Checklists and Timelines

The following checklists will help you plan your wedding. These are only
guidelines which you should adjust to fit your timeline.

Nine to Twelve Months Before the Wedding

• Purchase engagement and wedding rings; arrange for engraving
• Select a wedding date and time
• Announce your engagement and wedding date
• Discuss and create a preliminary budget with all involved
• Determine your wedding theme or style
• Check with your officiant to determine pre-marital requirements
  Choose your color scheme
• Determine the size of the guest list
• Start compiling names and addresses of guests
• Reserve your ceremony location
• Reserve your reception site
• If you plan to have your ceremony/reception outdoors, make alternate plans for bad weather
• Interview party planners and/or wedding consultants if you choose to use a professional planner· Select a caterer, photographer, DJ or band, florist and videographer
• Select soloists, organists, musicians for ceremony
• Select your dress and order if necessary
• Select your headpiece
• Select bridesmaids' dresses and order if necessary
• Select and order invitations, matches, napkins, thank-you notes and programs · Start planning honeymoon
• Start addressing invitations and announcements when they arrive
• Pre-address thank you note envelopes while addressing invitations and announcements (This saves a great deal of time later)
• Prepare maps and directions to include with your invitations
• Check with the post office for the amount of postage needed to mail the invitations when all the pieces are included in the envelope
• Register with bridal registries

Six to Nine Months Before the Wedding

• Check with your local newspaper for the form and timing of your wedding announcement submission
• Have mothers select their dresses
• Select the men's formal wear
• Choose songs that you would like for the DJ or band to play at your wedding
• Keep gift checklist up to date and write thank-you notes daily
• Arrange accommodations for attendants who do not live in town
• Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests
• Hire limousines and/or other transportation
• Make appointments for physicals and update your immunization shots and records
• Shop for wedding rings
• Start planning the honeymoon
• Begin shopping for trousseau
• Begin addressing invitations and announcements (They should be sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding)

Four to Six Months Before the Wedding

• Finish addressing invitations and send them out
• Finalize all details with the caterer, photographer, florist, reception
  coordinator, entertainment, etc.
• Order the wedding cake if it is not supplied by the caterer
• Finalize the ceremony details with the officiant
• Make rehearsal and rehearsal dinner arrangements
• Plan the bridal luncheon
• Make appointments with your hairdresser and make-up artist
• Finalize honeymoon plans

One Month Before the Wedding

• Have a final fitting of the wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses
• Have a formal bridal portrait done
• Complete all physical and dental appointments
• Get blood test and marriage license
• Make transportation arrangements for the wedding day
• Purchase gifts for all of the attendants and participants
• Purchase gift for your fiancé
• Keep careful records of the gifts you receive and write thank-you notes as you receive them
• Select responsible person to handle the guest book
• Make sure that all of the men's attire has been ordered
• Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit
• Take care of legal affairs such as changing the names on insurance, policies, etc.
• Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to the newspaper

Two Weeks Before the Wedding

• Arrange to have wedding gifts moved to your new home
• Turn in a change of address card to the post office if necessary
• Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on the wedding day
• The groom should have his hair cut
• The bride should have her hair colored if necessary

One Week Before the Wedding

• Contact guests who have not responded
• Give the final count to the caterer and review the details
• Go over any final details with all wedding professionals you have hired
• Give the photographer a list of pictures you would like
• Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video
• Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception
• Plan the seating arrangements
• Continue to write thank-you notes
• Pack your suitcases for the honeymoon
• Make sure you have the marriage license
• Make sure that you have the wedding rings and they fit
• Make sure that all wedding attire is picked up and it fits
• Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations
• Make sure that you have your plane tickets

The Day Before the Wedding

• Have the bridal luncheon if you haven't already had it
• The bride should have her nails done
• Have rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties at least twice
• Go over special seating or pew cards with the ushers
• Give any instructions about the wedding day, such as, what time everyone should be at the church for pictures, what type of transportation is provided, where the reception is, etc.

The Wedding Day

• The bride should have her hair and makeup done
• Make sure that each of you have your rings
• Make sure that you have the marriage license
• Place the officiants fee in an envelope and give it to the best man so he may present it after the ceremony
• Relax, have fun and enjoy your special day!