• Announce your engagement!
• Start talking about what kind of wedding is right for the two
of you. Formal or casual? Big or Small? What time of year?
• Consider who will contribute to the costs and figure out your
budget. Revisit this budget regularly to adjust where you save or spend more than planned.
• Pick the date! Be sure to check in with key attendees, like
parents and best friends, as well as your officiant and location site if you have only one person or one site will do.
• Start looking and interviewing caterers.
• Buy a large binder to keep track of everything. Getting organized early will make planning much easier as the months pass.
• Find an officiant who suits you both. Meet with him or her to discuss not just your wedding, but perhaps also your marriage. Find out if there are any religious requirements, such as pre-marital counseling.
• Visit different kinds of reception sites until you find one that fits your vision and your budget, and then book it right away.
• Organize your guest list and addresses.
• Ask your bridal attendants and groomsmen to do you the honor.
• Choose your ceremony site.
• Brides should start thinking about a dress and make several
appointments to try some on.
• Book a caterer and send a deposit.
• Start auditioning bands or deejays. Execute a contract as soon as you find one that is right for you.
• Meet with several florists before contracting one.
• Book a photographer and videographer after seeing references, price lists and portfolios.
• Choose color scheme and start keeping notes on how you’d like the ceremony and reception to be decorated.
• Start a rental list, including tent and lighting, if you’re going to be outdoors.

• Order a gown as soon as you have found the one you would love to wear for your walk down the isle.
• Start looking into gift registries for engagement, shower and wedding gifts.
• Ask your caterer and friends for recommendations for a baker for your wedding cake.
• Choose the bridesmaid dresses with input from the girls. Collect measurements or share ordering information so they can order themselves.
• Make sure your maid of honor and best man have a list of duties so they know what is expected of them.
• Book baker/wedding cake and send deposit.
• Book musicians and send deposit.
• Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Book a site and decide who will attend and share this list with the host.
• Finalize menu with the caterer.
• Decide on invitation wording and design, and place your order for invites, announcements and thank you cards, along with extra envelopes.

• Grooms: Choose your attire and groomsmen attire.
• Reserve all rental equipment, such as tables, chairs and tents, after checking with the caterer.
• Plan and book your honeymoon and travel reservations.
• Book a room for your wedding night.
• Meet with florist to decide on style and flower scheme, and to negotiate prices. Sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
• Put together local information for out of town guests, to mail once RSVP’s come in.

• Purchase wedding rings.
• Give bridal attendants all the information they need for shoes, gloves, hats and jewelry, and follow up to make sure everyone has what they’ll need.
• Give all the groomsmen information about buying or renting their attire and follow up to make sure they’re all set.
• Groom: Get measured at the formal wear shop for your tux if you are renting.
• Make sure your travel papers are in order for your honeymoon: passports, visas, driver’s licenses, vaccinations, etc.
• Pick out a marriage contract as required by your religion.
• Pick up your invitations.
• Address the invitations or send to the calligrapher with a typed list of spell-checked names.
• Mail the invitations 2 months before your wedding. Don’t forget to put stamps on the RSVP envelopes and postcards.
• Be sure you are both exercising and eating right so you’ll feel your best on your wedding day.
• Confirm delivery date for bridal gown and schedule fittings.
• Buy wedding shoes and lingerie before first fittings.
• Grooms: Buy any wedding day accessories you’ll need: shoes, cufflinks, handkerchief, shirt stays, etc.
• Arrange for all insurance policies to include both of you after the wedding.

• Write program ceremony and vows.
• Choose readings for ceremony.
• Research local marriage license requirements.
• Finish gown fittings and schedule dress pickup.
• Write bridal shower thank you notes.
• Buy gifts for bridal attendants and groomsmen.
• Send invitations to the rehearsal dinner guests.

