A Wedding Checklist for Botswana Weddings

A wedding checklist is a detailed list of tasks and items to be completed in preparation for a wedding. It covers every aspect of a wedding, including setting a budget, selecting a venue, sending invitations, and finalizing details with vendors. This checklist helps the couple and the planning committee to stay organized while ensuring that all aspects of the wedding are planned and executed smoothly.

Importance of a Wedding Checklist

1. Budget Control – A wedding checklist will help the couple keep track of expenses and stick to their budget.2. Organization – This checklist helps those planning the wedding to identify tasks and manage them efficiently.

3. Prioritization – The most important and urgent tasks relating to the wedding are identified and completed before the others.

4. Time Management – A checklist helps in appropriate time allocation for each tasks, ensuring that all the tasks are complete and none is overlooked.

5. Delegation – Once the couple has used the wedding checklist to identify all the tasks that need to be completed, they can delegate them to members of the planning committee or trustworthy family members.

6. Guest Management – The wedding checklist also helps the couple manage guest lists, seating arrangements, transport arrangements, etc.

7. Coordination of Vendors – The checklist keeps track of all the vendor contacts, tasks and schedules, making it easier to follow up on deliverables.

8. Legal Requirements – A wedding checklist helps the couple to keep track of all the legal requirements for the wedding and to attach timelines for the fulfillment of all these requirements.

9. Stress Reduction – Having a wedding checklist reduces anxiety by providing a clear plan and timeline for the wedding preparations.

10. Contingency Planning – The wedding checklist also factors in the unexpected, e.g. bad weather, illness, budget shortfalls, suggesting possible adjustments and contingency plans, thus giving the couple a feeling of control over unexpected changes.

A Wedding Checklist for Botswana Weddings

This wedding checklist is divided into sections based on timelines.

a) 12 months or more before the wedding

1. Set a budget – Determine what your overall budget will be. This should include catering, venue, wedding attire, etc.
2. Choose the wedding date – Base your wedding date on the availability of your wedding celebrant and close family members, as well as the season. In Botswana, the best seasons to have your wedding are in Spring (September to October) or Winter (June to August).
3. Make the Guest List – Begin to draft a guest list to get an idea of how many people you want to have at the wedding.
4. Book a Venue – Look around for good wedding venues. If you find one that meets your needs, make a reservation. Some suggestions are:
   • The Grand Palm
   • Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel Resort
   • Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino
   • Tashys Royal Gardens
   • Monate Game Lodge
   • Bojanala Waterfront
5. Consider hiring a wedding planner or setting up a wedding committee – If you have friends and family who are ready to help you with the wedding planning, ask them to help you. If you feel like it’s too much for you, however, get a wedding planner like Kez Wedding Planners or Wedding and Events Planners.
6. Choose your bridal party – Decide who you want to be part of your wedding party, i.e. groomsmen, bridesmaids, flower girls, page boys, matron of honor, etc.
7. Research on Botswana wedding customs and legal requirements – First, you must understand how weddings are conducted according to your culture. You can get this information from older members of your family or community elders. Next, visit the Department of Civil and National Registration to find out what the requirements are for getting married in Botswana.
8. Organize accommodation for your out-of-town guests – This can be at relatives’’ homes, reasonably priced hotels, or Airbnbs in your town.

b) 9 to 12 months before the wedding

• Next on this wedding checklist for Botswana weddings is what you need to do 9-12 months before the wedding.

1. Look around for key wedding vendors and book them. Here are a few categories and vendors you may consider:
   • Caterers
     • Moghul Catering
     • Divine Concepts Catering
     • Executive Catering
   • Photographers/Videographers
     • Fotos by Don
     • The Photographers
   • Florists
     • All in Bloom
     • Uniflora
   • Bakers
     • Couture Confectioneries BW
     • Len Bakeries
2. Choose a theme or style for your wedding – Both of you need to decide what theme and style you want for your wedding. This could either be inspired by Botswana’s local culture or a fusion of traditional and modern styles.
3. Start looking for wedding attire – The bride should look for her bridal gown early, and decide if she wants a ready-made or custom-made gown. The groom should also start looking for the ideal suit or outfit to match the wedding theme. Here are a few places they can check out:
   • Bridal Gowns
     • Kalahari Gowns
     • Mystique Bridals Services
   • Bridal Suits
     • Empire Premium Custom Suits
     • Suits Africa
   • Traditional Wedding Attire
     • Gracious Fashion
     • Seloba Creations Fashion Designers
4. Send out Save-the-Date cards – Inform your guests about your upcoming wedding date and location in advance either digitally or using a physical invitation. A personalized invitation will work wonders here.
5. Finalize accommodation for your out-of-town guests – If you have already identified where they are going to stay, finalize the bookings so that you are not caught flat-footed.
6. Start planning the honeymoon – Identify where you would like to go for your honeymoon and make the bookings. You can either go out of the country, or to intimate, picturesque locations.
7. Start planning the wedding ceremony and reception details – Decide on the order of events for each of these, how long they will take, and which cultural elements you would like to incorporate.

