Wedding Planner: A 12-month guide to all my planning milestones

Okay! So off to the wedding plans! Here we go!

It is really hard to plan a wedding when both couples are based overseas. Both of us cannot attend any food tasting or ocular visits of the venue, so we can't judge instantly what to choose. We are planning to get a full-time coordinator but the problem was that I find it too expensive. Although, the fiance says it does not matter as long as I am not stressed with planning with the wedding. We'll figure it out. But I'm too much concerned with the expense for ongoing PR application in Australia.

Here is the initial plan before we start with the guidelines. This are the things we talked about and considered first before we booked a venue and other important suppliers. So first, and foremost, we have to allocate a budget. I don't want to allocate too much of our money for the wedding as I don't want us to be struggling after. We are expecting around Php 500,000.00 to Php 700,000 expenses for everything. It is important to know your budget so you can work around the important expenses, additional details, and the honeymoon. Second, we have to determine the date we want for the wedding. We are considering any days on the last week of December 2016. It will be either on Dec 26, or 27, or 28, or 29, or 30 of 2016. We chose that date because we want to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the Philippines. We want our family and friends abroad to be on the day of the wedding. Lastly, we are going to have a garden wedding. We decide for a garden wedding since the fiance is a Christian.

Now, let's proceed to the guidelines:

12-10 months before the wedding (January to March 2016):

• Determine the budget. I have discuss this already. It'll be Php 500,000 - Php 700,000. Anything beyond Php 700,000 is a no-no but lower than that a big YES! I want to have a value for money wedding. Status: Done.
• Find a vision for a wedding. - Update as of 15-Feb-2016: I'm starting again with the vision board because we've decided to have a new theme: Alice in Wonderland. Status: On-going
• Decide on the wedding date. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: The wedding date will be on December 27, 2016. Status: Done.
• Get a wedding coordinator. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: Finally, we already found a wedding coordinator that fits our budget and personality. We booked the semi-coordination services of 7ten5 events. More details on the next blog. Status: Done.
• Book ceremony, reception site, caterer, and stylist. Update as of 15-Feb-2016:
• Caterer and stylist: We booked K. By Cunanan last January 16, 2016 in the Bridal Fair held in MOA. We didn't of course went home to the Philippines just to book them. My sister and mom went to the bridal fair to book it so we could avail the plus three free desserts they offer if you booked in the fair. Status: Done.
• Venue: We went back to the Philippines this February 12, 2016 to look for a wedding venue in Antipolo. We decided to book Alpadi Estate because of the mysterious and intimate ambiance of the venue. Status: Done.
• List down your wedding party. - This is not a problem. I have already listed them down. Some even volunteer to be part of the entourage but please, may I remind my family and friends, not everybody is going to be part of the entourage. Not because you did not become a big part of our life, but because it is a responsibility. As an entourage, we will have to choose you based on whether you are capable of doing your duties. Whether you are an entourage or a guest, if you are invited, it is because you are important to us. Status: On-going.
• Determine the number of guests. - The fiance and I are planning to have only 150 guests for the wedding. We don't want it to be too big as we don't want it to look like a fiesta. Only close family and friends will be invited. No children not part of the entourage are allowed. Except, for the little Aizen, my nephew, because I have favoritism. Haha! I won't allow children because I don't want to see kids running around the venue all the time. Also, sorry to my mommy entourages, but I don't want you to be missing come pictorial time because your babies are needed to be breastfed. Status: On-going.
• Research for suppliers. - I already list down suppliers I would want for my wedding but we are open for suggestions. Status: On-going. 
• Shop for wedding bands. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: We bought our wedding bands in Goldheart here in Singapore for the price of less than S$1,000!!! Yeay! Thank God for the Chinese New Year Sale! Status: Done.

8-10 months before the wedding (March to May 2016)

• Choose a theme and color scheme for the wedding. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: The theme of the wedding will be Alice in Wonderland. The designs would be mainly be books, teapots and teacups, clocks and watches, and playing cards. More details on the next blog. The color scheme would still be dark blue and rose gold. Status: Done.
• Once theme and color is already set, send your pegs to the stylists. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: Our stylist is Nina of K. By Cunanan will be the one to design the ceremony and the reception. I'm still not yet done with the sample layouts for the theme of the wedding. Status: On-going.
• Research and shop for wedding gown and groom suit.  I have a pinterest board for this. Also, I saved some of the designs that would inspire my wedding gown. I already have options for the designers I would want. The fiance also has a peg for his suit. It is simple yet elegant. He liked it. Status: On-going.
• Book your photographer and videographer. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: 
• Photographer: We booked ProudRad as our wedding photographer. More details once we already have our prenup. Status: Done.
• Videographer: We are going to discuss the details with Samric Mante of Woodstock Cinema. Status: On-going.
• Book the officiant. Update as of 15-Feb-2016: Haven't talked to anyone yet. Status: Not yet started.

