- Determine Type (Formal, Semi-formal, Informal), style, and theme of wedding
- Sit down with everyone involved in your wedding and discuss the wedding budget. This is a very important step.
- Get or make a wedding organizer (a 3 ring binder with pockets works great). use it to store all your information, contracts, ideas, photos, etc.
- Come up with 2 or 3 possible wedding dates and start looking for ceremony and reception venues. Once you find the one you love, book it immediately!
- If you know you will need help, start looking for a wedding consultant in your area.
9 to 11 Months Before the Wedding
- Start researching different vendors. Concentrate on the ones that book fast. These are photographers and videographers, entertainment, caterer, and officiant. Like reception and ceremony venues, many of these vendors can be booked up to a year in advance.
- If you decide to do so, have your engagement pictures taken (Tip: Use the same photographer for your wedding day. This is a great opportunity to get to know them and their style.)
- Start thinking about your guest count and draft a preliminary guest list.
- Finalize your wedding colors, theme and style.
- Research honeymoon spots with your fiancee.
- Start looking for wedding dress and accessories.
- Select your bridesmaids!
6 to 8 Months Before the Wedding
- Purchase your wedding gown!
- Start looking at invitations
- Sign up for your gift registry
- Shop for bridesmaid's dresses
- Send out your save the dates. (Attn: This is a great opportunity to show off your engagement pictures, but keep in mind that once you mail them out, you are telling people that they are invited to the wedding and should be expecting a formal invitation to follow. Only send them out to the people you are 100% sure will be invited to the festivities.)
- Start looking at wedding rings.
4 to 5 Months Before the Wedding
- Book your florist and start looking at arrangements.
- Order all your wedding stationary (I.e. Invitations, programs, and envelopes)
- Start shopping for bridal party tuxedos
- Book limo/transportation
- Select a wedding bakery and decide on a wedding cake.
- Arrange accommodations for out of town guests
- Decide on wedding favors
- Tell your girls to order their bridesmaids dresses.
- Appoint someone (If you do not have a wedding coordinator) to help you keep track of everything on your wedding day. Make sure you let them know this is a very important job.
- Purchase wedding rings.
3 Months Before the Wedding
- Order wedding cake
- Meet with your officiant to discuss details of the ceremony
- Finalize your guest list (After you've received all RSVPs)
- Select rehearsal dinner location and finalize plans
- Choose gifts for your attendants, parents and helpers.
- Have all male members of the wedding party get fitted for their tuxedo
- Mail out formal invitations
- Start writing your wedding vows
2 Months Before the Wedding
- Schedule hair and makeup consultation to do a trial run
- Schedule your first wedding dress fitting
- Meet with vendors (caterer, florists, DJ, officiant, etc.) to finalize arrangements.
- Reserve room for wedding night.
- Get wedding license!
1 Month Before the Wedding
- Confirm your honeymoon reservations
- Start working on the reception seating chart
- Have final wedding gown fitting
- Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors, as well as date, time, etc.
- Pick up marriage license!
1 Week Before the Wedding
- Pick up wedding gown, attendants; gowns and all accessories
- Give final guest count to reception venue/caterer
- Make sure all the men get their final fitting for their tuxedos
- Meet with vendors one last time
1 Day Before the Wedding
- Attend rehearsal dinner and give attendants their gifts
- Have a manicure and/or a pedicure
- Put together the tip envelopes (for the vendors) and give them to the designated 'tip person' (generally the best man).
- Reconfirm all your appointments for the day. Transportation, hair and makeup, etc.
- Bring all DIY decor to the wedding venue
- Layout everything you need for the next day in a safe place (marriage license, dress, shoes, etc.)
- REST, REST, REST!
The Big Day
- Have your hair and makeup done
- Give the best man the groom's ring
- Begin dressing two hours before ceremony is scheduled to begin
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Share a moment with your parents, bridesmaids and everyone that helped you through the process.
- Then...
Marry Your Soulmate!
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