Indian Wedding Planning Checklist and Tips
Truth be told, wedding preparations always get more exhausting than you can imagine! While you can’t make the overwhelm disappear, you can certainly reduce it if you plan out everything and implement a simple strategy.
When I was getting married, I assigned a notebook for all the tasks, to-do’s, and marked everything on the calender and reminders on my phone. I used to take screenshots for inspirations because I was not on Pinterest then (duh :( )
My strategy was simple. I grouped up of everything that was needed to be done in order of priority. That was my Focus Group for a certain period of time. For wedding, it is certain that things don’t usually get finalized in the click of a button. You’d have to make visits with your parents and partner, read the contracts carefully, arrange for the payments etc. and that would take time. While I used to set things in motion for my Focus Group, I used to Research on the Upcoming Group of things so that by the time everything in my Focus Group is done, I’m ready to finalize the next set of things and Focus on them. You’re getting the drift?? Here is my ready to use no nonsense checklist that would actually work for you!
Let’s get started!
12 Months before the Wedding
P R I O R I T I Z E // D I S C U S S // R E S E A R C H
Prioritize what's important for you and your partner!
Discuss Budget with your partner and parents and make a draft of how much should you invest in what places.
Discuss your Wedding Date and City with your partner and parents
Discuss all PWE: Pre Wedding Events, Ceremonies and Celebrations such as Sangeet, Sagan, Engagement, Haldi, Mehendi, Receptions etc. You should be able to decide the number of events that you would be having.
Estimate the Guest Count for all the events and write the approximate number of guests for each event separately as well.
Research Venues & their availability and accessibility
Research on Catering Styles as per your requirements for all the events.
You might want to apply for a Credit Card if you don’t have one. A card which give good deals on shopping, reward points or even complimentary air tickets on shopping over a certain value! It’d be a smart move and I highly recommend you considering it.
Do a preliminary research vendors & professionals. Ask your friends and relatives for recommendations.
B R O W S E // G E T I N S P I R E D
Mark your calendar for upcoming Sales/Discounts for your favorite stores/ designers.
Browse internet for inspiration for decor, outfits, invitations, etc.
Research Wedding and Event Planners
Start Pinterest Boards and keep on saving any inspirations that you come across. Make different boards for decor, outfits, jewellery, invitations, makeup, styling, wellness and fitness routines etc.
Consider setting up your Wedding Website!
10-12 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Wedding Date
Budget
Approx. Guest Count
Wedding Planner
Ceremony Venue
Reception Venue
Venues for PWE
Catering styles for all the events
Apply for a Credit Card
Wedding Website
R E S E A R C H
Hotels/ Room Blocks
Invitation Designer
Decor Theme & Florist
Photographer & Cinematographer
Wellness & Fitness Centres
Nutritionist/ Healthy Diet Plans
Decor for all PWE
Bridesmaids' Proposal Ideas
8-10 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Hotels/ Room Blocks
Invitation Designer
Decor Theme & Florist
Photographer & Cinematographer
Wellness & Fitness Centres/ Routine
Nutritionist/ Healthy Diet Plans
Decor for all PWE
Bridesmaids' Proposal Card and/or Favors
R E S E A R C H
Wedding Jewellery
Wedding Dress
Save the Dates
Pre Wed Shoot Ideas and Locations
DJ/ Band & Entertainment Artists
Choreographer
6-8 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Wedding Jewellery
Wedding Dress
Save the Dates
Pre Wed Shoot Date & Location
DJ/ Band & Entertainment
Choreographer
R E S E A R C H
Invitations
Hashtag
PWE Jewellery
PWE Dresses
Makeup Artist, Stylist & Hairstylists
Honeymoon Travel
Skincare ad Spa Centres
4-6 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Invitations
PWE Jewellery
PWE Dresses
Makeup Artist, Stylist & Hairstylist
Honeymoon Travel & Visa Application
Skincare ad Spa Appointments
Re-assess the budget
R E S E A R C H
Engagement Ring for your Partner
Gift for partner and/or in-laws
Wedding Shoes and Accessories
PWE Shoes & Accessories
Bridesmaids & Groomsmen Attire
Schedule shopping with partner and/or in-laws
3-4 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Engagement Ring for your Partner
Wedding Shoes and Accessories
PWE Shoes & Accessories
Bridesmaids & Groomsmen Attire
Shopping with partner and/or in-laws
R E S E A R C H
Trousseau Shopping
Honeymoon Shopping
Luggage Carriers
Schedule Food Tasting
Mehendi Artists
Designer and tailor for unstitched suits/saree blouses
Leave plan from your workplace
2-3 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Invitations Sending Schedule
Trousseau Shopping
Honeymoon Shopping
Luggage Carriers
Menu for all the events
Mehendi Artists
Workplace Leave Application
Designing, Stitching and Finishing of unstitched suit/saree pieces (if any)
R E S E A R C H
Calligrapher/ Designer for Stationery
Marriage Registration/ License
Wedding Day Transportation for Guests
Welcome Hampers (for guest rooms)
Bakers and Cakes
Entry Ideas
Bouquets + Varmala + Garlands
Wrapping Artists for Trousseau & Favor Packaging
Get to know the Bachelorette Party Plan from your besties
Wedding Day Favors and/or sweets and/or Sagan Envelopes
1-2 Months before the Wedding
F I N A L I Z E
Now that all the research work is over. It’s time to finalize and move forward.
