Wedding Checklist - 12 months and counting
Source of the following information is little wedding Guide
· Announce your engagement to family and friends and plan an engagement party
· Place an engagement announcement in your local newspaper
· Sign up for a wedding website to keep your guests informed about event details, area information, etc.
· Choose a wedding date
· Work on the budget
· Consider purchasing wedding planning software to organize everything, or hire a wedding consultant to help secure contracts, etc.
· Choose a location and reserve your ceremony and reception site(s)
· Begin a rough guest list and compile current addresses
· Decide on who you'd like to have as your attendants, including your maid of honor and best man
· Begin shopping for your wedding gown
· Purchase a wedding planning book/journal, or a simple calendar to keep track of important dates and appointments (fittings, showers, etc.)
6-9 Months Before · Research and choose one or more bridal gift registry
· Order your wedding gown and buy undergarments that you will wear with it (bring these to all fittings)
· Order other bridal accessories - shoes, gloves and veil
· Begin shopping for bridesmaids dresses
· Find an officiant who will perform your ceremony
· Choose and book ceremony musicians, a wedding band/ DJ, photographer/videographer, caterer, and florist
4-6 Months Before Select and order your wedding invitations, envelopes and thank-you cards
· Hire a calligrapher, if desired
· Select and purchase wedding favors
· Start researching wedding cake pictures and local bakeries for ideas
· Book your honeymoon and verify that you have any necessary travel documents including passports and visas
· Book a room for your wedding night, if you will be leaving for your honeymoon the next morning
· Book accommodations for out-of-town guests
· Finalize your guest list and send out save-the-date cards, if using
· Print out directions to the ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner and hotel(s) for guests
· Compile a list of area information and things to do for out-of-town guests
· Reserve transportation for you and your wedding party to and from the wedding, as well as a bus or trolley for your guests (if necessary)
2-4 Months Before · Order tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
· Meet with your caterer to discuss the menu and wine list
· Meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony details, wording and wedding vows
· Select wedding readings
· Order your wedding cake
· Buy thank-you gifts for your attendants
· Shop for a gift for your new spouse-to-be
· Select and purchase wedding bands, and have them engraved if desired - check out www.brilliantearth.com for unique “eco-friendly” wedding rings.
· Coordinate and choose a location for the rehearsal dinner
· Contact party-rental companies for tables, chairs, tents, etc. if necessary
· Purchase luggage and other travel necessities and attire for your honeymoon
· Order or renew passports if necessary
Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you'd like to have your teeth whitened or cleaned before the wedding.
· Find out what your state's requirements are for obtaining a marriage license and get blood tests done, if required
4-8 Weeks Before · Mail invitations out eight weeks prior to the wedding date and send accommodation info to your out-of-town guests
Compile and complete name change documents or purchase a bridal name change kit online which contains all of the necessary forms to file
· Fill out a change of address form at the post office, if necessary
· Pick up your marriage license
· Have ceremony programs printed
· Purchase a guest book and other wedding accessories including toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, etc.
· Keep your wedding website updated with directions and event details
· Choose your hair and make-up stylists and schedule a trial for both; also book appointments to have your hair, make-up and nails done on the day of the wedding
· Review insurance information with your fiancé to see if any updates need to be made prior to the wedding (car, home, medical, etc.)
· Plan a bridal luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids
2-4 Weeks Before · Create a seating chart for the reception and make place cards (or have your calligrapher work on these, if you have hired one)
· Contact your caterer with a final guest count
· Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors - include contact information and cell phone numbers
· Meet with your photographer and florist to finalize details
· Finalize your ceremony and reception music and song list for your wedding band or DJ
· Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests
· Place a wedding announcement in your local newspaper
· Pick up wedding bands and make sure the fit is good
· Schedule a final dress fitting
· Write rehearsal dinner toasts
1 Week Before · Write out final checks for your minister, organist, DJ or musicians, etc. and organize in envelopes for your wedding coordinator or one of your attendants to distribute at the wedding
· Pick up your wedding gown
· Confirm limo or other transportation reservations
· Pack for your honeymoon and confirm travel arrangements
· Have your local post office hold your mail, if necessary, while you are away on your honeymoon
· Treat yourself to a spa day -- you deserve it!
The Day Before · Welcome out-of-town guests as they arrive
· Take a yoga class or go for a walk during the day
· Schedule a hair appointment for prior to the rehearsal dinner
· Attend the rehearsal and enjoy the rehearsal dinner!
The Wedding Day · Wake up early and do some light exercise, or just go for a peaceful walk outdoors and soak up the beauty of the day ;)
· Set aside some time before the festivities to exchange gifts with your bridesmaids or close family members
· Eat a healthy breakfast - you'll need your energy for the big day ahead!
