PREFERABLY 12 or More Months Before 

▢ Book a date with your chosen Wedding Venue (hopefully Songbird Retreat!)

▢ Pay the deposit to secure your booking.

▢ Create a wedding budget.

▢ Decide if you would like a wedding planner. Book a meeting with our

In-house Wedding Planner Samantha if so to discuss her packages

▢ Meet with and book your wedding officiant or clergy *

▢ Choose your wedding party and confirm the participants. 

▢ Choose your wedding rings. 

▢ Draw up an initial guest list. 

▢ Organise your engagement party.

9–12 Months Before 

▢ Order your wedding dress and attendants’ attire. 

▢ Choose Professional Photographer / Videographer / DJ *

▢ Compose a guest list. 

▢ Determine to use Songbird arch, plinth, chair and table hire or choose

alternatives from hire companies

▢ Begin selection of a Caterer. *

▢ Book your Beverages company or caravan. *

▢ Discuss table linen, crockery, cutlery and glassware hire with hire

companies

▢ Book a chiller trailer *

▢ Book your live entertainment or DJ. *

▢ Reserve your florist. *

▢ Order your wedding cake. *

▢ Organise gift registry. 

▢ Research accommodation for out-of-town guests. **

▢ Plan your honeymoon destination.

6–9 Months Before 

▢ Decide on your menu..

▢ Choose any musicians or soloist for your ceremony. 

▢ Reserve any limousine service. for the bride

▢ Reserve taxi or bus service for guests 

▢ Order your invitations and any other stationery. 

▢ Order any wedding favours for your guests. 

▢ Choose outfits for the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. 

3–6 Months Before

▢ Finalise your guest list.

▢ Choose the reader(s) for your ceremony.

▢ Finalise your order with the florist.

▢ Reserve the men’s wedding attire.

▢ Make an appointment with your hairdresser

▢ Make final payment to Songbird Retreat Wedding Venue

Months Before 

▢ Send invitations. 

▢ Decide on your wedding vows or compose your own.

▢ Finalise the reception menus. 

▢ Purchase any gifts for parents and attendants. 

▢ Make appointments for nails and make-up. *

▢ Schedule final dress fitting. 

1 Month Before 

▢ Apply for a marriage license. **

▢ Plan the rehearsal dinner. 

▢ Meet with photographer and videographer. *

2 Weeks Before 

▢ Have a party for the attendants.

▢ Draft the speeches.

▢ Finalise reception details. 

▢ Call any guests who have not replied. 

▢ Meet with your make-up artist and hairdresser. 

▢ Deliver song lists to musicians or playlists to the disc jockey. 

▢ Confirm honeymoon reservations. 

1 Week Before

▢ Meet with the Songbird Wedding coordinator online or in person to

discuss plans, timeline and vendor arrangements to enable her to

work with your vendors (celebrant, catering, beverage service,

photographers etc) to coordinate requirements and timings.

▢ Finalise seating plan.

▢ Determine the order for the procession. 

▢ Pick up the attire for the groomsmen. 

▢ Deliver your marriage license to the officiant. 

▢ Confirm the final numbers with the caterer. 

▢ Confirm details with any limousine company. 

▢ Draw up a reception seating arrangement and write place cards. 

▢ Choose someone to hand out any wedding favours. 

▢ Choose someone to return any rented items after the wedding. 

▢ Make payments required for the wedding day. 

▢ Pack for your honeymoon