| | Our Wedding Checklist | | | | |
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| | 9 months or earlier | | | | |
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| y | Announce engagement | | | | |
| | Select THE DATE | | | | |
| | Research/hire professional wedding consultant? | | | | |
| y | Buy books | | | | |
| y | Get magazines | | | | |
| YES! | Daydream | | | | |
| | What kind of wedding? | classy chic | | | |
| | What location, formality, time? | sat, june | | | |
| y | How many guests roughly? | 300 | | | |
| | Determine budget | | | | |
| | How will we pay for all this and share expenses? | | | | |
| n | Gonna change my name? | | | | |
| | Develop a payment/$$$ record-keeping system (or folder/shoebox) | | | | |
| y | Get bride guest list | | | | |
| y | Get groom guest list | | | | |
| y | Get bride's family guest list | | | | |
| y | Get groom's family guest list | | | | |
| y | Rank guests from must have, should have, nice to have | | | | |
| | Research and select ceremony site | | | | |
| | Research and select officiant | | | | |
| | Research and select reception site | | | | |
| | Pick/order bridal gown and headpiece | | | | |
| y | Pick color scheme | | | | |
| | Send engagement notice with a photograph to local newspaper | | | | |
| y | Buy a calendar | | | | |
| n/a | Home weddings: fix the garden/landscaping/etc | | | | |
| y | Get passport photo | | | | |
| y | Update/order passport (for honeymoon) | | | | |
| | Get birth certificate (for honeymoon or marriage license) | | | | |
| | Get visas (for honeymoon or marriage license) | | | | |
| | Research and book photographer | | | | |
| | Who's the maid of honor? | cathy | | | |
| | Who's the best man? | mark | | | |
| | Who's the bridesmaids? | | | | |
| | Who's the ushers (~1 usher / 50 guests) | | | | |
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| | 6-9 months before | | | | |
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| | Pick flower girl | | | | |
| | Pick ring bearer | | | | |
| | Fittings for bride | | | | |
| | Fittings for attendants | | | | |
| | Fittings for flower girl | | | | |
| | Fittings for ring bearer | | | | |
| | Book videographer | | | | |
| | Book florist | | | | |
| | Book multimedia-ist | | | | |
| | Research and book reception musicians or DJ | | | | |
| | Book ceremony music/choir | | | | |
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| | 4-6 months before | | | | |
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| | Shopping! for each other's wedding gifts | | | | |
| | Reserve rental items needed for ceremony & reception | | | | |
| | Finalize guest list | | | | |
| | Select and order wedding invitations | | | | |
| | Select and order wedding announcements | | | | |
| | Select and order thank-you notes | | | | |
| | Select and order wedding programs | | | | |
| | Select and order seating cards | | | | |
| | Hire a calligrapher | | | | |
| | Address invitations | | | | |
| | Reserve rehearsal dinner location | | | | |
| | Arrange accommodations for out-of-towners | | | | |
| | Plan honeymoon | | | | |
| | Book gift attendant | | | | |
| | Book valet parking services | | | | |
| | Register for gifts | | | | |
| | Purchase shoes & accessories | | | | |
| | Start shoe break-in | | | | |
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| | 2-4 months before | | | | |
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| | Order wedding cake | | | | |
| | Order party favors (no rice, naturally) | | | | |
| | Order room decorations | | | | |
| | Select/buy honeymoon attire/luggage | | | | |
| | Book transportation for wedding day | | | | |
| | Check blood test | | | | |
| | Check marriage license requirements | | | | |
| | Buy wedding rings | | | | |
| | Engrave rings | | | | |
| | Clean/bleach teeth? | | | | |
| | Prenup? Ha ha | | | | |
| | Write a will? Mwah ha ha | | | | |
| | Plan fun things for out-of-towners | | | | |
| | Purchase gifts for wedding party | | | | |
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| | 6-8 weeks before | | | | |
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| | Mail invitations, accommodation choices, maps/directions to locations | | | | |
| | Record RSVPs | | | | |
| | Record gifts received | | | | |
| | Send thank-you notes as soon as gift is received | | | | |
| | Pick hair style and makeup | | | | |
| | Book hair, makeup and nails for wedding day | | | | |
| | Set up an area or a table in home to display gifts as you receive them | | | | |
| | Check local newspapers for wedding announcement requirements | | | | |
| | Have formal wedding portrait taken | | | | |
| | Send wedding announcement & photograph to local newspapers | | | | |
| | Change name & address on drivers license | | | | |
| | Change name & address on social security card | | | | |
| | Change name & address on insurance policies | | | | |
| | Change name & address on subscriptions | | | | |
| | Change name & address on bank accounts | | | | |
