12 Month Wedding Checklist
8-12 Months before
□Select a wedding date
□Formally announce your engagement and introduce both families
□Decide whom you would like in you wedding party and ask each person to participate
□Decide on a wedding budget
□Hire a wedding planner coordinator (optional)
□Purchase bridal magazines and start a "Wedding File". Collect tear sheets of dresses, flowers etc.
□Start shopping for a wedding dress (must allow time for alterations and fittings) o Reminder: Don't forget to bring a pair of stockings, a strapless bra, shoes
and a hair clip to each appointment o Attend bridal shows
□Register for wedding gifts
□Choose an officiate or Clergyman/woman
□Shop for a videographer and photographer
□Choose a florist
□Choose a DJ\Band
□Purchase a notebook in which to store your wedding information
□Research locations for ceremony, rehearsal dinner and reception
oAgree and reserve a wedding location and time
□Send deposit
oAgree and reserve a reception site
□Send deposit
□Choose caterer
□Determine your wedding theme, style and color scheme
□Choose a beautiful place for your honeymoon
oApply for passports if needed
□Make a rough-guest list with a maximum number of guests in mind
□Schedule appointments at Bridal Salon’s for you and your wedding party
7 Months before
□Place your final order for: o Wedding Gown o Veil
o Shoes o Other
□Begin shopping for bridesmaids' dresses
□Interview cake designers, sample cake flavours o Select and place an order for your cake o Purchase Cake topper
o Cake Knife
6 Months before
□Go shopping for invitations, calligraphy & thank you cards o Review invitation options
o Order invitations
o Purchase thank you cards (useful for engagement and wedding gifts)
□Fine-tune guest list
□Place final order for bridesmaids' gowns and any accessories
□Have the mother-in-laws co-ordinate and select their dresses
□Reserve any rental equipment that may be needed for the wedding day
o |
Flatware |
o |
Serving trays, punch |
o |
Chairs and Covers |
|
bowls, etc. |
o |
Glassware |
o |
Tables and Linens |
o |
Tents |
o |
Napkins |
o |
Cups, saucers, spoons |
o |
Dinner ware |
oChampagne flutes
□Finalize your gift registry (You can request stores send gift cards and not the actual gifts until after the wedding)
□Book a limousine company for transportation on your wedding day
5 Months before
□Review and finalize the overall budget
□Select floral arrangements for:
o |
Bride’s bouquet |
o |
Aisle runner |
o |
Pew Bows(optional) |
o |
Alter arrangements |
o |
Centerpieces |
o |
Corsages |
o |
Boutonnieres |
o |
Bridesmaids Bouquets |
o |
Throw away Bouquet |
o |
Archway |
oHead pieces
□Finalize all decorations
□Mail any outstanding deposits to vendors
□Shop for and purchase wedding rings
□Select the grooms’ wedding attire
oGet tuxedo measurements for all the groomsmen
oPlace order for tuxedo’s
4 Months before
□Submit menu and beverage selections to the hotel or caterer
□Begin music selections for the ceremony.
oProcessional song for the groom, parents and attendants
oBride-Groom ‘First Dance’
oRecessional song
□Decide on whom you would like to be the M.C. and verify that they are available and willing
□Interview and hire any additional management staff and babysitters (optional)
oBartenders (if not provided)
oServers (if necessary)
□Purchase Guest book, sign-in pen
□Purchase a gift for the groom\bride
□Research and reserve rehearsal dinner location
□Place your final order for party favours
□Schedule tests for makeup and hair
□Meet with the stationer and select and order:
oMenus
otable numbers o Place cards
o any other accessories
o several identical pens for your thank you cards o plenty of stamps
□Finalize the date, time and place of the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner o Make a guest list for the rehearsal dinner
□Attend your first appointment with the wedding officiate to review details for the ceremony
□Begin putting together a rough schedule for the weekend of the wedding
o |
Ceremony |
o |
Bachelor/Bachelorette |
o |
Cutting of the cake |
|
Party |
|
(optional) |
o |
Gift Opening |
oSpeeches (optional) o Bride-groom dance
(optional) o Ect…
□Select any special readings and choose readers if necessary
□Begin writing personalized vows, if applicable
□Finalize all arrangements for makeup, hair, nails, etc.
