Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/706995
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 JULY 2016 VI Event Planning Planning your wedding with James Caterers THE wedding and the build up to the day is one of the most important mile- stones in a couple's relationship. It is the culmination of months of prepara- tion and a celebration of the couple's love for each other. For these reasons, couples all over the world place a lot of importance on this event and want that everything goes smoothly and with- out any hitch. Maltese couples are no exception to this. So what are the important things you need to do to have the perfect wedding. Based on our 30 years of experience organising and catering for weddings of all types and number of invitees we came up with a few point- ers which we believe make the differ- ence between a good wedding and a great wedding. Most planning starts at least 12 months before. Some couples prefer to start planning before while oth- ers leave it a bit later. Based on our experience we think that a year before is the optimal time to start planning. At this point you need to choose the date, decide on a budget, agree on the type of wedding theme you want, start compiling a guest list, decide on the venue, start putting together the people who will have specific roles in the wedding such as the bridesmaid, the flower girl, the ring bearer, the photographer, musicians, caterers, etc. and start thinking about the wedding dress and style. If you are planning to create a website for your wedding or to use social media now is a good time to create these also. Most of all enjoy and have fun announcing your forthcoming wedding to everyone! Over the next two months prepara- tions would start gaining pace and around 10 months before the date is normally a good time to purchase the wedding dress, reserve the ceremony and reception venues and book an of- ficiant. Now is also a good time to start thinking about getting fitter and enter into a fitness routine. The next steps, which will take place 7 to 9 months before the date, will see you refine the guest list, design the wedding invitation, plan your honeymoon, explore your hair and makeup styles for the day, meet with the celebrant to discuss the ceremony, choose the cake style and schedule tastings and decide on what the groom will be wearing. The next three months are key because between month 4 and month 6 before the date there is a whole lot of things which need to be taken care of. By now you would have confirmed most of the services you will be using during the wedding such as musicians and cars, order thank you cards and souvenirs, choose your flowers, sched- ule dress fittings, confirm and book your honeymoon, confirm the wedding cake, prepare the music list you want played during the ceremony and the reception and finalise the guest list. Three months prior to the day, be- tween month 3 and the day the level of activity ramps up and things start com- ing together. Now is the time to ensure that all necessary legal matters and documentation are in place, if you are planning any seating for the ceremony and the reception, now is the time to do it, finalise any readings or speeches for during the ceremony, purchase any items you will need during the ceremony and reception such as the ring bearer pillow. During this period you will need to review the ceremony details with the celebrant, finalise any fittings and have the final fitting for the wedding dress, create a timeline for the day, confirm all with your suppli- ers such as the music list and giving the final guest number to the caterer, collect the wedding rings and send the invitations three weeks before. When the day finally arrives you need to make sure that you will enjoy it to the full and this means that you need to take care of yourself throughout the day. Eat a good and healthy breakfast, allow yourself plenty of time to get ready and relax, smile and take in this incredible moment! As James Caterers we wish you the very best on this special day and with our experience there is nothing we cannot help you with on this very important occasion. James Caterers