Wedding Checklist

12 + Months Before

Vision
Begin envisioning your wedding -- formal hotel or friend's loft? Backyard barbecue or exotic beach?

Decide on a budget and hash out who's contributing.

It's never too early to begin thinking about your gown. Start by figuring out what style will look best on you.

Set a Date
Pick your preferences for a wedding date and time, and finalize after okaying with important guests, location, or officiant.

Cater
Start interviewing caterers.

Consultant
Begin interviewing wedding consultants (if you'll have one) and/or start asking family and friends for local wedding vendor recommendations.

 

9-11 Months Before

Engagement
Contact newspapers to announce your engagement (you may need to have an engagement photo taken as well).

If you're having an engagement party , set a date, draft a guest list, and purchase your invitations.

Ceremony
Start looking for an officiant who suits your style and spirit.

Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (such as counseling).

Find a ceremony site if one hasn't been determined by your choice of officiant or reception site.

Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen and ask them to be in the wedding party.

Reception
Scout out reception sites.

Book your reception site as soon as you see something you love that's available on your date.

If you've chosen an outdoor ceremony or reception site, look into tent and lighting rentals.

Florist
Set up appointments with various florists to discuss options.

Photographer &
Videographer
Interview and get price lists from several photographers and videographers.

Talk to your photographer about posting your photos online so you can see your photos online and share them with friends.

Cater
Decide on a caterer. Hash out a rough price per head and begin working on a menu.

Sign your caterer contract and send in a deposit.

Consultant
Hire a consultant (if you're having one) and sign a contract.

Music
Start auditioning reception bands or DJs.

Book reception band or DJ, sign the contract, and send a deposit.

 

Guest
Begin working on a preliminary wedding guest list and decide on your wedding's approximate size. Request lists from both sets of parents and create your own wish list.

Finalize the guest list.

Wedding Style
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.

Start investigating any ethnic customs or cultural traditions you might want to incorporate into your ceremony or reception.

Just for Brides
Begin looking at pictures of gowns online and in magazines.

When you've found some gowns you like, head out to the stores to try them on.

Narrow down your gown choices and make a final decision.

Honeymoon
If you plan to use frequent flyer miles to travel to your honeymoon destination, book your flight now.

 

6-8 Months Before

Gifts
Start looking into registering for gifts.

Register for your wedding gifts, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower or engagement party as well.

Music
Request demo tapes from ceremony musicians.

Book ceremony musicians and send deposit.

Cater
Finalize menu and service details with caterer.

Baker
Begin looking for a baker to make your big-day cake. Your caterer is the best source for leads.

Book a baker, choose your wedding cake design, and send a deposit.

Florist
Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services.

Photographer &
Videographer
Reserve photographer and/or videographer, decide on a package, sign contract, and send deposit.

Guests
Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.

Purchase and send save-the-dates to out-of-town guests, or to all guests if your celebration is over a holiday weekend or at a faraway locale.

Rehersal Dinner
Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.

Invitations
Start working on your invitation wording and design.

Finalize your invitation wording.

Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes).

Wedding Party
Make sure your maid of honor and best man are aware of what you expect of them -- providing a list of their duties will help.

Just for Brides
Think about how you might want to wear your hair.

Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses and make sure to get input from the girls.

Decide on the bridesmaid dresses.

Collect necessary measurements from attendants or pass along vender information so that they can order the dresses themselves.

Order your gown. Make sure you've asked all the critical questions and your order contains the correct information.

 

 

4-5 Months Before

Florist
Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.

Start thinking about flower arrangement styles you like, and figure out what flowers will be in season on your wedding day.

Wedding Suite
Book hotel room for your wedding night.

Invitations
Book a calligrapher (if you are using one).

Guests
Compile packages for out-of-town guests with hotel reservation and city information, and mail them out.

Honeymoon
Book your honeymoon flights (if not using frequent flyer miles) and make all your other travel reservations.

Rehersal Dinner
Book rehearsal-dinner site.

Just for Grooms
Decide what style of formalwear you will be wearing.

Start looking to buy or rent tux, suit, or other formal attire.

Start planning your groomsmen's attire: Tux or suit?

Decide on your groomsmen's attire.

 

2-3 Months Before

Ceremony
Pick out or design a ketubah or other marriage contract required by your religion.

Shop for and purchase wedding bands.

Consider specific ceremony and reception decoration needs like a huppah, aisle runner, etc.

Talk to people you'd want to do special performances or readings as part of the ceremony.

Send wedding bands out to be engraved (make sure they'll be back in time for the wedding).

Photographer
Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement.

Invitations
Pick up your invitations.

Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the two-month mark).

Send out invitations (be sure to add extra postage for overseas guests).

Reception
Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box).

Prewedding Parties
Talk to your maid of honor and best man about party plans (such as the shower and bachelor party).

Honeymoon
Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).

Transportation
Arrange wedding-day transportation for you, your wedding party, and guests (as needed).

Just for Grooms
Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.

If you are renting a tux, visit the formalwear shop to get measured.

Choose and buy any accessories you will need: shoes , shirt stays, cuff links, and a pocket square.

Just for Brides
Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, gloves, etc.) and either purchase or pass along purchasing information.

