Checklist by time frame-
9-12 months before your wedding
- Officially announce your engagement
- Set a budget and decide who will pay for what
- Pick your date
- Start a wedding folder (somewhere you can store ideas, pics or whatever you think will help plan)
- Thinking about your dream wedding and budget decide on the type of wedding you want to have (formal, informal, semi formal)
- Hire a wedding planner if you choose to
- Decide whether you want ceremony site and reception site to be the same or in different locations and book both.
- Think about your officiant and consider booking them early
- Start a guest list (can be just a rough draft)
- Throw engagement party if you wish
- Choose wedding party
- Announce your wedding date
- Hire photographer, videographer
- Hire entertainment (DJ/Band)
- Hire catering service
- Decide on bridesmaids dresses
- Start shopping for wedding dress, jewelry and shoes-consider purchasing within this time frame to allow for any special requests or orders
- Launch wedding website if you choose to
- Book hotel rooms for out of town guests
- Register
- Begin planning honeymoon
- Book florist
- Reserve structural or electrical structures (chairs, tents, portable toilets etc.)
- Arrange transportation if you choose
- Choose and order wedding invitations and stationary
- Book rehearsal and rehearsal dinner venues
- Buy wedding rings
- Discuss menu with catering service
- Decide on wedding cake and purchase from baker
- Schedule hair and makeup appointments-try styles early so that you have decided before wedding day!
- Pick music
- Give shower hostess your guest list
- Start dress fitting
- Make sure bridesmaids have ordered dresses
- Meet with florist and finalize arrangements
- Finalize guest list and send invitations (Invitations should go out about 8 weeks before wedding date)
- Order favors
- Finalize readings
- Purchase undergarments
- Finalize order of ceremony and reception
- Order tux's for groom and groomsmen
- set your final menu
- Purchase gifts for bridal party, each other, parents etc.
- Purchase wedding supplies and accessories (flower basket, guestbook, ring pillow etc.)
- Begin merging money and accounts if you choose to
- Check in with vendors- make sure preparations are going smoothly and you are on the same page.-menu, hair and makeup appts, floral arrangements and music list
- Schedule final dress fitting to be ready in enough time for bridal portraits if you choose to do them
- Schedule Bridal portraits with your photographer
- Contact anyone that has not RSVP to make sure you have a good head count
- Send as many final payments as you can
- Seating charts
- Write vows- if you choose
- Mail rehearsal dinner invitations
- Wedding programs
- Obtain marriage license
- Confirm hotel arrangements for out of town guests
- Have final gown fitting if not already done so
- Set wedding day schedule and share it with anyone involved with the wedding (attendants, parents etc)
- Confirm arrival times with ALL vendors
- Send final guest list to caterers with head count
- Break in your shoes
- Make spa appointment if you choose to
- Pick up your dress
- Pack for honeymoon
- Prepare wedding favors
- Prepare payment envelopes for vendors and delegate responsibility of dispensing these to someone trusted
- Get manicure, pedicure and massage if you choose
- Gather all wedding materials in one place so that it is easy to get to
- Rehearse with officiant and bridal party
- Confirm flight and arrangements for honeymoon
- Eat a good breakfast- to get your day started
- Have hair done
- Have makeup done
- Take rings and marriage license
- Get bridal gown cleaned and decide how to preserve it
- Write and send thank you notes
- Name change
- Meet with photographer and videographer to get albums or prints
