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Wedding Planning Checklist

12 Months Before

  • Attend the consultation with

  • Bride & Groom Have Bride & Groom complete Wedding Registration Form

  • Have Bride & Groom select bridal party and other attendants (Rule of thumb is one usher per 50 guests)

  • Provide Bride & Groom with wedding etiquette information (as required/needed)

  • Have Bride & Groom finalize wedding date

  • Prepare budget and review it with Bride & Groom

  • Book ceremony venue and pay deposit

  • Book reception venue and pay deposit

  • Determine if venues require proof of liability insurance, and if so, make arrangements

  • Have Bride & Groom prepare list of guests to attend

  • Coordinate engagement party (if requested)

 

 

10 - 11 Months Before

  • Determine customs and/or traditions, personalized vows, readings and/or exchanges the Bride & Groom would like to include in the ceremony (lighting of unity candle, flowers to mother, family member, etc.)

  • Have Bride & Groom meet with you and the wedding officiant

  • Book caterer

  • Book musicians for the ceremony (soloist, organist, etc...)

  • Book musicians for the reception (band, DJ, etc..)

  • Book photographer

  • Book videographer

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8-9 Months Before

  • Book florist

  • Book cake designer/baker

  • Book transportation for wedding and related events

  • Have Bride & Groom sign up for premarital counseling (if required or desired by couple)

  • Have Bride select and purchase wedding dress, headpiece/veil, shoes, lingerie, and accessories

  • Have Bride select bridesmaid(s) and flower girl(s) dresses and accessories

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6-7 Months Before

  • Make arrangements to have bridesmaid(s) and flower girl(s) fitted with dresses

  • Have mother(s) of the Bride & Groom select dress

  • Have Bride & Groom sign up with a gift registry (up to three registries) and select desired gifts

  • Book calligrapher

  • Book rentals such as tents, tables, chairs, linens, china, glassware, cake knife, toasting glasses, candelabras, etc... (as required or requested)

  • Have Bride & Groom send any required deposits to vendors and suppliers

  • Remind Bride & Groom to book their honeymoon and update passports, obtain visas and get any necessary inoculations

  • Reserve rooms for out-of-town guests (if requested)

  • Review all vendor/supplier contracts and provide advice to the Bride & Groom

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5 Months Before

  • Order invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards, etc...

  • Select and order all flowers

  • Plan the reception including finalizing theme, décor, etc... Select favors, table centerpieces, decorations, candles, etc...

  • Have Bride & Groom finalize ceremony music selections

  • Have Bride & Groom finalize reception music selections

  • Provide music requests and lists to all musicians

  • Have Bride & Groom finalize wedding invitation list

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4 Months Before

  • Review budget and checklists with Bride & Groom to ensure everything is on track

  • Remind Bride & Groom to select their wedding rings and arrange for engravings

  • Have Groom select and be fitted for tuxedo or an alternative formal wear and shoes

  • Have groomsmen (and ring bearer and ushers, if applicable) fitted for tuxedos or alternative formal wear including shoes

  • Meet caterer (with the Bride & Groom) for tasting and review menu options

  • Order wedding cake and Groom’s cake (if desired)

  • Have Bride & Groom arrange for MC and other speakers, such as individuals making toasts at the reception

  • Have Bride & Groom select and arrange with individuals to handle guest book

  • Have Bride & Groom select and arrange with individuals to hand out programs

  • Talk to Maid of Honor & Best Man about planning a bridal shower and a bachelorette / bachelor party

  • Have Bride & Groom book honeymoon suite for the wedding night

  • Have Bride book suite to get ready in on the day of the wedding (if applicable)

  • Have Bride & Groom arrange for planning of a rehearsal dinner and day after wedding brunch (if desired)

3 Months Before

  • Have Bride make all appointments for hair, makeup, and manicure/pedicure

  • Have Bride & Groom get blood tests and/or have medical examinations (if required)

  • Provide caterer with food/menu and beverage selections.

  • Plan additional liquor needs (if required)

  • Have Bride & Groom select any readings (and readers) for the ceremony

  • Have Bride & Groom meet with the officiant to review ceremony and finalize vows

  • Determine what customs and/or traditions the Bride & Groom would like to include at the reception, such as formal cake cutting, toasts, etc...

  • Finalize time and location of rehearsal

  • Prepare maps, sets of directions, information sheets, and hotel recommendations for outof-town guests

  • Prepare wedding program, wedding weekend itinerary, and wedding day schedule

  • Obtain wedding invitations list from couple

  • Provide wedding list to calligrapher

  • Meet with stationer to have invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards, itineraries, programs, menus, and any accessories printed/made

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2 Months Before

  • Pick up and mail out wedding invitations (along with RSVP cards, etc...)

  • Contact booked venues to confirm arrangements and arrange with Bride & Groom to pay balances due (as required)

  • Have Bride and bridesmaids attend follow-up wedding attire fittings

  • Prepare information and instruction sheets for all members of the bridal party and for all vendors

  • Have Bride prepare guest list for shower and give to the Maid of Honor

  • Have Groom prepare guest list for Groom’s get together and give to the Best Man

  • Have Bride select going away outfit

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1 Month Before

  • Have Bride & Groom obtain marriage license (within legal time period, varies by state)

  • Track gifts received and send out thank you cards (if requested to handle this) for Bride & Groom

  • Have Bride & Groom pick up wedding rings and ensure proper fit

  • Provide the photographer with list of photos to be taken

  • Provide instructions to the videographer

  • Confirm music lists and arrangements with the musicians

  • Confirm rental requirements and drop-off times

  • Pick up any ceremony or reception accessories not provided by the rental company or caterer (candles, goblets, ring pillow, guest book, cake knife, etc...)

