When planning your wedding, it's best to start early and be disciplined in keeping up with these wedding checklist tasks well in advance!
At Least One Year in Advance:
* Announce your engagement and send announcements to the local newspaper.
* Plan an engagement party.
* Choose wedding date. * Decide type of wedding desired (traditional, big/small). * Decide time of wedding and reception. * Choose desired location for wedding ceremony. * Choose desired location for reception. * Set wedding budget and decide how wedding will be financed.
After the deciding, then the booking...
* See if ceremony and reception locations are available and book them. * Choose/hire individual who will perform your wedding ceremony. * Interview/Choose photographer and then book him/her. * Interview/Choose Videographer and then book him/her. * Interview/Choose Florist and then book him/her. * Interview/Choose Baker (for cake) and then book him/her. * Decide type of music desired for reception, if any. * Interview/Choose Band/DJ for reception and then book him/her/them. * Choose reception format: buffet or sit-down dinner etc. * Interview/Choose caterer and then book him/her/them .
Ten to Twelve Months in Advance
* Ensure home/renter's insurance covers engagement ring or buy additional jewelry insurance. * Determine a color scheme for the wedding/reception if desired. * Decide if all/part/any of vows will be written by bride/groom. * Choose wedding party.
* Choose/order wedding dress and veil. * Buy wedding shoes. * Buy undergarments for wedding attire (need prior to fittings). * Begin looking at invitations. * Set honeymoon budget. Six to Ten Months in Advance
* Decide if unity candle ceremony is desired. * First meeting with minister/officiant. * Begin writing vows. * Choose ceremony music (prelude, processional, solos, recessional, postlude, etc.). * Choose and hire soloist(s) for ceremony/reception/rehearsal dinner. * Choose attendants and ask if they'll accept the position. * Begin looking for bridesmaid dresses. * Pick out tuxes for groom and groomsmen/ushers/fathers. * Choose/book desired location for rehearsal dinner. * Look for and book (reserve) block of rooms at nearby hotel for out-of-town guests. * Choose invitations. * Decide if programs and/or personalized napkins will be purchased and select them. * Make first draft of invite list. * Get directions to church, from church to reception, and from church to rehearsal dinner. * Make list of attractions/things to do (in town where wedding is) to include with directions. * Plan honeymoon and book all lodgings/transportation/event tickets. * Check passports/visas. * Discuss if a bridal registry is desired and what items would be on it. * Choose china/crystal/flatware/cookware patterns for bridal registry if desired.
Four to Six Months in Advance
* Make appointment for bridal portrait. * Make hair/nail appointment for bridal portrait. * Find out from minister if flower girl can drop flower petals on floor in sanctuary * Find out from reception hall if guests can throw birdseed or rice * Decide how you want your exit at the reception/ceremony (guests throwing birdseed, bubbles, casual?)
* Buy/make favors to give guests.
* Buy/make centerpieces for guest tables at reception. * Order bridesmaid dresses. * Hire limo driver or arrange other transportation to/from ceremony and reception.. * Buy wedding attire accessories such as gloves, earrings, necklace, purse, shoes, cufflinks, etc. * Pick out/order wedding bands. * Select reception decorations such as candles, flowers, balloons, arches, etc. * Meet with florist to choose amount and type of flowers for ceremony and reception and any other accessories. * Ask mothers if they want to wear a flower corsage or carry a single flower instead and inform florist. * Decide if roses will be given to the mothers at the end of/during the ceremony. * Buy/make basket for flower girl. * Buy/make pillow for ringbearer. * Meet with baker to choose flavor(s) and style of wedding cake. * Decide if a groom's cake is desired; if so, choose flavor and style and inform baker. * Make/print directions and map for ceremony and reception to include with all wedding invitations. * Make/print maps to rehearsal dinner to include with rehearsal dinner invitations.
* Make 2nd draft of invite list. * Register gift preferences with one or more bridal registries at nearby and/or nationwide store. * Get measurements from groom/ushers/fathers/groomsmen for tuxedos.
Three to Four Months in Advance
* Confirm bridal portrait appointment. * Confirm hair/nail appointments for bridal portrait. * Determine how many disposable cameras should be purchased, if any. * First wedding gown fitting. * Sign up to donate ceremony centerpiece to flowers for Sunday's service, if desired. * Buy/make birdseed roses/birdseed packets/bubbles/etc. * Decide on living arrangement once married.
Two to Four Months in Advance
* Choose soloist's song(s) and get soloist's approval to perform them. * Mail/take music to soloist. * Buy disposable cameras. * Get bridal portrait taken. * Determine wedding band inscriptions. * Choose reception food. * Design program layout (or have a printer do it). * Determine reception layout (i.e. how many tables, chairs, etc.). * Determine seating arrangement at reception if it's a sit-down dinner. * Determine seating arrangement at rehearsal dinner with groom's mother if desired. * Determine who will put suitcases in limo at reception. * Determine how attendants will process and stand at ceremony.. * Choose reception music (1st dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance etc.). * Find out if smoking is allowed at reception hall and how to prevent it if desired. * Make rough draft of list of duties of all involved (Mistress of Ceremonies, etc.). * Finalize vows and memorize (if necessary). * Make sure flower girl dress is purchased. * Make sure the mother's dresses are purchased and are complimentary. * Determine length of bridesmaid dresses. * Determine hose color and shoes for bridesmaids. * Bride buy gifts for bridesmaids, parents, fiance, personal attendant. * Groom buy gifts for groomsmen, parents, fiance, ushers. * Buy gifts with fiance for Mistress of Ceremonies, Host/Hostess, soloist, guest book attendant, etc. * Schedule bride's hair appointment. * Schedule nail appointment. * Finalize invite list. * Get addresses of all people on invite list. * Order invitations. * Order programs. * Order monogrammed napkins for reception if desired. * Reserve rental items: candelabra, linens, canopy, tables/chairs, etc. * Set date with fiance to get marriage license (check restrictions on how long it's valid prior to wedding). * Get blood tests/physicals for marriage certificate if required. * Get any immunizations you will need for the honeymoon.
