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12 Month Wedding Planning Checklist from Start to Finish

Congratulations on your engagement! You have finally taken that big step, and now the fun begins. The months ahead will bring lots of excitement as you plan every detail of your wedding day. But with so much to do leading up to the big event, it’s no wonder many couples feel overwhelmed at times!

From the typical questions like “When should we send out our save-the-dates?” and “What kind of flowers will I need for my centerpieces?”, to the not-so-typical ones like “Who should pay for what when it comes to the rehearsal dinner?” – there’s a lot to think about, so I’ve put together this lovely organised wedding planning checklist to help you out!

While you can always ask your wedding planner or Google whatever is on your mind, I’ve rounded up all – or a lot of the questions you might have in one place so that throughout your planning process, you can refer back to this wedding planning checklist and feel confident that you’re on track.

So, whether you’re just getting started or are in the thick of things, here’s everything you need to bring your dream wedding to life.

Bride and groom surrounded by yellow foliage

12 Months Out Wedding Planning Checklist

Have A Realistic Budget

While it’s true that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, it’s also true that it will cost you a lot to host a wedding. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead and set a budget.

The first thing to do is to determine how much money you’re willing to spend on your dream wedding. It can be tough, especially if you’ve only been dating for a few months, but try to envision how you’d like your special day to look and feel and then try to estimate how much money that would cost.

Then think about what parts of the wedding are truly non-negotiable—your dress, the food, the venue—and add some extra money just in case. You’ll want a little wiggle room when it comes time to send out those save-the-date cards!

You may be surprised at how much some wedding vendors cost, after all did you know the AVERAGE wedding in Australia hovers around the $35-40k mark? Thats a lot of money! As a wedding photographer I know that many people an=llocate up to 30% of their entire budget on wedding photography costs.

Make a Guest List

This will be determined by a number of factors—your budget, your venue’s capacity, and how many people you’re willing to have in your wedding party. Once you’ve figured out those basics, then it’s time to start making some tough decisions about who gets an invite and who doesn’t. Family members can be tricky (you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings!) but try to remember that at the end of the day this is YOUR day, and you should invite the people that mean the most to you.

Moreover, be reminded that wedding venues often have minimums, so if you’re planning on inviting 50 people, it doesn’t make sense to pay for the 100-person venue. Make sure everyone who’s really important to you and your fiancé will be invited before adding in anyone else— it’s all about prioritizing!

Have a Professional Wedding Planner

This isn’t for everyone, but if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of planning your own wedding (or don’t have anyone else to help out), it might be worth considering hiring a professional. Wedding planners can often get discounts at vendors and venues, which means they could save you money in the long run. They’ll also handle all the nitty-gritty details on your big day so that you can relax and enjoy yourself! After all, your wedding is a celebration of your love, not another stressful to-do list!

Decide on the Formality and Overall Theme

Ahh, the fun part. This is often one of the first things couples think about when they start wedding planning, but it’s actually not that important in the grand scheme of things. Whether you want a formal or informal affair should be based on what will make YOU and YOUR GUESTS most comfortable. If everyone would have more fun at a backyard BBQ than a stuffy ballroom reception, then go for the relaxed vibe!

The same goes for your overall theme – if you’re not into “theme” weddings, don’t force it just because someone told you it would be cute (trust me, I’ve seen some cringe-worthy results).

The important thing is that you’ll be married at the end of the day, so focus on what will make that happen as seamlessly and stress-free as possible. From a logistics standpoint, it’s usually easier to go with a more formal wedding since there are fewer variables to worry about (food/drink, music, decorations, etc.). But if you have your heart set on a certain type of ceremony or reception, then by all means go for it! It’s YOUR wedding after all. 🙂

Select the Venue & Caterer

Once you’ve got a good idea of what kind of wedding you want, it’s time to start thinking about where it will take place. If you’re having a formal affair, then chances are you’ll need to rent out a banquet hall or similar type of venue. For more casual weddings, there are tons of great outdoor locations that can save you money on rental fees (just make sure to have a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t cooperate!).

And don’t forget about the food! Whether you opt for full-service catering or just some finger foods and drinks, be sure to choose something that fits both your budget and your guest list.

The most important thing is not to stress too much over the details – at the end of the day, as long as you’re married to the love of your life, everything else is just icing on the cake.

Bride and groom on old Adelaide Police Barracks

11 Months Out Wedding Planning Checklist

Choose a Color Theme and Start Thinking of Overall Design

Once you’ve figured out your date, location, and guest list, it’s time to start thinking about the overall design of your wedding. Your color palette is one of the first elements you’ll want to decide on – this will also help you pick bridesmaid dresses, flowers, and other decorations that fit both your personality and your budget. Keep in mind that darker colors can actually make spaces feel more intimate (and less expensive!), while lighter colors tend to make spaces feel airy and open.

If you’re not sure where to start with color, consider bringing a few photos of locations or Pinterest boards with you when meeting with vendors – they may have some suggestions based on their experience working in similar venues.