3 Months before
□Determine who will be giving speeches at the rehearsal party and the reception
□Schedule an appointment for a food tasting
□Set up an appointment to see a sample of your floral centerpieces if applicable
□Begin writing thank-you notes as wedding gifts arrive. It's easier if you keep them up to date
□Book and reserve your bridal preparation suite
□Finalize the date and time of the rehearsal and dinner
□Finalize your plans for the honeymoon with your travel agent
□Schedule your first fitting for your wedding gown and your groom's tuxedo or suit. o Reminder: Remember to bring your panty-hose, shoes, bra, hair
accessories, jewelry, camera and best friend
8 Weeks before
□Purchase gifts for:
oEach other( Bride/Groom) o Wedding party attendants o Your parents and In-laws
□Order rehearsal dinner invitations
□Finalize music selections
□Finalize the ceremony readings and songs to be performed (if applicable)
□Mail all wedding invitations
□Finalize your selections for the cocktail hour and reception songs. Review them with your band/DJ
□Apply for a marriage license
□Purchase all wedding accessories including
oRing pillow o Goblets
o Garter belt
o Candles, ect…
□Visit your photographer for the Bridal Portrait
6 Weeks before
□Submit the wedding program information to a stationer
□Finalize all details with your caterer, florist and musicians
□Finalize all transportation, including any special plans for your family and bridal party
□Finalize your schedule for the wedding day with your wedding venue contact, band\DJ, MC and wedding coordinator, if applicable
□Finalize the wedding ceremony processional and recessional information with your wedding coordinator or wedding venue contact
□Prepare a photo and a video shot list, naming important family and guests. Include one’s relationship to you.
□Pick up the wedding rings (making sure they are sized and engraved)
□Finalize your jewelry selection, including:
osomething old
osomething new
osomething borrowed
osomething blue
□Schedule a final test makeup and hair session with your stylists. Bring your veil.
□Attend to business and legal details. Get the necessary forms to change names on your:
osocial security card
odriver's license
oinsurance and medical plans
obank accounts, ect..
4 Weeks before
□Schedule your second bridal gown fitting
□Mail your rehearsal dinner invitations
□Schedule a final meeting with your officiate to discuss the ceremony
□Confirm your final appointment with your makeup artist and hair stylist
□Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception
□Practice your "First Dance" with your music (wearing your bridal shoes)
□Appoint a family member or friend to gather the gifts at the end of the reception for delivery to the proper location
□Confirm transportation for wedding party
3 weeks before
□Reconfirm your hotel room for the wedding night.
□Reconfirm your bride's dressing room with your hotel or ceremony location (if applicable)
□Send final confirmation for all your honeymoon reservations
□Finalize the wedding day timeline and fax, mail or e-mail to all appropriate vendors.
□Call them to make sure they understand all the information and feel comfortable with the arrangements you have made
□Submit final numbers to rental companies, the florist and the reception venue managers
□Mail your wedding day schedules. Make sure each wedding day participant is aware of the day's activities and their role
□Finalize your seating arrangements (making sure you involve both sets of parents)
2 Weeks before
□Send final payment to all vendors
□Prepare a toast for your wedding reception
□Finalize the vows you have written for the ceremony
□Have any hair treatments done - highlights, trim etc. (Don't wait until two days before the wedding!)
1 Week before
□Make sure to confide in at least one person to assist you with your errands the last week prior to your wedding
□Confirm the whereabouts of your guest book and pen, cake knife and lifter, champagne flutes etc. and put them together in one box
□Confirm the whereabouts of your marriage license and wedding rings and put them in a box or bag marked "Ceremony".
□Pick up your bridal gown and veil and make sure all of your accessories are together.
o Also make sure the wedding dress is covered with a protective bag and stuffed with tissue to preserve its shape
□Pick up the bridal party outfits and bring them to the bridal dressing room on the day before the wedding, if possible
□Pick up the groom's outfit and make sure all of his accessories are together
□Get groom a haircut
□Confirm all appointment times for hair, makeup, nails, etc.
□Get a facial (Don't wait until two days before the wedding!)
□Write any final thank-you notes to bridal party members or parents
□Attend the bachelor and bachelorette parties, if applicable
□Pack your wedding night and day-after clothes
□Prepare all your outfits, including the rehearsal dinner, wedding day and post- wedding brunch
□Prepare and pack for your honeymoon
□Arrange transportation to your hair and makeup appointments
□Give your marriage license to the officiate
□Arrange who will return any rental items that must be returned after the wedding
□Reconfirm transportation for the entire wedding party
On the Wedding Day
□Eat a well-balanced breakfast. You have a big day ahead of you, and some brides have been know to faint because they forget to eat
□Drink lots of water and refrain from an excess of caffeine and alcohol
□Take a lavender bath - it's very relaxing
□Remember to wear a button-down shirt for your hair and makeup appointments
□Give the Wedding bands to the Best Man and Maid of Honour
□Take a deep breath and enjoy - remember this is your day!
