So much to do and so little time in which to do it! BUT! If you’re organized and stay positive, you’ll have a good time planning that fabulous wedding of yours! Here is a calendar to help you make sure you get all the “to do’s” finished. And of course, many may not apply to you. Either edit them out of the list or cross them off (crossing things off my checklists always seems to make moving on to the next task a bit easier).
Happy Planning!
One Year Before the Wedding
Announce engagement
Attend engagement parties
Hire a wedding coordinator/consultant
Discus as a couple shared wishes for the wedding of your dreams
Find out local marriage license requirements
Choose the wedding date (and backup dates for booking purpose)
Research weather conditions at location for the wedding date
Inform family and friends of the wedding date
Access wedding budget
Decide who will pay for what
Decide what part of budget will get the most money
Begin online and phone research for dates, prices, and options
Request brochures for destination weddings
Create an organization system for all wedding plans
Decide on a level of formality and style/theme
Begin looking through magazines and book for ideas
Make up personal guest list
Request guest list from parents
Select and book ceremony locations
Select and book ceremony officiant
Find out about ceremony site’s regulations
Select and book reception site
Find out about reception site’s location
Find out permit and other requirements for sites
Research and book rental agency
Create rental needs list
Visit with rental agency to look at supplies, choose linen colors, china patterns, etc.
Choose bridal party members and inform them of their roles
Choose and order wedding dress and veil
Collect bridesmaid’s size cards and ordering information
Choose and order bridesmaid’s gowns
Decide on male attire
Decide on attire for children in the wedding
Choose a florist and meet with a floral designer
Choose and book a caterer
Choose and book a baker
Choose and book a photographer
Choose and book a videographer
Choose and book reception entertainment, DJ, or band
Choose and book a limousine or other transportation
Start looking at invitation samples, and select desire design
Place engagement photo and announcement in local newspapers
Notify boss about wedding and arrange for time off
Order/request special religious items
Nine Months Before the Wedding
Meet with officiant about the ceremony elements and pre-wedding classes
Meet with caterer to discuss menu, set up, requirements, etc.
Plan beverage requirements and bar setup
Select entertainment with music professionals
Meet with florist to design bouquets and floral décor
Choose and book honeymoon
Apply for passports and visas
Finalize guest list
Create maps to ceremony and reception location
Order and send “Save the Date” cards
Order invitations
Order wedding programs/place cards/menu cards
Order stationary
Order wedding rings
Have weddings rings engraved
Reserve rental equipment
Choose and reserve a room block for guests at a nearby hotel
Book honeymoon suite for the wedding night
Determine facilities for special need guests
Six Months Before the Wedding
Order preprinted napkins, matchbooks, etc.
Decide on wedding favors
Order or assemble favors
Begin to plan the rehearsal dinner
Begin writing vows
Select ceremony music
Select ceremony readings
Audition ceremony music performers
Book musical performers for ceremony
Buy attire for flower girl(s)
Order tuxes for men/ring bearer
Register for wedding gifts
Send for name-change information
Book hotel rooms for guests
Arrange for transpiration for guests
Plan wedding weekend activities
Begin pre-wedding beauty treatments
Three Months Before the Wedding
Obtain marriage license (first check with your county’s requirements and time restraints)
Go for blood tests
Attend premarital classes, if required by your faith
Address invitation to guests
Assemble invitations packages
Buy “Love” stamps
Order or make wedding programs
Order wedding favors
Arrange for a team of helpers to make wedding favors with you
Choose and rent groom’s wedding wardrobe
Begin wedding gown fittings
Choose shoes and accessories for the wedding day
Start bridesmaids’ fittings
Bride’s and groom’s parents choose their wedding-day attire
Finalize all parts of children’s wedding-day attire
Consult with wedding coordinator for updates and conformations
Consult with caterer or banquet-hall manager for updates
Complete vows
Ask honored relative and friends to perform readings
Finalize selections of ceremony readings and music
Submit song wish list to DJ or band you’ve hired
Submit picture wish list to photographer
Submit video wish list to videographer
Arrange for a baby-sitter for quests’ children
For a home wedding, arrange for portable toilets
Finalize and book plans for rehearsal dinner
Consider writing a will and/or a pre-nuptial agreement
Two Months Before the Wedding
Mail invitations to guests
Go for wedding gown fittings
Choose and purchase going-away outfits and honeymoon clothes
Meet with ceremony musician about song list
Have attendants’ shoes dyed in one lot
Formally ask friends to help at the wedding, such as attending the guest book, transporting wedding gifts, etc.
Send for name-changing documents, such as passport, credit cards, driver’s license, etc.
