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How To Wedding Timetable
Wedding Planner
Planning your own wedding may seem a daunting task at first, however as you will see, the key to orchestrating a successful celebration lies first and foremost in organization and planning. To get you off on the right foot, here is a wedding countdown checklist to help you keep your sanity and keep you on schedule through the months ahead. Granted, there is a lot here but then there is a lot to accomplish. This planner is designed to cover most of the events that COULD be part of what you desire. Many of the items may be things you are not doing, so just skip them. Remember, this is only a How To guide. This page is printable by right-clicking and select "print".
Take each section one step at a time, checking off each item as you have completed them. Before you know it, you will have taken care of all the necessities and not missed any important details. Have fun with the planning process, enjoy the work that you and others will be putting into this life project, as it is one of the most important milestones in your life!
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12 to 18 Months Before the Wedding:
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For the Groom to be, Select the engagement ring and then propose. Make the proposal something different and special. Go to your favorite fun spot, restaurant or where you first met. It can be simple or outrageous but make it memorable and romantic.
It's the 21st Century Boys n' Girls - either the Bride or the Groom can take charge of this detail!
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Inform family members and friends of your happy news. Be prepared to be the center of attention and recount all the details of your engagement.
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Announce your good news to the world. Many wedding related sites offer online space to place your personalized wedding page, some are even FREE!
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Plan your engagement party, if there will be one. Traditionally, the bride's family hosts the engagement party, but the groom's family or others close to you may do so as well. Be sure to write thank you notes promptly for any engagement gifts received.
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Select a wedding date and time, along with an alternate date to allow for greater flexibility in selecting ceremony and reception sites. Determine the formality, style, time of day and number of guests that you want for your wedding, take your time and do some research to get some ideas going.
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Together with your parents or others helping to "foot the bill", determine your wedding budget (see our Budget How To Page) and who will pay for what. Discuss which elements of the wedding are most important to you and your fiancé, and plan your budget accordingly. You may want to consider opening a checking account or credit card account dedicated strictly to wedding planning expenses to streamline payments and record keeping.
NOTE: Although it is NOT suggested maxing out credit card's, they will make it incredibly easy to track all of your expenses. Rememebr, credit cards will allow you the chance to cancel payments to companies that do not deliver the specified goods or services.
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Meet with your officiate and reserve your ceremony site.
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Ask friends and family members to serve as wedding attendants. If your attendants will be expected to pay for their attire or other costs, let them know this upfront. You may need to have a few names as backups just in case.
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Enlist the help of your honor attendants and families. Both the mother of the bride and the maid or matron of honor traditionally help the bride with a myriad of details. The groom can enlist the help of his best man and others in coordinating wedding details.
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Secure your reception site as soon as possible. Many popular sites are booked as much as a year in advance, so you'll want to make sure that you contact them in plenty of time to reserve your wedding date. If you plan an outdoor wedding and/or reception, you'll want to make arrangements with a tent supplier at this time as well. Make sure that you have your entertainment "covered" just in case.
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9 to 12 Months Before the Wedding:
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Prepare and keep updated a notebook or binder with all contracts, receipts, the wedding schedule and vendor contact information. The more accurately you maintain this, the easier it will be to find information you may need later. Use a date book or calendar to begin planning wedding related activities and note deadlines. Remember to use a pencil for this task as there will be many changes that occur as you finalize your plans. Keep all of these items together in one convenient location.
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Begin putting together your guest lists. The bride, groom, and both families should submit their lists and begin to consolidate them. For more ideas on keeping the invite list under control, check out Wedding Invitation Control.
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Select, and order the bride's gown, veil/headpiece and accessories. Both the bride and the groom should begin selecting attire and accessories for their respective attendants. Many tuxedo shops offer a free rental for the groom with a minimum number of rentals for other wedding party members.
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Choose your gift registry service and register for china, linens, crystal and other home items. Be sure to let friends and relatives know where you are registered. Many services help with this by providing on-line registries.
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Choose music for your ceremony and reception; hire musicians, vocalists or a DJ if you haven't done so already. Be sure to check with your officiate regarding guidelines for appropriate ceremony music selections.
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Discuss honeymoon plans and make reservations. Determine whether you'll need a passport, visa, birth certificate or inoculations if your honeymoon destination is abroad. If you're planning a destination wedding, research the requirements of your intended location, including waiting periods, fees, and necessary legal documents.
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4 to 6 Months Before the Wedding:
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Set the date, time and location of your rehearsal dinner and reserve the site. Many restaurants offer banquet rooms for private celebrations, such as rehearsal dinners.
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Both mothers should select their wedding attire to harmonize with the colors and formality of the wedding. Traditionally, the mother of the bride selects her outfit first; the mother of the groom follows suit with a complementary style of dress.
