6-12 Months
• Select a wedding date and time
• Make a preliminary budget
• Determine your wedding theme or style
• Reserve your ceremony and reception locations
• Determine who will officiate at the ceremony
• Hire a wedding consultant, if you plan to use one
• Decide on your color scheme
• Determine size of the guest list
• Start compiling names and addresses of guests
• Select bridal attendants, best man and ushers
• Plan reception
• Check catering facilities, if at a club or hotel
• Select a caterer, if one is necessary
• Select a professional photographer and videographer
• Select a professional florist
• Select your dress and headpiece
• Announce your engagement in the newspaper
• Select bridesmaid’s dresses
• Select engagement ring with fiance, if he has not already done so
• Make transportation arrangements for wedding day
• Start planning the honeymoon
4 - Months
• Make final arrangement for ceremony (deposits should be paid, contract signed)
• Make sure all bridal attire is ordered
• Have both mothers coordinate and select their dresses
• Register at a bridal registry in the towns of both families
• Order invitations and personal stationery
• Complete the guest lists and compile them in order
• Select the men’s wedding attire and reserve the right sizes
• Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state
• Make appointment for physical exam
• Shop for wedding rings
• Finalize honeymoon plans and send in deposits if required
• Decide where you will live after the wedding
• Begin shopping for trousseau
2 - Months
• Make final arrangement for ceremony (deposits should be paid, contract signed)
• Make sure all bridal attire is ordered
• Have both mothers coordinate and select their dresses
• Register at a bridal registry in the towns of both families
• Order invitations and personal stationery
• Complete the guest lists and compile them in order
• Select the men’s wedding attire and reserve the right sizes
• Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state
• Make appointment for physical exam
• Shop for wedding rings
• Finalize honeymoon plans and send in deposits if required
• Decide where you will live after the wedding
• Begin shopping for trousseau
1 - Months
• Address invitations and announcements. They should be mailed 4 to 6 weeks before wedding
• Finalize all details with caterer, photographer, florist, reception hall manager, musicians etc.
• Order wedding cake, if not supplied by caterer
• Finalize ceremony details with officiant
• Make rehearsal arrangements
• Plan rehearsal dinner
• Plan bridesmaid’s luncheon
• Make appointments with hairdresser
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town attendants or guests
• Finalize honeymoon plans
| 2 - Weeks
• Attend to business and legal details. Get necessary forms to change names on Social Security
card, driver’s license, insurance and medical plans, bank accounts; make a will
• Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to newspaper
• Reconfirm the accommodations for out of town guests
• Arrange to have possessions and gifts moved to your new home. Give change-of-address card
to the post office
• Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on the wedding day
1 - Week
• Contact guests who have not responded
• Give the final count to caterer and review details
• Go over final details with all professional services you have engaged. Inform them of changes
• Give photographer the list of pictures you want
• Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video
• Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception
• Plan the seating arrangements
• Arrange for someone to assist with the last-minute errands and to help you dress.
• For the bride, practice having your hair done to make sure it comes out properly and
determine the time it will take
• For the groom, have your hair cut
• Practice using your make-up in the same type of lighting you will have on the wedding date
• Keep up with writing of your thank-you notes
• Pack your suitcase for the honeymoon
• Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations
• Make sure you have marriage license
• Make sure you have the wedding rings and they fit
• Make sure all wedding attire is picked up and fits
• Have a rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties
• Attend rehearsal dinner party. Stay calm and enjoy yourself.
• Stay with family the night before the wedding. Get to bed early. You will want to look and feel great the next day.
On the Wedding Day
• Be sure to eat something. You have a big day ahead, and many brides have been known to faint
• Take a nice relaxing bath
• Fix hair or have an appointment to have it done at least 3-4 hours before the ceremony
• Make sure nails are done
• Start dressing one to one-and-a-half hours before the ceremony. If pictures are being taken before the ceremony, then have yourself and attendants ready about two hours before the ceremony.
• Have the music start thirty minutes before the ceremony
• Have guests seated. Five minutes before ceremony,have groom’s parents seated. Immediately
before processional the bride’s mother is seated and the aisle runner is rolled out ...
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