Planning your big day can feel like a big task, especially if the timeline is only 6 months. We’ve compiled a helpful guide to ensure your wedding day is everything you’ve dreamed of. You’ll be a newlywed before you know it!
6 Months
Determine Your Budget
The first step to planning the wedding of your dreams is determining your total budget for the wedding. CANNON GREEN PERK: We’ve partnered with Carats & Cake, a better way to pay, offering the ability to split your payments into smaller monthly amounts, interest-free, with no additional costs.
Secure Your Venue and Key Vendors
With Charleston as a top wedding destination on the East Coast, finding vendors like a florist, wedding cake baker, or photographer can be competitive. Prioritize scheduling your wedding dream team and finalizing your rentals. CANNON GREEN PERK: Minimal rentals are required as our Bespoke Package includes everything you will need for the reception including china, glassware, silverware, linens, chairs, bars, and the best team in Charleston!
Choose Your Dress
The dress-shopping experience can be exciting and fun, so grab your entourage and choose a boutique bridal shop with an expert team that will manage your fittings and timelines for you.
Secure Accommodations for Guests and the Wedding Party
If many of your guests are traveling for your wedding, you‘ll want to help them with the details of their stay. Our team can help recommend some local favorites to secure a room block for your guests if they‘re traveling to Charleston. CANNON GREEN PERK: For the couple and close family/friends, we have two great partners: Guesthouse Charleston, who happens to have three houses right next door, and Stay Duvet, who have rentals down the street. Check them out at guesthousecharleston.com and stayduvet.com.
Schedule Your Engagement Shoot
Now that you have your photographer booked, it’s time to schedule your engagement shoot! Pro-Tip: use your photos for your save-the-dates and wedding website.
5 Months
Determine Your Guest List
Keeping your budget in mind, it’s time to determine your guest list. Knowing Cannon Green can accommodate up to 150 guests, create the full list of everyone you and your partner have ever wanted to include up to the maximum number. Next, go back through that list and mark people as an A or a B. Your A’s are the ones you must have by your side and your B’s are people you really want to attend but who may not be must-have guests. The A group gets the first round of invitations early and any available invitations are sent to members of the B group.
Invite Your Wedding Party
Invite those nearest and dearest to you to be in your wedding party. This can be an equally exciting event for them as it is for you! CANNON GREEN PERK: Ask our team about the Wedding Shop to view exclusive custom retail gifts for your BFFs.
Create Your Wedding Website
Your wedding website can be a ‘North Star’ for all things wedding-related for you and your guests. This can include your registry link, important information about your wedding day, photos from your engagement shoot, and more. Remember to have your wedding website live and ready to include on your save-the-dates, up next!
Send Your Save-The-Dates
Save-the-dates should go out as soon as you have your venue secured. There are plenty of resources for custom save-the-dates in a short turnaround time, so take advantage of sites like Zola and Minted. Pro Tip: sending out electronic save-the-dates creates an opportunity for you to ask for RSVPs before you send your official invitations. That way, you can stay on top of your A and B guest lists!
Secure Your Rehearsal Dinner Location
Your rehearsal dinner is an opportunity to bring those close to you together to mingle before the wedding and to do a quick run-through of the ceremony before the big day. Who doesn’t love a versatile venue? Our Garden Room is the perfect location for your rehearsal dinner to create a seamless transition from one event to the next! CANNON GREEN PERK: One dream, same team! Both our culinary and events teams will host your rehearsal and wedding, giving you the assurance that the service and food for all of your special moments will be top-tier.
4 Months
Purchase Your Wedding Bands
Most wedding rings and bands are made-to-order and could take up to 90 days from order to delivery, so don’t wait longer than 4 months out.
Establish Your Ceremony and Reception Program
Start thinking about the order of events during your wedding, like what milestones you’d like to include (i.e., first dance, toasts, cake cutting) and what order you’d like them to flow. You may also want to provide a list of preferred songs to your band or DJ and remind those giving toasts to start preparing.
3 Months
Menu Tasting
At Cannon Green, our team will work with you and your planner to schedule your tasting. Our Event Managers will guide you and your guests through wine pairings while Chef Orlando Pagán carefully prepares your menu selections. Together, we’ll ensure your spread is as perfectly executed as the rest of your big day! CANNON GREEN PERK: Chef Orlando Pagán is a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef in the Southeast!
Plan Your Honeymoon
The planning isn’t just for your wedding, don’t forget about that well-deserved honeymoon! CANNON GREEN PERK: Our sister property, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Charlottesville, VA happens to be a Harper’s Bazaar ‘Best Garden Venues in the Country’ with a charming inn on the property. Let our team assist with booking at a special rate!
Send the Invitations
Time to sign, seal and deliver! Plan to send these out 10 weeks before your wedding.
2 Months
Celebrate
Let the celebrations begin! In the final 2 months before the wedding, your Bridal Shower and respective Bachelor/ Bachelorette parties should take place. Traditionally, these events are planned and carried out by close friends and family so there’s little planning stress on your end with a lot of laughs and great memories.
Order Your Marriage License
In South Carolina, marriage licenses are only valid for weddings performed in the state. Check your state laws about securing your marriage license. Ensure this is done ahead of time so when you say “I do” you can feel comforted knowing you’re officially wed!
Do a Hair and Makeup Trial Run
You’d be surprised to know how many people think they know exactly what they want for their wedding look but end up changing their minds once they see it on themselves. Schedule a hair and makeup trial to see both together, and work with your glam squad to evolve the look until it’s perfectly you!
1 Month
Prepare for Your Honeymoon
If you’re leaving right away for the honeymoon, take some time ahead of the wedding to pack your bags and ensure you have everything you’ll want and need.
Confirm the Details
Work with your wedding planner to go over the final seating arrangements and timeline to ensure there are no surprises and everything is planned according to your vision. Share a shot list with your photographer and submit any final payments and tips ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about any financials on the big day. CANNON GREEN PERK: Our team works directly with your wedding planner to compare timelines and vendor details down to the minute for flawless execution with no surprises!