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Select and order invitations, announcements, programs and other wedding stationary.
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Meet with your caterer or banquet manager regarding reception menu choices.
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Reserve rental items needed for the ceremony and reception.
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Arrange for accommodations for out-of-town guests. Contact local hotels and reserve a block of rooms for this purpose. Be sure to ask about group discounts. Also, think about putting together a 'welcome' package or gift basket for out-of-town guests; this can be the ultimate demonstration of hospitality and appreciation on your part.
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Select and order wedding rings.
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Finalize the guest list, and keep track of names, addresses, phone numbers and responses. If you're somewhat computer savvy, the easiest way to do this is with an Excel file.
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Begin addressing the invitations; be sure to take a completed invitation, with all enclosures, to the post office to determine how much postage each envelope will require. Don't forget stamps for the response cards!
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Select and purchase your going-away outfits, honeymoon clothing and luggage.
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Meet with your florist and finalize wedding flower details. Be sure to take fabric swatches, a picture of your dress and discuss other floral decorations needed, included any on the cake.
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Select a bakery and order your wedding cake. Be sure to bring pictures of styles that you like, and discuss themes or ethnic influences that you'd like included in the cake's design. Consider ordering a groom's cake to be served at the rehearsal dinner or reception. Also, be sure to arrange for a cake tasting session.
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Arrange wedding day transportation for the wedding party, family members and other honored guests. Consider hiring a valet service to streamline the parking situation at your reception facility.
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Select and order wedding favors.
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Mail invitations now, to allow time for responses. Set RSVP date for about 3 weeks PRIOR to the big day, this will allow you to fill those empty slots from an
"it would be nice" invite list.
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Check local marriage license requirements.
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Make an appointment to have your bridal portrait taken 2 to 4 weeks before the wedding.
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Confirm dress delivery with bridal shop or seamstress.
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Finalize details, times and dates with the other wedding professionals that you've hired. Confirm time and date with the ceremony and reception sites.
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Make sure that all male attendants and fathers have been fitted for their tuxedos.
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If you decide to have children participate in your ceremony, schedule for their fittings (since children can have sudden spurts of growth, you don't want them to get fitted too soon before the big day).
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Have an initial consultation with your hairstylist and/or makeup specialist. You should bring your headpiece or veil with you to the salon, so you can begin working on appropriate hairstyles. Make an appointment to schedule weekly facials during the
last month before your big day. This will insure being a glowing Bride.
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Six Weeks Before the Wedding:
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Meet with your photographer to discuss specifics; provide him/her with a checklist of pictures that you want taken.
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Meet with musicians, band leader or DJ to discuss musical selections for the reception. Provide a list of songs that you want played during the reception, along with a list of those that you don't want played (your DJ should have already given you a list and worksheet to do this). Also, provide a play list for special dances, such as the bride and groom's first dance and the bride's dance with her father.
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Finalize and confirm honeymoon plans; purchase traveler's checks.
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Ensure that all official and civil documents are in order, including baptismal, communion and confirmation certificates, citizenship papers, proof of divorce, etc.
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Arrange for wedding rehearsal and inform wedding party members and other important parties of the time, date, and location.
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One Month Before the Wedding:
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Schedule hair and makeup appointments for the bride and wedding party. Schedule a manicure and/or pedicure for the bride and groom for the day before the wedding.
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Select gifts for your fiancé and attendants.
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Maid of honor and bridesmaids plan a bridal shower.
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Plan a bridesmaids' luncheon or party; wedding attendants should begin planning bachelor and bachelorette parties.
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Consult an attorney regarding a prenuptial agreement, if desired.
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Schedule final fittings for all wedding party members.
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Two Weeks Before the Wedding:
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Confirm accommodations for out-of-town guests and assist with babysitting arrangements. Finalize plans for a 'Welcome' package or gift basket for out-of-town guests; include a wedding schedule and a list of local tourist attractions.
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Address wedding announcements, so they can be mailed immediately after the wedding.
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Provide all key players (including wedding attendants and wedding professionals) with a detailed schedule of wedding events.
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Arrange to change address, name and/or beneficiary information on your driver's license, social security card, insurance policies, etc.
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If you are changing residences, begin moving into your new home.
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Confirm transportation arrangements for ceremony, reception and afterwards.
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Arrange to have someone (likely your maid/matron of honor or mother) take your gown to the cleaners after the wedding for preservation. Also, arrange to have the groom's formalwear returned to the tuxedo shop, if it will be rented. (This is usually done by the best man or one of the Dads.)
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Arrange to have someone transport gifts from the reception to your home.
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One Week Before the Wedding:
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Begin packing for the honeymoon. Don't forget your camera, film and passport!
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Arrange for transportation home after you return from your honeymoon.
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