Experiment with your beauty routine, self-tanners, and facials.

Make sure your attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories.

Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.

If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.

Confirm delivery date for your gown and schedule fittings.

Provide guest list to bridesmaids for your shower.

Begin your fittings.

Post Wedding
Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, auto, homeowner's, and life insurance.

Make sure your homeowner's or renter's insurance covers your rings and gifts.

 

4-6 Weeks Before

Gifts
As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items to your registry list and record the gifts you get.

Guests
Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.

Buy a guest book (and nice pen).

Ceremony
Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own.

Begin writing the ceremony program if you are having one.

Research local marriage license requirements.

Finalize vows.

Reception
Arrange parking for the reception.

Order liquor, wine and/or champagne if they're not included in the catering contract.

Arrange for a babysitter for the reception, if necessary.

Just for Grooms
Attend your bachelor party (and be sure to thank the best man afterwards).

Buy gifts for your best man, groomsmen, and ushers.

Announcements
Submit your wedding announcement to newspapers (if you so desire).

Just for Brides
Decide on and purchase major accessories ( veil and shoes ) prior to final fittings.

Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.

Make an appointment to take the veil to your hairstylist and make sure your current do and veil work together.

Attend your bachelorette party (and be sure to thank the maid of honor afterwards).

Buy gifts for your maid of honor and bridesmaids.

Attend final wedding-gown fitting.

 

3-4 Weeks Before

Rehersal Dinner
Send rehearsal-dinner invitations.

Wrap all gifts for the wedding party and write each attendant a nice note.

Call or email wedding party to relay critical info related to rehearsal and wedding (dates, times, directions, duties).

Music
Work on a list of " must-play " (and "must-not play") songs for your DJ or band.

Discuss music with ceremony musicians and agree on final choices.

Thank Yous
Get a head start on those thank-you notes (it will feel great to get a batch out before the wedding).

Honeymoon
Confirm wedding-night and honeymoon reservations.

Ceremony
Finish and print ceremony programs.

Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests (if necessary). Check when the license expires.

Have a follow-up meeting or phone call with the officiant to go over ceremony timing and details.

Pick up wedding rings and check the inscriptions before you leave the store.

Finalize any special preferences, readings, or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.

Just for Brides
Do trial runs of hair and makeup; schedule wedding-day beauty appointments.

Shop for all additional accessories like stockings, earrings, evening bag, etc.

Sit for your bridal portrait, if you decide to get one.

Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.

Get final prewedding haircut, if necessary.

Make sure you have your garter and " something old, new, borrowed, and blue " if you want to include these customs in your wedding.

Pick up your gown.

 

1-2 Weeks Before

Cater
Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner. It's okay to do this, you need a final head count!

Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.

Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards (give typed names to the calligrapher if you're using one).

Give seating chart to caterer, location manager, or host.

Just for Grooms
Get your final haircut.

Pick up your tux and try it on. (Don't wait until the day of to do this!)

Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.

Just for Brides
Pick up the veil and/or headpiece.

Practice walking in your wedding shoes.

Wedding Day Schedule
If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you want everyone to stand in.

Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party, and make lists/info sheets as needed.

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.

Touch base with your officiant and give him/her rehearsal details and wedding day schedule.

Fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day.

Photographer &
Videographer
Confirm location, date, and time with videographer.

Confirm location, date, and time with photographer; create your " must-take " photo list.

Confirmations
Call location manager and make sure your vendors all have access to the site when they need it.

Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangement count with florist.

Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with the cakemaker.

Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.

Extras
Shop and pack for honeymoon.

Plan any additional night-before activities with friends and/or attendants.

Plan a party or go out for cocktails to thank your attendants for all their help.

 

The Day Before

Rehersal
Rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party.

Honeymoon
Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation to airport, etc.).

Announcements
Give wedding announcements to your honor attendant to be mailed on the wedding day.

Little Things
Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).

Drop off favors , guest book, and pen at the reception site.

 

The Day Of

After the Ceremony
Set aside a private moment together after the ceremony to exchange gifts and a sweet congratulatory kiss (or two).

Reception
Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.

Thank Yous
Take a moment to thank your parents and tell them you love them -- this is a sweet but sad day for them.

Relax, smile, and enjoy the day!

 

After the Wedding

Immediately
Arrange for a bridesmaid or mom to pick up your wedding dress and other personal belongings at the hotel after you depart.

Freeze the top layer of the wedding cake to be eaten at your first anniversary celebration (save some cocktail napkins, too!).

Make sure all vendor bills have been paid in full.

Preservation
Take the bridal bouquet and other mementos to be preserved.

Take gown and veil to be cleaned (or have someone do it for you). Make sure the cleaner is experienced in storing/preserving wedding gowns.

Photos & Video
Take any personal film to be developed. These will probably be the first photos available since professional proofs can take weeks.

Check in with your photographer to see when your photos will be online.

Email your online album to family and friends.

Find out when you can expect your edited video.

Thank Yous
Mail gifts to your parents to thank them for their help and support, if you didn't give them out at the rehearsal dinner.

Within two months of your wedding, set aside some romantic evenings to write that stack of thank-you notes.