You got engaged!?!?!  Now what?

First off CONGRATULATIONS!  Second off, take a deep breath.  Planning your wedding is going to be involved!  But that’s okay, here’s a checklist for easy reference of what’s coming up… We’ll assume you have 9 to 12 months before your chosen wedding date.  If you have less time, that’s okay too - just adjust the time frames below accordingly.

9 to 12 months before the big day…

• Announce your engagement to friends and family and the world!
• Select a wedding date
• Determine a budget and how expenses will be shared
• If applicable, hire a wedding consultant/coordinator
• Order and send out Wedding Save the Date Cards
• Select and book a wedding location
• Select and book a reception location
• Create a guest list rough draft
• Select and book your Minister/Officiant/Priest/Rabbi
• Determine color scheme
• Select and order bridal gown
• Obtain any passports, visas, birth certificates or documents needed for traveling or marriage licenses.

 

6 to 9 months before you tie the knot…

• Select and book your caterer
• Select and book your DJ or live music for wedding and reception
• Select and book your photographer for wedding and reception
• Select and book your videographer for wedding and reception
• Select and pre-order flowers from your florist
• Select and book a decorator
• Select and reserve rental items (chairs, tables etc.)
• Select your wedding party and give them a list of their responsibilities
• Select and buy outfits for the bridal party (mothers of the bride and groom, bridesmaids, flower girl)
• Register for wedding gifts

 

4 to 6 months before you become husband and wife…

• Finalize your guest list
• Select and order wedding invitations and wedding thank you cards and related stationery
• Select a bridal shower date and order bridal shower invitations
• Set date, time and location of rehearsal dinner
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Shop for wedding gifts (each other, wedding party and parents)
• Shop for bridal accessories (shoes, lingerie, jewelry)
• Select and order wedding bands
• Start planning your honeymoon

 

2 to 4 months before you are a newlywed…

• Take formal engagement photos
• Select and order wedding cake
• Select and order party favors
• Select and book a salon for wedding day hair, nails and makeup
• Start addressing your bridal shower invitations
• Send out your bridal shower invitations
• Start addressing your wedding invitations
• Send out your wedding invitations
• Obtain marriage license (expires in 3 months)
• Get photography permit, if needed
• Get special occasion’s permit, if needed

 

6 to 8 weeks before you walk down the aisle…

• Keep a list of RSVP’s
• Start a list for any early wedding gifts received
• Plan bridal shower
• Start a list for bridal shower gifts received
• Select and reserve wedding attire for all gentlemen
• Purchase all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, ring pillow, garter etc.
• Select your something old, new, borrowed and blue
• Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner

 

2 to 6 weeks before you exchange vows…

• Make a wedding day itinerary and share with all your vendors, wedding party
• Finalize all details and provide a list of required items to your vendors if necessary. Remember to touch base with your…

- Wedding planner
- Florist
- Baker
- Caterer
- Decorator
- Rental agency
- Reception hall
- Wedding location
- Officiant
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Rehearsal location/dinner
- Musicians/DJs
- Wedding day salon
- Bridal party

• Contact guests who haven’t replied
• Plan out placement and create seating cards for reception
• Pick up wedding rings
• Finalize honeymoon plans and pick up tickets

 

1 Week til you become Mr. and Mrs…

• Give caterer/reception final number of guests
• Pack for your honeymoon

 

Day of Rehearsal Dinner - the home stretch…

• Bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner
• Make sure you have final payments for all vendors on wedding day
• Drop all wedding accessories and décor off at ceremony and reception locations
• Make sure your wedding party is prepared and have their itineraries

 

Wedding Day - here already?…

• Review your wedding itinerary to stay cool, calm and collected
• Delegate help as needed
• Eat breakfast!
• Pack anything needed to bring to reception or ceremony in your car
• Make sure the Maid of Honour has groom’s ring and Best Man has the bride’s ring
• Make sure you bring your marriage license, photo permit, special occasions permit, if needed
• Put your engagement ring on your right hand
• Remember to relax and really enjoy this day you’ve been planning for so long!

 

Woo… See it’s that easy