Wedding Day Stationery such as Signages, Programs, Guest Books, Place Cards & Thank You Card Design
Marriage Registration Appointment
Wedding Day Transportation for your guests
Wedding Day Favors and/or sweets and/or Sagan Envelopes
Welcome Hampers for Guest Rooms
Delivery of Wrapped Favors and Trousseau
Bouquet and Varmala and other Garland requirements with your florist/decor team.
Schedule performance practices with your choreographer
Cake flavor and design
Entry Ideas
Casual & Miscellaneous Personal Shopping, Cosmetics stc
Stoles/ Broaches/ Pagaris for your core family. Consider a Pagri Tying Artist!
4 Weeks before the Wedding
C O N F I R M // S C H E D U L E // R E M I N D // G E T C O M F Y
Confirm your booking & timings with the Ceremony Venue
Schedule a call with you Makeup artist. Confirm your looks and get comfortable.
Schedule a call with your Hairstylist and confirm the hair accessories and flowers to be bought.
Schedule a call with your Stylist and finalize the drapes and veil styles.
Confirm all details & arrangements with vendors. Give a call to each one of them for reminders and timings.
Confirm Beauty appointments
Confirm Honeymoon travel. Download and save all the required docs in one folder on your phone (you'd thank yourself later for this!)
Try out your Wedding Dress for the final fitting
Try your Wedding Shoes and get comfortable
Try out your Wedding Jewellery. If you plan to wear a nose ring and don't have a nose piercing, I highly recommend you to try it out and talk to your stylist about it.
3 Weeks before the Wedding
C O N F I R M // S C H E D U L E // R E M I N D // G E T C O M F Y
Buy Prayer/Ritual items for all the events. Check and pack them to be taken along.
Confirm the Guest List to your Calligrapher for Place Cards/ Personalized Name Tags for Gifts
Check any MIA RSVPs and call those guests to confirm. (if you sent RSVP cards with your invitations) or anybody who hasn’t responded post your invitations.
Finalize the guest list and give the head count to your caterer and venue (important if you've planned for seated meals rather than a buffet)
Confirm meals for vendors, drivers etc with your caterer.
Confirm your playlist and "do-not-play" list with the DJ or band.
Talk to your Photographer for your must have shots and if you have any preferred face angles and poses that you look the best in.
Transportation for you for all the events
Confirm all the timelines with your family
2 Weeks before the Wedding
P A C K & P A R T Y
Pack your Wedding Day Bag: Wedding dress, wedding shoes, wedding jewellery, accessories, perfume etc. Keep an extra pair of shoes. If you would be going to the different venues for different ceremonies and events from your home itself, I'd still suggest you to make bags for each event with all the stuff that you'd be requiring so that you just have to open the bag for the particular event. This would save you unwanted stress at the last moment in a crunch of time.
Pack Utility Kit: Makeup essentials, safety pins, nail trimmer & filer, sewing kit etc. Don't forget to put in make up removal wipes/ wet tissues (trust me you'd need it when you get back to your new home after your wedding!)
Pack Emergency Kit: Analgesics, antacids, muscle relaxants, band aids, sanitary products etc.
Pack your Honeymoon Bag
Pack your bag for your new home
Have a blast at your Bachelorette Party
1 Week before the Wedding
T H E F I N A L T O U C H
Hand over the Stationery- Place cards, Programs, Signages, Seating Charts etc. to the appropriate venue/ managers or the decor/planning team.
Drop off Welcome Hampers with delivery instructions at guests’ hotels.
Designate two of your trusted relatives and/or friends for any last minute approvals or confusions to the venue manager/ planning team/ vendors
Give a call to your planner or vendors one by one and confirm the location, timings, deliveries etc so that there is no confusion at the last minute. Confirm the final balance payment. Introduce your designated contacts to the planning team and vendors.
Final beauty appointment. Now you've also got to get your nails done, right?
Write checks in advance/ segregate cash and put it labelled envelopes for all vendors and/or planning team. Put tips separately in envelopes and designate the two of your trusted relatives/ friends to handover the balance on your behalf.
Get all your ceremony and wedding dresses steamed/ironed if required.
Dance and Performance final practices
Print Travel Docs- Some South Asian and South American countries are very strict and need you to present them with a print of your visa and just do not accept the e-Visa on your phone. If you've planned a country which has a "Visa on Arrival" for your travel dates, make sure to carry the required documents and photographs (particular size) as per the instructions. This way you'd get a clear passage and would be able to skip the long hour queues for the Immigration Counter. You'd end up patting yourself for being smart and organized!
Get Forex in Cash and/or apply for/upload your Forex Card
Perishable Sweets required for different ceremonies
Check alternate routes to your Wedding Venue, anticipate possible traffic conditions. Discuss this with your driver.
Assign duties to your family members to carry & supervise Ceremony/ Prayer Items, Favors, Gifts, Sagan Envelopes, Engagement Ring to the venue.
1 Day before the Events begin
Eat fulfilling and happy meals
Stay calm and relaxed and have your beauty sleep
Put your Phone Charger, Earpods, ID, Cash, Cards and Jewellery in your Hand Bag. Put in a water bottle, chocolate, power/breakfast bar and mint as well.
Review your Dance Steps from your practice videos
Make your bestie/ sister the incharge of keeping your Hand Bag safe.
Carry your Event/Wedding Day Bag, Utility Kit and Emergency Kit
Give a reminder call to your driver to be on time.
Get ready to have a blast at your Wedding!!
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