Wedding Preparation Checklist
NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Find out your local marriage license requirements
_____ Schedule the date you'll go together to apply for your marriage license
_____ Schedule any medical tests necessary for your license to be granted
_____ Meet with your officiant about your ceremony plans and pre-wedding classes
_____ Meet with your caterer to discuss your menu, wedding setup, requirements, etc.
_____ Plan beverage requirements, bartenders needed and bar set-up
_____ Select packages with your photographer
_____ Select packages with your videographer
_____ Select packages with your entertainers
_____ Meet with your florist to design bouquets, boutonnieres and floral decor
_____ Meet with a travel agent to plan your honeymoon
_____ Book your honeymoon
_____ Apply for passports and travel visas, if you will be attending an international destination wedding or honeymoon
_____ Order your wedding invitations
_____ Order your wedding programs
_____ Order any additional printed items
_____ Shop for and order your wedding rings
_____ Have your wedding rings engraved (if applicable)
_____ Reserve all rental equipment (tents, chairs, etc.)
_____ Choose and reserve a block of rooms for your guests at the hotel
_____ Book your honeymoon suite for the wedding night
SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Choose and rent men's wedding wardrobe
_____ Begin writing vows
_____ Select ceremony music
_____ Select ceremony readings
_____ Register for wedding gifts
_____ Send for name-change information, if necessary
_____ Arrange for transportation for guests
_____ Order pre-printed napkins, matchbooks, coasters, etc.
_____ Create maps to ceremony and reception locations for enclosure in the invitations
_____ Start scouting for wedding photograph locations
_____ Start planning the rehearsal dinner
_____ Book rehearsal dinner site and caterer
_____ Plan 'wedding weekend' activities, such as brunches, sporting events, barbecues, children's events, tours, breakfasts, etc.
_____ Begin pre-wedding beauty treatments: skin care, massage, tanning, etc.
_____ If holding an at-home wedding, hire a landscaper to do lawn, trim shrubs, add extra plants or flower beds, mulch, etc.
_____ Make additional changes to home, such as painting rooms, installing carpet, etc.
THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Apply for your marriage license, according to the state's requirements
_____ Go for your blood tests, according to the state's time requirements
_____ Attend any pre-marital classes or counseling as required by your chosen faith
_____ If summer, holiday or destination wedding, send invitations to guests now
_____ Assemble invitation packages with all inserts
_____ Buy 'Love' stamps at the post office
_____ Begin your wedding gown fittings
_____ Choose and purchase your shoes and accessories for wedding day
_____ Bridesmaids' and mothers' fittings begin
_____ Choose and purchase children's wedding day attire
_____ Consult with your wedding coordinator for any updates, confirmations, or changes
_____ Consult with caterer or banquet hall manager for updates
_____ Ask honored relatives and friends to perform readings at the ceremony
_____ Ask a relative or friend to serve as your emcee, and give him/her specific instructions
_____ Practice your wedding vows!
_____ Finalize your selections of ceremony readings and music
_____ Submit your song "wish list" to DJ or band, along with your list of spotlight dances
_____ Submit picture "wish list" to photographer
_____ Submit video "wish list" to videographer
_____ Arrange for babysitters to watch guests' kids on the wedding day
_____ Finalize and confirm plans for the rehearsal dinner
TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Wedding gown fittings continue
_____ Purchase your "going away" outfit and honeymoon clothes
_____ Address invitations to guests (for non-holiday, summer or destination weddings)
_____ Assemble invitation packages
_____ Buy 'Love' stamps at the post office
_____ Mail invitations to guests six to eight weeks prior to the wedding
_____ Order or make your wedding programs
_____ Order or make your wedding favors
_____ Meet with ceremony musician about song list
_____ Have attendants' shoes dyed in one dye lot
_____ Ask friends to participate in wedding, such as attending the guest book, transporting wedding gifts from reception to home, etc.
_____ Send for all name-change documents, such as passport, credit cards, driver's license, etc.
ONE MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Apply for marriage license
_____ Meet with officiant to get the final information on ceremony elements, location rules, etc.
_____ Invite officiant to rehearsal dinner.
_____ Plan the rehearsal
_____ Invite bridal party and involved guests to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
_____ Confirm honeymoon plans
_____ Confirm wedding-night hotel reservations
_____ Make beauty appointment for wedding day
_____ Visit your hairstylist to 'practice' with hairstyles for the big day
_____ Visit your makeup artist for a 'practice run'
_____ Get pre-wedding haircut, dye or highlights
_____ Fittings for your dress continue
_____ Pick up your wedding bands
_____ Have your rings appraised and insured
_____ Attend bridal showers
_____ Send thank you's for bridal shower gifts
_____ Call wedding guests who have not RSVP'd to get the final headcount
_____ Create your seating chart for reception
_____ Write up seating place cards and table numbers
_____ Pick up honeymoon travel tickets and information books
_____ Make up welcome gift baskets for guests
_____ Purchase gifts for family members and bridal party
_____ Wrap and label gifts
_____ Purchase unity candle
_____ Purchase garters (get two - one for keeping, one for tossing)
_____ Purchase toasting flutes
_____ Purchase cake knife
_____ Purchase guest book
_____ Purchase post-wedding toss-its (birdseed, flower petals, bubbles, bells, etc) and decorate or personalize small containers, if you so choose
_____ Purchase throwaway wedding cameras
_____ Work on any do-it-yourself crafts you'll make for the wedding
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Confirm all wedding plans with all wedding vendors
