Here is my wedding checklist. I will update this lists as my planning comes along I have marked everything in color codes.
Everything in Green is done.
Everything in Orange is in progress.
Everything in Blue is to do.
24-18 Months
o Announce your engagement and/or have an engagement party
o Begin envisioning your wedding: time of year, formality, type of ceremony...
o Decide on a budget and determine who's contributing.
o Pick your preferences for wedding date: consult families, important guests, location, or officiant to determine if there are any conflicting events.
o Start researching wedding-related expenses in your area. Do your homework early on this - you're more likely to save money by doing so.
o Get organized! Start a notebook or file to house all your wedding planningpaperwork in one place. Organization is the key to keeping your sanity throughout the wedding process.
o Find ceremony site if not determined by your choice of officiant or reception site.
o Begin looking at reception venues.
o Book your ceremony and reception sites as soon as you see something you love that’s available on your date. In peak wedding months [April – October], many venues are booked a year in advance.
o Choose your maids/groomsmen and ask them to do you the honor.
o Choose your flowergirl/ringbearer or any other attendants.
Everything in Green is done.
Everything in Orange is in progress.
Everything in Blue is to do.
24-18 Months
o Announce your engagement and/or have an engagement party
o Begin envisioning your wedding: time of year, formality, type of ceremony...
o Decide on a budget and determine who's contributing.
o Pick your preferences for wedding date: consult families, important guests, location, or officiant to determine if there are any conflicting events.
o Start researching wedding-related expenses in your area. Do your homework early on this - you're more likely to save money by doing so.
o Get organized! Start a notebook or file to house all your wedding planningpaperwork in one place. Organization is the key to keeping your sanity throughout the wedding process.
o Find ceremony site if not determined by your choice of officiant or reception site.
o Begin looking at reception venues.
o Book your ceremony and reception sites as soon as you see something you love that’s available on your date. In peak wedding months [April – October], many venues are booked a year in advance.
o Choose your maids/groomsmen and ask them to do you the honor.
o Choose your flowergirl/ringbearer or any other attendants.
o Decide what gifts you will be buying for your maids/groomsmen and attendents
o Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (counseling, etc.).
o Begin working on preliminary wedding guest list and decide on approximate wedding size. Request lists from your parents and create your own wish list.
18-12 Months
o Decide on a caterer. Get preliminary price per-head and begin working on a menu.
o Execute your caterer contract and send them a deposit.
o Order paper products: wedding invitations, announcements, stationery, thank you notes, place cards, napkins, cake boxes, etc.
oStart searching for:
o Photographers
o Videographers
o Florists
o Bakers
o Musicians for ceremony
o Musicians for reception
o Transportation
o Local hotels for guests
o Choose a color scheme, if you so desire, taking into account the decor of the rooms/areas you have reserved for your ceremony and reception.
o Begin shopping for the bride's gown and accessories.
o Select bridesmaids' dresses & have attendants fitted.
o Choose flower girl's dress & ring bearer's attire.
o Plan wedding reception music (Request demo tapes from musicians and DJs.)
8-12 Months
o Finalize the guest list.
o Brides: Narrow down your gown choices and make a final decision.
o Brides: Decide on the bridesmaid dresses.
o Brides: Collect necessary measurements from attendants or pass off information so that they can order the dresses themselves.
o Book, execute contract and send deposit to:
o Ceremony musicians
o Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (counseling, etc.).
o Begin working on preliminary wedding guest list and decide on approximate wedding size. Request lists from your parents and create your own wish list.
18-12 Months
o Decide on a caterer. Get preliminary price per-head and begin working on a menu.
o Execute your caterer contract and send them a deposit.
o Order paper products: wedding invitations, announcements, stationery, thank you notes, place cards, napkins, cake boxes, etc.
oStart searching for:
o Photographers
o Videographers
o Florists
o Bakers
o Musicians for ceremony
o Musicians for reception
o Transportation
o Local hotels for guests
o Choose a color scheme, if you so desire, taking into account the decor of the rooms/areas you have reserved for your ceremony and reception.
o Begin shopping for the bride's gown and accessories.
o Select bridesmaids' dresses & have attendants fitted.
o Choose flower girl's dress & ring bearer's attire.
o Plan wedding reception music (Request demo tapes from musicians and DJs.)
