| 9-12 months before
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Announce your engagement to both sets of parents and arrange for them to get together.
- Send engagement announcements to local newspapers.
- Select a date and time. Consider time of day, as this affects formality and catering choices.
- Send engagement announcements or save-the-date notices to family and friends. Modern brides sometimes opt to send email notices.
- Have an engagement party.
- Determine the type of wedding you want, setting, size and degree of formality.
- Choose your colors; they will affect your flowers, invitations, attire, linens and cake.
- Set an initial budget
and decide how expenses will be shared.
- Start your guest list.
- Select and book a location for the ceremony, taking into consideration season and weather.
- Select and book your reception location, or arrange tent rental for an outdoor wedding.
- Hire a wedding consultant if you'll be using one.
- Choose and book an officiant for the ceremony.
- Select the attendants for your wedding party.
- Arrange meetings with florists, photographers, and musicians/DJ's.
- Arrange for a tasting with caterers.
- Shop for your gown, headpiece, and other bridal accessories (gloves, shoes, jewelry).
- Shop together for wedding rings.
6-9 months before
- Order your gown and other bridal accessories.
- Sign a contract with your selected caterer.
- Book photographer and/or videographer.
- Book florist and select arrangements, bouquets, etc.
- Book the musicians/vocalists, and/or DJ for both the ceremony and reception.
- Depending on the expected cost of your wedding, decide if wedding insurance is a good idea.
- Start compiling names and addresses of guests (ask your families to do the same).
- Enroll in a wedding gift registry.
- Arrange for a tasting with wedding cake bakers or designers.
- Start planning for honeymoon; research destinations.
- Arrange for time off work, if necessary.
- Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Reserve a restaurant or make other arrangements.
- Shop for and order bridal attendants’ attire.
- Arrange for the groom and groomsmen to be measured and reserve the
tuxedos. TIP: If your groomsmen do not live close to the formal wear
shop you choose, tell them to go to a local shop - most shops will
measure them as a courtesy.
4-6 months before
- Select a wedding cake designer and order your wedding cake.
- If caterer isn't providing for you, reserve any rental equipment you'll need (dishes, linens, tables, chairs, tents)
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Help mothers select and coordinate their dresses.
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Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state.
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Discuss where you will live after the wedding.
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Experiment with hair styles and makeup.
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Arrange wedding day transportation (limousines, horse and carriage, vans).
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Book hair and makeup professionals for the wedding.
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Book wedding night accommodations and accommodations for
out-of-town guests.
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Finalize the guest list.
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Select and order wedding stationery (
invitations, envelopes, place cards,
escort cards, thank-you cards, etc.)
- Select a calligrapher if you're using one.
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Finalize honeymoon plans and make the necessary reservations. Compile necessary travel documents.
- Purchase wedding rings.
2-4 months before
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Obtain marriage license,
schedule blood tests if necessary.
- Give a list to your photographer/videographer of special events or people you want photographed/videotaped.
- Give musician/DJ a list of music to be played during special events (i.e., garter/bouquet toss, cutting of cake, first dance, parents' dance, etc.)
- Schedule your wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
- Confirm the menu and catering details with the caterer.
- Start addressing invitations. Invitations should be mailed six weeks prior to the ceremony.
- Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception for an insertion with the invitations.
- Write your wedding vows.
- Attend any bridal showers.
- Confirm ceremony details with your officiant.
- Purchase decorations and accessories such as ring pillow, toasting goblets, guest book, garter, candles, favors.
- Purchase gifts for attendants, parents and each other.
- Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.
4-8 weeks before
- Mail your wedding invitations.
- Do a hair and makeup run-through.
- Write thank-you notes as gifts arrive.
- Decide on insurance policy changes needed
for after the wedding.
- Schedule your final gown fitting.
- Schedule attendants' final fitting.
- Start planning the seating for the reception as well as other details for the
ceremony and reception.
2-3 weeks before
- Contact guests who have not responded.
- Give the caterer a final head count.
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Finalize the seating plan for the reception.
- Start writing place cards.
- Pick up your wedding gown.
- Contact all vendors (caterer, officiant, cake designer, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, transportation, hotels) to confirm arrival and delivery times.
- Write your rehearsal dinner and reception toasts.
- Handle business and legal details such as name changes, address
changes, etc.
- Continue writing thank-you notes as more gifts arrive.
- Make arrangements to have your wedding gifts moved to your new
home.
- Make sure all attendants have their attire and that everything fits.
- Write and print your wedding program.
1 week before
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Place fees for officiant, organist, etc. in individually marked envelopes and give to the best man for distribution on the wedding day.
- Appoint a reliable friend to transport the
cake serving set, toasting glasses and other
items to and from the reception site.
- Get last-minute beauty treatments
(facial, waxing, brow-shaping, etc.).
- Pack for the honeymoon. (Ask someone to
bring your luggage to the reception if you
plan to leave from there.)
- Review any seating details with the ushers.
- Reconfirm your honeymoon reservations. Ensure you have any
necessary plane tickets.
- Attend bachelor/bachelorette parties.
- Finish all the place cards for the reception.
- Review final details with all wedding vendors (caterer, officiant, cake designer, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, transportation, hotels).
- Delegate wedding day responsibilities to your wedding party (handing out corsages and boutonnieres, greeting and seating guests, etc.).
- Finalize your rehearsal dinner arrangements.
One Day Before
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Get a manicure or massage to help you relax.
- Confirm wedding day transportation.
- Rehearse wedding ceremony.
- Hold rehearsal dinner.
- Present the wedding party gifts.
- Arrange your wedding day attire.
Wedding Day
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Remain calm and relaxed.
- Be sure to eat properly.
- Prepare for your hair and makeup appointments.
- Give gifts to your parents.
- Don't forget the rings and marriage license.
- Start dressing 1 1 / 2 hours before the ceremony.
- If pictures are taken prior to the ceremony, the entire wedding party needs to be dressed and ready 2 hours before the ceremony.
- Have music start 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
- Have ushers seat guests upon arrival.
- Have groom's parents seated 5 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
- Have bride's mother seated immediately before processional.
- Cherish every moment of this wonderful day!
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