  • Have Bride & Groom purchase gifts for bridal attendants, parents, ushers, and each other

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3 Weeks Before

  • Follow up with guests who have not sent in an RSVP

  • Prepare seating plan for reception

  • Prepare name plates/seating cards

  • Have Bride go in for trial hairstyle and make-up appointment(s) and confirm wedding day appointments

  • Have Bride & Groom prepare and practice a wedding reception toast/speech

2 Weeks Before

  • Provide wedding day schedule and instructions to all appropriate vendors

  • Phone to confirm all arrangements with vendors and suppliers one more time

  • Have Bride and bridesmaids pick up their gowns/ dresses and all accessories (including veil and/ or headpiece for Bride, shoes, jewelry, etc...)

  • Have couple pick up tickets, itinerary, traveler’s checks, etc... for honeymoon

  • Have Bride arrange for bridesmaids luncheon and give gifts to attendants

  • Have Groom arrange groomsmen get together and give gifts to attendants

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1 Week Before

  • Provide caterer with final numbers for reception

  • Confirm the rehearsal date and time with all members of the bridal party and all others assisting with the wedding (such as officiant, parents, photographer, videographer, musicians, etc...)

  • Meet with Bride & Groom to review all wedding plans and to get the marriage license from them

  • Find out from Bride & Groom where wedding gifts that are received on day of wedding are to be dropped off

  • Obtain from Bride & Groom the final checks for vendors’ outstanding fees (such as musicians, officiant, caterer, florist, transportation, and your fees, etc...)

  • Prepare envelopes addressed to various vendors to pay final fees

  • Have Bride & Groom pack for their honeymoon including clothes, toiletries, tickets, passports, visas, maps, guidebooks, traveler’s checks, money, etc...

  • Have Bride & Groom pack their going away outfits, wedding night, and next day clothes and toiletries

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2 Days Before

  • Have Groom and his attendants pick up tuxedoes/formal wear

  • Have Bride and Groom give gifts to parents and each other

  • Pack all items you need to bring to the wedding ceremony (such as guest book and pen, marriage license, ceremony programs, candles, emergency kit, special ceremony or cultural items, etc...)

  • Drop off all reception favors, table centerpieces, cake knife, toasting goblets, candles, etc... at reception venue so they can be set up prior to the start of the reception

  • Have couple confirm early meeting times with bridal party for the wedding day

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Day Of Wedding (Prior to Ceremony)

  • Bring your charged cellphone along with you for the day

  • Bring your checklists, schedule, list of vendors and important contact information

  • Attend to Bride, as required (make sure she eats!)

  • Oversee and coordinate with venue manager, musicians, photographer, videographer, officiant, florist, decorator, and transportation.

  • Bring marriage license, guest book and pens, programs, and candles (and set everything up)

  • Bring an emergency kit, which will include: a small sewing kit, safety pins, bobby pins, antacid, tissue paper, a brush, hair spray, double-sided tape, two sliver rings, earring backs, etc...) all items are necessary in case a situation arises

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After the Wedding (If Requested)

  • Drop off wedding dress at cleaners

  • Return Groom’s formal wear attire

  • Arrange for pressing of wedding flowers

  • Send out thank you cards for gifts

  • Send out change of address cards (if needed)

  • Ensure that Bride & Groom receive marriage license

  • Send congratulations & “thank you for your business” cards to the couple

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Day Before

  • Attend and direct rehearsal

  • Hand out wedding schedule, itineraries, and instructions to all members of the bridal party and any others involved with the wedding such as ushers, parents, photographer, videographer, officiant, musicians, etc...

  • Provide seating details to ushers

  • Bring ring bearer’s pillow and provide to individual responsible for the ring bearer

  • Have Groom give Bride’s ring to Best Man (or to you, for safekeeping, if a young ring bearer is involved in the wedding)

  • Have Bride give Groom’s ring to Maid of Honor (or to you, for safekeeping, if a young ring bearer is involved in the wedding)

  • Oversee the decorating of the ceremony and reception venues

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Day Of Wedding (Ceremony and After)

  • Attend and oversee ceremony (including processional, recessional, and receiving line after ceremony) and provide supervision, guidance, support, assistance, instructions, or whatever may be required for the ceremony to run smoothly

  • Provide final payment checks to all ceremony vendors

  • Collect marriage license, candles, guest book and pens, extra programs, and any items left behind after the ceremony

  • Attend photo shoot after ceremony and coordinate with photographer

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Day Of Wedding (Reception)

  • Oversee and coordinate with venue manager, caterer, musicians, DJ, cake designer, photographer, videographer, etc...

  • Coordinate and oversee reception receiving line

  • Provide final payment checks to all of the reception vendors/suppliers

  • Coordinate first dance(s), cake cutting, bouquet throwing, garter toss, etc... (as requested)

  • Collect all wedding gifts, envelopes and cash received at reception and deliver them to predetermined location

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