12 months+
- Start by envisioning your dream wedding. Will it be at a fancy hotel, your parents backyard, or a sandy beach?
- Decide what your budget will be. This is very important in wedding planning - you want a great wedding, but you don't want great debt when it's all over. Also, decide where the money is coming from. These days the bride's parents do not have to pay for everything. Soon I'll post a list of who should pay for what.
- Chose the date and time of your wedding and don't forget to ask important family and friends if the date is free for as well.
- If you do not want to plan your wedding by yourself, then now you should seek out a wedding consultant. But, if not go ahead and start looking at local vendors.
- Begin wedding gown "window" shopping. Think about what you want your gown to look like. You don't have to buy your dress right away because Prince Charming popped the question last night. Look in magazines and online for dresses you like.
- Create a preliminary guest list. Ask both sets of parents for a list of who they want invited and create your own as well. (Hint: the more guests you have, the more money you pay. We will get to why that is later.)
- Search for a reception site and book one as soon as you find something that you you love, is in your budget, and available for your date.
- If your planning on having an engagement party, now is the time to set a date, create a guest list, and buy invitations.
- Purchase a notebook or folder to put all of your planning paperwork. Include ideas, contracts, guest list, vendor contacts etc.
- Decide on your wedding party and ask them to be a bridesmaid or groomsman.
- Find a ceremony site if different from reception site. Also, choose an officiant.
- Take engagement pictures and have your local newspaper announce the engagement.
- Interview caterers. Most important is how the food taste, but also think about price per head.
- Chose your color scheme if you haven't already. Your color scheme should compliment your ceremony/reception sites.
- Head to the bridal shop. If you looked in magazine and online you might already have a dress picked out or and idea of what you want. Don't hesitate to try on different dresses.
- Start looking at cultural traditions if you want them included in the wedding.
- Finalize your guest list and remember if you're on a budget this is the best place to lower the cost of the wedding by reducing the amount of people attending. Also make a seating chart if you are planning on having a seated dinner.
- Decide on a caterer and have them draw up a contract and make a deposit to hold your service. Remember to always read contracts. You don't want to sign something you don't agree to. If you don't agree with something on the contract talk to the caterer and see if it can be changed.
- Start auditioning reception bands or professional DJ's. Make sure they can play the styles of music you want for your reception. Book it as soon as you find the right one.
- If you are planning on an outdoor wedding, look into tent and lighting rentals.
- Seek out a florist. Make an appointment to discuss style, price, and options you have.
- Interview photographers. Ask to see a portfolio and discuss prices. Reserve the right one by signing a contract and making a deposit.
- Start a registry. (Hint: a lot of stores have online registries now)
- Start thinking about how you want to wear your hair. Will you have a sleek up-do or romantic waves? Think about how you normally wear your hair just maybe vamp it up. You don't want your hairstyle to make you unrecognizable.
- Search for bakeries in your area. Make appointments and decide on style, flavor, and price. Once you find the right one, book it and sign a contract. If having trouble finding one, your caterer might be able to suggest some to you.
- Shop for bridesmaids dresses. Make sure to pick colors and style that flatter everyone even if each dress is different. As long as the colors are in your color scheme and the styles are similar your wedding party will look great.
- Set aside blocks of rooms at nearby hotels for your out of town guest. If Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob are coming from a thousand miles away, you will want to make sure they have a hotel room available.
- It is not necessary, but sending save-the-date cards is becoming more and more popular. Now is the time to purchase them and send them out, especially if your wedding is on or near a holiday.
- Order your gown. Be sure to double check the order. You don't want your dress to come in and it's 2 sizes too small.
- Start planning you rehearsal dinner and book a site.
- Decide on your invitation design and wording and order them. Make sure you and at least one other person proof reads them. Also, be sure to order extra envelopes because you will make at least one mistake.
- Decide on the Groom and Groomsmen attire. Will you rent or buy?
- Reserve chair, table and linen rentals, unless it will be provided by caterer.
- Book a hotel room for your wedding night.