8-12 Months
o Finalize the guest list.
o Brides: Narrow down your gown choices and make a final decision.
o Brides: Decide on the bridesmaid dresses.
o Brides: Collect necessary measurements from attendants or pass off information so that they can order the dresses themselves.
o Book, execute contract and send deposit to:
o Ceremony musicians
o Videographer
o Reception musicians/DJ
o Baker
o Florist
o Transportation
o Photographer
o Reserve wedding night suite.
o Contact all of your services & sign contracts.
o Start looking into registering for gifts.
o Brides: Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses.
o Make sure your honor attendant and best man are aware of what you expect of them. Provide a list of their duties to help them help you.
o Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
o Contact out-of-towners with the final wedding date and time.
o Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.
o Start working on your invitation wording and design.
o Finalize your invitation wording.
o Finalize menu and service details with caterer.
o Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget extra envelopes).
4 -5 Months
o Grooms: Decide what style of formalwear you & your groomsmen will be wearing.
o Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent tux, suit or other formal attire.
o Grooms: Decide on your groomsmen's attire.
o Reserve tables, chairs, and/or other rental equipment you need (unless caterer or site is taking care of it).
o Start planning your honeymoon.
o Book your honeymoon and make travel reservations.
o Book rehearsal-dinner site.
o Compile packages for out-of-town guests with hotel reservation and city information, and mail it out.
o Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
o Finalize your wedding insurance policy, including liability if required by your site.
2 -3 Months
o Brides: Choose attendants' accessories (shoes, gloves, etc.) and either hand off information or coordinate with them.
o Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.
o Consider specific ceremony and reception decoration needs like aisle runner, etc.
o Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors.
o Shop for and purchase wedding rings.
o Brides: Make sure your attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories.
o Brides: Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.
o Brides: Confirm delivery date for your gown and schedule fittings. If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.
o Brides: Begin your fittings.
o Grooms: If you are renting a tux, visit the formalwear shop to get measured.
o Grooms: Choose and buy any accessories you will need: shoes, shirt stays, cufflinks, and a pocket square.
o Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement.
o Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
o Pick up your invitations.
o Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the 2-month mark).
o Design maps to be inserted in invitations:
o From major airport to the hotel
o To the rehearsal dinner site
o To the ceremony
o From the ceremony to reception
6 Weeks
o Order liquor, wine and/or champagne, if not included in the catering contract.
o Begin writing ceremony program, if you are having one.
o Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own.
o Finalize vows.
o Arrange parking for the reception.
o Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
o As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items to your registry list.
o Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.
o Research local marriage license requirements.
o Brides: Attend final wedding-gown fitting.
o Buy a guest book and pen. (or make)
o Grooms: Attend your bachelor party.
o Brides: Buy gifts for your maid of honor and bridesmaids.
o Grooms: Buy gifts for your best man, groomsmen, and ushers.
3-4 Weeks
o Send rehearsal-dinner invitations.
o Do trial runs of hair and makeup and schedule wedding-day beauty appointments.
o Finish and print ceremony programs.
o Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests (if necessary). Check when the license expires.
o Work on a list of "must-play" (and "must-not play") songs
o Discuss song list with ceremony musicians and agree on final choices.
o Pick up wedding rings and check inscriptions before you leave the store.
o Make sure your homeowner's insurance covers your rings and gifts.
o Wrap all gifts for the wedding party and write each attendant a nice note.
o Brides: Shop for all additional accessories like stockings, earrings, evening bag, etc.
o Have a follow-up meeting or phone call with the officiant to go over ceremony timing and details.
o Confirm wedding-night and honeymoon reservations.
o Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
o Brides: Get final pre-wedding haircut, if necessary.
o Work out wedding day timing and details (who will get the bride there, where the wedding party will dress, etc) and draw up a schedule.
o Call or email wedding party to relay critical info related to rehearsal and wedding (dates, times, directions, duties).
o Brides: Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" if you want to include these customs in your wedding.
o Brides: Pick up your gown.
o Finalize any special preferences, readings or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.
o Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
o Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with the cake maker.
o Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner.
o If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you want everyone to stand in.
o Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party and make lists/info sheets as needed.
o Brides: Pick up the veil and/or headpiece.
o Call location manager and make sure your vendors all have access to the site when they need it.