Consider Staffing Quick-Booking Vendors, Such as the Photographer, Orchestra, DJ and the Videographer

While you may be tempted to save money by hiring vendors who are still looking for bookings, keep in mind that these professionals are usually popular for a reason – they’re good at what they do! Not only will booking early ensure that you get the best possible price from these professional services, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that your vendor team is already locked in and ready to help make your wedding day perfect.

Wedding cake on display at Hilton Adelaide

10 Months Out To Do List

Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress

The Hunt Begins! Yes, it’s finally time to start shopping for your wedding dress! If you don’t already have a good idea of what style you want, schedule some appointments with different bridal boutiques and try on as many dresses as possible. It can be helpful to bring along a few photos of dresses you like (or even better, links to specific gowns online) so that the salespeople can get an idea of your taste. Also, be sure to ask about alteration fees when trying on gowns – this will help you budget for any necessary changes down the road.

Reservation of Hotel Room Blocks for All Your Wedding Guests

If you’re having a destination wedding or your guests are coming from out of town, it’s a nice gesture to book hotel-room blocks at one or more local hotels. Not only will this help ensure that your guests have a place to stay, but blocking rooms usually comes with perks like discounted rates and sometimes even complimentary breakfast! You can typically reserve room blocks by contacting the hotel directly – just be sure to do so well in advance (at least 6 months), as popular wedding dates often fill up quickly.

Take Engagement Photos

This is a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera before your big day – and it’s also a fun activity that you can do together! Be sure to pick a photographer whose style you love and try to schedule your session for a time when you know the lighting at your venue will be similar. This will help make sure that your photos match the overall feel of your wedding.

Start Looking at Invitations

Traditionally, invitations go out six to eight weeks before the wedding, so now’s a good time to start browsing stationery. If you’re not big on DIY projects, there are plenty of great sites that offer beautiful (and customizable) pre-made Invitations suites that will save you both time and money in the long run. Plus, if you’ve already got your heart set on a particular design or style, getting started early will give you ample time to track down those hard-to-find elements.

Carrying her in front of sunset

9 Months Out

Buy Your Wedding Dress

Wedding dresses can take up to six months to be produced, so it’s best to start shopping early. When you go to your first appointment, bring a few photos of styles you like and a friend (or two) whose opinion you trust. Once you find the one, you’ll need to leave a deposit and schedule fittings. If your dress needs a lot of alterations, plan on making at least three trips to the tailor before your big day.

Send Save the Dates

This matters because the sooner you let your guests know about the date of your wedding, the better. This way, they can save the date and make sure that they are available to attend. Send out your save-the dates as soon as possible so that your guests have plenty of time to plan accordingly.

bridesmaids helping sort out wedding dress

8 Months Out

Register for Gifts

Be sure to register for gifts at least 7 to 8 months in advance of your wedding date. This will give your guests plenty of time to shop and ensure that you get the items you really want. Most couples register for household items like dishes, towels, and small appliances, but feel free to include anything else you think you might need or want, like camping gear or a new set of golf clubs. And don’t forget to take advantage of any registry completion discounts offered by stores – these can help offset the cost of purchasing the remaining items on your own.

Choose the Bridesmaids’ Attire and Arrange Fittings for the Following Month

Once you have your venue and date booked, it’s time to start thinking about what your bridesmaids will wear. It can take some time to find the right style and color for each of your girls, so start early and allow at least two months for the ordering process. Be sure to schedule fittings well in advance of the big day so that any necessary alterations can be made long before the wedding.

Meet With Potential Florists

Your wedding flowers will play a big role in setting the overall tone and style of your big day, so it’s important to find a florist you click with early on in the planning process. Schedule consultations with a few different vendors – they’ll each have their own unique vision for your wedding, and you can start narrowing down which floral designs fit best with the rest of your plans.

And be sure to ask about things like delivery fees, set-up costs, and whether or not they offer discounts for ordering certain types or quantities of flowers.

bridal bouquet

7 Months Out Wedding Planning Checklist

Book the Rehearsal-Dinner Venue

Depending on your wedding venue, you may have to book a separate location for the rehearsal dinner. In that case, this is a good time to start looking into options in your area. If you’re not sure where you want to have the dinner, ask some friends and family members who live in town if they have any recommendations. You can often score great deals by booking venues during the off-season since they won’t be as busy.

Hire the Ceremony Musicians

If you’re having a religious ceremony, you’ll need to hire musicians for the ceremony. This includes an organist and/or other musicians depending on the type of service and your personal preferences. If it’s not a religious ceremony, consider hiring a string quartet or solo musician to play during the prelude, processional, interludes and recessional.

Hire an Celebrant

Hiring an officiant is one of the most important parts of wedding planning, yet it’s often overlooked. Make sure to find someone who is not only licensed to perform marriages in your state, but also somebody you feel comfortable with and who shares your vision for the perfect ceremony. Once you’ve found the right person, schedule a meeting to discuss all the details and finalize things like readings, vows, and any special traditions you want to include.

