As straight-forward as planning a wedding may seem, it actually involves more steps and work than you think. But planning your own wedding is not impossible with a little help and reminder along the way. Follow our step-by-step wedding guide and find out all the essential must-do’s in your wedding planning for that one magical big day of yours.
Step 1: The Proposal
The Tiffany Setting, a brilliant round solitaire mounted on the classic six prong setting
Finding the perfect ring is key to anyone’s proposal. But when you’re not familiar with diamond talk, locating the ring might be a challenge, whether you are picking your own ring or your groom is surprising you with one. Thankfully, our engagement ring guide will walk you through everything you need to know before buying an engagement ring and our pick of stunning and unique engagement rings for any type of bride will help you narrow down your selections. Once you’re ready to make the dive, visit any of these 17 jewelers for the most important ring purchase of your life.
Step 2: The Auspicious Date
Let Love Rule by La-Vie Photography Japan
Before you can search for your wedding venue, you need to a wedding date. Consult our calendar of auspicious wedding dates to find your date. A word of advice: do try to have at least 2 auspicious wedding dates on hand. In the event that your chosen venue is not available on one date, you can check with them immediately if they are available on the second one.
Step 3: Register Your Marriage
The Greatest Adventure of John and Sher by Jonathan Ong // Visual Storytelling
You’ve popped the question and you’ve found your wedding date. Now, it’s time to make it legal by applying for a notice of marriage at the Registry of Marriage. However, you can only do so at lest 21 days or up to 3 months before the date of solemnisation. Find out what other things you need to prepare and take note for your solemnisation. If you plan to solemnise outside of the ROM building, look through our ROM venue listings to help you find the ideal place where you’ll exchange your vows at.
Step 4: Budget
Image from PicJumbo
While waiting to register your marriage, work on your wedding budget. To avoid falling into debt, you and your husband-to-be need to sit down and decide realistically on how big a celebration you plan to have and how much you are willing and able to spend on your nuptials. While most weddings today are getting bigger and fancier, you can still plan a beautiful wedding on a budget. However, not all budget wedding tips will save your money. Find out which 5 budget wedding tips are that are not worth following.
Step 5: Wedding Venue and Guestlist
Weddings in Pictures: Beautiful Clifftop Wedding in Bali by Tawan Conchonnet
Your wedding budget will pretty much decide your wedding venue choices. Go through our directory of wedding banquets and use our regularly updated banquet price list to narrow down the perfect venue that meets your budget and needs. If you need extra help in selecting a venue, consider these 5 simple tips on how to choose a wedding venue. Learn the essential need-to-know’s, tips and advice on how to select a wedding banquet venue and what to expect from a wedding banquet package from the experts. If you’re looking for an alternative and more Western styled celebration, look through our list of intimate wedding venues and trending cafes for weddings in Singapore. Once you have chosen a venue, start working on your guestlist and seating plan.
Step 6: Wedding Photography and Videography
Tim and Sabrina – You Found Me by Chris Ling International Photographers
Start searching for a photographer and videographer once you have a wedding date and venue. Photographers and videographers are usually booked for weddings a year or more ahead, especially if they are popular among the groups of couples getting married. Visit our directory listing of wedding photographers and videographers and shortlist those whose style you like and schedule a meeting with them to discuss your expectations for your wedding photographs. Go with the one whom you feel most connected to and who meets your budget. If you are going for a pre-wedding or engagement shoot, consider these 7 engagement and pre-wedding photography ideas or style your own hipster picnic with some tips from our editorial team.
Step 7: Wedding Traditions
Weddings in Pictures: You Light Up My Life by Andrew Phua Photography
Wedding traditions are an important part of a wedding. They celebrate our culture and remind us of our roots, and in practicing them, we demonstrate respect to our elders and forefathers. Prepare yourself for your big day by reading up on the 5 most popular Chinese wedding traditions still practiced today and learn more about the Western wedding traditions that have become a staple in weddings in Singapore. Use our convenient and customisable wedding to-do list to write down appointments and things to do, and their respective deadlines.