· Enjoy it; it's finally here and everything will be wonderful... Congratulations!!
· Announce your engagement to family and friends and plan an engagement party
· Place an engagement announcement in your local newspaper
· Sign up for a wedding website to keep your guests informed about event details, area information, etc.
· Choose a wedding date
· Work on the budget
· Consider purchasing wedding planning software to organize everything, or hire a wedding consultant to help secure contracts, etc.
· Choose a location and reserve your ceremony and reception site(s)
· Begin a rough guest list and compile current addresses
· Decide on who you'd like to have as your attendants, including your maid of honor and best man
· Begin shopping for your wedding gown
· Purchase a wedding planning book/journal, or a simple calendar to keep track of important dates and appointments (fittings, showers, etc.)
6-9 Months Before · Research and choose one or more bridal gift registry
· Order your wedding gown and buy undergarments that you will wear with it (bring these to all fittings)
· Order other bridal accessories - shoes, gloves and veil
· Begin shopping for bridesmaids dresses
· Find an officiant who will perform your ceremony
· Choose and book ceremony musicians, a wedding band/ DJ, photographer/videographer, caterer, and florist
4-6 Months Before Select and order your wedding invitations, envelopes and thank-you cards
· Hire a calligrapher, if desired
· Select and purchase wedding favors
· Start researching wedding cake pictures and local bakeries for ideas
· Book your honeymoon and verify that you have any necessary travel documents including passports and visas
· Book a room for your wedding night, if you will be leaving for your honeymoon the next morning
· Book accommodations for out-of-town guests
· Finalize your guest list and send out save-the-date cards, if using
· Print out directions to the ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner and hotel(s) for guests
· Compile a list of area information and things to do for out-of-town guests
· Reserve transportation for you and your wedding party to and from the wedding, as well as a bus or trolley for your guests (if necessary)
2-4 Months Before · Order tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
· Meet with your caterer to discuss the menu and wine list
· Meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony details, wording and wedding vows
· Select wedding readings
· Order your wedding cake
· Buy thank-you gifts for your attendants
· Shop for a gift for your new spouse-to-be
· Select and purchase wedding bands, and have them engraved if desired - check out www.brilliantearth.com for unique “eco-friendly” wedding rings.
· Coordinate and choose a location for the rehearsal dinner
· Contact party-rental companies for tables, chairs, tents, etc. if necessary
· Purchase luggage and other travel necessities and attire for your honeymoon
· Order or renew passports if necessary
Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you'd like to have your teeth whitened or cleaned before the wedding.
· Find out what your state's requirements are for obtaining a marriage license and get blood tests done, if required
4-8 Weeks Before · Mail invitations out eight weeks prior to the wedding date and send accommodation info to your out-of-town guests
Compile and complete name change documents or purchase a bridal name change kit online which contains all of the necessary forms to file
· Fill out a change of address form at the post office, if necessary
· Pick up your marriage license
· Have ceremony programs printed
· Purchase a guest book and other wedding accessories including toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, etc.
· Keep your wedding website updated with directions and event details
· Choose your hair and make-up stylists and schedule a trial for both; also book appointments to have your hair, make-up and nails done on the day of the wedding
· Review insurance information with your fiancé to see if any updates need to be made prior to the wedding (car, home, medical, etc.)
· Plan a bridal luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids
2-4 Weeks Before · Create a seating chart for the reception and make place cards (or have your calligrapher work on these, if you have hired one)
· Contact your caterer with a final guest count
· Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors - include contact information and cell phone numbers
· Meet with your photographer and florist to finalize details
· Finalize your ceremony and reception music and song list for your wedding band or DJ
· Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests
· Place a wedding announcement in your local newspaper
· Pick up wedding bands and make sure the fit is good
· Schedule a final dress fitting
· Write rehearsal dinner toasts
1 Week Before · Write out final checks for your minister, organist, DJ or musicians, etc. and organize in envelopes for your wedding coordinator or one of your attendants to distribute at the wedding
· Pick up your wedding gown
· Confirm limo or other transportation reservations
· Pack for your honeymoon and confirm travel arrangements
· Have your local post office hold your mail, if necessary, while you are away on your honeymoon
· Treat yourself to a spa day -- you deserve it!
The Day Before · Welcome out-of-town guests as they arrive
· Take a yoga class or go for a walk during the day
· Schedule a hair appointment for prior to the rehearsal dinner
· Attend the rehearsal and enjoy the rehearsal dinner!
The Wedding Day · Wake up early and do some light exercise, or just go for a peaceful walk outdoors and soak up the beauty of the day ;)
· Set aside some time before the festivities to exchange gifts with your bridesmaids or close family members
· Eat a healthy breakfast - you'll need your energy for the big day ahead!
· Enjoy it; it's finally here and everything will be wonderful... Congratulations!!