Celebrant running things

6 Months Out

Hire a Lighting Technician

Having a professional manage your lighting can really make a difference in the overall look and feel of your event. Up lighting can transform any room into something truly magical, while carefully positioned lights can help to create an intimate atmosphere. If you’re working with a tight budget, ask your venue if they have any in-house lighting technicians that you could use for the evening. Otherwise, there are plenty of great freelance options out there who would be more than happy to work with you to create your perfect vision.

bride and groom under blue lights and smoke

5 Months Out

Book Transportation for Guests, If Needed

If you’re getting married somewhere where guests will need to travel, like a destination wedding or at a venue out of town for many of your guests, consider booking a shuttle bus to transport people from the airport or their hotels to the venue and back again. It’s best if you can offer this service for free, but if you can’t pay for it yourself, ask if any of your friends and family would be willing to chip in. Then all they’ll have to worry about is showing up on time!

Book the Newlyweds’ Transportation (Limo, Specialty Car, etc.) In Advance

While the bride and groom should be the only two people to arrive at the ceremony in a limo or fancy car, it is often customary for the newlyweds to leave together in style. This can be anything from a sports car to a horse-drawn carriage, depending on your budget and personal style. If you’re thinking of going this route, make sure you book your mode of transportation early – otherwise, someone else may beat you to it!

Buy or Rent the Groom’s Tuxedo

It’s never too early to start shopping for wedding outfits, especially if you’re getting married in a high-demand season. However, most people don’t even think about the groom until much later on in the planning process. If you see something you like, snap it up! That way you’ll have time to get your tuxedo fitted so that it looks great on the big day. Of course, if budget is an issue for you and your guy, you can always rent the tux instead.

If that’s the case, make sure to reserve yours and your groomsmen’s tuxes as quickly as possible so that they have time to do any tailoring and alterations necessary.

Groom and page boy suit

4 Months Out

Choose Your Cake

You’ll probably want to choose a wedding cake that fits your venue and theme, but don’t forget about the most important part – the taste! Whether you decide to go with a traditional white cake or something more exotic (like chocolate or carrot), make sure you do a tasting first. This will allow you to talk with different bakers and see what their specialty is.

If you’re having trouble finding someone in your budget who can make exactly what you want, consider getting an approximate replica made by one bakery and adding small touches like flowers or other decorations from another bakery.

Hair and Makeup Trial

A hair and makeup trial can be a great way to test out different looks for your wedding day. The best thing about this is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home! If you’re not sure what style you want, try going online and looking at some pictures of brides. You might even find one whose hairstyle or makeup look like yours.

Wedding cake set up at Krystal Function centre

3 Months Out

Order the Invitations and Hire a Calligrapher

Once you have the details of the wedding nailed down, you can send out the invitations! Don’t wait too long to order them, though, or else you’ll have to pay for expedited shipping. Also be sure to order extra: You’ll want at least one for your own keepsake box and another for any guests that don’t RSVP.

Create or Plan Your Menu

Your menu should be created with your venue in mind. You will want to take into account the time of day, whether or not people will be sitting down, and what type of atmosphere you are trying to create. If you are having a formal sit-down dinner, you will need to choose between a plated meal or buffet style. Plated meals are more expensive but can often be seen as more elegant. Buffets are less expensive and give your guests the opportunity to mingle more during the event.

For smaller weddings or those held at lunchtime, hors d’oeuvres may suffice instead of a full meal. Your menu will also need to be appropriate for the season, as well as your venue. A catered event in Australia in July is not well-suited to a heavy stew and mashed potatoes, and an outdoor wedding in Melbourne in November can benefit from a hot cocoa bar instead of ice cream sundaes.

Brainstorm Guest Favors and Gift Bags

After you’ve decided on the menu, it’s time to start thinking about guest favors and gift bags. These are optional, of course, but they can be a nice way to thank your guests for coming and give them a little something to remember the day by. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, try looking online or even in party stores for inspiration.

Book a Photo-Booth Rental

Photo booths are a fun and popular way to get your guests involved in your wedding and create memories that last. What better way to have pictures of all the people at your wedding than to send them home with instant photos they can keep? They also make great gifts for parents, grandparents or anyone else who couldn’t make it to the wedding.

Write Your Vows

This is probably the most important part of the whole wedding (besides actually getting married, obviously). You can have a beautiful venue, gorgeous decorations and delicious food, but none of that will matter if you don’t spend some time on what you’re actually saying to your future spouse. Start by thinking about how you want to feel during the ceremony – romantic? Funny? Comfortable? Once you get an idea of what kind of tone you want to set for your day, it should be easy to come up with something that fits both your personalities.