| | Change name & address on memberships | | | | |
| | Select and reserve wedding attire for groom, ushers, father of the bride and ring bearer | | | | |
| | Select a guest book attendant | | | | |
| | Pick guest book signing location | | | | |
| | Send rehearsal dinner invitations | | | | |
| | Get blood test | | | | |
| | Get health certificate | | | | |
| | Get marriage license | | | | |
| | Plan luncheon/dinner with bridesmaids | | | | |
| | Give bridesmaids their gifts at that time or at the rehearsal dinner | | | | |
| | Finalize menu, beverage and alcohol order | | | | |
| | Buy toasting glasses | | | | |
| | Buy (or make) ring pillow | | | | |
| | Buy guest book, etc | | | | |
| | Buy candles | | | | |
| | Buy cake utensils | | | | |
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| | 2-6 weeks before | | | | |
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| | Confirm ceremony details with officiant | | | | |
| | Arrange final fitting of bridesmaids' dresses | | | | |
| | Have final fitting of gown and headpiece | | | | |
| | Finalize rehearsal dinner plans; arrange seating and write names on place cards, if desired | | | | |
| | Make final floral selections | | | | |
| | Make a detailed timeline for wedding party | | | | |
| | Make a detailed timeline for service providers | | | | |
| | Confirm details with all service providers, including attire | | | | |
| | Give them a copy of wedding timeline | | | | |
| | Start packing for honeymoon | | | | |
| | Finalize addressing and stamping announcements | | | | |
| | Plan receiving line | | | | |
| | Contact guests who haven't responded | | | | |
| | Pick up rings and check fit | | | | |
| | Meet with photographer and confirm special photos | | | | |
| | Meet with videographer and confirm special events or people you want videotaped | | | | |
| | Meet with musicians and confirm music to be played during special events such as first dance | | | | |
| | Remind bridesmaids and ushers of when and where to pick up their wedding attire | | | | |
| | Purchase the lipstick, nail polish and any other accessories you want bridesmaids to wear | | | | |
| | Determine ceremony seating for special guests | | | | |
| | Give a list to the ushers | | | | |
| | Plan reception room layout and seating with reception site manager or caterer | | | | |
| | Write seating place cards | | | | |
| | Keep writing thank-you notes as gifts arrive | | | | |
| | Find out bachelor party plans | | | | |
| | Arrange bachelor party spies | | | | |
| | Crash bachelor party | | | | |
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| | Last week | | | | |
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| | Pick up wedding attire and make sure everything fits | | | | |
| | Do final guest count | | | | |
| | Notify caterer / reception site manager | | | | |
| | Gather everything you will need for the rehearsal and wedding day | | | | |
| | Arrange for someone to drive the getaway car | | | | |
| | Review the schedule of events and last minute arrangements with service providers | | | | |
| | Confirm all honeymoon reservations | | | | |
| | Pick up tickets | | | | |
| | Get travelers checks | | | | |
| | Packing honeymoon suitcases | | | | |
| | Familiarize yourself with guests' names | | | | |
| | Hold mail at Post Office during honeymoon | | | | |
| | Get massage | | | | |
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| | Rehersal | | | | |
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| | Review list of things to bring to the rehearsal as listed in the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards | | | | |
| | Put suitcases in getaway car | | | | |
| | Give bridesmaids the lipstick, nail polish and accessories you want them to wear for the wedding | | | | |
| | Give best man the officiant's fee and any other checks for service providers | | | | |
| | Instruct him to deliver these checks the day of the wedding | | | | |
| | Arrange for someone to bring accessories such as flower basket, ring pillow, guest book & pen, toasting glasses, cake cutting knife and napkins to the ceremony and reception | | | | |
| | Arrange for someone to mail announcements the day after the wedding | | | | |
| | Arrange for someone to return rental items such as tuxedos, slip and cake pillars after the wedding | | | | |
| | Provide each member of wedding party with a detailed schedule of events for the wedding day | | | | |
| | Review ceremony seating with ushers | | | | |
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| | !! WEDDING DAY !! | | | | |
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| | Review list of things to bring to the ceremony as listed in the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards | | | | |
| | Give the groom's ring to the maid of honor | | | | |
| | Give the bride's ring to the best man | | | | |
| | Simply follow detailed schedule of events | | | | |
| | Relax and enjoy wedding! | | | | |
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