12 Month Wedding Countdown Checklist 6 - 12 Months Before Your Wedding ____ Select a wedding date, time and possibly a backup date ____ Announce your engagement in the paper ____ Plan an engagement party with family and friends ____ Talk with a bridal consultant or wedding coordinator ____ Find out what bridal shows are on locally and attend them ____ Agree on a preliminary budget ____ Decide who will pay for what and how expenses will be shared ____ Call your church or synagogue for an appointment with the Officiant ____ Consider and ask friends and family to serve as wedding attendants ____ Start a "planning system" and system of organization ____ Start your wedding guest list ____ Start thinking about ideas/themes for your reception and catering plans ____ Determine what type of entertainment you want to have for your reception ____ Decide the type of wedding you would like to have (size, formality, and setting) ____ Think about your color schemes ____ Explore pre-marital counseling ____ Start health and fitness plan if you're not already in one! ____ Select your reception location ____ Select your professional photographer ____ Select your videographer ____ Select professional caterer (if necessary) ____ Select Musician or Disc Jockey ____ Select your florist ____ Shop together for your wedding rings ____ Select wedding dress and headpiece, and set a date for fittings and delivery ____ Select your bridesmaids' dresses and accessories ____ It's time to choose a honeymoon and location 4 Months Prior to the Wedding ____ Check the requirements for marriage license ____ Select and discuss your color schemes with the florist/decorator of choice ____ Again consider pre-marital counseling ____ Reserve your wedding day rental equipment ____ Decide upon a gift registry and select your gift choices ____ Order your invitations and related stationery needs ____ Start shopping for the men's' wedding attire ____ Reserve your wedding day transportation ____ Research and select readings for ceremony ____ Make music selections for ceremony and reception ____ Decide upon and order favors ____ Select your baker, then choose your cake, and groom's cake ____ Help both mothers coordinate and find their wedding day clothing ____ Review your contracts with all of your vendors and service providers 2 Months Before Your Wedding ____ Have engagement portraits taken ____ Place your engagement announcement in the newspaper ____ Mail out invitations and announcements ____ Decide on the men's wedding attire ____ Arrange and plan your rehearsal dinner ____ Purchase your wedding day accessories ____ Arrange attendant's parties ____ Prepare accommodations for out-of-town attendants and guests ____ Consider a hairdresser and/or makeup artist and book appointments ____ Finalize all honeymoon plans 1 Month Left ____ Final wedding dress fitting ____ Final fitting for your wedding attendants ____ Obtain marriage license ____ Have your attendant's parties ____ Purchase your going-away outfit ____ Create a calendar of events for the wedding day ____ Make sure your accessories are in order (rings, pillow, garter, etc.) 2 Weeks Remaining ____ Finalize arrangements with the entertainer(s) ____ Provide a list of music you would like played (or not played) ____ Finalize music during special events such as first dance, dance with dad, etc. ____ Pick up your wedding rings and make sure that the engravings are correct ____ Make sure they fit! ____ Contact the guests who have not responded to your invitations. 1 Week to Go! ____ If you can, take the week, or part of the week off from work! ____ 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 they will be doing on the day of the wedding ____ Have your rehearsal dinner ____ Make sure all wedding attire fits properly ____ Give the best man the amounts your vendors are to be paid on the wedding day ____ 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 ____ Your primary goal today is to get married! Have fun! ____ 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, determine the time they need ____ If photographs are to be taken before the ceremony, allow plenty of time for that! ____ 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 ____ Mother of the bride is normally seated last ____ Take a deep breath, don't worry, be happy and smile! ------------------------------------- Courtesy of http://wedding-blog.net -------------------------------------