Have the Wedding Officiant Invited to the Rehearsal Dinner

Once you’ve decided on the type of ceremony you’d like and booked your officiant, it’s time to invite him or her to the rehearsal dinner. This is not only a nice gesture but will also give you a chance to go over any final details for the big day. If your officiant is comfortable with it, ask if they wouldn’t mind saying a few words at the dinner – this can be a great way to get everyone even more excited for the wedding!

Photobooth users

2 Months Out Wedding Planning Checklist

Send the Wedding Invitations

The guest list is finished, the wedding invitations are printed, and you’re ready to start sending them out. When should you send your wedding invitations? Most experts would suggest that you should mail them out about three months before the big day. After all, finalizing the guest list and mailing out invitations is a lot of work.

Pick Up Your Marriage License

Believe it or not, you can’t just show up to your ceremony and expect to be legally married – you need to pick up a marriage license first! Each state has different requirements for obtaining a license, so be sure to do some research ahead of time. In most cases, you’ll need to apply in person at the county clerk’s office (Sometimes this can even be done online). You may also need things like proof of identity, proof of residency, and sometimes even blood tests. Once you have your license in hand, all that’s left is the big day!

Buy Wedding-Party Gifts

The next step is to buy wedding-party gifts. This includes the bridal party, groomsmen, parents, and anyone else who played a major role in your big day. Gifts can be anything from jewelry to personalized keepsakes. Thank them for their help and support with something that will make them smile every time they think of you on your special day.

Buy All Small Items

You have a lot of small items that you will need to buy for your wedding and that’s why having an organized wedding supply checklist is so important. If it is not included in the venue, you will need to rent or buy chairs, dishes, table linens and decorations. These things can add up very quickly. Many couples try to save money by purchasing these items from discount stores, but this can be risky.

Wedding favour in small plastic box

1 Month Out

Assemble Gift Bags

While not mandatory, gift bags are a great way to make your guests feel welcome. Fill the bags with plenty of useful items such as sunscreen, Advil and bottled water. You can also include some fun stuff like local snacks, candies or souvenirs. Our guests really appreciated the extra effort.

Pay Your Vendors in Full

Remember that you’ll have to pay your vendors in full before the wedding, so be sure to take that into account when figuring out your budget. If you’re unsure of how much you’ll need to spend, it’s a good idea to set aside at least half of the total amount due when planning for this expense. For example – if you’re planning an elaborate wedding with lots of flowers, you’ll probably want to set aside around $600-$700 for florists and designers. Keep in mind that these are just estimates based on average prices.

You Can Order or Customize Your Place & Escort Cards

Your guests may not realize it, but escort cards are a huge help for them. Not only do they let you know where to sit, but they also tell you what table to head to so you can meet up with your friends and family. Place cards take that one step further, letting each guest know exactly where to sit at the table.

Break in Your Wedding Shoes

So, the big day is finally here, and you’ve got your wedding all planned out. Your dress has been fitted, the guest list has been finalized and seating arrangements have been made. You’re feeling good and ready to take on whatever challenges might come your way—but wait! There’s one problem: You haven’t broken in your shoes yet. Now, don’t panic—we know that’s a lot of information at once! But if you’re worried about being uncomfortable while walking down the aisle or dancing with friends later on in evening then there are ways to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Bridal shoes

Hopefully our wedding planning checklist has given you a better idea of what needs to be done and when. Just remember to take things one step at a time, and enjoy the ride!

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Chateau Yaldara Wedding – Clare & Craig

After having to hold an ‘official’ wedding ceremony a year earlier with a lot fewer guests at the Mt Torrens Hotel due to the COVID pandemic. Clare and Craig were finally able to host their dream Chateau Yaldara Wedding on an amazing winter day!

Clare and Craig went to great lengths to produce a most amazing day for their guests who many travelled, including hosting a screening of their offical ceremony a year earlier, and then also recreating the ceremony in front of the impressive Chateau Yaldara cellar door!

Preparation

The day began at Clare and Craig’s house nearby as the two of them were being prepared at the same house surrounded by lush Australian bush and sweeping paddocks belonging to neighbouring farms.

It was definitely a display of the personalities of both Clare and Craig – with broadswords and metal bouquets on display due to Clare’s affinity for the medieval, while their dirtbikes played a central role in some of their group photos a bit later.

Sword and bridal shoes
Groomsmen cufflinks
Engagement rign in metal bouquet
Wedding rings on slate
Dog with tie
Motorcycles lined up
Groom putting on cufflinks in light
Groom putting on tie in hallway
Wedding dress habing on gum tree branch
groomsman helping adjust tie in window
Bride standing smiling
Smiling groomsman while adjusting collar

Pre Ceremony Photoshoot

We made sure to use the surrounding scenery of Clare and Craig’s house for some photos before heading to their Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony.

As Clare and Craig had already spent a bit of time having photos together at their wedding at Mt Torrens, a focus was put on trying to get group photos at every opportunity throughout the day. We first used the gum trees and nearby dam on Clare and Craig’s property, along with their dirtbikes before heading to a pine forest.