- Make packages for out-of-town guests with hotel reservation and city information. Mail them as soon as possible.
- Book your flight, hotel, rental car and any activities you are to do on your honeymoon.
- Chose your bridesmaid accessories, like gloves or jewelry, and purchase them or pass the info along and ask your bridesmaids to.
- Give all the groomsmen the info to either buy or rent their attire.
- Buy wedding bands
- Experiment with beauty routines like self tanning and facials.
- Buy specific ceremony decorations like a huppah, aisle runner and don't forget the flower girl basket, ring bearer's pillow and guest book.
- Make or buy wedding favors.
- Be sure that all bridesmaids have purchased their dresses and accessories. If you have them already, have them try their attire on for you to make sure they fit and look good.
- Your invitations should be arriving soon or have arrived already. Make sure everything is spelled correctly and designed how you want it.
- If your planning on a honeymoon that is international, get your passport, birth certificate, visas and vaccinations now.
- Get any special lingerie you need for your wedding dress before you go into your first fitting, which you should do as soon as the dress comes in.
- Have the groomsmen visit the formal wear shop to get measured.
- Start addressing invitations. If you having a calligrapher do it, you need to have them there two months before the wedding day.
- Confirm delivery date for your gown and arrange fittings with the bridal shop for when it arrives.
- Purchase any accessories for the groom: shoes, cuff links, etc.
- Provide guest list for your bridal shower to whoever is hosting it.
- Arrange wedding day transportation. Will you need a limo for your bridal party? A shuttle for your guest? Or a get away car? Also, arrange parking for guests.
- Send out invitations as soon as ready.
- If you are receiving gifts, be sure to remove them off of your registry and keep a record of who it was from so you can send out thank you cards.
- Be sure to confirm those reservations you made for out-of-town guests.
- Now you should order and alcohol needed for your reception if not already in the catering contract.
- Buy shoes, jewelry and veil prior to your final fitting so you can try it all on at once.
- Plan your vows, especially if your writing your own.
- Make your ceremony programs if you are to have them.
- Make an appointment with your wedding day hairstylist and take your veil to make sure your hair and veil work together. (Hint: take pictures of your hairstyle so the hairstylist can remember exactly what she did.)
- Make an appointment with a makeup artist if you want one and do a trial run. Don't forget to schedule your wedding day with them.
- Buy gifts for your wedding party.
- Attend final wedding gown fitting. Take your shoes, jewelry and veil with you.
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations.
- Get marriage license and do blood test in necessary.
- Make a list of songs you want played at your reception and give it to the band or DJ. You should give them a list of songs you absolutely do not want played as well.
- Confirm your wedding night and honeymoon reservations.
- Do paperwork for official documents like changing your name, insurance policies, bank accounts and anything else.
- Draw up a schedule of wedding day activities.
- Purchase a garter and make sure you have your "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" if you choose to include them.
- Pick up your gown.
- Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding or rehearsal dinner.
- Give final head count to caterer and confirm menu items and set-up details.
- Confirm delivery times and location with all vendors.
- Go over seating chart and make any changes if needed and give a copy to your caterer. Also make place card so your guests will know where to sit.
- Confirm final payments to all vendors.
- Touch base with your officiant and discuss the wedding day schedule.
- Pick up tuxes and try them on. Do not wait until the day of to do this. You want it to fit perfect.
- Confirm transportation for your wedding. Discuss times and location of pickups on your wedding day.
- Prepare your toast to friends and family on your wedding day.
- Designate a person to meet, greet and handle all vendors on your wedding day.
- Get manicure and pedicure and confirm hair and make-up for the day of your wedding.
- Put together an over night bag for the night of your wedding. Be sure to pack your sexy lingerie too!
- Rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party. Remember to have fun and relax.
- Get your wedding gown, shoes, and other accessories together.
- Make a bridal emergency kit with aspirin, safety pins, makeup, mints etc.
- Set your alarm.
- Get sleep!
- Set aside a private moment for you and your new wife/husband to exchange gifts and a kiss or two.
- Thank your parents and guests.
- And finally, Enjoy!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment