Six to Twelve Months Before Your Date:
- Determine your type of wedding: formal, informal, etc.
- Determine your budget.
- Select a wedding consultant to guide your through the process.
- Visit your clergy to schedule your ceremony and all pre-ceremony plans.
- Develop the invitation list.
- Select and ask your bridal attendants: bridesmaids & groomsmen.
- Select your wedding gown, veil, accessories and bridesmaid’s dresses.
- Consult with a formal wear specialist about men’s tuxedos or jackets.
- Interview and contract the reception location.
- Interview and contract the ceremony and reception music. (strings, guitar, harp, DJ, band, etc.)
- Plan accommodations for out-of-town guests, contract room block at hotels or bed and breakfast locations.
- Select your photographer, videographer and florist.
- Send out Save the Dates with important information related to your wedding, i.e. hotel accommodations, airports, before and after events.
- Help mothers select their wedding outfits.
- Select & book rehearsal dinner site.
Four Months Before Your Wedding:
- Order Invitations and thank you notes.
- Make reservations for your honeymoon.
- Complete Bridal Registry at your favorite stores.
- Make hair/make-up appointments for trial hair does/make-up. Book appointments for wedding day.
- Meet with all of your vendors and begin to finalize plans.
Two Months Before Your Wedding:
- Send out wedding invitations six to eight weeks prior to wedding date. Make invitation RSVP date at least 21 days ahead of your wedding date.
- Select wedding rings and order engraving.
- Buy gifts for all wedding participants.
- Apply for your marriage license; you will need a license from the county that you are being married in.
One Month Before Your Wedding:
- Style your hair with your veil. Confirm wedding day appointments.
- Make arrangements for a simple lunch for bride/mothers/girls during hair/make-up appointments. (fruit, sandwiches or wraps, cookies, WATER, Water, Water.)
- Have final dress fitting for you and your attendants.
- Have a formal wedding portrait taken.
- Plan a party for your bridesmaids.
- Have a formal wedding portrait taken.
- Purchase fiancé wedding gift.
- Finalize wedding agenda to give to all vendors.
- Give photographer a list of your preferred wedding shots/people.
Two Weeks Before Your Wedding:
- Plan seating arrangements for reception, write seating cards or develop framed seating chart for reception site.
- Confirm all honeymoon arrangements and pick-up tickets.
- Begin to address legal and business affairs..i.e. changing name and/or addresses.
- Mail wedding announcement to local papers.
- Begin to pack suitcase for honeymoon.
One Week Before Your Wedding:
- Have final meeting with consultant or vendors.
- Confirm ceremony/rehearsal plans with clergy and attendants.
- Make sure that you have your marriage certificate and all required paperwork in order for clergy.
- Make a list of all final payments to be made the day of the wedding. Write checks and put in individual envelops.
- Organize and pack all “special effects” i.e. programs, guest book, etc. for ceremony and reception sites.
- Decide who will take wedding gifts away from reception site.
- Decide what to do with reception flowers.
Day Before Your Wedding:
- Ceremony rehearsal…have marriage certificate available.
- Rehearsal dinner…give family and attendants thank-you gifts.
- Get plenty of rest for the next day.
The Day of Your Wedding….Relax and enjoy the moment! |