Before the ceremony took place, Clare and Craig held a bit of a screening of their last wedding ceremony using a projector for all theguests who could not attend the first time. During which Clare and her bridal party hid in the cellar door area of Chateau Yaldara waiting for their recreation ceremony to begin.

Groom with groomsmen
Bride chatting with bridal party
Bride and Groom with sword next to tree
Bridal aprty with motorscycles
Bride and groom in front of pond
Bridal party with reflection in pond
Bride and groom amongst ghost gum trees
Smiling bride and groom
Groom dipping bride in pine trees
Bride and groom in sunlight between pines
Bridal party in pine trees
Bride and groom kiss in between bridal party
Bride and groom walking through pine forest
Bridesmaid amongst bridal party
Bride and groom in front of old building at Chateau Yaldara and new
Chateau Yaldara wedding setup
Bride chilling with bridal party before ceremony
Classic Bridal portrait

Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony

Taking place on the lawns in front of the cellar door, Clare and Craig’s Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony was set up so that the backdrop fo the main building was framed nicely by the tree on the grounds, while also having the rest of the estate in the background. The time of day was also great for me due to the sun hitting the building nicely.

A bit of photoshop was needed to remove a few overly zealous members of the public and their phones taking phtos of Clare as she walked down the stairs, but it all worked out well.

Their recreated wedding ceremony was a short, sharp affair, simply put together just so that their guests could attend in person – which I thought was a delightful way to forget the past few years of annoyign COVID restrictions.

Groom and entourage walking together
Bride approaching Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony landscape
Bride approaching Chateau Yaldara Wedding Ceremony from cellar door
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony
Chateau Yaldara wedding ceremony portrait
Bride sharing vows at Chateau Yaldara wedding
First kiss at Chateau Yaldara wedding
Group photo at Chateau Yaldara wedding

Glamour Photoshoot

After the ceremony, and the family photos which we took on the steps of the cellar door, we head inside to the back room which Clare quite enjoyed sipping port amopngst the rustic wooden walled room.

We then used the balcony overlooking the front lawned area, and finally the staff-only cellar area which had some incredible opportunities – despite Clare and Craig’s dislike of ‘silhouette shots’ :D.

A fun thing about hosting a Chateau Yaldara wedding is not just the winery grounds, but also the nearby dam and natural rocky ground on which some epic scenes can be had – particulary at sunset!

At night we also head out again with some lights and smoke to make use of the steps again in a grand night shoot!

Groom and groomsmen at bar
Groom serving Bride at Bar
Bridal party on Balcony of Chateau Yaldara
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara Cellar
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara Bottle Cellar with light
Bride and groom in Chateau Yaldara BottleCellar
Bridal party walking along creek
Bridal party berched on rocks
Bride and groom perched on rocks
Bride and groom perched on rocks portrait
Bride and groom on rocks in middle of creek
Bridal party on rocks in middle of creek
Bridal party walking together near creek
Bridal party in front of tree
bride and groom in cellar doorway
Bride and grrom in the belly of winery
Bride and groom looking at camera
Bride and groom nearby wine barrels
Chateau Yaldara Wedding photo at night
Groom having fun with groomsman at night

Chateau Yaldara Wedding Reception

Clare and Craig’s reception was put on specifically to celebrate with family and friends who mostly travelled to be with the ‘newly wed’ couple. The night was full of heartfelt speeches, fun games and a photobooth set up to capture their guests whenever I diddnt!

Two tiered wedding cake
Custom beer stein
Cutting wedding cake laughing
Bride giving speech
Wedding shoe game at Chateau Yaldara reception
Speech giver in front of barrels
Groom speech in front of barrels
Bride listening to groom speech
groom being used as a game piece
Dacning the night away
First dance at Chateau yaldara
Bride with swords on the dance floor
Bridesmaid lifing bride

Thanks so much Clare and Craig for having me as your Barossa photographer at your amazing Chateau Yaldara wedding day!

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Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot and Reception – Emre & Sara

After Emre and Sara held their wedding ceremony insterstate, they wanted to celebrate with their family and friends back here in Adelaide!

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t brilliant for our Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot in the Botanic Gardens, and around North Terrace, but we got some great shots despite trying to keep Sara’s spectacular dress as clean as possible before their reception at the San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre.

Preparation

Both Emre and Sara shared a Mayfair Hotel room to be prepared alongside Sara’s bridal party. Everyone was running about trying not to get in each other’s way before heading out for photos, but the atmosphere was otherwise energetic and exciting!

There was aplan to make use of the Hennesy Rooftop bar, only to realise that the bar needed to be booked far in advance – it was ok though as we were running a fair bit late already before heading out to meet their wedding car.