_____ Caterer (give final headcount now!)
_____ Florist (give delivery instructions now!)
_____ Cake baker
_____ Photographer
_____ Videographer
_____ Lighting technician
_____ Ceremony musicians
_____ Reception entertainers
_____ Officiant
_____ Ceremony site manager
_____ Reception site manager
_____ Wedding coordinator
_____ Limousine company (give directions now!)
_____ Rental company agent
_____ Pay final deposits for all services
_____ Place tips and fees in marked envelopes for such participants as the officiant, ceremony musicians, valets, etc.
_____ If supplying your own beverages, conduct a shopping trip to the local discount liquor and beverage supply house for stocking up
_____ Visit a warehouse superstore to stock up on any items you'll need for the wedding weekend (supplies to have at home, barbecue food, snacks, etc.)
_____ Drop off guest welcome baskets at hotel
_____ Groom picks up tux
_____ Groom and ushers pick up tux accessories, socks, shoes, etc.
_____ Arrange for house- and pet-sitters
_____ Notify the local police department of your upcoming absence, so that they can patrol your neighborhood
_____ Get travelers' checks (if you so choose)
_____ Plan wedding day brunch, and inform bridal party and guests about it
_____ Plan your special toasts
_____ Ready wedding announcements to be mailed the day after the wedding
_____ Attend bachelor's and bachelorette's parties
THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____ Supervise delivery of rental items to wedding location
_____ Supervise setup of all items at wedding location
_____ Finish packing suitcases and carry-ons for wedding night and honeymoon
_____ Stock your bag with your car keys, house keys, passports, ID's, marriage license, wedding night and honeymoon hotel confirmations, medications, ATM card, etc.
_____ Arrange to have your car, with your honeymoon suitcases in the trunk, left securely in the wedding night accomodations' parking lot.
_____ Lay out all wedding day wardrobe and accessories
_____ Very important: plan your shower-time schedule for the next day!
_____ Hand out printed directions to all family members and bridal party members
_____ Confirm times for all attendants to show up on the wedding day, and where to go
_____ Arrange for someone to be in charge of handing out payment envelopes
_____ Hit the ATM to get cash on hand for emergencies, tips, valet, etc.
_____ Assemble your emergency bag with extra stockings, lipstick, pressed powder, emery boards, etc.
_____ Put a charged cell phone in the emergency bag
_____ Gas up the cars, just in case
_____ Go to the beauty salon to get waxed and tweezed
_____ Stock up on supplies for the wedding-morning breakfast, or call in your catering order
_____ Place last call to caterer or coordinator to finalize plans
_____ Attend the rehearsal
_____ Attend the rehearsal dinner
_____ Get a good night's sleep!
ON THE WEDDING DAY
_____ Set out favors and place cards at reception site, if manager will not be doing it [some sites ask you to drop off your items a week ahead of time]
_____ Set out post-wedding toss-its where appropriate at ceremony site
_____ Set out guest book and pen
_____ Attend bridal breakfast
_____ Have a wedding day breakfast sent to where the men are getting ready
_____ Have hair and nails done at beauty salon
_____ Have makeup done
_____ Be dressed early!
_____ Have photos taken at home
_____ Double-check that someone responsible has arranged for your honeymoon suitcases to get into your car or to your hotel room.
_____ Double-check that the appropriate people have the wedding rings for transport to the ceremony
_____ Make sure the bag with your car keys, house keys, ID's, passports, etc. comes with you to the wedding
_____ Relax as you leave for the wedding!
_____ Attend the wedding
_____ Have the time of your life!
_____ Attend the after-party
_____ Have a safe ride home!
THE DAY AFTER THE WEDDING - Chores to Assign
_____ Have someone supervise the return of rental company items
_____ Have someone supervise clean-up of the site, if necessary
_____ Get a signed receipt for the return of all rented items
_____ Have tuxes returned to rental store
_____ Hold day-after breakfast for guests
_____ Transport guests to airports, train stations etc. for their rides home
_____ Hire cleaning service if your home was the site of the wedding festivities
Additional planning checklists found in The Busy Bride's Essential Wedding Checklists, by Sharon Naylor www.sharonnaylor.net