Guest Author - Tonya Callihan

Planning a wedding can be a huge struggle, it can be stressful, and it can be irritating. Did I call the caterer? Did I arrange for a gown fitting? And so many other questions running through your mind. I bet you have a million lists made up and you aren’t sure if you’ve covered one item on any of your lists. Or maybe you aren’t sure what you have to plan and what someone else must plan for you. Unless you hire a bridal consultant you are pretty much on your own, with the occasional help from family and friends.

I have taken information from http://www.marthastewart.com/ and http://www.rexcraft.com/ and my personal knowledge and made the below checklist. I will guide you from one year until your wedding up until a month after your wedding.

1 year until wedding:

Set the wedding date
Decide on wedding style
Determine your budget
Meet with those sharing wedding expenses to discuss financial responsibilities
Reserve ceremony and reception sites
Choose attendants
Begin making a guest list
Order a memory album and begin writing down your memories and saving mementos
Send save-the-date cards to everyone on your guest list
Register for wedding gifts
Meet with your officiant
Meet with and reserve:
Caterer
Wedding cake baker
Florist
Ceremony musicians
Reception band or DJ
Photographer/videographer
Shop for and order:
Wedding gown
Headpiece and veil
Undergarments
Jewelry
Shoes

6-9 months before wedding
Have your engagement photos taken
Submit engagement photo and announcement to your local paper
Decide on honeymoon location and make all necessary reservations
Shop for and order bridesmaids’ attire:
Dresses
Shoes
Accessories
Finalize men’s formal wear and place orders
Discuss wedding color scheme with mothers so they can coordinate their attire
Attend parties and showers given in your honor
Purchase a supply of thank you notes and keep up with writing them
Experiment with hairstyles
Make appointments for wedding-day hairstyles and beauty treatments

4-6 months before wedding
Arrange for and attend gown fittings
Finalize the guest list
Reserve accommodations for guest
Select and order wedding bands
Select and order wedding stationery:
Invitations
Announcements
Envelopes and seals
Response cards
Reception cards
Informal cards
Thank you notes
Select and order ceremony necessities:
Unity candle
Aisle runner
Pew bows
Ring bearer pillow
Flower girl basket
Garter
Guest book and pen
Select and order reception necessities:
Place cards
Napkins
Matchbooks and notepads
Favors
Toasting glasses
Serving pieces
Cake top
Decorations
Centerpieces

3 months before wedding
Begin addressing and assembling invitations
Have an assembled invitation weighed to determine postage; purchase postage
Arrange for wedding-day transportation
Plan the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Purchase rehearsal dinner invitations
Finalize honeymoon plans and confirm all reservations and paperwork needed

2 months before wedding
Finalize arrangements with wedding vendors:
Caterer
Wedding cake bakers
Florist
Ceremony musicians
Reception band or DJ
Photographer/videographer
Mail invitations to arrive six weeks before the wedding date
Keep track of response cards received
Finalize ceremony order with officiant
Order wedding programs
Purchase appreciation gifts for attendants
Purchase wedding gift for fiancé
Work on reception seating arrangement
Prepare place cards
Address and stamp wedding announcements to be mailed the day of the wedding
Mail rehearsal dinner invitations
Take care of financial and legal details:
Joint bank account
Insurance policies and beneficiaries
Wills
Prenuptial agreement (if desired)
Gather forms for making name change
Write your wedding vows
Write your toasts and speeches

1 month before the wedding
Get your marriage license
“Rehearse” your wedding hairstyle
Have final fittings for wedding gowns
Remind bridesmaids to attend gown fittings
Keep track of wedding gifts received and thank you notes you’ve written
Confirm duties with wedding helpers:
Personal attendant
Setup crew and decorators
Readers
Flower pinners
Guest book attendant
Gift table attendant
Host and hostess
Punch, cake and coffee servers
Cleanup crew

1 week before wedding
Confirm all services and reservations
Confirm arrangements with sites
Deliver final guest count to caterer and site
Pack for your wedding night
Pack items for the ceremony and reception sites
Pack for your honeymoon
Pick up wedding gown; check for fit
Have groom pick up formal wear; check for fit
Have attendants pick up attire and formal wear; check for fit
Assemble a wedding-day emergency kit
Get plenty of rest so you’ll look your best!

Wedding Day
Enjoy yourself
Don’t over think details
And remember that this is your wedding day

One month after wedding
Have all thank you notes written and mailed out



If you have any more questions or comments about wedding planning please feel free to email me through contact or jump over to the forums.