A wedding checklist can go a long way towards making your wedding plans stress free.
10 - 12 months before the wedding:
- Announce your engagement to family and friends
- Arrange for both families to meet if they haven't already done so
- Have an engagement party (optional)
- Set the wedding style and size of the wedding (bride magazines are great for ideas)
- Decide on whether to include ethnic wedding traditions
- Set your wedding budget
- Start creating your guest list
- Set the wedding day and time
- Decide on whether to have a religious or non-religious ceremony
- Choose and book your wedding officiant
- Choose your maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen
- Choose and book your ceremony and reception locations
- Purchase wedding insurance (optional)
- Meet with caterers and taste samples
- Meet with florists and decide on real or silk flowers
- Meet with and audition DJs or bands
- Meet with photographers and look over their portfolios
- Meet with videographers (if you're having one) and look over their portfolios
7 - 9 months before the wedding:
- Bride: shop for and order your wedding dress
- Bride: shop for and order/purchase bridal accessories: veil , shoes , jewelry
- Bride: (with your bridal party) shop for and order bridesmaids dresses
- Book the florist (be sure to sign a contract)
- Book the caterer (be sure to sign a contract)
- Book DJ or band (be sure to sign a contract)
- Book the photographer (be sure to sign a contract)
- Book the videographer (if you're having one)
- Start planning your honeymoon
- Finalize the guest list
- Start making wedding favors if you're making your own
- If you're having an outdoor wedding , reserve rental equipment such as tents, chairs, etc.
- Meet with bakers and sample wedding cakes
- Start looking at wedding invitations
- Start thinking about the wording of your wedding invitations
- Start planning the rehearsal dinner
4 - 6 months before the wedding:
- Join a bridal registry
- Book the baker for your wedding cake
- Order your wedding invitations
- Book a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
- Contact out-of-town guests about the wedding (prior to sending out invitations)
- Finalize dinner menu with caterer
- Bride: select flower girl's dress and pass details on to the parents
- Purchase wedding guest favors
- Book the limousine or other wedding day transportation
- Book the rehearsal dinner site
- Book a calligrapher (if you're using one)
- Groom: start looking at tuxedos or other formal wear
- Book the honeymoon
- Book a hotel room for the wedding night
- Book a photo session for engagement announcement in local newspapers
- Start thinking about wedding ceremony decorations
- Bride: buy bridal lingerie in time for first dress fitting
2 - 3 months before the wedding:
- Give the photographer a list of "important shots" you want included
- Purchase your wedding rings
- Purchase maid of honor gift, bridesmaids gifts , best man gift , groomsmen gifts
- Purchase the groom's gift or the bride's gift , whichever applies
- Groom: finalize tuxedo /formal attire and pass on rental/purchase details to groomsmen
- Groom: finalize ring bearer attire and pass details on to the parents
- Run engagement announcement in local newspapers
- Bride: schedule your dress fittings
- Bride: make sure your bridal party has purchased their accessories
- Bride: book your hair and makeup appointments
- Bride: if you're changing your name complete the proper documents
- If your state requires it, have blood tests done
- Bride: talk to your maid of honor about a bridal shower
- Address and send out wedding invitations (invitations should be mailed at 2-month mark)
- Groom: purchase your accessories including shoes, cuff links, handkerchiefs, etc.
- Start writing wedding vows, especially if writing your own
- Decide on whether to light a unity candle or honor past loved ones during the ceremony
- Start working on wedding program
1 month before the wedding:
- Confirm parking at the ceremony and reception locations
- Get your marriage license
- Finalize wedding vows
- Bride: have your final dress fitting
- Finalize and print wedding program
- Finalize song list with DJ or band
- Buy a guest book and pen
- Contact any guests who haven't replied to the invitation
- Write speeches for rehearsal and wedding dinners
- Bride: attend your bridal shower
- Bride: sent out thank-you cards for bridal shower gifts
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations
- Bride: do trial-runs of your hair and makeup
- Start working on the seating plan
- Confirm honeymoon details and reservations
- Have your " stag and doe" party
1-2 weeks before the wedding:
- Finalize seating plan and write place cards
- Create a seating chart to hang in the reception site
- Bride: break in your wedding shoes by wearing them around the house
- Bride: pick up your wedding dress
- Pick up wedding rings and check that the inscriptions are correct
- Bride: pick up "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue"
- Bride: purchase a garter
- Plan your wedding day itinerary
- Groom: have your bachelor party
- Bride: have your bachelorette party
- Plan your receiving line
- Leave your honeymoon travel plans and itinerary with a family member
- Confirm headcount with caterer
- Confirm details with vendors: DJ or band, photographer, limousine, florist
- Confirm ceremony details with officiant
Day before the wedding:
- Bride: get manicure and pedicure done
- Give your wedding party their gifts
- Groom: pick up your tuxedo/suit
- Decorate the ceremony and reception locations (if possible)
- Drop off wedding favors, guest book and seating chart at reception site
- Rehearse the ceremony with the officiant and wedding party
- Enjoy the rehearsal dinner
- Get a good night's sleep!
Day of the wedding:
- Bride or Groom: take a relaxing bath or shower and enjoy the moment of solitude
- Have breakfast; you'll need your energy
- Give your partner their wedding gift
- Get dressed
- Relax and enjoy the day!
No comments:
Post a Comment