At Least 1 Year
- Arrange for all parents to meet.
- Work out budget and review with your parents, if they’ll be paying for any part of the event.
- Interview and hire a wedding consultant if you are using one.
- Decide on style of wedding.
- Decide who will officiate. Favorite officiates may book up as quickly as caterers and banquet halls. You will need to consult this person regarding many issues throughout your planning. When necessary, book the officiate, church, synagogue, sanctuary or chapel.
- Make preliminary guest list and estimate final party size.
- Choose your wedding party and call them.
- Set wedding date & time.
- Create a wedding website or Blog to keep everyone up to date with your plans.
- Pick a caterer, a ceremony and reception location (if there will be one, for the engagement party, rehearsal dinner, after-wedding breakfast). Send a deposit when necessary.
- Book a block of rooms for out-of-town guests.
- Interview and choose photographers, videographers, florists, musicians, calligraphers.
- Make transportation reservations.
- Make plans and shop for your honeymoon.
- Shop for wedding gown.
- Send a “Save-the-Date” card to your “A” list guests.
10 Months
- Choose a color theme.
- Order wedding gown & accessories (have plenty of time if
something should go wrong).
- Make up your final guest list.
- Go House or Apartment-hunting with your fiancé.
Narrow choices to a few. If there are children involved, check out the schools if it is a new district.9 Months
- Decide what gifts you would like and register for gifts
(china, flatware, etc.).
- Shop for and order invitations, announcements, programs and any other printed materials.
- Have your engagement party. Start a “thank you list” and mail notes as soon as possible.
- Have an engagement picture taken & submit to newspaper
- Create schematics for the processional, recessional, reserved seating. Distribute them to participants.
- If you are not having a wedding consultant for day-of coordination, arrange for someone to be in charge of keeping everyone on schedule and coaching the processional.
- Select guests for honors (e.g., toast, speech, blessings).8 Months
- Discuss wedding attire with mothers of the bride and groom.
- Order your accessory items and bridesmaid dresses.
- Look at tuxedos.7 Months
- If you are buying a home, get serious about a contract. If you will be renting, place a deposit.6 Months
- Select guests wedding favors.
- Order imprinted favors, gifts, yarmulkes.
- Order wedding invitations, programs and other stationery.5 Months
- Arrange for tuxedo rentals.
- Book your honeymoon.
- Included directions, as needed, in Save-the-date and/or invitations. Take a trial drive to double check distances & landmarks. Consider the time of year and day in your travel time estimates.4 Months
- Purchase wedding gifts (for attendants & fiance)
- Finalize floral arrangements.
- Set hair, make-up, nail and wax appointments.
- Select a bakery for your wedding cake, as well as cakes for pre-wedding receptions & pastries for after-wedding brunch.
- Begin to address invitations or take final guest list to your calligrapher.
- Select wedding bands. Place an order.
- Get change of address cards from post office and get them ready to mail.
- Decide who will ride with whom and where people need to be and when.
- Prepare programs and/or a wedding booklet for the wedding and assign one to distribute them.
- Have the groom select and order tuxedos for himself, his groomsmen & the dads. If people are in different locations, mail the measurements.
3 Months
- Final dress fittings for you and your bridesmaids.
- Finalize cake arrangements.
- Write your own vows.
- Buy cake knife, toasting glasses, guest book & garter
- Pick out associated events clothing. Remember shoes (ballet slippers, sandals) for the reception.
- Find a hairdresser & make a test run with your veil.
- Send invitations (double check postage) (8-10 Weeks).2 Months
- Get name-change forms for social security, driver’s license,
credit cards & bank. Review documents and make needed changes (e.g. insurance, lease, Health Care Proxy, Living Will, etc.).
- Get blood tests (if required) and marriage license.
- Make hair and nails appointments very close to the wedding day.
- Finalize menu with caterer.
- Review your needs with your photographer and videographer. List your wedding party, a schedule of events, any toasts or speeches planned and any special photos, memories or candid’s you want. It is best not to surprise these professionals.
- Meet with your entertainment (music, etc.). A schedule of events, favorite tunes, style of music requested, plus a list of toasts, speeches, etc. will ensure that the MC and you coordinate.
- Arrange the rehearsal dinner, as well as other wedding-day- connected parties.1 Month
- Make guest baskets and assign someone to distribute them.
- Make sure all your groomsmen, ushers, ring bearer, and fathers have ordered tuxedos.
- Send change-of-address forms to post office.
- Reconfirm all reservations and accommodations.
- Confirm honeymoon plans.
- Start the seating plan for the reception.3 Weeks Before
- Call guests who have not responded.
- Finalize reception seating arrangements.
- Get your marriage license.
- Prepare wedding announcement for the newspaper.
- Pick up your wedding bands.
- Fill out the table cards or give names to your calligrapher.
- Put fees and tips in envelopes (officiant, soloist, maitre d’ etc.) and give it to someone you assign in making the payments.
- Arrange with someone to bring items to the wedding venue, such as cake knife, toasting glasses, programs, emergency kit for the bride, wedding license and to take them home.
- Arrange for someone to return rentals (tuxedos, chairs, etc.).
- Arrange for someone to take your bouquet and gown “home” after the wedding and put them in preservation.
- Pay all Church, Synagogue, Mosque or officiant fees.2 Weeks Before
- Call caterer with final total of guests.
- Confirm directions, pickup & drop-off points with transportation service. Confirm all other professionals.1 Week
- Create a detailed schedule of your wedding day activities.
- Get a manicure and/or pedicure &/or other beauty services.
- Pack for your honeymoon.
- Confirm post-wedding brunch arrangements.1 Day
- Get a manicure.
- Attend wedding rehearsal.
- Pack wedding day emergency kit. (extra pantyhose, safety pins, thread and needle, steamer, brush & make- up).
- Get a good night’s sleep.Your Wedding Day
- Eat a good breakfast.
- Have your make-up done.
- Have your hair done.
- Give yourself lots of ready-time.
- Relax & have fun!After Your Wedding Day
- Send thank you notes and/or send gifts to the special people who made your wedding “happen.”
- Send wedding photo and announcement to newspaper(s); post on Facebook and Instagram.
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