This checklist
provides some ideas about most of the things you will do in preparation
for your wedding. Remember, these are only ideas of things to consider,
and many items may not be applicable to you. Some duties apply strictly
to the bride and others to the groom. However, the majority of the tasks
can be accomplished by BOTH the bride and groom!
Some of the items presented here are obvious and others are little
details. Regardless, it helps to manage your time by writing done all
the things that need to be done. It feels good to cross things of the
list as you go, and hopefully it will help cut down on your stress by
realizing how organized you are (as opposed to only looking at how big
your list is!). The basic order of events is more important than the
exact time-line here, so change the time-line to fit your situation.
Just keep in mind that the items listed in the "10 to 12 months prior"
category should be done first and as soon as possible if you want to get
your first choice in reception location, etc.
10 to 12 months prior -- decide on the basics...
Wedding:
Discuss the style,
budget, and financing with your fiancée and ALL parents.
Begin rehearsal
budget
Start your wedding
website
Buy planner or
good organizer
Begin looking at
invitations for wedding and/or reception
Decide on:
Wedding date &
time
type of
wedding desired (traditional, unusual, big/small, unity ceremony,
etc.)
wardrobe
style: shoes/dress/veil/undergarments (need prior to fittings)
participants
in wedding party
music desired
what religion
the service will be performed in, if any
location for
wedding ceremony -- ask if guests can throw birdseed or rice
color scheme
for the wedding/reception if desired
vows -- if all
or part of vows will be written by bride/groom
photographer
videographer
florist for
wedding and reception -- ask if you can keep/buy unity candles
musicians for
wedding and reception
soloist(s) for
ceremony/reception/rehearsal dinner
wedding
consultant/advisor/coordinator
wedding
officiant (minister, judge) -- ask if they want to attend reception
Rehearsal:
Select location
for rehearsal dinner
Begin rehearsal
budget and determine how it will be financed
Reception:
Begin reception
budget and determine how it will be financed Decide on:
Location --
ask if guests can throw birdseed or rice -- ask if smoking is
allowed and/or how to prevent it
Time of day
Format:
buffet, sit-down dinner, pot-luck, etc.
Baker (for
cake) -- you may want to request additional "side cakes" to ensure
that everyone gets some cake.
Caterer -- ask
if they will make a basket of food for you to take to your hotel
after reception
Honeymoon:
Begin honeymoon
budget and determine how it will be financed
Begin looking at
honeymoon options with your fiancée - visit a travel agency or
professional specializing in leisure travel
Other Items:
Speak with your
friends - pick their brains - learn who knows what and who knows who.
Living arrangement
after you're married
Ensure
home/renter's insurance covers engagement ring or buy additional jewelry
insurance
Announce
engagement to friends and family
Put engagement
announcement in local paper
7 to 9 months prior
Wedding:
Begin writing vows
Make first draft
of invitation list
Decide on:
Ceremony music
(prelude, processional, solos, recessional, postlude, etc.)
Invitations
If programs be
used and select them
Your
attendants and ask if they'll accept the position
First meeting with
minister/officiant
Ask if it
mattters which version of the Bible (King James, Good News, etc.)
you use for the scripture reading.
Ask if flower
girl can drop flower petals on floor in sanctuary.
Ask if you can
use your own vows.
Buy:
Select and
order bride's attendant's apparel
Select and
reserve men's formal wear (don't forget to get their measurements)
Wedding attire
accessories such as gloves, earrings, necklace, purse, shoes,
cufflinks, etc.
Rehearsal:
Reception:
Honeymoon:
Other Items:
Decide if a bridal
registry is desired and what items would be on it (if so, register with
not less than 3 well known registries)
Decide on
china/crystal/flatware/cookware patterns for bridal registry
Reserve block of
rooms at nearby hotel for out-of-town guests (good thing for fiancée to
do)
Make list of
attractions/things to do (in town where wedding is) to include with
directions
Get directions to
wedding site, from site to reception, and from site to rehearsal dinner
Check
passports/visas
Check with your
doctor to determine immunizations required for foreign countries
Schedule
engagement photo session
4 to 6 months prior
Wedding:
Prose/poetry/scripture readings for ceremony
Readers for
ceremony and ask if they'll accept the position
Final guest list
for wedding and reception
Buy invitations
and announcements
Calligrapher to
address wedding invitations or do it yourself as soon as they arrive
If roses will be
given to the mothers at the end of/during the ceremony
Meet with florist
to choose amount and type of flowers for ceremony and reception and any
other accessories (ex. pew bows, candleabras, etc.)
Chauffers and
other wedding transportation (carriages, boats, hot-air balloons)
Bridesmaid dresses
Order wedding
bands
Decide on wedding
band inscriptions
Buy basket for
flower girl
Buy pillow for
ringbearer
Plan details with
organist or other entertainment.
