Wedding Checklist

Below are a list of ideas and suggestion in preparation for your special day.  

 

Remember these are only ideas of things to consider, and many items may not be applicable to you. Some duties apply strictly to the bride and others to the groom.  Some of the items presented here are obvious and others are little details; regardless, it helps to manage your time by writing down all the things that need to be done. It feels good to cross things of the list as you go, and hopefully it will help cut down on your stress by realizing how organized you are (as opposed to only looking at how big your list is!). The basic order of events is more important than the exact time-line here.

 

Just keep in mind, we suggest, that the items listed in the "At Least One Year in Advance" category should be done first and as soon as possible if you want to get your first choice in reception location, etc.
 

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At Least One Year in Advance

First decide on the basics...

 

Choose wedding date
Decide type of wedding desired (traditional, big/small, etc.)
Determine what religion the service will be performed in, if any
Decide time of wedding and reception
Choose desired location for wedding ceremony
Choose desired location for reception
Set wedding budget and decide how wedding will be financed
Then hire the individuals from whom you will need their services on the wedding day...

See if ceremony and reception locations are available and book them
Choose/hire individual who will perform your wedding ceremony if this is not included with your choice of ceremony site
Interview/Choose photographer and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Videographer and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Florist and then book him/her
Interview/Choose Baker (for cake) and then book him/her
Decide type of music desired for reception, if any
Interview/Choose Band/DJ for reception and then book him/her/them
Choose reception format: buffet or sit-down dinner etc.
Interview/Choose caterer and then book him/her/them

 

Ten to Twelve Months in Advance

 

Ensure home/renter's insurance covers engagement ring or buy additional jewelry insurance
Determine a color scheme for the wedding/reception if desired
Decide if all/part/any of vows will be written by bride/groom
Decide how large/small wedding party will be
Choose/order wedding dress and veil
Buy wedding shoes
Buy undergarments for wedding attire (need prior to fittings)
Begin looking at invitations
Set honeymoon budget
Announce engagement to friends and family
Put engagement announcement in local paper

 

Six to Ten Months in Advance
 
Decide if unity candle ceremony is desired
First meeting with minister/officiant
Begin writing vows
Choose ceremony music (prelude, processional, solos, recessional, postlude, etc.)
Choose and hire soloist(s) for ceremony/reception/rehearsal dinner
Choose attendants and ask if they'll accept the position
Begin looking for bridesmaid dresses
Pick out tuxes for groom and groomsmen/ushers/fathers
Choose/book desired location for rehearsal dinner
Look for and book (reserve) block of rooms at nearby hotel for out-of-town guests
Choose invitations
Decide if programs and/or personalized napkins will be purchased and select them
Make first draft of invite list
Get directions to church, from church to reception, and from church to rehearsal dinner
Make list of attractions/things to do (in town where wedding is) to include with directions
Plan honeymoon and book all lodgings/transportation/event tickets
Check passports/visas (if applicable) 
Discuss if a bridal registry is desired and what items would be on it 

 

Four to Six Months in Advance

 

Make appointment for bridal portrait
Make hair/nail appointment for bridal portrait
Choose prose/poetry/scripture readings for ceremony
Choose readers for ceremony and ask if they'll accept the position
Ask minister if it matters which version of the Bible (King James, Good News, etc.) you use for the scripture reading
Find out from minister if flower girl can drop flower petals on floor in sanctuary
Find out from reception hall if guests can throw birdseed or rice
Decide how you want your exit at the reception/ceremony (guests throwing birdseed, etc. or just a casual exit?)
Buy/make favors to give guests, if desired
Buy/make centerpieces for guest tables at reception
Order bridesmaid dresses
Hire limo driver or arrange other transportation to/from ceremony and reception
Buy wedding attire accessories such as gloves, earrings, necklace, purse, shoes, cufflinks, etc.
Pick out/order wedding bands
Select reception decorations such as candles, flowers, balloons, arches, etc.
Meet with florist to choose amount and type of flowers for ceremony and reception and any other accessories (ex. pew bows, candleabras, etc)
Ask mothers if they want to wear a flower corsage or carry a single flower instead and inform florist
Decide if roses will be given to the mothers at the end of/during the ceremony
Buy/make basket for flower girl
Buy/make pillow for ring bearer
Meet with baker to choose flavor(s) and style of wedding cake
Decide if a groom's cake is desired; if so, choose flavor and style and inform baker
Make/print directions and map for ceremony and reception to include with all wedding invitations
Make/print maps to rehearsal dinner to include with rehearsal dinner invitations and send to groom's mom (if his parents are hosting rehearsal dinner)
Make 2nd draft of invite list
Register gift preferences with one or more bridal registries at nearby and/or nationwide store
Get measurements from groom/ushers/fathers/groomsmen for tuxedos