6-8 months before the wedding (May to July 2016)

• Start with the design of the invitation. This is not a major problem for me because my older sister who happens to also be my maid of honor, is a talented graphic artist. I will send her the pegs, and it's all up to her on what design she would create for the invitation. Status: Not yet started. 
• Shop for entourage dresses. My plan is to get a package with my couturier to design the gown for my entourage. But if it'll be too expensive, I already had my research for couturier with reasonable prices for the entourage dresses. We also plan to pay only 50% of the price of the entourage gowns and the other 50% will be paid by the entourage. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with the wedding coordinators. Ask them for help in booking other necessary suppliers, like lights & sounds, cake supplier, LCD and projector rental, bridal car, musicians, and printer for invitations, giveaways, photobooths, mobile bars, and other wedding needs.
• Book the florist. Status: Not yet started.
• Follow up with the stylist for the design of the venue. Status: Not yet started.
• Arrange the transportation for the wedding party. Since our wedding will be destination wedding. We would prepare a transportation for guests who don't have cars or means to go. But it will be limited only. Status: Not yet started.
• Research and booked a make-up artists. I already have a make-up artist in mind. Status: Not yet started.

5 months before the wedding (August 2016)

• Ensure the invitations are on track. Check out any errors in the invitation before printing. Make sure that it is updated before any errors are to be printed out. Status: Not yet started.
• Save-the-date pictorial and test make-up the artists. Status: Not yet started.
• Food tasting with the chosen caterer and the wedding cake. Book another food tasting if we want any changes in the menu. Status: Not yet started.
• Follow up with the stylist for the design of the venue. Status: Not yet started.
• Schedule gown fitting. Status: Not yet started.

4 months before the wedding (September 2016)

• Bridal shower. This is tentative. Status: Not yet started.
• Make a playlist to be played by the musicians on the wedding day. Submit the playlist to the musicians. Status: Not yet started.
• Purchase any other bridal accessories. Shoes, jewelries, lingeries, etc. Status: Not yet started.
• Plan and book the honeymoon. Status: Not yet started.
• Send save-the-date invitations. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with wedding coordinators regarding the other suppliers needed. Status: Not yet started.

3 months before the wedding (October 2016)

• Book accommodations for the wedding night. Status: Not yet started.
• Finalize the menu. Status: Not yet started.
• Print out the wedding invitations with ticket for how many seats are allotted to the guests. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with wedding coordinators. Ask status for other suppliers, like bridal car, cake, giveaways, photobooth, mobile bars, LCD and projector rental, lights and sounds, and musicians. Status: Not yet started.
• Follow up with the stylist for the design of the venue. Status: Not yet started.

8 weeks before the wedding

• Check-in with all major suppliers for updates. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with wedding coordinators for the status of the other suppliers. Finalize all the wedding day plans. Status: Not yet started.
• Purchase gifts for entourage. Status: Not yet started.

6 weeks before the wedding

• Send out wedding invitation to all guests. Status: Not yet started.
• Review playlist with the musicians. Status: Not yet started.
• Apply for a marriage license. Marriage license in the Philippines last for 120 days only. See this for reference: http://www.filipiknow.net/how-to-get-married-in-the-philippines/ Status: Not yet started.

4 weeks before the wedding

• Last dress fitting. Ensure the couturier that the dress should be delivered to you one week before the wedding. Status: Not yet started.
• Start recording RSVPs. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with the coordinators. Status: Not yet started.
• Follow up with the stylist for the design of the venue. Status: Not yet started.

3 weeks before the wedding

• Go to a salon to have your hair cut and colored. Status: Not yet started.
• Pamper time! Go for a facial. Status: Not yet started.
• Walk around with your shoes to get used to it. Status: Not yet started.
• Sent a timeline to the bridal party. Status: Not yet started.

2 weeks before the wedding

• Last meeting with the coordinators. Discuss again the suppliers they helped to book, and the wedding party and seating arrangements. Status: Not yet started.
• Check in with the photographer and go-on shot list. Status: Not yet started.
• Buy wedding gift for the Fiance. Status: Not yet started.

1 week before the wedding

• Send a finalize guest list to caterers. Status: Not yet started.
• Deliver final song to the musicians. Fiance and I will finalize what song will be our first dance. Status: Not yet started.
• Pamper time with the Fiance. Get a full body massage. Status: Not yet started.
• Reconfirm final details with all the vendors. Status: Not yet started.
• Meet with the coordinators. Status: Not yet started.
• Dinner with the parents, and the entourage to introduce each other. Status: Not yet started.

3 - 2 days before the wedding

• Pay off all balances with the vendors. Status: Not yet started.
• Provide the vendors and coordinators with an emergency number to call on the big day. Status: Not yet started.
• Give marriage license to the officiant. Status: Not yet started.

1 day before the wedding

• Get a mani-pedi. 
• Relax! 

Big day!

• Enjoy the day and Get MARRIED!!!!