• 6 months before
  Decide upon a wedding date.
  Decide on your budget.
  If you are getting married in church you will need to agree on the arrangements with your the priest.
  You would need to get married in a register office, you will need to give notice to the Registrar. 6 months is the time frame.


• Paperwork for the ceremony abroad should start now.


• Decide on the number of guests and make a list
  Book the Wedding Reception (once decided with Wedding Planner)


• Book Music, band or DJ for the wedding reception
  Book the Magician or other wedding entertainment
  Book the Caterer (if in an other venue other than hotel)


• Book the Photographer and Videographer
  Book the Wedding Transport
  Book the Flowers


• Book theHoneymoon and apply for a new passport (i.e. The bride may wish to travel under her married name, but be prepared to be unable to travel until your wedding date, as your old passport will be invalid).
  Order theWedding Cake


• Book an over night stay in a hotel room/bridal suit. (Most hotels give you first night free)
  Start looking for your Wedding Dress. Decide whether you want it handmade, a designer or ‘off the peg’ dress.
  Decide in your Bridesmaids and Ushers
  Decide on your Best Man.
  Confirm all bookings in with wedding planner.
  
  
  
  5 Months before
  Attend initial fitting for the wedding dress
  Choose the brides weddingShoes and accessories
  Choose the wedding attire for the Groom, best man, bridesmaids, fathers, mothers and ushers
  Choose the Brides and Grooms wedding rings
  Order your wedding favours.
  Notify your bank, Building Society and relevant authorities that you intend on Changing Names and as of what date it will take affect. (If you wish to do so)
  Order the wedding Invitations and other stationery.
  Take out wedding Insurance, (advisable sometimes).


• Send out your wedding Invitations, this gives guest enough time for their flights and accomodation and can work out cheaper if they give a good amount of notice.


• 
  4 Months before
  Discuss the seating plan with the Wedding Planner.


• Arrange to see Hairdresser or Barber about what hairstyle you want on your big day. Brides should take along a picture of the dress and veil or headdress and other accessories to help the hairdresser create a hairstyle that will compliment and finish off the look
  Go to a beauty salon and have a Makeover (great treat for Bride and Bridesmaids)


• Book a Beautician for your wedding day, if required as some of the Family and Friends might required when in Portugal.


• 
  3 Months before


• Most Paperwork should be in order now.
  Decide upon your wedding list, and make it available to all your wedding guests.
  An advice guest to book any overnight accommodation now while there is still availability.
  Confirm your ceremony details with either the registrar or the minister.
  Decide upon your chosen wedding music or hymns.
  Arrange for the ‘Order of Service’ sheets to be printed.
  Buy gifts for the best man, ushers and bridesmaids.
  Arrange to have any vaccinations done, if required.
  Start to plan your hen and stag parties.
  


• 
  1 month before
  Arrange for a final fitting of your wedding dress.
  Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the reception venue.
  Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the florist.
  Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the photographer and videographer
  Reconfirm the wedding arrangements with the company supplying the wedding transport.
  
  Reconfirm all your entertainment.
  Have the hen and stag night.
  Finalise the seating plan with the Wedding Planner.
  Arrange a date for a wedding rehearsal, if required.
  Send out thank you cards to all guests who have responded to your invitation.
  Telephone any guests who have not yet responded to your invitation.
  Organise a date when you can pick up you’re wedding party outfits.
  Write the wedding speech.


• 
  Top.


• 7 Days before
  Have the wedding rehearsal. (Can be arrange a couple of days on your arrival in Portugal)
  Wear-in your wedding shoes. Its will give brides who are not used to walking in high heels a chance to practice.
  Organise with a close friend to have an emergency wedding kit, just for the bride, containing makeup and a repair kit for the wedding dress, so you can be ready for any minor hiccups through the day. (A must!)
  Give your Mass booklet sheets to the minister.
  Give the rings to the best man.
  Give the best man a list of all the wedding services involved in your wedding day, in case they need to be contacted.


• 
  The Day before
  Have the day off.
  Brides and grooms go and have your nails manicured.
  Grooms go and have your hair tidy up around the back and sides.
  Whilst grooms are out have a proper shave at the barbers shop.
  Spend the rest of the day relaxing.
  Try and get an early night.
  The Day of the Wedding




• 
  Assuming the bride and groom are having a 2pm wedding the bride’s timetable should running like this:
  08.00
  Get up and have a relaxing shower or bath.
  08.30
  Have a good breakfast. Don’t have anything too out of the ordinary otherwise you may end up with an upset stomach.
  09.00
  Polish your nails.
  09.30
  Have your hair styled by a hairdresser. I can arrange to get them to come to you, as it will be one less worry for you on the day.
  11.00
  Best man arrives to collect the luggage/ greeting cards/ if required.
  11.30
  The bridesmaids and pageboys arrive.
  12.00
  Have your makeover.
  12.30
  The bride and bridesmaids get dressed.
  13.00
  The photographer arrives, and takes the rearranged photographs..
  13.30


• .The first wedding car will take the mother and the bridesmaids to the church.
  13.45
  The second wedding car will take the bride and her father to the church. Where the bridesmaids will meet them.
  13.58
  The bride and her father will stand at the entrance of the church, with the bridesmaids lined up behind you. The verge will greet you.
  14.00
  The wedding ceremony. Good luck, relax and enjoy you big day.

I will be there to help in all of the above. Jacqui Smith- Simplicity Events Limited.