Wedding Checklist Venues, photographers and vendors get booked quickly so this wedding checklist should help you plan your event. 12 Months in Advance of your wedding
Have your families meet one another (if they haven't already met)
Do some early planning. Try to determine the type of wedding you want. Time of day, where, number of guests, etc.
Set the date. Have a couple of backup dates just in case the site, officiant, or caterer is already booked.
Set your initial budget and decide how you will share expenses
Create a preliminary guest list
Reserve Ceremony Site
Reserve Reception Site
Reserve Officiant
Reserve Photographer
Reserve Caterer
9 + Months in Advance of your wedding
Announce Your Engagement (you may want to have your engagement photos done at this point and I do them for FREE)
Buy a calendar to keep track of dates, luncheons, showers, get-togethers, due dates, etc.
Hire a professional wedding planner
Consolidate your guest lists. Your list, your family's list, his list, his family's list, etc.
Organize them into groups like this: MUST INVITE - SHOULD INVITE - PERHAPS INVITE. That way, you can start to make
decisions about who you want to celebrate with you.
Determine your color scheme
Select Maid or Matron of Honor
Select Bridesmaids
Select Best Man
Select Groomsmen and Ushers
Choose and Order your Wedding Dress, accessories, jewelry, headpiece, gloves, and shoes.
Select Attendants' gowns and let both mothers know about the color selection so that they can plan their attire accordingly.
If you are having the ceremony or reception at home, you should start making improvements in the home or yard.
You will need a copy of your birth certificate for your marriage license so order that now.
Order Passports and Visas for traveling abroad
Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
Reserve your DJ or band and select music
Review Florists and select
Choose stores and create your bridal registry.
Six - Nine Months in Advance of your wedding
Reserve florist and pick arrangements. Also order your boutonnieres and bouquets for the wedding party & corsages for the moms
Make appointments with cake makers and sample their creations. Yummmmy
Review and choose your videographer (Hopefully that is me! See my demos)
Choose your flower girl and ring bearer and choose their attire
Schedule dress fittings and delivery dates for yourself, flower girl, attendants, and ring bearer.
Book your honeymoon
Order the "Save the Date" cards, your invitations, stationery, and your thank you cards.
Also offer maps to the ceremony and reception locations for your guests
Book your hair stylist and make-up person
Groom's parents should begin to arrange a place for the rehearsal dinner.
Four - Six Months in Advance of your wedding
Reserve your rentals like tables, chairs, tents, etc.
Order your wedding cake from the designer you choose
Reserve the attire for your groom, groomsmen, and ushers
Choose wedding favors. If you are making favors, then start now!
Book your hotel room for your wedding night
Get physical exams if required for your marriage license
Put final touches on your guest list
Address the "Save the Date" cards and invitations or hire a calligrapher
Book valet parking attendants (if applicable)
Begin monthly facial or beauty treatment regimen
Two - Four Months in Advance of your wedding
Mail your "Save the Date" cards
Confirm in writing all of the menu and decorating details with your caterer
Double check with bridal salon, photographer, videographer, musicians and other vendors to confirm arrangements
Discuss your wedding ceremony with the officiant
Buy your stockings and special undergarments. Your dress may require special undergarments
Choose readings for the ceremony and give the copies to the readers that you have chosen
If you are writing your own vows, you should do that now
Schedule the rehearsal time and the rehearsal dinner
Plan the bridesmaid's luncheon or any other wedding weekend functions
Find a printer for the programs
Book transportation for your wedding day. Here in Charleston, carriages and trolley busses are nice
Purchase the gifts for the wedding party and for your groom
Wear your shoes around the house to break them in
Six - Eight Weeks prior to your wedding
Mail your wedding and rehearsal invitations which should include maps for out of town guests
Have your programs printed
Have your final fitting for your wedding dress
Have the makeup artist to a trial run
Have your hairstylist to a trial run with the headpiece
Schedule to have your hair, makeup, nails done for the wedding morning
Have your formal wedding portrait made
Send wedding announcement and photograph to the newspaper
Complete the documents to change your name. You can send them when you get back from your honeymoon
Record all RSVPs and gifts that you receive
Write thank you cards as you receive gifts. It will be easier than all at once
Obtain marriage license
Finish shopping for your wedding day accessories like toasting glasses, ring pillow and guest book.
Set up an area or table at home to display gifts as you receive them
Decide if you would like to have a guest book attendant and where and when to have the guests sign it
Finalize reception menu and estimate the expected number of guests with caterer.
Also finalize the beverage and alcohol order.
Purchase your going away outfit if you are changing out of your dress
Pick up your wedding rings and check to see if they fit correctly
Confirm florist details and times for delivery
Layout the reception room and seating with the site manager of the caterer.
Write names on place cards for any arranged seating.
Two - Six Weeks prior to your wedding
Confirm your ceremony details with the wedding officiant
Schedule the final fitting for the bridesmaids' dresses
Finalize the rehearsal dinner plans and arrange seating and write the place cards
Choose the music for your ceremony, first dance, parent dances, and party.
Give the music selections to your band or DJ and your other musicians
Do you want a receiving line? If so, determine from when to when.
Meet with your photographer and confirm any photos you may want.
Meet with the videographer (me) and confirm special events or people you want filmed
Make a detailed timeline for your vendors and wedding party.
Confirm details again with all vendors
Contact any guests that have not responded
Remind bridesmaids of when and where to pick up their dresses.
Purchase any lipstick, nail polish or other make up that you want your bridesmaids to wear
Pack for your honeymoon
Any special ceremony seating should be determined and that list should be given to the ushers
Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception
Delegate duties for the wedding day to family and friends
One - Two weeks prior to your wedding
Finish your honeymoon packing
Confirm travel arrangements and pick up tickets and traveler's checks
Arrange with the post office to hold your mail
Make sure all of your wedding attire fits properly
Make sure all clothing and accessories, make-up, and jewelry for the bridal party are ready
Do a final guest count and notify your caterer
Gather everything you will need for the rehearsal and wedding day
Give timeline to vendors. Review the schedule and any last minute changes or details with them
Learn your guests names so that you can greet them in the receiving line
Make arrangements with a friend or family member to deliver your wedding gifts to your home
Reconfirm guest accommodations with hotel
Wrap the wedding party gifts
One Day before your wedding
Get a manicure and massage
Assign last minute responsibilities like giving out corsages and boutonnieres to your bridesmaids
Arrange for someone to bring your accessories (flower basket, guest book, pen, ring pillow,
toasting glasses, cake knife, etc.) to the ceremony and/or reception site.
Give each bridal party member the detailed timeline for the wedding day
Remind best man and maid of honor to sign the wedding certificate
review list of things to bring to the rehearsal
Confirm transportation plans (i.e. Limo, carriage, trolley, etc.)
Put suitcases in getaway car
Review the schedule with your vendors
Rehearsal dinner: Give bridal party gifts with a personal note in each.
Give best man the officiant's fee and any other checks yet to be paid with instructions on how to pay them.
Arrange for someone to mail the marriage announcement the day after the wedding.
Arrange for someone to return rental attire, cake stand, etc.
Rehearse ceremony and all other details for participants in the wedding
Rehearsal dinner
Wedding Day
Review list of things to bring to the ceremony
Give the groom's ring to the maid of honor. Give the bride's ring to the best man
Follow your schedule of events
Thank your parents and your guests
Oh yeah, don't forget to say "I Do!"
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