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The Ultimate Checklist for a Greek Wedding in the UK!

The Ultimate Checklist for a Greek Wedding in the UK

Planning your Greek wedding whether two years or two months in advance can be stressful. This checklist is a countdown of all the main things you need to do. Wedding planning can be a bit of a headache; coordinating all the different bits and pieces, so we created a full task list of all the things you will need to do, from ring shopping, dress shopping to organising the invitations list etc. The list is a timeline of the things you would need to do leading up to your wedding.

As soon as the BIG question is popped and you are serious about getting married!

  • Sit down with your fiance to make sure you're on the same page

  • Draw up a budget

  • What is the number of guests? - this will affect your choice of venues as its price per head

  • Pick potential wedding dates - check with close family & friends

  • Research potential wedding venues and church availability

  • Enlist any helpers/talented friends of family with aspects of the wedding (for the cake, flowers, dresses etc)

24 to 12 Months Before The Wedding

  • Visit and book your reception venue and ceremony location

  • Research potential wedding services and suppliers - photographer, florist, invitations, cake, decor, hair and makeup

  • Consider and review wedding insurance options

  • Decide what type of entertainment you want for ceremony, drinks reception and dancing and BOOK them as the chances are they are in demand! www.diastello.com

  • Book Photographer

  • Book Videographer

  • Research and consider options for your venue and ceremony decor

  • Start your wedding dress research

  • Send Save the Date cards - important if you're getting married abroad, or during a very busy time of year

8/10 months before

  • Research and reserve accommodations for guests

  • Contact decor hire companies if you need to rent anything for ceremony/reception, such as chairs, tables, and tent.

  • Book Honeymoon

  • Order wedding cake

  • Book Groomsmen’s Suits

  • Book Pre-Marriage Course

6/8 months before

  • Book ceremony musicians

  • Ensure passports are in date for honeymoon - order new ones if necessary

  • Start planning honeymoon

  • Start planning Hen & Stag Parties - well not you, the best man and bridesmaids should!

4-6 months before

  • Choose bridesmaids’ dresses

  • Choose and order wedding invitations & stationery

  • Attend pre-marriage counselling, if required (for catholic ceremonies)

  • Meet with florist to discuss options

  • Shop for groom's suit

  • Organise the legalities — give at least 3 months notice to registrar or priest/religious celebrant

  • Decide on prayers, readings and music for mass booklets — check with your priest / registrar

  • Organise invitations and order of service booklets

  • Arrange travel vaccinations if necessary

  • Organise wedding transport

  • Start gathering addresses for guest list - create spreadsheet for RSVPs

2-3 months before

  • Send invitations to guests

  • Order wedding rings

  • Rent the men's formalwear

  • Attend dress fittings

  • Choose wedding rings

  • Organise gifts for parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen and each other

  • Book hairdresser and organise hair trial

  • Book a makeup artist and go for makeup trial

4 weeks before

  • Have final wedding dress fitting

  • Make any last-minute adjustments with suppliers

  • Finalise details for, and order mass booklets/order of ceremony

  • Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests

2 weeks before

  • Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet responded

  • Deliver must-have shot lists to photographer and videographer. Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken

IF YOU ARE HAVING THE FULL GREEK DOUBLE CHECK!

  • Bits for stolisma such as the red sash/zoni, the kabnistiri, karvouna, dry olive leaves, rose water, sugared almonds with red ribbon, the MUSIC!

  • Bits for the church such as the ribbon for koumbarous and koumeres, the stefana, the button hole flowers for koumeres and koumbarous, lambades, RINGS!

  • For the reception you will need pins (For traditional dance) and a bag

1 week before

  • Give venue/caterer final guest head count

  • Supply wedding coordinator with a list of supplier requests such as a table for DJ or setup space needed by florist.

  • Create your table plan

  • Print placecards

  • Call all wedding suppliers to confirm arrangements, create timetable for day

  • Give ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers.

  • Get manicure, massage, waxing & all your preening and prep

  • Do full wedding dress rehearsal from underwear to veil

  • Pack an overnight bag for the reception

  • Pack for the honeymoon

  • Organise money to be paid to suppliers on the day

2-3 days before

  • Make last minute changes to table plan if necessary

  • Groom: Go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear.

  • Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits.

  • Confirm pick-up times with wedding car company

  • Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary last-minute substitutions.

Day before

  • Drop off place cards, table cards, menus, favours, table plan to reception coordinator

  • Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding.

  • Sort out payment for any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception. I.e. Band, videographers, photographers, caterers, venue etc.

  • Ensure the cake is on track to be delivered to reception venue. Make sure you organise have a knife for the cutting of the cake!

  • Rehearse ceremony with full wedding party ceremony readers your officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out details.

  • Get a good night’s rest

  • Double, treble, quadruple check your artillery.

The Wedding Day!

  • Give the gifts for your parents to the best man/bridesmaid for after the speeches

  • Get flowers delivered to the bride’s house

  • Give wedding bands to the best man to hold during the ceremony

  • Give best man the officiant's fee envelope, to be given after the ceremony

  • Introduce your reception coordinator (Toastmaster/MC) to your wedding planner (if you're having one), or bridesmaid/bestman for questions or problems during the reception.

  • Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographer's contact so he knows who is who.

  • Make sure someone is assigned to communicate with the band. www.diastello.com

After the Wedding

  • Prearrange for someone to return any rentals.

  • Pre plan for attendants to take the bride's gown for cleaning and return the groom's tux to the rental shop.

  • Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors/ services who were especially helpful. This is always appreciated. www.diastello.com

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