 

Three to Four Months in Advance

 

Confirm bridal portrait appointment
Confirm hair/nail appointments for bridal portrait
Determine how many disposable cameras should be purchased, if any
Write/choose disposable camera poems if desired
First wedding gown fitting
Sign up to donate ceremony centerpiece to flowers for Sunday's service, if desired
Buy/make birdseed roses/birdseed packets/bubbles/etc.
Decide on living arrangement once married

 

Two to Four Months in Advance

 

Choose soloist's song(s) and get soloist's approval to perform them
Mail/take music to soloist
Buy disposable cameras
Get bridal portrait taken
Determine wedding band inscriptions
Choose reception food
Design program layout (or have a printer do it)
Determine reception layout (i.e. how many tables, chairs, etc.)
Determine seating arrangement at reception if it's a sit-down dinner
Determine seating arrangement at rehearsal dinner with groom's mother if desired
Determine who will put suitcases in limo at reception
Determine how attendants will process and stand at ceremony
Choose reception music (1st dance, father/daughter dance, mother/son dance etc.)
Find out if smoking is allowed at reception hall and how to prevent it if desired
Make rough draft of list of duties of all involved (Mistress of Ceremonies, etc.)
Finalize vows and memorize (if necessary)
Make sure flower girl dress is purchased
Make sure the mother's dresses are purchased and are complimentary
Determine length of bridesmaid dresses
Determine hose color and shoes for bridesmaids
Bride buy gifts for bridesmaids, parents, fiance, personal attendant
Groom buy gifts for groomsmen, parents, fiance, ushers
Buy gifts with fiance for Mistress of Ceremonies, Host/Hostess, soloist, guest book attendant, etc.
Schedule bride's hair appointment
Schedule nail appointment
Finalize invite list
Get addresses of all people on invite list
Ask groom's mother if she wants rehearsal dinner invitations and/or place cards matching invitations Order invitations
Order programs
Order monogrammed napkins for reception if desired
Reserve rental items: candelabra, linens, canopy, tables/chairs, etc.
Set date with fiance to get marriage license (check restrictions on how long it's valid prior to wedding)
Get blood tests/physicals for marriage certificate if required
Get any immunizations you will need for the honeymoon

 

Two Months in Advance

 

Schedule groom's hair appointment
Give soloist's music to organist (if he/she is accompanying)
Book rooms for out-of-town attendants at hotel
Go over rough draft of duties with all involved in wedding
Choose one person to whom the groomsmen can return their tuxes, and have that person return the tuxes to the rental place if desired
Determine who will return the groom's tuxedo to the rental place
Determine order/timing of events at reception (cake-cutting, garter toss, etc.)
Second wedding gown fitting
Buy honeymoon clothes and going away outfit if necessary
Buy/decide on rehearsal/rehearsal dinner outfit
Put invitation to wedding ceremony in church newsletter
Determine the "something borrowed, ...blue, ...old, and ...new" to wear on wedding day
Acquire six pence for shoe
Get wedding bands inscribed
Get final order of prelude and processional music from organist
Hire babysitter to watch any children during wedding ceremony
Call to inform all people who need to be at rehearsal
Buy guest book and pen
Obtain marriage certificate
Last meeting with minister/officiant
Determine where bride and attendants will get dressed (at home/hotel or ceremony site?)
Determine where groom and attendants will get dressed (at hotel or ceremony site?)
Buy/make throw and keepsake garters
Buy wrapping paper for attendant, etc. gifts
Make itinerary of wedding day for all involved
Choose songs for video (background music for intro/pre-wedding)
Buy stamps for invitations, response cards, and some to get started on thank-you notes
Ensure formal-wear shop has all tuxedo measurements
Give addresses of rehearsal guests to groom's mother if she is mailing rehearsal invites
One to One-and-a-Half Months in Advance
Address/mail wedding invitations