White suit jacket
Grooms watch
Engagement ring in white bouquet
Bridal jewellery on white shoes
Bride and bridesmaid fiddling with dress
Groom buttoning shirt looking out window
Bridal makeup
Closeup of bride hands
bridesmaid helping with bridal gown
Groom adjusting hair in mirror
Bride framed by circular mirror
Smiling bride looking at camera
Groom surveying bowtie
Groom and bride in mirror together
Bride in front doorway

Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot

The weather put a bit of a hamper on mobility throughout our Adelaide bridal photoshoot, with Sara’s incredible dress taking a bit of moving each time we moved locations. It ceratinly made for some fun shots though, I particularly enjoyed when we carried her train across King William Road with the whole bridal party! Certainly made everyone smile!

After clambouring into their car, we head over to Botanic Park to make use of the beautiful Moreton Bay Fig trees and head into the Adelaide Botanic Gardens via the northern Friendship Gates.

As we were trying to keep Sara’s dress as clean as possible for their reception later, we attempted to stay on the concrete paths throughout the Botanic Gardens, and even head into the famed Bicentennial Conservatory Dome to avoid any rain.

We then head to North Terrace for a few shots in front of the pretty architecture in front of the buldings along there and also the Old Police Barracks behind the Adelaide Museum.

We even found time to drive to Adelaide Arcade and the Adelaide Railway for a few photos there – all the while attempting to avoid the rain as much as possible.

Bride and groom on Mayfair Hotel’s staircase
Laughing bride as crossing road
Bridal party crossing King William road
Bridal party with wedding car next to Mayfair Hotel
bride and groom inside bridal car
bride and groom in Botanic Park
Botanic Park wedding photo
Bride and groom holding one another in Botanic Park
Bridal dip in the roots of a Moreton Bay Fig tree
bride and groom head butt in front of tree
Bride standing aloe with long wedding gown train
bride and groom laughing together
Adelaide Botanic Gardens wedding photo
Bride and groom through low foliage
bride and groom leaning on tree with fairy lights
Bride and groom framed by foliage
Bride smiling looking at groom
Bride and groom in front of ornate doorway
Bride and groom through foliage and doorway
Bride standing alone in doorway
bridal embrace amongst pillars
groom leading bride in front of artwork
Groom leading bride up stars
Bride and groom on old Adelaide Police Barracks
Bride and groom in doorway at the old Adelaide Police Barracks
Groom sheilding bride from rain
Bonython hall wedding photo
bride and groom in front of Bonython hall’s doors
bride and groom under autumnal leaves
Adelaide Arcade wedding photo
Bride and groom in Adelaide Arcade
Adelaide railway wedding photo
Bride and groom in the lights of the Adelaide railway
Bride and groom in the pillars of the Adelaide Railway Station

San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre Reception

After out whirlwind Adelaie bridal photoshoot, we head to the San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre for a recepotion full of traditional dancing and performaces, including a grand entrance complete with drummers and dry ice.

Throughout the night, traditional Afgahn cuisine was served and circle dancing from different groups took place before culminating in a fun knife dance where the groom had to steal the cake cutting knfe from a dancing member of the family.

White wedding cake
San Giorgio La Molara Community Centre Wedding
Dancing guest alone on dancefloor
Bridal entrance with drummers
Bridal entraance dance
Groom banging drum
Excited groom in entrance
Dancing guests
Dancing performers
Guests watching the dancing
Dancing guests in circle
Groom on chair in middle of dance
Groom chair dance
Dancer in circle
Knife dance
Knife dance grinning lady
Bride and groom cutting cake

The whole day was great fun and I’d like to thank Emra and Sara for having us at their Adelaide Bridal Photoshoot and their wedding celebration!

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Ideas for Neon Wedding Signs to Spark Your Love

Every wedding requires something unique to set it apart from the others. That highlight is a neon wedding sign. Any wedding theme, whether modern or classic, can use neon wedding signs.

being a wedding phtoographer, I see so many different types of wedding decor, but I keep thinking of those weddings who took it one step further and had something unique made just for their wedding.

It could be vynal stickers of the bridal couple’s names on the dancefloor, the bride being lowered into the reception by hot airballoon, or perhaps some custom name neon? You can place a neon wedding sign near your bar, on the dance floor, or as a background.

A Personalized neon wedding sign can give your wedding a unique touch. With the assistance of a professional, discover more entertaining lighting tricks and get ideas for your wedding décor.  Below are some suggestions for incorporating this elegant feature into your party.

Bride and groom kiss under neon wedding signs

Make a Neon Sign for the Backdrop of Your Wedding

Your wedding backdrop will seem lively and modern with a neon sign added. For a creative touch to your wedding album, ask your photographer to take pictures of your guests in front of your wedding sign.

Display Your New Last Name With a Neon Sign

Your customized neon sign may serve as more than simply temporary wedding décor. Together, bring your neon sign inside your new house and devise a unique method to display it. As a memento of your wedding, hang it over the bar or in an entertainment area.

Decorate Your Greenery Wall With Neon Sign

A greenery wall is an elegant and low-maintenance background for your wedding. Adding a neon sign that will catch visitors’ eyes elevates this concept.

