Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Planning Your Wedding - Timelines & Checklists

Traditionally, weddings follow timelines for booking vendors, putting together your bridal party, sending out invitations, etc. These are certainly good guides to follow, but keep in mind nothing is set in stone when you are planning your own wedding. My first wedding was planned in 6 months, my 2nd in 3. You can bend the rules where you need to, but something's you absolutely want to take care of as soon as a date is set. Why? Because you would be surprised how fast photographers, venues, caterers and other must-haves for your wedding will book up. As soon as you set your date, book your vendors and venues if you want to make sure you are getting what you want!
Right off the bat you will want to buy a wedding planning binder, decide on a theme, research your vendors and venues, research wedding planners if you'll be using one and find out how far in advance orders must be made for gowns, favors, food, etc.

6-12 months before your wedding:
Announce your engagement - newspaper and/or engagement party
Set your budget and decide who pays for what
Decide your time and place for the wedding
Book your photographer before you announce your engagement. Many photographers offer engagement portraits with their wedding packages and this will give you a beautiful portrait for your newspaper announcement and engagement party!
Choose and book your venues for the wedding and reception
Book your vendors: caterers, DJ and/or band, vidoegrapher, stylists, transportation services, lodging, bakery, etc.
Decide on your scheme and colors since many decisions will be based on your scheme
Choose your bridal party and decide who will be responsible for what
Choose your wedding gown and the bridesmaids gowns - there will be ordering and fittings required more than likely so you want to give yourself plenty of time.
Choose your guest list since caterers and the bakery will need to know how many guests to expect and can accommodate the number in their estimates
Choose your bridal party gifts and find out how far in advance they will need to be ordered
Hire your wedding planner if you will be using one

4-6 months before the wedding
By now your gowns should be in so time for a fitting
Decide on the men's apparel
Choose your wedding rings
Choose your honeymoon destination and book it, get passports if you will be honeymooning abroad
Order favors, gifts, guestbook, and accessories
Have the mother-of-the-bride and future mother-in-law shop for and/or order their attire for the wedding
Order announcements, invitations, save the dates, RSVP cards, thank you cards and maps
Bridal registries are a must!
Confirm bookings
Select your music for the reception - especially the bride and groom's song!
Get with your stylist for hair and makeup decisions
Finalize your menu selection with the caterer and your wedding cake with your bakery
Finalize your rehearsal arrangements including dinner and transportation
Find out the information needed for your wedding license and make sure you send out for anything you don't have, such as birth certificates, etc. Some states still require blood tests so you may need to schedule those as well.

2 months before the wedding
Address your invitations (if you didn't have the printer address them) and get them in the mail
Finalize all your decisions with your vendors and venues such as menu selection, music selection, hair and makeup, limos, etc. Confirm all dates and times and remember to leave enough time with the hair and makeup for all the bridal party and still make it to the wedding on time!
Confirm all arrangements for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and transportation for the rehearsal.
Confirm all lodging
Finalize your wedding license information and find out when you will need to get your license (varies state-to-state)
Bridal luncheon with your bridesmaids and the mothers
Order flowers

1 month before the wedding
Final fitting for gowns
Make sure you that all orders have arrived for gifts, favors, accessories, etc.
By now you should be receiving RSVP's and/or gifts so start your guest list and if you will be doing seating assignments, begin arranging seating
Send thank you notes for gifts you are receiving
Confirm the men's apparel and arrival date/time
Confirm the flowers and arrival date/time
Take care of legal needs such as name changes, social security forms for changing the name on your social security card, forms for changing your drivers' license, finalizing the wedding license, passports (if you will be honeymooning abroad), etc.
Prepare your wedding announcement for the newspaper - some have forms to fill out, others you can just e-mail or call them with your information. After the wedding they will need a photo of you and the groom
Check with your jewelry and make sure that your wedding rings fit - find someone trustworthy to hold on to the rings until the wedding (usually the best man)
2 weeks before the wedding
Address and stamp the wedding announcements to be mailed on the wedding day
Re-check that all favors, gifts, apparel, accessories, etc have been delivered
Meet with your photographer and vidoegrapher to go over your portraits, album and what you would like photographed and videoed
1 week before the wedding
Contact guests who have not RSVP 'd just to be sure
Final guest counts need to be given to the venue and caterer
Make sure you have your wedding license and any other documents needed such as passports
Make sure all gowns have arrived and fit
Re-confirm all honeymoon arrangements and make sure you have your plane tickets
Bachelorette Party! Do you really want to have it the night before the wedding? I think not!

1 day before the wedding
Rehearsal and dinner with the wedding party
Confirm times and events such as portrait sittings, flowers, men's apparel, etc with the bridal party
Make sure the rings are still in safe hands
Arrange for someone to receive the flowers that should be delivered the morning of the wedding day
Arrange for someone to receive the men's apparel that should be delivered either today or the wedding day
Make final arrangements for the transportation and who will ride with who, etc.

Wedding Day
Hair and makeup
Confirm that the rings are still in safe hands and ready for the ceremony
Present the wedding officiate with your wedding license before the ceremony
Mail out wedding announcements
Get married!
I know it seems like there's so much to do - but by breaking it down it doesn't feel as overwhelming. For additional help, there is a site that provides a "wedding checklist" that can be handy - www.weddingwire.com
Other things to do - set up a free wedding website that way everyone can stay informed about your wedding. These sites offer free wedding sites:
www.weddingwire.com
www.weddingchannel.com (free for members)
www.theknot.com
www.mywedding.com
www.Airfare.com
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