1-2 Weeks
o Start putting together the seating plan if there's a seated reception meal.
o Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards (give typed names to the calligrapher if you're using one).
o Touch base with your officiant and give him/her rehearsal details and wedding day schedule.
o Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangement count with florist.
o Grooms: Pick up your tux and try it on (don’t wait 'til the day of to do this).
o Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon.
o Shop and pack for honeymoon.
o Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.
o Confirm location, date, and time with photographer and give them a "must- take" photo list.
o Confirm location, date, and time with videographer.
o Grooms: Get your final haircut.
o Give seating chart to caterer, location manager, or host.
o Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.
o Plan any additional night-before activities with friends and/or attendants.
o Fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day.
o Distribute wedding-day directions, schedule, and contact list to all parents, attendants, and vendors.
o Designate who will meet, greet, and handle each vendor on the wedding day.
o Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night (toothbrush, sexy lingerie, etc.) and designate someone to deliver it to the hotel for you.
o Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency.
o Put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes and give to a designated family or friend to distribute on the wedding day.
o Confirm date, location, time, and play list with band/DJ and/or ceremony or cocktail hour musicians.
o Brides: Get manicure and pedicure and confirm big-day beauty appointments.
o Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash) brought to the party.
o Notify your attendants of the hour and place of the wedding rehearsal
o Pay any bills that might be due during your honeymoon
o Compile a list of all flight information, emergency phone numbers, etc. to give to someone for your honeymoon
o Make sure you have all of your extra essentials:
o Toasting goblets
o Bridal purse
o Cake knife & server
o Emergency kit
o Ring pillow
o Guest book
o Unity candle
o Pen
o Tossing garter
o Place cards
o Basket for programs
o Rice or bubbles
o Candles for ceremony
o Cardholder for gift table
o Favors for wedding guests
o Favors
Day before
o Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
o Give announcements to your honor attendant to be mailed on the wedding day.
o Brides: Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
o Rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party.
o Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation to airport, etc.).
o Drop off favors, guest book, and pen at the reception site.
o Attend rehearsal dinner.
Wedding day
o Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.
o Eat a nutritious breakfast/lunch
o Have your hair and nails done at least three hours before the ceremony
o Start dressing at least one hour before the ceremony (*If the photographs will be taken before the ceremony, then at least 2-3 hours)
o Photographer, videographers, ushers, & attendants should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the ceremony
**Additional checklists provided by Wedding Channel**
o Reception musicians/DJ
o Baker
o Florist
o Transportation
o Photographer
o Reserve wedding night suite.
o Contact all of your services & sign contracts.
o Start looking into registering for gifts.
o Brides: Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses.
o Make sure your honor attendant and best man are aware of what you expect of them. Provide a list of their duties to help them help you.
o Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
o Contact out-of-towners with the final wedding date and time.
o Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.
o Start working on your invitation wording and design.
o Finalize your invitation wording.
o Finalize menu and service details with caterer.
o Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget extra envelopes).
4 -5 Months
o Grooms: Decide what style of formalwear you & your groomsmen will be wearing.
o Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent tux, suit or other formal attire.
o Grooms: Decide on your groomsmen's attire.
o Reserve tables, chairs, and/or other rental equipment you need (unless caterer or site is taking care of it).
o Start planning your honeymoon.
o Book your honeymoon and make travel reservations.
o Book rehearsal-dinner site.
o Compile packages for out-of-town guests with hotel reservation and city information, and mail it out.
o Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
o Finalize your wedding insurance policy, including liability if required by your site.
2 -3 Months
o Brides: Choose attendants' accessories (shoes, gloves, etc.) and either hand off information or coordinate with them.
o Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.
o Consider specific ceremony and reception decoration needs like aisle runner, etc.
o Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors.
o Shop for and purchase wedding rings.
o Brides: Make sure your attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories.
o Brides: Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.
o Brides: Confirm delivery date for your gown and schedule fittings. If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.
o Brides: Begin your fittings.
o Grooms: If you are renting a tux, visit the formalwear shop to get measured.
o Grooms: Choose and buy any accessories you will need: shoes, shirt stays, cufflinks, and a pocket square.
o Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement.
o Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
o Pick up your invitations.
o Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the 2-month mark).
o Design maps to be inserted in invitations:
o From major airport to the hotel
o To the rehearsal dinner site
o To the ceremony
o From the ceremony to reception
6 Weeks
o Order liquor, wine and/or champagne, if not included in the catering contract.
o Begin writing ceremony program, if you are having one.
o Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own.
o Finalize vows.
o Arrange parking for the reception.
o Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
o As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items to your registry list.
o Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.
o Research local marriage license requirements.
o Brides: Attend final wedding-gown fitting.
o Buy a guest book and pen. (or make)
o Grooms: Attend your bachelor party.
o Brides: Buy gifts for your maid of honor and bridesmaids.
o Grooms: Buy gifts for your best man, groomsmen, and ushers.