Use Neon to Design Your Initials

Use your initials as a more subtle alternative for a customized neon wedding sign. You will adore this timeless look for many years to come. Neon signs are a timeless way to spell out your initials.

Transform Your Wedding Bar With Neon

Use whatever design you want for your neon sign to display over your wedding bar, a funny statement, a wordplay, or both. Use your signage to highlight the personality or theme of your wedding. With the aid of a professional, discover even more ideas for wedding bars.

#Hashtag Neon Wedding Signs

A creative approach to encourage guests to utilize your wedding hashtag on social media is with the neon wedding signs. After your wedding, you will have a digital wedding album that is candid to peruse while you await your photographer and videographer to finish editing your stylish images and videos.

Neon wedding signs are a fun way to draw attention to your wedding decor.

Bouquet toss result

How Should Your Neon Wedding Signs Be Hung?

Neon signage is a feature with which you can have a lot of fun and creativity, so think about what you want it to convey, Then choose a location to hang it. Display it behind your band at the bandstand, beside the reception bar area, or on the DJ booth. You can either surround it with flowers and greenery or just let it shine on the wall and make a statement on its own.

Your event planner, design team, and maybe your venue will collaborate to come up with a secure and reliable way to hang your customized sign. You can achieve your concept with an event planner, wedding décor firm, and other suppliers.

How Do You Choose the Text for Your Neon Wedding Sign?

You may find many ideas for your wedding décor online. Browse some wedding galleries to see examples of actual weddings and inspiration for your own, as well as suggestions for the menu, beverages, invites, and more. Consider working with a professional as your go-to resource for all things related to wedding and event planning if you are unfamiliar with the internet or would prefer to speak with someone in person.

Echo Neon’s neon signs are certain to give your event uniqueness and a means to infuse new energy into your event. More so, they are easy to install yourself.

Why Choose Neon Signs for Your Wedding

Couples today are embracing neon because it blends style and meaning. Here are the main reasons:

  • Personalisation – With countless neon sign ideas for wedding, couples can display initials, meaningful dates or favourite quotes.
  • Flexible decoration – Neon is versatile and works in different spaces, such as the bar, entrance or head table.
  • Photography appeal – Neon lighting adds colour and depth, creating striking backdrops for photos.
  • Dual purpose – Acts as both decoration and a photo feature, making it a wise investment.
  • Memorable impact – Wedding neon signs ideas help create a unique atmosphere that reflects the couple’s personality.

Make Your Wedding Shine with Neon Signs

The right lighting can transform a wedding space, and neon signs do exactly that. Their warm glow creates ambience, enhances decoration and ensures every corner of your venue feels alive. Couples today are embracing wedding neon sign ideas because they instantly bring energy and character to a celebration.

Imagine walking into your reception and being greeted by your name shining in neon, or dancing the night away under a glowing phrase like “Better Together.” These creative touches not only wow your guests but also provide stunning backdrops for photographs. Among the most popular neon sign ideas for a wedding are signs hung on greenery walls, positioned above the dance floor, or styled near the cake table for unforgettable detail shots.

Ultimately, neon is more than decoration. It’s a way to make your wedding shine both visually and emotionally. Each sign reflects your story, ensuring your big day glows as brightly as the memories you’ll carry forever.

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20 Common Things Couples Forget During Wedding Planning

Your wedding is the biggest day of your life. It has to be fun and memorable. However, planning a wedding is hard work that can be tiring and overwhelming. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail;” that’s a famous saying that has lasted for generations because it is true. You need a good wedding plan to ensure your wedding is indeed a blast.

Regardless of how great you are at organising things, there are still some details that you can forget. They are sometimes so small that even the best couples forget about them. We want your wedding to be beautiful and classy, which is why we’ve helped you put together this list of common things couples forget during wedding planning.

First dance at Krystal Function Center wedding reception

20 Common Things Couples Forget During Wedding Planning

Do you want your wedding to be perfect? Take note of these details.

1. Have a Contact Booklet

You must have a separate booklet to document any vendor’s contacts, including your maid of honour, mother-in-law, or anyone you would want to contact in case of emergency. Having your phone switched off can cause panic if you do not have a backup.

2. Decoration Restrictions

Research your wedding venue to avoid embarrassment where there would be restrictions on using candles, red carpet, or decorating on the walls. Confirm if there are no restrictions placed on the venue you will be using.

National wine center wedding Exit under sparklers

3. Have an Emergency Kit

Have a kit that contains your spare makeup, safety pins, plaster, and anything you think you could need on your big day. Give it to someone who is easily accessible and organised.

4. Backup Shoes

It does not matter if you bought expensive shoes for your big day or if you’ve tried it many times. You need comfortable shoes you can quickly wear to relax your feet and avoid discomfort.

Wedding shoes lined up

5. Have Extra Cash

Make sure you have extra cash at your disposal to make orders in case of an emergency. This way, you can avoid being stranded at the venue, especially when you want to make quick payments.