c) 6 months before the wedding

1. Finalize all your vendor contracts and pay deposits.
2. Decide on your honeymoon destination and make the reservations.
3. Finalize the wedding ceremony and reception details.
4. Choose the wedding invitations and finalize the order.
5. Book entertainment (bands, DJs, MC).
6. Arrange transportation for the wedding day. Some suggestions include:
   • Rosewell Chauffeurs
   • Limo Hire BW
7. Purchase the wedding rings from providers like:
   • Velucia Jewellery
   • Heart of Africa Gifts
8. Confirm the wedding menu and other catering details, including any dietary requirements.
9. Schedule dress fittings and alterations
10. Finalize the wedding décor. Suggested providers include:
    • Elite Decor & Events
    • Bene’s Events and Decor
11. Confirm details with vendors.
12. Plan the wedding favors.

d) 2 to 4 months before the wedding

1. Send out wedding invitations by mail, hand delivery, or electronically.
2. Confirm details on décor with the vendor.
3. Schedule dress fittings and alterations (if necessary).
4. Schedule hair and makeup trials.
5. Purchase wedding accessories – shoes, jewelry, handbags/purses, hair accessories, etc.
6. Plan the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
7. Confirm the final menu and catering details.
8. Schedule sample cake tasting.
9. Finalize seating arrangements based on the venue you have chosen.
10. Purchase the wedding favors.
11. Prepare the wedding program.
12. Finalize the details of the ceremony with the wedding celebrant.
13. Finalize your music playlist with the DJ/band.
14. Prepare a wedding day timeline.

e) 1 month before the wedding

1. Finalize the venue arrangements.
2. Confirm vendor details and their programs for the day. Make the final deposits as well.
3. Confirm that all invitations were sent and update the guest list as the RSVPs come in.
4. Confirm transport arrangements for the bridal party and family members, as well as guests coming from far away.
5. Confirm that the wedding attire and accessories for the bridal party are ready.
6. Confirm the pre-wedding day arrangements for bridal nails and hair.
7. Finalize the wedding day timeline.
8. Apply for the marriage license.
9. Schedule the wedding rehearsal.
10. Prepare the wedding favors.
11. Print the wedding program.
12. Confirm that the wedding cake is on track.
13. Prepare a wedding day emergency kit with safety pins, tissues, and a small first aid kit.
14. Confirm all the final details – venue, vendors, accommodation, and transport.
15. Take a day off from the planning and do something special as a couple.

f) 1 week before the wedding

1. Do a walkthrough of the venue with your venue coordinator to confirm the setup details and layout.
2. Confirm that all the vendors are set for the big day. Review the timelines with each of them and make sure they have delivered everything that was required before the wedding day.
3. Finalize the wedding attire. The bride should attend her final fitting and then have the dress laundered if necessary.
4. Confirm transportation.
5. Finalize the seating plan.
6. Confirm guest accommodation (if required).
7. Confirm bookings for the honeymoon.
8. Conduct a final rehearsal.
9. Confirm that the marriage registration documents are complete.
10. Review and confirm the timeline for the wedding day.
11. Prepare the wedding favors for distribution.
12. Prepare the wedding programs for distribution.
13. Pack the emergency kit.
14. Settle the final payments.
15. If you are using a wedding planner, confirm any final details.
16. It’s time to wait for your big day!

A wedding checklist for Botswana weddings is a great help for any couple who wants to plan their wedding without any stress, while still paying attention to detail.