Make/print
directions and map for ceremony and reception to include with all
wedding invitations
Ask mothers if
they want to wear a flower corsage or carry a single flower instead and
inform florist
Rehearsal:
Make/print maps to
rehearsal dinner to include with rehearsal dinner invitations and send
to groom's mom (if his parents are hosting rehearsal dinner)
Reception:
Buy/order favors
for guests
Choose decorations
such as candles, flowers, center pieces, balloons, arches, etc.
Flavor(s) and
style of wedding cake
If a groom's cake
is desired; if so, choose flavor and style and inform baker
Final music
selection
Plan details with
organist or other entertainment.
Honeymoon:
Other Items:
Make appointment
for bridal portrait
Make hair/nail
appointment for bridal portrait
Begin review of
details with all of your wedding professionals.
2 to 3 months prior
Wedding:
Select babysitter
for wedding ceremony and reception
Decide on:
Vows and
memorize (if necessary)
How attendants
will process and stand at ceremony
Program layout
(or have a printer do it)
The "something
borrowed, ...blue, ...old, and ...new" to wear on wedding day
Soloist's
song(s) and get soloist's approval to perform them
Length of
bridesmaid dresses
Hosiery
color/style and shoes for bridesmaids
Where bride
and attendants will get dressed (at home/hotel or ceremony site?)
Where groom
and attendants will get dressed
Buy/Order:
Flower girl
dress
Mothers'
dresses
Pre- &
post-wedding party clothes you might need
Sixpence for
shoe (check with local coin dealer)
Wedding rings
or bands
Invitations
Programs
Rehearsal:
Decide on
rehearsal dinner seating arrangement with fiancée and the mothers
Buy rehearsal and
rehearsal dinner clothes
Bride buys gifts
for bridesmaids, parents, fiancée, personal attendant
Groom buys gifts
for groomsmen, parents, fiancée, ushers
Buy gifts with
fiancée for Mistress of Ceremonies, Host/Hostess, soloist, guest book
attendant, etc.
Buy gift for your
fiancée
Reception:
Decide on:
How many
disposable cameras should be purchased
Disposable
camera poems
Reception
layout (i.e. how many tables, chairs, etc.)
Reception
seating arrangement if it's a sit-down dinner
Who will put
suitcases in limo at reception
Reception
music (1st dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance, etc.)
Reception food
Who will
return the groom's tuxedo to the rental place
Order/timing
of events at reception (cake-cutting, garter toss, etc.)
Buy/Order:
Roses/birdseed
packets/bubbles/etc.
Disposable
cameras for reception tables
Guest book and
pen
Wedding cake
knife
Monogrammed
napkins for reception
Rental items:
candelabra, linens, canopy, tables/chairs, etc.
Throw and
keepsake garters
Honeymoon:
Buy lingerie
Buy honeymoon
clothes
Buy/Order:
Wrapping paper for
gifts
Postage stamps for
invitations, response cards, and thank-you notes
Schedule/Confirm
Appointments:
Bridal portrait
Hair/nails for
bridal portrait
Hair/nails for
wedding
Groom's hair
appointment
With your
hairdresser (a trial run for next month - also good for your bridal
portrait)
With your
hairdresser (final)
With a makeup
artist for the day of your bridal portrait
First wedding gown
fitting
Second wedding
gown fitting
Last meeting with
minister/officiant
Other Items:
Mail/take music to
soloist
Give soloist's
music to organist (if he/she is accompanying)
Invite out-of-town
guests early!
Sign up to donate
ceremony centerpiece to flowers for Sunday's service, if desired
Get bridal
portrait taken
Make rough draft
of list of duties of all involved (Mistress of Ceremonies, etc.)
Get addresses of
all people on invitation list
Ask groom's mother
if she wants rehearsal dinner invitations and/or place cards matching
invitations
Set date with
fiancée to get marriage license and check restrictions on how long it's
valid prior to wedding (60 days in Ohio)
Get blood
tests/physicals for marriage certificate if required (not required in
Ohio)
Get any
immunizations you will need for the honeymoon
Go over rough
draft of duties with all involved in wedding
Put invitation to
wedding ceremony in church newsletter
Get wedding bands
inscribed
Call to inform all
people who need to be at rehearsal
Make itinerary of
wedding day for all involved
Choose songs for
video (background music for intro/pre-wedding)
Ensure formal-wear
shop has all tuxedo measurements
Finalize catering,
bakery, floral arrangements (be a little flexible)
Finalize
arrangements for any rental items you may need
Candelabra &
other silver pieces
Special
decorative screens & archways
Special
lighting (particularly if part of the event will be outside or in an
unique area where normal lighting may not be possible)
Get final order of
prelude and processional music from organist
4 to 8 weeks prior
Wedding:
Get marriage
license with fiancée (make sure it won't expire before wedding)
Mail wedding
invitations and send either your preplanned special itinerary for early
arriving out-of-town guests or an activity sheet from area
chambers-of-commerce
Pick up wedding
rings.
Have final fitting
of gown & bridesmaid dresses.
contact newspaper
regarding wedding announcement
Show final program
to officiant and organist to check for accuracy
Decide on:
How gown will
be preserved
How bouquet
will be preserved
How to affix
sixpence to shoe
Who will be in
the limo (i.e. just newlyweds or attendants/parents too??)
