Wedding are magical, exciting, romantic as well as extremely time consuming, sometimes frustrating and often overwhelming. Make your that yours runs smoothly by planning ahead and watching the details. The following schedule will help keep you on a smooth track.
Weddings are magical, exciting, romantic as well as extremely time consuming, sometimes frustrating and often overwhelming. Make your that yours runs smoothly by planning ahead and watching the details. The following schedule will help keep you on a smooth track.
Six to Twelve Months Before
Set a budget for your wedding
Decide on the style of your wedding (formal, informal, large, small, etc...)
Choose your wedding date and time
Select and reserve your ceremony location
Select and reserve your reception location
Select and reserve your officiant
Select and reserve a wedding coordinator (if you decide to work with one)
Confirm the wedding and rehearsal times and dates with your officiant and wedding coordinator
Arrange for premarital counseling or marriage preparation classes with your officiant or a family counseling center.
Decide on the approximate number of guests and begin to compile a tentative list.
Select the color scheme for your wedding and reception.
Shop for your wedding gown, headpiece, veil, and other accessories.
Select your attendants and invited them to participate (record their names, addresses, phone numbers, and clothing sizes for future use).
Select and order your bridal attendants' dresses.
Talk with the mothers about their dresses for the wedding.
Select the following professionals (they are usually booked months in advance so plan accordingly)...
Register with the bridal gift registry of your favorite stores.
Three to Six Months Before
Set a deadline no later than three months before the wedding date for your families' compiled guest lists.
Order invitations, announcements, enclosures, and other personal stationery and accessories.
Order rings.
Coordinate the rehearsal dinner with the groom's parents.
Provide the rehearsal dinner hosts with a list of guests to be invited.
Compile a list of guests for your bridal shower hostess.
Continue to shop for your wedding accessories.
Schedule appointments for your...
Shop for and decide on a place to live after the wedding.
Discuss honeymoon plans.
If you plan to travel abroad, update passports, visas, and inoculations.
Two Months Before
As gifts arrive, note contents and write Thank-You cards.
Address and mail invitations four to six weeks before the wedding.
Buy and wrap wedding gifts (from bride to groom and vice-versa).
Buy and wrap attendants' gifts.
Check on the delivery dates for your gown and the attendants' dresses.
Plan where to dress on your wedding day.
Schedule fittings for your gown.
Schedule an appointment with your hairstylist to design your hairstyle for the wedding day.
Plan the order of the wedding with your officiant.
Finalize plans with your...
Plan the wedding rehearsal with the officiant and/or wedding coordinator.
Make lodging and travel plans for out-of-town guests.
Arrange wedding day transportation for the wedding party.
Order any rental equipment needed for the wedding and reception.
Complete honeymoon plans and make reservations.
One Month Before
Have rings engraved.
Continue writing Thank-You notes.
Address your wedding announcements.
Arrange a bridal luncheon for the bridal attendants.
Write or phone invitations to bridals attendants for bridal luncheon.
Confirm that the attendants have purchased all of their accessories.
Schedule an appointment to have your nails done a day or two before the wedding.
Schedule an appointment to have your hair and makeup done on the wedding day.
Start packing your personal belongings to move into your new home.
Make any necessary arrangements for after-the wedding cleanup, return of rental equipment, and transportation of gifts.
Discuss future financial details (you might consider opening up joint bank accounts, etc...)
Make necessary arrangements for name, address, and beneficiary changes.
Confirm your state's marriage requirements.
If necessary, have premarital blood tests taken.
Obtain your marriage license.
Two Weeks Before
Continue writing Thank-You notes.
Begin keeping your wedding day clothes in one place.
Pack your clothes for the honeymoon.
Write your wedding announcement for the newspaper and prepare to have it delivered to the society editor.
Have the ceremony programs printed.
Send final information on guest housing and transportation to your out-of-town guests.
One Week Before
Keep writing those Thank-You notes.
Have a final fitting for your wedding gown or formal wear.
Find something to protect your gown during transport to ceremony site (tissue paper, plastic, or a sheet).
Make arrangements for delivery or pickup of...
Confirm plans with the...
If necessary, make any phone calls to late respondents for the reception head count.
Confirm the number of acceptances with the reception site and caterer.
Prepare seating charts or place cards for the reception.
Make up an emergency kit (needle, thread, safety pins, bobby pins, tissues, etc...) to be taken to the ceremony site.
Bride to attend her bridal luncheon with her attendants.
Groom to schedule haircut early in the week.
One Day Before
Complete all decorating.
Bride to have her nails done.
Groom to pick up wedding attire.
Attend the rehearsal.
Attend the rehearsal dinner.
Your Wedding Day
Eat light meals, avoiding spicy and fried foods.
Enjoy a relaxing bath.
Finish packing for your honeymoon.
Bride to have her hair styled and makeup applied.
Groom to give the wedding ring, marriage license, and envelope for the officiant to the best man.
Dress for the wedding.
Enjoy your day!