Everything for that special day from your Wedding Planner Checklist

The pressure for everything to be perfect on the day you say "I do" is immense and there are numerous details to plan before you tie the knot. That's why the Holiday Inn Meetings has put together this vital wedding planning checklist for brides and grooms-to-be.

Follow the step-by-step guide and you'll be stress free and right on schedule for the happiest day of your life.

9 to 12 Months - Wedding Vision

• After you've announced the engagement, you need to choose your best man, maid of honour and bridesmaids.
• Create your guest list now. This is a time-consuming job that cannot be left until the last minute.
• Reserve your wedding and reception venues - these are often booked up well in advance.

6 to 8 Months - Early Steps to the Dream

• Start researching the catering and the entertainment, and book as soon as possible.
• Enjoy choosing your wedding rings.
• Shop around for your wedding dress and order it now.
• Send your invitations out now so your guests have plenty of notice of the event.
• Choose and order the bridesmaids' dresses.
• Hire your wedding cars - there is a huge choice now from traditional Bentleys and Rolls-Royces to limos and cute camper vans.

2 to 5 Months - Foundations of Success

• Choose and order your wedding cake or cakes - traditional are still the most popular but cupcake towers are a contemporary alternative.
• Buy your wedding shoes and book your dress fittings.
• You've shopped around and now it's time to buy the wedding rings.
• If you are having a hen or stag "do" - book it now.
• Gather something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Final Months - Everything Comes Together

• Obtain your marriage licence.
• Create a table plan for your guests and reconfirm the final details with them.
• Collect your dress and your cake.

The Wedding Day - A New Beginning!

You'll be emotionally charged and excited but if you've followed the checklist there's no need to panic.

• Just remember the rings.
• Remain calm and enjoy the magical moment.
• Leave for your Honeymoon.

Weddings - Interesting Facts

• Wedding rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger leads directly to the heart.
• The term "best man" dates back to an old Scottish tradition of grooms kidnapping their future brides. The best man was one of the groom's friends who excelled during the abduction.
• Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that a wedding veil protected the bride from evil spirits. They have been worn by brides the world over ever since.
• The phrase: "Something, old, something new, something borrowed and something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoes" symbolises continuity, hope for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity and a wealth of good luck.

Did you know...

There are more than 100 Holiday Inns in the UK and Ireland that cater for weddings. Many are also licensed to stage the ceremony and Holiday Inn wedding organisers can help you plan everything from red carpets to fabulous flowers and personalised menus.