Step 8: Choose Your Bridesmaids
Rustic and Whimsical Wedding at The Stables by Mindy Tan Photography
It’s time to pick out your bridal party! Before you pop the question to your bridesmaids, learn about the roles your bridesmaids and maid of honor are expected to carry out as your bridal party. Then, doll them up prettily for your big day by checking out the latest bridesmaids’ dress trends! Make sure your groom’s best men are dressed to complement your beautiful bridesmaids by introducing these 6 easy-to-follow groomsmen dress trends to ensure that both your bridal parties are aptly dressed for your once-in-a-lifetime.
Step 9: Shop for a Wedding Gown
Designer Feature: Claire Pettibone Fall 2015 Collection by Anton Oparin
With plenty of bridal boutiques available island-wide, shopping for your dream gown can be very time consuming and tiring. Start your search by reading up on 7 tips to help you choose a bridal boutique before you browse through our directory of bridal boutiques. Then, narrow down the many selections of wedding gowns by learning the different silhouettes, necklines and train lengths in our three-part wedding gown guide. Head on to our Lookbook of wedding gowns for a glimpse of our boutiques’ collections or read up on the latest wedding fashion by international gown designers such as Reem Acra, Monique Lhuillier, Sareh Nouri and Vera Wang. Complete your wedding look with a veil by learning about the different types of veils to find one that fits your personality, gown and venue best.
Step 10: Other Wedding Details
9 Creative Wedding Invitation Suite Designers in Singapore by Kalo Make Art
Once the more pressing details of your wedding are settled, start thinking about your wedding theme and how you want your wedding to be styled. Seek inspiration from real-life couples in our Real Weddings feature or head to our Pinterest boards for more wedding colour themes, bridal bouquets, decorations and gown ideas.
For brides who want to be involved in the planning and decorating of her wedding, browse through our list of do-it-yourself wedding favours, ang pow box or decorations for ideas on what you can personalise for your wedding. Or, if you’re faced with a time constraint, consider writing your own vows or wedding speech. Alternatively, you could work with creative wedding invitation suite designers to create a wedding invitation set that embodies who you are.
You’ll also have to think about how you want your wedding cake to look like if your venue doesn’t provide one. Read about the 7 most common questions couples have about buying a wedding cake and pick up 5 tips on how to choose one for your big day.
Step 11: Get Fit and Beautiful For the Wedding
From the Moment I Met You by Multifolds Photography
Once most of the wedding planning pieces have fallen into place, it’s time to turn your focus onto prepping yourself for your big day. Almost every bride goes on a diet to shape up and look their best for their wedding. Rather than starving yourself to drop the kilos, introduce a low impact and calming exercise such as pilates or yoga, and revamp your eating habits to eat your way to weight loss. If you still find yourself a few kilos away from your ideal weight, we’ve got some tips on how to lose those last few kilos in time for your big day. Achieving a svelte body is important, but don’t neglect your skin! Learn how you can attain a flawless complexion and glowing skin and read up about 6 skincare products to try out for complexion woes such as uneven skin tone and dark spots.
Step 13: Your Bridal Shower
10 Bridal Shower Ideas to Obsess About
For this step of your wedding, your bridesmaids will take over the planning. All you have to do is to turn up and enjoy the party they have planned for you. But, if you’ll like to exercise some form of control over that smashing goodbye-to-singlehood party, go through these 10 bridal shower ideas and show them your favourites.
Step 14: Plan Your Honeymoon
Tokyo Love by Tinydot Photography
After all that planning that culminates in one night of celebration, you and your groom-to-be deserve an enjoyable honeymoon where it’ll just be the two of you. So, don’t forget to take some time out of your wedding planning to plan a short break after your big day.
For more wedding planning tools, tips, advice and inspiration, please visit SingaporeBrides.
Credits:
Feature Image: Weddings in Pictures: You Light Up My Life by Andrew Phua Photography
Tiffany & Co. Rings: Tiffany & Co.