Pose for formal pre-wedding portrait
Purchase gifts for each other, parents, bridal party, guests
Wrap and label gifts
One Month Before the Wedding
Get marriage license
Meet officiant for final information on ceremony elements, rules, etc.
Invite officiant to rehearsal dinner
Scout wedding site to ensure all elements are in worker order
Arrange for house and pet sitter
Inquire about town parking permits, gathering permits, etc.
Confirm honeymoon plans
Confirm wedding-night hotel reservations
Get all incoming guests’ arrival time at airports and train stations
Arrange for guests’ transportation to their hotel
Arrange for guests’ transportation throughout the wedding weekend
Make beauty appointment for wedding day
Visit hairstylist
Get pre-wedding haircut and facial
Have fitting for wedding gowns
Pick up wedding bands
Attend showers
Deal with shower gifts – display/store/return
Write thank-yous for shower gifts (by hand, no shortcuts!)
Plan wedding-day brunch and inform bridal party about it
Arrange for food for both male and female dressing locations if no time for a brunch
Call guests who have not responded to get final headcount
Purchase any of the following if being used
Garters (get two – one for keeping and one for tossing)
Toasting flutes
Unity candle
Cake knife
Guest book
Post wedding toss-its (bird seed, flower petals, bubbles, bells, etc.)
Single-use wedding cameras
Candles
Dried rose petals
Flower girl baskets
Pillow for ring bearer
Decorate small containers for post-wedding toss-its
Crate seating place cards and table numbers
Pick up honeymoon travel tickets and information books
Make up welcome baskets for guests
Arrange for bridal party wedding-day transportation if not in limos
Make seating chart for reception
One Week Before the Wedding
Confirm all wedding plans with your consultants, confirming date, time, and place they have on record:
Caterer (have final headcount now!)
Cake baker
Photographer
Videographer
Ceremony musicians
Reception entertainers
Officiant
Ceremony site manager
Reception-site manager
Transportation company (give directions now!)
Rental company
Finalize schedule from rehearsal to reception with consultant
Discuss wedding-day schedule with all involved
Pay final deposits for services
Assemble personal emergency bag with extra stockings, lipstick, pressed power, emery boards, and medical items
Place tips and fees in marked envelopes for officiant, ceremony musicians, coordinator, valets, etc.
If supplying own beverages, get help and shop for it
Drop off guest welcome baskets at hotel
Pick up wedding gown/bridesmaid dresses, accessories, and shoes
Men pick up tux, accessories, socks, shoes, etc.
All should break in new shoes
Men get haircuts
Pack for honeymoon
Notify local police of your upcoming absence
Get traveler’s checks
Have bachelor party and bridal luncheon
Plan special toasts
Get ahead on wedding thank-yous
Submit address-change notification to the post office
Arrange for post office to hold mail during honeymoon
Arrange for someone to mail announcements after the wedding
The Day Before the Wedding
Make sure everything you need is packed for the honeymoon
Lay out all wedding-day wardrobe and accessories
Give printed direction to all family and bridal party members
Confirm wedding-day times and location for all attendants
Arrange for a reliable relative to move wedding gifts for safekeeping
Arrange for a reliable relative to hand out payment envelopes
Get cash for emergency, tips, valets, etc.
Put a cell phone in the emergency bag
Gas the cars
Go to the beauty salon to get waxed and tweezed
Stock up on supplies for wedding-morning breakfast
Call caterer or coordinator to answer last-minutes question
Attend rehearsal
Attend rehearsal dinner
If holding an at-home wedding, check the lighting system at night
Get a good night’s sleep!
On The Wedding Day
Eat and drink
Attend bridal brunch
Have hair and nails done and have a massage
Have photos taken at home
Make sure someone responsible had arranged for suitcases to go to hotel room or in the car that will take you to the honeymoon
Make sure someone has the wedding rings
Make sure someone has the care keys
Relax and enjoy, your consultant is there for the details!
Relax and know that everything will be fine!
Day After the Wedding
This is for parents, friends, etc., of the bride and groom (who are now on their
honeymoon…finally!)
Have someone supervise the rental company’s site cleanup
Get a signed receipt for the return of all rented items
Have tuxes returned to rental store
Hold day-after breakfast for guests and bridal party
Graciously accept all compliments on the wedding
Transport guests to airports, stations, etc., for their rides home
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow what a list. I can’t see anything you have forgotten
Perfect list! I am going to direct my readers to this entry if they need help planning their wedding.
Well written, great job. For anyone who wants to get well prepared, this lists of things to chek will defiitely be helpful ahead of time.
Gosh, I thought MY checklist was comprehensive! YOURS is amazing! THANK YOU! (Always good to cover the bases, Brides and Grooms!) – Alex