Wedding Planning Timeline
8 TO 12 Months Before the Wedding
- Select a wedding date and time.
- Decide the type of wedding you would like to have (size, formality, and setting).
- Begin your guest list.
- Consider possible color schemes.Explore pre-marital counseling.
- Start health and fitness plan.
- Select your professional: photographer, caterer, consultant, music, etc.
- Shop together for your wedding rings.
- Decide upon your budget.
- Determine who will pay what expenses.
- Book your wedding location(s).
- Choose your attendants.
- Determine the sizes of your attendants.
- Select dress and headpiece, and set a date for fittings and delivery.
- Select your bridesmaids' dresses and accessories.
- Give thought to your honeymoon location.
5 to 8 Months
- Check the requirements for marriage license.
- Select and discuss your color schemes with
the florist and/or balloonist of choice.
- Again consider pre-marital counseling.
- Reserve your wedding day rental equipment (tables, chairs, china, silverware, gazebo, etc.).
- Decide upon a gift registry and select your gift choices.
- Begin your record of gifts received.
- Send thank you notes as soon as possible.
- Order your invitations and related stationary needs.
- Start shopping for the mens’ wedding attire.
3 to 5 Months
- Finalize your guest list.
- Decide upon and order your favors.
- Select your baker, then choose your cake, groom’s cake, and mints.
- Help both mothers coordinate and find their wedding day clothing.
- Review your written agreements forms with all of your professionals (photographer, caterer, D.J.,
site coordinator, transportation, etc.).
2 to 3 Months
- Have engagement portraits taken.
- Place your engagement announcement in the newspaper.
- Mail out invitations and announcements.
- Decide on the mens’ wedding attire.
- Arrange and plan your rehearsal dinner.
- Purchase your wedding day accessories.
- Arrange attendants' parties.
- Book a beverage caterer for the reception and make selections.
- Prepare accommodations for out-of-town attendants and guests.
- Consider a hairdresser and/or makeup artist and book appointments.
- Finalize all honeymoon plans.
2 to 4 Weeks
- Final wedding dress fitting.
- Final fitting for your wedding attendants.
- Obtain marriage license.
- Have your attendants' parties.
- Purchase your going-away outfit.
- Draw a map to direct your guests to the site(s), if necessary.
- Create a calendar of events for the wedding day.
- Make sure your accessories are in order (rings, pillow, garter, etc.)
1 to 2 Weeks
- Finalize arrangements with the entertainer(s) and provide a list of music you would like played during special events such as first dance, garter removal and bouquet toss.
- Pick up your wedding rings and make sure that the engravings are correct and they fit properly.
- Contact the guests who have not responded to your invitations.
1 to 7 Days
- Make sure your marriage license is in order.
- Prepare seating arrangements, if necessary.
- Purchase travelers checks, confirm honeymoon reservations.
- Pack your baggage for your honeymoon.
- Have your wedding ceremony rehearsal.
- Instruct your wedding party on what you would like them to do on the day of the wedding.
- Have your rehearsal dinner.
- Make sure all wedding attire fits properly.
- Give the best man the amount the professionals are to be paid on the day of the wedding.
- Inform your caterer of the total guest count.
- Confirm out-of-town guests have transportation and sleeping accommodations.
- Check with your florist and/or balloonist to make sure they will arrive when scheduled.
Your Wedding Day
- Relax, enjoy yourself, and remain calm!
Allow at least two hours for dressing.
- Allow plenty of time to apply your makeup and style your hair.
- If professionals are doing your hair and/or makeup, ask them in advance how much time they will need.
- If photographs are to be taken before the ceremony, allow at least one and one-half hours.
- Remember to bring the rings and marriage license.
- Seat guests as they arrive. The groom’s parents should be seated about 5 minutes before start time, the
- mother of the bride is normally seated last.
- Take a deep breath, don't worry, and SMILE!
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