{twelve to nine months before}
- Begin a wedding binder with ideas pulled from bridal, style, design & food magazines for inspiration
- Set a budget based on family contributions & how much you are willing to spend
- Select your wedding party
- Begin making your guest list, if your trying to keep your budget low you might consider cutting down the guest list first
- Research & HIRE a wedding planner, if desired
- RESERVE your date, ceremony & reception venues
- BOOK your officiant
- Research photographers, videographers, caterers, florists & bands
- Throw an engagement party, if desired
{eight months before}
- BOOK your photographer & videographer, if desired
- BOOK your musicians for the ceremony & entertainment for the reception
- Research caterers, prices, menus, venues they have worked at, etc.
- PURCHASE your wedding dress
- RESERVE hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
- REGISTER for wedding gifts at at least 3 locations
- Create your wedding website, if desired
{six months before}
- Select & PURCHASE your wedding invitations, personalized stationary and thank you notes
- Begin planning your honeymoon, renew your passports if you are leaving the country this will take at least two - three weeks
- Select bridesmaids' dresses
- BOOK your bridal portrait with your photographer, make sure you will have it two weeks before your wedding
- Groom and groomsmen select their tuxedos
- Meet with the officiant to finalize ceremony & documents needed for the wedding
- Send out your save-the-dates
- RESERVE extra necessities you need to rent, such as linens, chairs, tables, portable toilets, emergency lighting, etc., if desired
- BOOK your florist
- Arrange your transportation, from limos to decorating your own car
- Put together a wedding day time-line
{four months before}
- BOOK your rehearsal dinner venue
- Request a sample wedding invitation & revise if needed
- Select & ORDER your cake
- Send your guest list to the host of your bridal shower
- PURCHASE shoes for your wedding & begin dress fittings, also break in your shoes
- BOOK your hair & make-up artists
- Select your wedding ceremony & reception music
- Finalize your reception menu & flower selection
- ORDER favors for guests, if desired
- Create a list of people giving toasts, at rehearsal dinner or reception
- Finalize the readings for the ceremony
- PURCHASE your undergarments for your dress
- Finalize the time-line of the ceremony & reception
- Print your menu cards, if desired & ceremony programs
- PURCHASE wedding rings
- Send your event time-line to your vendors & make sure any questions you have are answered
{two months before}
- Meet with your photographer, discuss specific shots you have in mind or locations throughout the venue you prefer
- Review the play-list with the band or DJ
- SEND out your invitations, set RSVP date 3 weeks after this date
- Submit your wedding announcement to your local newspaper, if desired
- Create assigned seating, or at least floor plan for reception
- Begin keeping a gift diary, send thank you notes out immediately so you do not get behind
{one month before}
- Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database
- Get your marriage license and arrange for your name and address change
- Send out your rehearsal dinner invitations
- Visit the dressmaker/alterations shop for hopefully your last fitting
- Pay as many final payments as you can
- Confirm times for hair, make-up & all vendors
- Email directions to the venues to your drivers, if you booked any
- PURCHASE bridesmaids' gifts
- PURCHASE your gift to the groom
- Write vows, if desired
- Get your hair cut & colored, if desired
- Enjoy your bachelorette party!
{week of your wedding}
- Reconfirm all arrival times of vendors
- Pick up your wedding dress
- Set aside checks for the vendors with tips in the envelopes, also delegate someone to be in charge of paying the vendors
- BOOK a spa treatment or manicure/pedicure to relieve stress
- Send the final guest list to the caterer & venues
- Assemble & distribute welcome baskets to out-of-town guests
- Pack for your honeymoon
{Always have an Emergency Kit}
Make-up
Extra panty hose
Bobby pins
Safety pins
Small scissors
Super glue
Double stick clothing tape (for clothing that won't stay up)
Instant hemming tape
Clear nail polish (helps for stocking runs)
White chalk (helps mask stains on the wedding dress)
Lint Brush
Hand lotion
Eye drops (redness reducing)
Earring backs
Mirror
Nail file
Comb/Brush
Hair spray
Custom hanky or tissues
Needle and thread (white)
Small baby powder/club soda (good for getting spills/stains out of the wedding dress)
Advil
Acid relief tablet (Tums/Rolaids)
Pepto bismol
Hand held fan
Static cling spray
Saltine cracker
Granola bars
Straws (so you don't smudge your lipstick)
Bottle of cold water
Smelling salts (in case anyone faints)
Band aids
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Dental floss
Breath mints
Personal feminine items
Deodorant
Perfume
Sunblock
Extra batteries/charger for digital cameras!
*Brides comfort item (candy, favorite drink, even her favorite song on your ipod/cd)*
