12 MONTHS OR MORE BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Announce your intention to marry to BOTH sets of parents. Arrange to have them meet if they haven’t already.
-Start a wedding folder or binder. Use it to store all your information, contracts, ideas, photos, etc.
-Work out your budget.Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families’ contributions and your own.
-Hire a planner, if desired. A planner will have relationships with—and insights about—vendor.
-Speak with your clergy about church requirements and review synagogue.
-Come up with 2 or 3 possible wedding dates and start looking for ceremony and reception venues. If a venue you like is available on one of your chosen dates, book it immediately, so have several choices in mind beforehand in case they are already booked.
-Research photographers, bands, florists, and caterers. Keep their contact information in your binder.
9 TO 11 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Hire the photographer and the videographer. No need to talk specifics yet, but be sure that the people you hire are open to doing the shots that you want.
-If any vendor you like is available on your date and is within your budget, book them IMMEDIATELY! Like reception and ceremony venues, many of these vendors can be booked up to a year in advance.
-Together with your parents, begin compiling your preliminary guest list. Make a head count database to use throughout your planning process, with columns for contact info, RSVPs, gifts, and any other relevant information.
-Start getting ideas by looking through bridal magazines, going to Bridal Fairs and doing research on the internet.
-Finalize your wedding colors, theme and style.
–Select your entourage. If who will be the Maid of Honor and Best Man, Bridesmaids, Flower girls and Bearers. Make sure they are aware of what their “duties” are.
-Choose and purchase your wedding rings.This will give you time for resizing and engraving.
-Begin looking at honeymoon options. Discuss where you both would like to go, and if needed visit a travel agent.
-Start looking for a wedding gown, veil, accessories and your attendants attire.
6 TO 8 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Start planning ceremony and reception music choices.
-If you haven’t already finalize and purchase your wedding gown, veil, and accessories.
-Start with your engagement photoshoot for your AVP.
-Finalize attire for attendants.
-Start pre-marriage counseling (if required)
-Sign up for your gift registry
-Hire calligrapher for your invitations (if needed).
-Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.
-Meet with the officiant. Arrange in detail the ceremony and confirm that you have all the documents for the wedding.
-Book a florist.
-Arrange and book transportation.
-Start composing a program.Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance).
4 TO 5 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Work with your florist and finalize your arrangements.
-Start planning the wedding decorations
-Arrange accommodations for out of town guests (should be near to the ceremony and reception).
-Select wedding cake and food. Attend several tastings before committing to any baker or caterers.
-Start making arrangement for rehearsal
-Decide on wedding favors
-Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings then schedule your second fitting.
3 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Finalize the menu, cake and flowers.
-Finalize the guest list.
-Reconfirm about your rehearsal.
-Buy the cake knife, guest book, toasting glasses, garter and other things that are needed.
-Choose giveaways for your attendants, parents, entourage, relatives ans sponsors.
-Have the male members of the wedding party, including fathers, fitted for barongs or tuxedos.
-Reconfirm honeymoon arrangements.
-Start writing your wedding vows (if you are doing them yourself).
-Start addressing the invitations (or drop them off with calligrapher).
-Select your Hair and Make-up artist.
-Send your event schedule to the vendors. Giving them a first draft now allows ample time for tweaks and feedback.
2 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Send out invitations
-Start your hair and make-up trial run then snap a photo at each so you can compare results.
-Start making / buying wedding favors
-Get the wedding license
-Visit the dressmaker for your second fitting.
-Write thank you notes for any gifts that may start arriving.
-If you are having one, begin putting together your ceremony program.
-Meet with vendors (caterer, florists, etc.)to finalize arrangements.
-Finalize music selections for the ceremony and reception and turn them in to the DJ/Band/etc.
-Reserve hotel rooms for wedding dress-up and for your out of town guest.
1 MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Confirm honeymoon your reservations.
-Assign seating in reception.
-Confirm times for hair and makeup and all vendors.
-Meet with photographer and/or videographer to discuss last minute details.
-Start working on the reception seating chart.
-Have final wedding gown fitting.
-Finish (and print) the wedding program.
-Finalize wedding vows
-Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors as well as date, time, etc.
-Pick up marriage license.
1 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Reconfirm arrival times locations with vendors
-Finalize reception seating chart.
-Delegate small wedding-day tasks. Choose someone to bustle your dress, someone to carry your things, someone to be in charge of gifts and someone to be the point person for each vendor.
-Pick up your dress.
-Book a spa and massage treatment. Make an appointment for a manicure and a pedicure the day before the wedding.
-Check in one last time with the photographer. Supply him or her with a list of moments you want captured on film.
-Contact any guests who did not respond to the invitation.
-Pick up wedding gown, attendants’ gowns and all accessories.
-Give final guest count to reception venue/caterer.
-Reconfirm everything with vendors one last time.
-Make sure men get their final fitting for their tuxedos.
-Reconfirm rehearsal
1 DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING
-Attend rehearsal.
-Attend rehearsal dinner. Give attendants their gifts.
-Have a manicure and/or a pedicure.
-Confirm wedding day transportation.
-Reconfirm hair and make up appointments.
-Layout everything you need for the next day in a safe place (marriage license, dress, shoes, etc.).
-Speak with everyone in the wedding party and make sure everyone knows where to be at what time.
-Pack for your honeymoon.
-Try to go to bed early and get some sleep.
YOUR WEDDING DAY
-Eat breakfast, even if you think you aren’t hungry.
-Share a private moment with your fiance.
-Have your hair and makeup done.
-Begin dressing two hours before ceremony is scheduled to begin.
-Spend a quiet moment looking at yourself in the mirror before you walk down the aisle.
-Relax and let it all sink in!!
-Leave yourself off the things to do list today if there are any remaining items. You need to relax and enjoy the whole day, and in the long run, you won’t remember the little things.