| From Morris Communications
At time of engagement
- Tell your parents the happy news, if they do not already know.
- Buy or make a wedding organizer. Think about whether you will want
to have it as a keepsake later on; if so, this may influence your decision
about what kind of organizer to have. At a bare minimum, you should
have an organized way to keep track of appointments/payments/etc., and
a system for keeping track of invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes.
- Write to your close friends and relatives to let them know, unless
you plan to have an engagement party.
- Have an engagement photo taken.
9 to 12 months before
- Decide on style of wedding.
- Decide on date of wedding.
- Decide and reserve location for ceremony.
- Reserve officiant.
- Set a tentative budget.
- Decide how expenses will be shared.
- Decide on guest list.
- Announce engagement.
- Select and invite your attendants.
- Book a wedding coordinator.
- Select engagement ring with fiancé if he has not done so.
- Shop for wedding rings.
- Reserve reception location as soon as you have set the date.
- Select and book caterer.
- Select and book photographer.
- Start compiling names and addresses for guest list.
- Decide on your color scheme.
- Start shopping for your wedding dress and headpiece.
- Discuss where you will live after the wedding.
6 to 9 months before
- Select and register your gift preferences in the towns of both families.
- Select florist.
- Select balloonist.
- Select and book videographer.
- Select and reserve rental equipment for ceremony and reception.
- Select and book reception entertainment.
- Order bridal gown. Order bridesmaids' dresses.
- Select bakery for wedding cake.
- Select a travel agent and start planning your honeymoon.
3 to 6 months before
- Complete your guest list and compile in alphabetical order.
- Select and order invitations and announcements.
- Start health and fitness program.
- Check on wedding dress.
- Select and reserve formalwear for men.
- Select and order mother's attire.
- Experiment with hair style.
- Discuss service with officiant.
- Order favors.
- Discuss rehearsal dinner with your fiancé.
- Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
- Check state requirement for blood tests.
- Order wedding rings.
2 months before
- Address invitations and add correct postage. Check one with Post Office.
- Send invitations six weeks before the wedding.
- Confirm all contracts and services with the professionals hired.
- Plan and book rehearsal dinner.
- Finalize honeymoon plans.
- Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests.
- Purchase attendants' gifts.
- Choose person to attend your guest book. Plan its placement.
- Make reservations for the wedding night hotel.
- Make appointment with your hair stylist on the wedding day.
- Write thank-you notes as you receive gifts.
- Send your announcement to newspapers.
1 month before
- Get blood test and marriage license.
- Have wedding dress final fitting.
- Have bridal portrait done.
- Complete shopping for your trousseau.
- Purchase your accessories such as garter, candles, toasting goblets, ring pillow, etc.
- Have wedding and engagement rings taken to jeweler for engraving and cleaning.
- Maintain records on gifts received, and send thank you notes out immediately.
- Meet with photographer and give him/her a list of shots you would like taken.
- Meet with the entertainers and give them a list of music you would like played.
- Assign responsibilities for: Rental returns, clean up, guest transportation, pick up of any last minute items.
2 weeks before
- Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit properly.
- Continue writing thank-you notes for gifts.
- Final confirmation of all services.
- Address your announcements to mail on the wedding day.
- Attend to business and legal details.
- Get necessary forms for name change.
- Give a change of address card to the post office.
1 week before
- Contact any guests who have not responded.
- Provide caterer with total guest count.
- Provide wedding party and guests a map and timetable for rehearsal, ceremony and reception.
- Plan seating arrangements.
- Pick up marriage license.
- Determine what to do with floral arrangements after reception.
- Pack for honeymoon.
- Purchase traveler's checks.
- Give the bridesmaids' party.
- Remind attendants of rehearsal and dinner details.
The Wedding Day
- Eat! Otherwise you may faint!
- Allow time for hair appointment/nails.
- Take a long relaxing bath.
- If pictures are to be taken before ceremony, be dressed and at site one hour prior to hour of wedding.
- Be sure florist knows to have flowers at site 1+ Hours prior to ceremony hour.
- 45 minutes before ceremony ushers are in place.
- 30 minutes before ceremony music begins.
- 5 minutes before ceremony groom's parents are seated.
- Mother of bride seated just prior to processional
- Aisle runner is rolled out.
- Clergy, groom and best man take their place.
- Processional begins.
- Ceremony.
- Recessional.
- Pictures and signing of wedding certificate. Best man and Maid of Honor sign as witnesses.
- Reception.
- Say good-bye's and thank you's to parents.
- FINALLY -- alone and off to honeymoon destination.
After the Wedding
- Send thank-you notes as soon as possible after the wedding.
- Have bridal gown cleaned and preserved.
- Change your name on ID and important documents.
- Change of address cards.
