You have so much to do. You never thought that planning a wedding could be this time consuming and you don’t want to forget anything. Well try using my checklist before.
12 MONTHS
- Announce your engagement to your family and close friends
- Send your announcement to your local paper
- Develop a guest list
11 MONTHS
- Plan a preliminary budget
- Research wedding and reception locations
- Select a bridal party and ask each person to participate
- Settle on a wedding site
10 MONTHS
- Set your date
- Book the reception location
- Interview and select caterer, florist, musician, videographer, wedding director
9 MONTHS
- Set up your bridal registry
- Begin wedding dress shopping
8 MONTHS
- Interview and select priest, pastor, minister, rabbi or judge
- Interview cake designers, sample cakes and select your cake
- Begin to review honeymoon locations
- Finalize overall budget
7 MONTHS
- Order wedding dress
- Begin to shop for bridesmaid dresses
- Finalize guest list
6 MONTHS
- Begin shopping for invitations and stationery
- Place order for bridesmaid dresses and accessories
- Bride and Groom’s mother select dresses
- Reserve rental equipment (chairs, linens etc)
5 MONTHS
- Purchase thank you notes and write thank yous for gifts and parties
- Select wedding favors
- Shop for wedding rings
- Begin shopping for groom’s wedding attire
- Send tux measurement forms to groomsmen
- Finalize dates for bachelorette party and shower
4 MONTHS
- Order tuxes
- Order wedding stationery
Invitations
Announcements
Envelopes and seals
Reception cards
Response cards
Informal cards
Thank you notes
- Book honeymoon
- Schedule appointments for trial hair and makeup
- Book block of rooms for out-of-town guest
3 MONTHS
- Purchase postage for invitations
- Begin addressing invitations
- Plan seating arrangements for reception
- Purchase wedding accessories- guest book, ring bearer pillow, toasting glasses, unity candle, flower basket, serving set
- Choose or write vows
- Book hair, nail, makeup appointments
- Select and mail invitations for rehearsal dinner
2 MONTHS
- Mail invitations to arrive six weeks before the wedding date
- Address and stamp wedding announcements
- Arrange for friend to send announcements on wedding day
- Purchase gifts for bridal party
- Schedule first fitting
- Apply for marriage license
- Attend showers
1 MONTH
- Start tracking gifts and thank yous written
- Finalize ceremony plan
- Submit wedding program to stationer
- Finalize transportation of family, party and out of town guest
- Pick up wedding rings
- Make arrangement for bridesmaid luncheon
- Get forms for name change on driver’s license, insurance plans, bank account etc
- Schedule second bridal fitting
3 WEEKS
- Reconfirm hotel reservation for guests as well as for honeymoon
- Purchase dinner seating cards for guests
2 WEEKS
- Determine the final guest count from response cards
- Contact guests who have not responded
- Pack for honeymoon
- Send final payment to suppliers
- Get hair trimmed
1 WEEK
- Pick up gown and accessories
- Gather wedding accessories : put in a bag or box ready to go
- Make time to relax
- Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