3-4 Weeks
o Send rehearsal-dinner invitations.
o Do trial runs of hair and makeup and schedule wedding-day beauty appointments.
o Finish and print ceremony programs.
o Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests (if necessary). Check when the license expires.
o Work on a list of "must-play" (and "must-not play") songs
o Discuss song list with ceremony musicians and agree on final choices.
o Pick up wedding rings and check inscriptions before you leave the store.
o Make sure your homeowner's insurance covers your rings and gifts.
o Wrap all gifts for the wedding party and write each attendant a nice note.
o Brides: Shop for all additional accessories like stockings, earrings, evening bag, etc.
o Have a follow-up meeting or phone call with the officiant to go over ceremony timing and details.
o Confirm wedding-night and honeymoon reservations.
o Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
o Brides: Get final pre-wedding haircut, if necessary.
o Work out wedding day timing and details (who will get the bride there, where the wedding party will dress, etc) and draw up a schedule.
o Call or email wedding party to relay critical info related to rehearsal and wedding (dates, times, directions, duties).
o Brides: Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" if you want to include these customs in your wedding.
o Brides: Pick up your gown.
o Finalize any special preferences, readings or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.
o Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
o Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with the cake maker.
o Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner.
o If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you want everyone to stand in.
o Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party and make lists/info sheets as needed.
o Brides: Pick up the veil and/or headpiece.
o Call location manager and make sure your vendors all have access to the site when they need it.
1-2 Weeks
o Start putting together the seating plan if there's a seated reception meal.
o Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards (give typed names to the calligrapher if you're using one).
o Touch base with your officiant and give him/her rehearsal details and wedding day schedule.
o Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangement count with florist.
o Grooms: Pick up your tux and try it on (don’t wait 'til the day of to do this).
o Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon.
o Shop and pack for honeymoon.
o Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.
o Confirm location, date, and time with photographer and give them a "must- take" photo list.
o Confirm location, date, and time with videographer.
o Grooms: Get your final haircut.
o Give seating chart to caterer, location manager, or host.
o Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.
o Plan any additional night-before activities with friends and/or attendants.
o Fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day.
o Distribute wedding-day directions, schedule, and contact list to all parents, attendants, and vendors.
o Designate who will meet, greet, and handle each vendor on the wedding day.
o Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night (toothbrush, sexy lingerie, etc.) and designate someone to deliver it to the hotel for you.
o Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency.
o Put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes and give to a designated family or friend to distribute on the wedding day.
o Confirm date, location, time, and play list with band/DJ and/or ceremony or cocktail hour musicians.
o Brides: Get manicure and pedicure and confirm big-day beauty appointments.
o Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash) brought to the party.
o Notify your attendants of the hour and place of the wedding rehearsal
o Pay any bills that might be due during your honeymoon
o Compile a list of all flight information, emergency phone numbers, etc. to give to someone for your honeymoon
o Make sure you have all of your extra essentials:
o Toasting goblets
o Bridal purse
o Cake knife & server
o Emergency kit
o Ring pillow
o Guest book
o Unity candle
o Pen
o Tossing garter
o Place cards
o Basket for programs
o Rice or bubbles
o Candles for ceremony
o Cardholder for gift table
o Favors for wedding guests
o Favors
Day before
o Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
o Give announcements to your honor attendant to be mailed on the wedding day.
o Brides: Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
o Rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party.
o Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation to airport, etc.).
o Drop off favors, guest book, and pen at the reception site.
o Attend rehearsal dinner.
Wedding day
o Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.
o Eat a nutritious breakfast/lunch
o Have your hair and nails done at least three hours before the ceremony
o Start dressing at least one hour before the ceremony (*If the photographs will be taken before the ceremony, then at least 2-3 hours)
o Photographer, videographers, ushers, & attendants should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the ceremony
**Additional checklists provided by Wedding Channel**
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