 

One Month in Advance

 

Ask florist if you can keep/buy unity candles if he/she is providing them
Order flower arrangements for rehearsal dinner tables if desired
Find out if reception caterers will make a basket of food for you to take to your hotel after reception
Determine who will be in the limo (i.e. just newlyweds or attendants/parents too??)
Determine when items needed at reception (toasting glasses, etc.) will be taken there
Show final program to minister and organist to check for accuracy
Box and wrap all gifts for attendants, etc.
Decide if gown will be preserved and where
Decide if bouquet will be preserved and make arrangements
Figure out how to affix six pence to shoe
Print disposable camera poems
Ensure band/DJ has equipment/music needed to play your chosen reception music
Ensure groom's mom has addressed/mailed rehearsal dinner invitations if his parents are hosting it
Pick up wedding bands
Ensure home/renter's insurance covers wedding bands or buy additional jewelry insurance
Confirm honeymoon reservations
Check registries to make sure shower gifts and/or early wedding gifts have been marked off as purchased
Record gifts as you receive them and send thank-you notes
Open joint checking and savings accounts
Change beneficiary to fiance for will and life insurance policy
Inform car/home/renter's insurance of marriage (discounted rates may apply)
Make list of all places with whom bride needs to change name and submit changes

 

Two Weeks in Advance

 

Final meeting with florist - overview and give him/her map to ceremony and reception sites
Final meeting with reception hall/caterer - overview and tell them names of florist, band or DJ, and baker (just in case!)
Final meeting with videographer - overview, give him/her music and map
Final meeting with photographer - tell him/her about any specific pictures you want, choose album style and color, and give him/her map
Final conversation with band - overview of times & special songs, mail him/her/them map
Mail directions to limo driver and confirm times
Meet with rehearsal dinner caterers for final details
Print programs
Print rehearsal dinner maps (extras in case guests forget map that came with dinner invite)
Finalize and print list of duties for each person involved
Print itinerary of wedding day (copies for all at rehearsal)
Print readings and spare copies
Confirm nail/hair appointments
Print list of reception dances for MC/band/DJ
Final wedding gown fitting
Affix poems to disposable cameras
Confirm hotel reservations for wedding night
Confirm hotel reservations for attendants
Determine personal wedding morning itinerary (time to wake up, ... time to leave for church, etc.) Groom's hair appointment
Submit wedding announcement to local newspaper for publishing day or weekend of wedding
Move belongings to new home

 

One Week in Advance

 

Make bride's emergency kit
Pack for honeymoon
Get traveler's checks for honeymoon; exchange money to foreign currency now if desired
Fill out first page of guest book
Buy spare hose
Fill birdseed roses
Remind attendants about rehearsal time
Take marriage certificate to minister/officiant
Give best man the clergyman's fee (if to be payed day of ceremony, otherwise pay this week)
Finish centerpieces for guest tables at reception if it's a last minute duty (i.e. need fresh flowers, etc.)
Give final guest count to reception facility and/or caterer
Remind groom/fathers/ushers/groomsmen to pick up tuxedos on day before wedding
Ensure delivery of flower arrangements for wedding rehearsal dinner have been made
Day Before Wedding
Pick up wedding gown and veil
Pick up tux
Take favors, disposable cameras, centerpieces, cake knife and server, toasting glasses, CD's, and birdseed roses to reception hall
Nail appointment
Give mom lipstick to keep in purse on wedding day for bride (or prepare bride's purse)
Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

 

Morning of Wedding

 

Bride's hair appointment
Give groom's wedding band to Maid of Honor and bride's wedding band to Best Man prior to ceremony
Relax and let it all sink in!!

Leave yourself off the things to do list today if there are any remaining items. You need to relax and enjoy the whole day, and in the long run, you won't remember the little things.

 

Please note, this is a suggested list, ONLY, of itinerary or events of do's prior to your special day.

Please coordinate your events at your discretion.