Two Months in Advance
* Book rooms for out-of-town attendants at hotel. * Go over rough draft of duties with all involved in wedding. * Choose one person to whom the groomsmen can return their tuxes, to return to rental place.
* Determine who will return the groom's tuxedo to the rental place. * Determine order/timing of events at reception (cake-cutting, garter toss, etc.). * Second wedding gown fitting. * Buy honeymoon clothes and going away outfit if necessary. * Buy/decide on rehearsal/rehearsal dinner outfit. * Determine the "something borrowed, ...blue, ...old, and ...new" to wear on wedding day. * Get wedding bands inscribed. * Get final order of prelude and processional music from organist. * Hire babysitter to watch any children during wedding ceremony. * Call to inform all people who need to be at rehearsal. * Buy guest book and pen. * Obtain marriage certificate. * Last meeting with minister/officiant. * Determine where bride and attendants will get dressed (at home/hotel or ceremony site?). * Determine where groom and attendants will get dressed (at hotel or ceremony site?). * Buy/make throw and keepsake garters. * Make itinerary of wedding day for all involved. * Choose songs for video (background music for intro/pre-wedding). * Buy stamps for invitations, response cards, and some to get started on thank-you notes. * Ensure formal-wear shop has all tuxedo measurements.
* Address/mail wedding invitations. One Month in Advance
* Order flower arrangements for rehearsal dinner tables if desired. * Find out if reception caterers will make a basket of food for you to take to your hotel after reception. * Determine who will be in the limo (i.e. just newlyweds or attendants/parents too??). * Determine when items needed at reception (toasting glasses, etc.) will be taken there. * Show final program to minister and organist to check for accuracy. * Decide if gown will be preserved and where. * Decide if bouquet will be preserved and make arrangements. * Ensure band/DJ has equipment/music needed tp play your chosen reception music. * Pick up wedding bands. * Ensure home/renter's insurance covers wedding bands or buy additional jewelry insurance. * Confirm honeymoon reservations. * Check registries to make sure shower gifts and/or early wedding gifts have been marked off as purchased. * Record gifts as you receive them and send thank-you notes. * Open joint checking and savings accounts. * Change beneficiary to fiance for will and life insurance policy. * Inform car/home/renter's insurance of marriage (discounted rates may apply). * Make list of all places with whom bride needs to change name and submit changes.
Two Weeks in Advance
* Final meeting with florist - overview and give him/her map to ceremony and reception sites. * Final meeting with reception hall/caterer.
* Final meeting with videographer - overview, give him/her music and map. * Final meeting with photographer.
* Final conversation with band - overview of times & special songs, mail him/her/them map. * Mail directions to limo driver and confirm times. * Meet with rehearsal dinner caterers for final details. * Print programs. * Print rehearsal dinner maps (extras in case guests forget map that came with dinner invite). * Finalize and print list of duties for each person involved. * Print itinerary of wedding day (copies for all at rehearsal). * Confirm nail/hair appointments. * Print list of reception dances for MC/band/DJ. * Final wedding gown fitting. * Confirm hotel reservations for wedding night. * Confirm hotel reservations for attendants. * Determine personal wedding morning itinerary (time to wake up, ... time to leave for church, etc.). * Groom's hair appointment. * Submit wedding announcement to local newspaper for publishing day or weekend of wedding. * Move belongings to new home.
One Week in Advance
* Make bride's emergency kit. * Pack for honeymoon. * Get traveler's checks for honeymoon; exchange money to foreign currency now if desired. * Fill out first page of guest book. * Remind attendants about rehearsal time. * Take marriage certificate to minister/officiant. * Give best man the clergyman's fee (if to be payed day of ceremony, otherwise pay this week). * Finish centerpieces for guest tables at reception if it's a last minute duty (i.e. need fresh flowers, etc.). * Give final guest count to reception facility and/or caterer. * Remind groom/fathers/ushers/groomsmen to pick up tuxedos on day before wedding. * Ensure delivery of flower arrangements for wedding rehearsal dinner have been made.
Day Before Wedding
* Pick up wedding gown and veil. * Pick up tux. * Take favors, centerpieces, cake knife and server, toasting glasses, CD's, and birdseed roses to reception hall. * Nail appointment. * Give mom lipstick to keep in purse on wedding day for bride (or prepare bride's purse). * Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Morning of Wedding
* Bride's hair appointment. * Give groom's wedding band to Maid of Honor and bride's wedding band to Best Man prior to ceremony. * Relax and enjoy!!
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