Wedding Planning Checklist

9 to 12 Months

• Announce Engagement
• Select Wedding Date
• Hire wedding consultant/coordinator
• Determine type of wedding: location, theme, # of guests, formality, time of day
• Determine budget and how expenses will be shared
• Buy a binder to keep track of appointments & events
• Develop a record keeping system for payments
• Create an approximate number guest list
• Decide if you will be inviting children or not
• Select & reserve ceremony site
• Select & book Tracy Jenkins Photography for wedding photography & set a date for your engagement shoot
• Select & book reception location
• Select & order bridal gown (if needed)
• Determine color scheme
• Obtain passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents needed for travel and/or marriage licenses

6 to 9 Months

• Select & book caterer, if needed
• Select & book Officiant (Minister, Priest, Rabbi, other)
• Select wedding party
• Give wedding party a list of their responsibilities
• Select & buy attire for dress wearing wedding party members
• Select & buy attire for mothers of the couple
• Select & book ceremony musicians
• Select & book live band or DJ for reception
• Select & book videographer
• Select & book florist
• Register for your wedding gifts (this can be done sooner)

4 to 6 Months

• Schedule fittings for custom made dresses
• Arrange marriage prep-courses, if necessary
• Reserve rental items
• Finalize an A & B list of guests
• Select & order invitations & other wedding stationery
• Set date, time & location for rehearsal dinner
• Select & book honeymoon night suite
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Start planning your honeymoon
• Shop for your wedding gifts to each other
• Shop for your wedding gifts for your wedding party
• Shop for your wedding gifts for your parents
• Buy shoes, lingerie & accessories
• Buy shoes & accessories for the dress wearing wedding party members
• Select & order wedding bands

2 to 4 Months

• Take engagement pictures with Tracy Jenkins Photography
• Select & order wedding cake
• Order party favors
• Select & order decorations
• Purchase honeymoon attire & luggage
• Select & book wedding day transportation
• Start addressing your invitations
• Plan activities for out-of-town guests (optional)
• Go on trials & book wedding day hair & makeup
• Send out your invitations
• Select ceremony readers
• Select ushers to seat your guests
• Select guest book attendant
• Get photography permit, if needed

6 to 8 Weeks

• Record RSVPs & early wedding gifts
• Record shower gifts & send thank-yous
• Purchase ceremony & reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, ring pillow, etc.
• Select & reserve suit wearing wedding party members attire
• Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner
• Select something old, new, borrowed, blue

2 to 6 Weeks

• Finalize all food & beverages for wedding
• Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant
• Finalize all rehearsal arrangements
• Finalize all floral arrangements
• Final fittings
• Make a wedding day itinerary & give a copy to your wedding party & vendors
• Finalize all details with all your vendors
• Decide order of receiving line & head table setting
• Contact guests who haven’t replied
• Pick up wedding rings
• Visit reception site for floor plan & create reception seating plan
• Give musicians a list of your music selections
• Inform attendants when & where to pick up attire
• Print out seating cards

1 Week

• Give caterer/reception venue final tally of guests
• Pack for your honeymoon
• Wrap reception favors
• Arrange mail collection while you are on honeymoon

Rehearsal Dinner

• Drop all wedding accessories & decor off at ceremony & reception locations
• Make sure you bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner
• Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day
• Pack over night bag for honeymoon suite
• Make sure wedding party has their itinerary
• Make sure the gentlemen have all the pieces of their suit or tux
• Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location

Wedding Day!!

• Eat breakfast
• Pack anything remaining on your “To Bring” list in cars
• Make sure Person of Honor or Best Person have the rings
• Make sure you have your marriage license, photo permit & special Occasions Permit, if needed
• Put your engagement ring on your right hand
• Remember to take a moment to enjoy the details of the day you planned so long & hard for

 

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