| | 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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