Making wedding plans
Already we are at the end of June! Time to start making plans if you’re getting married later in the year or early next year.
It’s an exciting time, lots of choices and plenty of decisions.
This list is a helpful timeline for wedding planning.
- More than 12 months before your wedding
- Look at dates and times for your wedding.
- Decide on the size, formality and setting of your wedding.
- Make a wedding and engagement budget.
- Reserve the locations for your wedding and reception.
- Meet with and book your wedding celebrant or clergy.
- Choose your wedding party and make sure everyone is up for the job.
- Choose your wedding rings.
- Make a preliminary guest list.
- Sort out your engagement party.
- 9–12 Months Before your wedding
- Sort your wedding dress.
- Book your photographer.
- Reserve a venue.
- Book your music or DJ.
- Arrange flowers with your florist.
- Sort out your wedding cake.
- Make gift choices.
- Sort accommodation for your guests.
- Plan your honeymoon.
- 6–9 Months Before
- Decide on menu choices.
- Sort out cars.
- Order your invitations.
- Check marriage licence.
- 3–6 Months Before
- Fine tune your guest list.
- Choose the reader for your ceremony.
- Decide on flowers with florist.
- Book the Guy’s suits
- Make plans for hair and hairdresser
- Make plans for makeup
- 2 Months Before
- Post the invites.
- Decide on your wedding vows or make your own.
- Finalise the menu.
- Confirm the wedding details with celebrant, musician.
- Purchase any gifts required.
- Make appointments for nails and make-up.
- Schedule dress fitting.
- 1 Month Before
- Marriage licence.
- 2 Weeks Before
- Have a Hens night and Stag do.
- Look at speeches.
- Finalise reception details.
- Call any guests who have not replied.
- Meet with your hairdresser and make-up artist for consultation.
- Deliver song lists to musician or playlists to DJ.
- Confirm honeymoon reservations.
- In the Week before
- Sort seating plan.
- Determine the order of the day.
- Have a rehearsal.
- Confirm accommodation reservations.
- Pick up the suits for boys.
- Confirm the final numbers with caterer.
- Confirm details for cars.
- Deliver your marriage licence to celebrant.
- Make a seating plan for the reception and write out place cards.
- Choose someone to return any rented items after the wedding.
- Write any cheques required for the wedding day.
- Pack for your honeymoon.
- On the Day
- Give the rings to the best man.
- Have fun on your special day!
Why Donegal House is good
Donegal House is steeped with local history and has a unique welcoming and relaxed Irish atmosphere unrivalled in New Zealand. With your very own self contained Irish Stone Cottage set in 6 acres of tranquil gardens & lakes you can have the wedding of your dreams with your friends & family.
Accommodation
Donegal House is Bed & Breakfast accommodation with 29 ensuite rooms.
Menu choices
Donegal have a variety of menu options to suit your needs, budget and numbers. From buffet style, set menu to finger food they will work with you to choose the best option for your day.
Small wedding or large wedding
The Stone cottage at Donegal has an Irish theme in décor and features impressive macracarpa tables that will seat over 100 guests with room to add extra tables for numbers up to 150. Depending on the style of wedding you are looking for they can cater for larger numbers and also have 10 round tables available for you to use, popular for the smaller weddings.
Entertainment
Depending on the style and atmosphere you are aiming for, Donegal have a sound system you are welcome to use for CD’s, DVD’s during dinner and to connect a laptop computer through. For after dinner entertainment if you are looking for a party atmosphere & dancing they recommend a Band or DJ. Plenty of room to boogie into the night.