6. Assign Your Phone To Someone

Keep your phone away on your big day; it is a lifesaving hack. It will cause distractions; instead, assign your phone to someone you trust to capture the moments. You need not worry because it’s likely that all the people you text will be around.

7. Have Breakfast

It is normal to not have an appetite on your big day but make sure you have breakfast on the morning of your wedding. When you eat breakfast, it gives you strength throughout the day and keeps you active.

Of all the things to forget during wedding planning, keep this one at the forefront of your mind – make time to actually eat well on your big day!

8. Transportation

Consider your guests when you’re planning the transportation to and from your venue. If you are arranging their transport or a place to stay before or after the wedding, inform them so they can plan accordingly.

bride and groom with bridal party and cars

9. Gifts

If there are gifts to give to your guests, make sure it is ready a day before the wedding so that you would not end up forgetting to give them out. You want your guests to leave your venue satisfied and happy with the gift you offer them.

10. Have a Playlist

It is essential to have a playlist so that your band will know what you like. Also, it’s crucial to have a ‘do not play list’ to avoid embarrassing situations.

11. Pack an Extra Outfit

The bride needs an extra outfit that is easy to pull over her head after getting her makeup done. This would save her from smearing her clothes with makeup or messing up her hair.

12. Carry Your Bridesmaid Along

You need to inform your bridesmaid of all your arrangements and ensure the person can handle any situation where you need to reapply your makeup or adjust your dress.

13. Have a Backup Budget

Having a backup budget especially for an emergency will save you a lot of stress. You should have a budget for a contingency plan to handle unexpected situations.

14. Plan For The Weather

Do not depend on the weather forecast, also plan for unfavorable weather conditions because the weather can change anytime. It would be bad for your guests to be soaked on your wedding day, it will surely dampen the mood of things.

Lightning

15. Inform Your Suppliers If There Will Be Overtime

You need to inform your suppliers if they will work overtime. It may not work out if you tell them on the wedding day. It could be so bad that you might end up not having a band for the last hour. You would have to negotiate with them to avoid being stranded.

16. Designate Someone To Be In Charge Of Your Gifts and Personal Items

You can put anyone who you trust in charge of your gifts and packages. The person will ensure that nothing is missing and that all the items are properly organised.

17. Food

Make sure you consider your guests when planning the food. Some guests have diabetes and would be careful about what to eat. Try to provide different options they can explore without putting their health at risk.

18. Feed Your Suppliers

Do not forget to feed your suppliers, they are part of your guests and you must treat them well. Without these people, your wedding would only be a disaster. Giving them food would keep them motivated and productive throughout your big day. This tip works like magic!

Mollydooker wines food

19. Practice Your Vows

Practice your vows by writing and speaking them out. Try to get comfortable with the details of your speech so your delivery can be smooth. You can also assign someone to give a vote of thanks after the wedding or just handle it by yourself. Whatever happens, don’t forget to thank your guests.

20. Arrange Your Chairs and Tables

Label your table and seats appropriately so your friends and relatives would know where to sit. It helps to keep your reception organised.

Create Your Wedding Planning Timeline

One of the most common things people forget when planning a wedding is setting a clear, realistic timeline. With so many details to manage—venues, suppliers, outfits, photography, and guest lists—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed without a structured plan. A well-thought-out timeline ensures nothing gets missed and helps reduce unnecessary stress in the lead-up to your big day.

Start by marking key milestones, such as booking your venue, confirming your photographer, sending invitations and organising fittings. Breaking these into monthly, weekly, and daily tasks keeps everything manageable. A timeline also allows you to spot clashes early, giving you more room to adjust if something changes.
Among the things not to forget when planning a wedding, allowing buffer time for unexpected delays is crucial. Whether it’s alterations, vendor rescheduling or weather-related adjustments, having flexibility built into your plan ensures your day runs smoothly. A structured timeline helps you enjoy the process and focus on celebrating your love.

Use Digital Tools for Wedding Planning

Technology can be a lifesaver when preparing for your big day. In fact, many things people forget when planning a wedding, like vendor deadlines, budget tracking and guest communication, can be simplified with digital tools. Online planners, apps, and cloud-based checklists make it easier to stay organised and keep all your details in one place.

Consider using shared calendars for coordinating schedules with suppliers, and digital guest list trackers to monitor RSVPs and dietary preferences. Budgeting apps also help you keep a close eye on spending and prevent last-minute surprises. Digital reminders ensure you don’t miss small but important details, from confirming playlists to arranging transport.

One of the things not to forget when planning a wedding is making sure your photographer and other key suppliers have access to the schedule. Sharing digital plans allows everyone to stay aligned, creating a smooth experience on the day. By embracing digital tools, couples can reduce stress and feel confident knowing every detail is accounted for.

Conclusion

Of course this isnt an exhaustive list of things to forget when wedding planning, but should help free you from many unexpected incidents. If you are overwhelmed with the planning, you can always get a professional assistant. Make sure to keep a smile on your face throughout the day; it will keep your day bright and fun.