• Finish and print ceremony programs.
• Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests (if necessary). Check when license expires.
• Confirm songs with ceremony musicians.
• Discuss song list with reception musicians and agree on final choices, including a “must-play” and “must-not-play” list of songs.
• Make the final Big Day schedule: who will be where and when, how will they get there, how will they leave. Share with anyone who needs these details.
• Confirm head count and final details with caterer, baker officiant.
• Wrap wedding gifts for future spouse, attendants, groomsmen, and parents, writing a thoughtful note for each.
• Call guests who have not sent RSVP cards to get a final head count for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.
• Pick up wedding rings and check inscriptions carefully before leaving the store.
• Confirm all reservations for wedding night and honeymoon.
• Write thank you notes for gifts already received.
• Talk to all members of the wedding party to share information about the weekend including duties, directions, times they’re needed aside from the actual event, etc.
• Brides should pick up their gown and find a safe place for it, out of the way.
• Break in wedding day shoes.
• Pick up veil and/or headpiece.

• Make seating chart if there is a seated meal. Make placecards or give names to calligrapher.
• Give seating chart to coordinator or caterer.
• Create a “must-have” list of photographs and give this to photographer.
• Confirm all details with your officiant including the wedding day schedule.
• Confirm time and location of deliveries and final arrangement plans with florist.
• Pick up tuxes and try on, exchange sizes if necessary.
• Pack for your honeymoon!
• Grooms – get your hair cut 1-2 weeks before the wedding.
• Confirm payment amounts with all vendors.
• Organize all payments. Mail, drop off or plan on giving envelopes including cash tips to best man for distribution to vendors.
• Confirm time, date and location with all vendors, including musicians, caterers, florists, rental equipment agencies, photographers, videographers and your officiant.
• Assign who will be the contact for each vendor on the wedding day.
• Assign someone the task of collecting the wedding gifts after the party.
• Prepare your toasts.
• Coordinate and confirm all wedding day pick-ups with transportation providers.
• Confirm all honeymoon and travel plans.
• Confirm play lists with all musicians and/or deejays.
• Give all members of the wedding their own information packet, complete with weekend schedule, directions, maps and contact list.
• Confirm all beauty appointments.
• Give someone a copy of your honeymoon itinerary in case of emergency.
• Designate someone to look after your home while you are on your honeymoon.
• Pack a bag for your wedding night and give to someone to deliver to the hotel before the ceremony.

• Confirm with the people you’ve asked to give toasts at the rehearsal and the reception.
• Give announcements to your honor attendant, to be mailed on the wedding day.
• Organize your gown, shoes, veil, stockings, and jewelry.
• Pack an emergency kit with make up, extra pantyhose, bobby pins, safety pins, clothes steamer, clear nail polish, hair spray, comb, tissues, sewing kit, aspirin, snacks, band aids, toothpaste, toothbrush, mints, etc.
• Rehearse the ceremony with wedding party and officiant.
• Drop off wedding favors and guest book at the reception site.
• Have manicure and pedicure.
• Have fun and relax at your rehearsal dinner.
• Find a quiet moment to exchange gifts before saying goodbye to your sweetie until tomorrow.
• Set alarm and arrange for back up just in case.
• Get some sleep! The more the better!

• Have a light massage in the morning.
• Make sure all your responsibilities are handed off before your big day.
• Thank your parents for all they’ve done for you.
• Enjoy your day. Try to step back and take it all in a few times over the course of the day. These mental photographs will be unforgettable!

• Have a member of the wedding party come to the hotel after you depart. They can pick up your belongings and take your gown and veil to a cleaner who specializes in wedding gown preservation.
• Return rented tuxes, etc.
• Develop any film from disposable cameras.
• Set aside time to sit down together and write thank you notes. Don’t forget to thank vendors and people who helped you along the way.
• Dry your bouquet or have it professionally preserved.
• Freeze the top layer of your wedding cake to eat on your first anniversary, or plan on ordering a smaller version of the same cake on that day.
• Celebrate your successful event, and enjoy being a newlywed!