caterers. Have someone, who is reliable, to see to all the seating arrangements at the church and reception venue.

Arrange with the respective police stations and local councils for any parking or other permits you might require, for example, to access Mdina with a car. Buy any special lingerie in time for the first fittings of your wedding gown. Also buy any remaining jewellery like earrings, necklace, etc, to be worn on your wedding. Don't forget the going-away dress!

Three weeks in advance post the local invitations, but remember that one of the traditions in Malta is that very close friends and close relatives receive them by hand. So leave plenty of time for these home visits.

Contact the wedding car hire company and make sure they have all the necessary addresses and know how to get to them. Some chauffeurs might not be familiar with these out-of-the way reception venues.

Check the music with the musicians. By now, you should have a clear idea of the wedding gift you want to give your partner. Listen hard so that you have a clear idea as to what gift would be most appreciated by on this unique occasion.

With your partner, buy suitable gifts for those special people you want to thank for their service. If you are taking your mobile phones with you on your honeymoon make sure to contact your service provider to check if you need to apply for any special service. Buy appetisers and drinks for guests coming at your homes in the coming days.

Two weeks in advance, check out details regarding the delivery of the drinks. Rehearse the church ceremony in the presence of the celebrant, and collect the relevant marriage documents from the Marriage Registry.

Make sure that you have the necessary travel documents; purchase a guest book and an appropriate pen. Definitely, do a hair and make-up trial. Contact your insurance agent about naming your partner as beneficiary on your life insurance and vehicle policies. Consider extending your home insurance to cover your wedding gifts. Open joint bank accounts and decide on a budget and savings programme.

Go out for the hen and bachelor parties. Have fun, but keep it simple, if you have any say in it! Your wedding is only a few days away! Start welcoming guests at your respective homes.

One week in advance confirm any remaining contracts and collect all dresses. Check that all people, responsible for any aspect of the celebrations, know exactly what their duties entail.

Get your suitcase ready and start packing for the honeymoon. It is advisable to take a change of clothes in your hand luggage in case your luggage is lost in transit!

Appoint a person to deliver any excess food from your wedding reception/dinner to a charitable institution. Why waste?! Try to find time to visit a health spa with your partner and relax!

On the eve of the wedding: pack a wedding day emergency bag. This is a bag of useful emergency items like nail polish, needle and thread, contact lenses, super glue, etc. Visit www.TheWeddingSite.com for a whole list of items to be included in this bag. Give a copy of your honeymoon itinerary and contact numbers to someone in case of emergency.

Take time to say a big thank you to your parents for all they have given you, be it financial or moral support. Say your goodbyes quietly and peacefully.

Also have a quiet moment with your partner so that you may exchange gifts and allay any anxieties you might be experiencing.

On the wedding day have a relaxed breakfast. Hopefully by now you have delegated everything that needs to be done. Someone needs to confirm the delivery of drinks to the reception venue, to take the going-away dresses and any other things to the reception hall.

If you've hired a wedding planner she/he will be seeing to all this while you just enjoy the day. So the big day has arrived at last. Enjoy it. Let nothing disturb you. You've planned carefully, and so now you deserve to let your dream come true.

The days after take wedding gown and veil to be cleaned at an experienced laundry and take the bridal bouquet to be preserved. Check whether the excess food has been delivered to the chosen charitable institution.

Make sure all vendor bills have been paid in full. Freeze the top layer of the wedding cake to be eaten on your first anniversary. Check out when to expect your wedding video and photographs. Within two months find time to write and send all the thank you notes.

Go off for your honeymoon and enjoy it. You deserve it!

This article (Part 1 was published on August 17) has been compiled by Mario Scicluna (www.TheWedding Site.com) in collaboration with Sarah Young - the Wedding Planner. Visit www.TheWedding Site.com for a more detailed printable version.

You may contact www.The WeddingSite.com on 9947-8987 or e-mail: mario@theweddingsite.com.