The legal bits here apply to England and Wales. Rules can change, so always double check with your local register office or the GOV.UK pages on getting married. In Northamptonshire, that means North Northamptonshire Council or West Northamptonshire Council, depending on where you live.
12 months or more before
This is the big decisions stage. Get these right and everything else gets easier.
Start with money and numbers, not venues. It's very easy to fall for a gorgeous country house that seats 80 when you've got 140 people on the list. Have a rough guest count and a budget in mind before you visit anywhere, and our wedding budget guide can help.
- Agree a total budget and who's contributing
- Draft a rough guest list (day and evening)
- Have a look at the wedding venues in Northampton and Kettering if you want to stay close to town
- Pick a season, and be open to a Friday, Sunday or winter date if budget is tight
- Visit venues and book one: our Northamptonshire venue guide is a good starting point
- Book the registrar, celebrant or church for your date and time
- Think about wedding insurance once you've paid deposits
- Ask your closest people to be bridesmaids, best man, ushers and so on
9 to 12 months before
Now the suppliers who get booked up first. Photographers, bands and popular entertainers tend to go early for summer Saturdays, so this is the time to lock them in.
Get every booking confirmed in writing, with what's included, timings, payment dates and the cancellation terms. Keep it all in one shared folder or spreadsheet.
A quick tip on deposits. Note the date each balance is due in the same place, along with how to pay it. It's surprisingly easy to miss one in the busy last couple of months, and some suppliers will release your date if a payment is late.
- Book your photographer and videographer
- Book the band or DJ
- Book show entertainment for the evening, such as an illusion act like Jay & Joss
- Book your caterer if the venue doesn't do food
- Start looking at wedding dresses and outfits (made to order dresses can take months)
- Send save the dates, especially for guests travelling from abroad
- Set up a simple wedding website or group chat for guest information
6 to 9 months before
The day starts to take shape. This is a good time to think about how your guests will actually spend their time, not just where they'll sit. Our wedding entertainment ideas page goes through each part of the day.
- Book a close-up magician for the drinks reception and meal (Magician For Hire is ours)
- Book a photo booth, magic mirror or audio guest book if you want one
- Book a florist and decide on a rough colour scheme
- Book hair and make-up, and ask about a trial
- Sort transport for you and, if needed, a minibus for guests
- Book a room block at a hotel near the venue
- Plan the honeymoon and check passports are in date
- If you're changing your name, check the name on your travel tickets matches your passport
3 to 6 months before
This is when the legal paperwork becomes real. In England and Wales, you'll both need to give notice of marriage or civil partnership in person at your local register office, and it has to be at least 29 days before the ceremony (28 clear days). You need to have lived in that registration district for at least seven days before giving notice. A notice lasts 12 months, so don't do it too early either.
Book the appointment well ahead, because register offices can get busy. You'll need to bring proof of identity, nationality and address, and there's a fee. If either of you has been married before, bring the paperwork showing that marriage has ended. If you're marrying in a Church of England or Church in Wales church, talk to the vicar, as the legal preliminaries are usually handled through banns instead.
- Book your notice of marriage appointment(s) at the register office
- Order invitations and send them about three months before
- Buy wedding rings
- Book a children's entertainer if kids are coming (Party Magicians)
- Book a fun casino for non-dancers (UK Casino Hire)
- Choose the menu and arrange a tasting
- Order the cake
- Plan ceremony readings and music, and send them to the registrar for approval
1 to 3 months before
Lots of small jobs now. None of them are hard, but they pile up, so share them out. Your best man or chief bridesmaid is usually happy to chase RSVPs.
Draw up a running order for the day and send it to every supplier. Our sample wedding timeline is a good template.
It's also worth going back to the venue for a final meeting around now. Walk through the day room by room: where the ceremony is, where the drinks go if it rains, where the band sets up, where the photo booth or casino tables will sit. Small details like where the plug sockets are can save a lot of fuss on the morning.
- Give notice of marriage now if you haven't already
- Chase RSVPs and collect dietary requirements
- Finalise numbers with the venue and caterer
- Dress fittings and hair trial
- Write your vows and speeches
- Agree the first dance song and a do-not-play list with your DJ or band
- Plan the photo list with your photographer
- Buy gifts for parents and the wedding party
The last month
Time to tie everything together. Ring or email each supplier to confirm the date, arrival time, address and who their contact is on the day. It takes an evening and saves a lot of worry.
- Do the table plan (and accept it'll change twice)
- Confirm timings with every supplier
- Pay any balances due
- Break in your wedding shoes around the house
- Final dress fitting
- Put cash in envelopes for any tips or final payments
- Name a trusted person as the day's contact for suppliers
The last week
Try to keep this week light. If you've done the earlier sections, it mostly comes down to checking and packing. Get some early nights. Seriously.
- Check the weather forecast and confirm the wet weather plan
- Give the venue final details: place cards, favours, table plan
- Pack an emergency kit (plasters, safety pins, painkillers, phone charger)
- Pack for the honeymoon
- Hand the rings to the best man or whoever is looking after them
- Have the rehearsal if you're doing one
On the day
Eat breakfast. Drink water. Let your named contact deal with suppliers so you don't have to look at your phone.
At the ceremony you'll need two witnesses. Since 2021, marriages in England and Wales are recorded in an electronic register rather than the old paper register books, so you'll sign a marriage schedule or document instead, and the registrar or officiant will explain what to do. Then take five minutes alone together after the ceremony if you can. The day goes very fast.
- Bring ID if the registrar has asked for it
- Have the rings and any supplier payments with your named contact
- Stick to the running order but don't panic if it slips by half an hour
After the wedding
Once you're home and the post-wedding glow has calmed down a bit, there's some tidying up to do. If you're changing your name, order extra copies of your marriage certificate, as banks and other organisations often want to see one.
- Return any hired outfits and items
- Write thank you cards
- Leave reviews for suppliers you were happy with
- Update your name with the bank, passport office, DVLA and employer if you're changing it
- Back up your photos and videos in more than one place
- Listen to your audio guest book messages (UK Photo Booth Hire can supply one) with a glass of something