Rehearsal:
Plan rehearsal &
rehearsal dinner.
Order flower
arrangements for rehearsal dinner tables if desired
Box and wrap all
gifts for attendants, etc.
Ensure groom's mom
has addressed/mailed rehearsal dinner invitations if his parents are
hosting it
Reconfirm
rehearsal events and rehearsal dinner reservations
Formally invite
wedding party and guests to the rehearsal dinner
Reception:
Print disposable
camera poems
Ensure band/DJ has
equipment/music needed to play your chosen reception music Be sure to
check on the music yourself. If you assign it to someone else, it's more
likely to be a great disappointment.
Decide when items
needed at reception (toasting glasses, etc.) will be taken there
Miscellaneous:
Confirm all
transportation for all events (including honeymoon)
Record gifts as
you receive them and send thank-you notes
Check registries
to make sure shower gifts and/or early wedding gifts have been marked
off as purchased
Open joint
checking and savings accounts
Change beneficiary
to fiancée for will and life insurance policy
Inform
car/home/renter's insurance of marriage (discounted rates may apply)
Plan the
bridesmaids' party & confirm the location & instructions
Have bridal
portrait taken
Send local paper
and wedding publications your announcement and photograph
For your own peace
of mind, personally touch base with every key professional you and/or
your coordinator have working on all your upcoming events
Submit request
lists to your musicians, photographer and videographer
Address
announcements to mail on your wedding day
Other Items:
Prepare all the
necessary forms for name address changes on social security card, credit
cards, bank accounts, post office, driver's license, etc.
Arrange to move
belongings to new home
By the last day of
Week 2 plan a day to be alone with your family
2 to 3 weeks prior
Decide on:
Personal wedding
morning itinerary (time to wake up, time to leave for wedding site,
etc.)
Buy/Order:
Other Items:
Submit wedding
announcement to local newspaper for publishing day or weekend of wedding
Pay all balances
due and remaining security deposits
Groom's hair
appointment
Affix poems to
disposable cameras
Print:
Programs
Rehearsal
dinner maps (extras in case guests forget map that came with dinner
invite)
Final list of
duties for each person involved
Itinerary of
wedding day (copies for all at rehearsal)
Readings and
spare copies
List of
reception dances for MC/band/DJ
Final meeting
with:
Florist -
overview and give map to ceremony and reception sites
Reception
hall/caterer - overview and tell them names of florist, band or DJ,
and baker (just in case!)
Videographer -
overview, give music and map
Photographer -
tell him/her about any specific Pictures/Comments you want, choose album
style and color, and give him/her map
Musicians &
Entertainment - overview of times & special songs, be sure they have
map
Rental
services
Chauffer/transportation -- confirm directions and times (don't
forget plans to get to airport)
Seamstress --
final wedding gown and attendants fittings
Travel Agent
-- confirm honeymoon reservations
Confirm:
Final
nail/hair appointments
Hotel
reservations for wedding night
Hotel
reservations for attendants
1 week prior
Wedding:
Create a wedding
day schedule with your fiancée
Give best man the
officiant's fee (if to be paid day of ceremony, otherwise pay this week)
Make bride's emergency kit.
Click here for
details.
Pick up wedding
gown and veil
Take marriage
certificate to minister/officiant
Wedding party men
(groom/fathers/ushers) to pick up tuxedos
Rehearsal:
Attendants of
rehearsal dinner time and agenda
Ensure delivery of
flower arrangements for wedding rehearsal dinner
fiancée to double
check rehearsal dinner plans
Give wedding day
schedule to all at rehearsal dinner
Reception:
Fill out first
page of guest book
Finish
centerpieces for guest tables at reception if it's a last minute duty
(i.e. need fresh flowers, etc.)
Give final guest
count to reception facility and/or caterer
Honeymoon:
Buy:
Other Items:
Check final
details with all your wedding professionals - early in the week
Give (or attend)
the Bridesmaids' party
Schedule two days
prior to the wedding as a free day - and a day to visit with a few close
friends.
1 day prior
Pick up groom's
tuxedo
Take favors,
disposable cameras, centerpieces, cake knife and server, toasting
glasses, CD's, and birdseed roses to reception hall.
Go to nail
appointment
Give mom lipstick
to keep in purse on wedding day for bride (or prepare bride's purse)
Morning of Wedding
Tell EVERYONE in
your family that you do NOT want to be told of ANY problems that arise
on your day - tell them to have someone else fix it. You've been
informed of ALL the problems for the prior months, let someone else deal
with it on "your" day. This way you feel as though your day really was
perfect.
Bride's hair
appointment
Give groom's
wedding band to Maid of Honor and bride's wedding band to Best Man prior
to ceremony.
Relax and let it
all sink in!!
Leave yourself off
the things to do list today if there are any remaining items. You need
to relax and enjoy the whole day.
