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Congratulations on your
engagement! Weddings take a lot
of planning and you will likely spend over 100 hours on the
phone, visiting with vendors, planning, and chasing after
details. To help you get off to a good start, we've put
together a complete outline of the things you'll need to do
for your wedding.
Planning makes perfect! Use our
Countdown Calendar
list to make sure every "t" is crossed and every "i"
is dotted before you walk down the aisle.
Click
here for the Ceremony and Reception Checklist
Six Months to One Year Before:
- Set your wedding date.
- Figure out what you can afford and make a budget.
- Decide on how big and what type of wedding you will have.
- Reserve locations for your ceremony and reception.
- Arrange transportation for the wedding party.
- Start gathering names and addresses for your guest list.
- Book all your professional services:
- baker
- caterer
- DJ or band
- florist
- photographer
- videographer
- wedding consultant
- Plan where you want photos to be taken.
- Select attendants for bridal party.
- Select dresses for bride and attendants.
- Attend bridal shows for ideas.
- Shop together for your wedding rings
- Choose a honeymoon and location
Four Months Before:
- Finish compiling your guest list.
- Plan your honeymoon. If you will need passports, arrange for
them now.
- Make sure all bridal attire is ordered.
- Register for gifts at a bridal registry.
- Order invitations.
- Book bridal suite for wedding night.
- Book block of rooms at nearby hotels for out-of-town guests.
- Arrange for rental of men's formal wear.
- Select and order wedding rings.
- 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 (DETAILS!!)
Two Months Before:
- Mail invitations five weeks before wedding date.
- Choose music for ceremony and reception.
- Plan rehearsal dinner.
- Finalized men's wedding attire.
- Order or make wedding favors and decorations.
- Complete necessary requirements for marriage license.
- Purchase your wedding day accessories
- Arrange attendant's parties
- Consider a hairdresser and/or makeup artist and book
appointments
- Finalize all honeymoon plans.
One Month Before:
- Purchase gifts for members of bridal party.
- Have final dress fittings for bride and attendants.
- Schedule hair and beauty appointments.
- Obtain marriage license
- Have your attendant's parties
- Purchase you going-away outfit
- Create a calendar of events for the wedding day.
- Make sure your accessories are in order (rings, pillow,
garter, etc.)
Two Weeks Before:
- Confirm accommodation reservations for out-of-town guests.
- Arrange seating plan and make place cards for reception.
- If you're changing your name, have the change reflected on
bank accounts, licenses, etc.
- Finalize arrangement with the entertainment
- Provide a list of music you would like played (or not
played)
- Finalized 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.
- Contact the guests who have not responded to your
invitations
One 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
- Purchase travelers checks, confirm honeymoon reservations.
- Pack your luggage for your honeymoon
- Make sure all wedding attire fits properly
- Inform your caterer of the total guest count
- Confirm out-of-town guests have transportation and sleeping
accommodations.
- Check with your florist to make sure they will arrive when
schedule.
The Day Before:
- Have a rehearsal for the ceremony.
- Attend rehearsal dinner.
The Wedding Day:
- Relax, enjoy yourself, and
remain calm!
- Allow at least two hours for
dressing
- Eat something in the morning.
- 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
- f photographs are to be taken
before the ceremony, allow plenty of time for that.
- The groom's parents should be
seated about 5 minutes before the start of the wedding
ceremony
- Mother of the bride is normally
seated last
- Take a deep breath, don't worry,
be HAPPY and SMILE!
- Make sure you have:
- the rings
- the fee for the priest, rabbi or justice of the peace
- payment for musicians at ceremony
- tips for altar boys or other service attendants
- payment for other contracted services
- marriage license
What
To Bring to the Ceremony & Reception 
Checklist
Here's a list of
things you may need to bring to your ceremony and reception
location. Remember, this is YOUR
day...so ask someone ahead of time to take care of
these items for you!
CEREMONY
RECEPTION
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