18 to 9 Months Out
- Finalize booking your vendors!
- Send out “Save The Dates”
- Create your gift registry – choose at least 3 retailers
- Reserve hotel blocks for out of town guests – Choose 2-3 hotels with different price points near the reception venue
- Start planning a honeymoon
- Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses
6 to 9 Months Out
- Finalize booking your vendors!
- Photographer
- Floral Designer
- Cake Designer
- DJ/Entertainment
- Invitations/stationery designer
- Transportation
- Send out “Save The Dates”
- Create your gift registry – choose at least 3 retailers
- Reserve hotel blocks for out of town guests – Choose 2-3 hotels with different price points near the reception venue
- Start planning a honeymoon
- Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses
3 to 5 Months Out
- Book rehearsal location & rehearsal dinner venues and create your rehearsal dinner guest list
- Finalize rentals – Talk to your production contact, planner, or caterer about event rentals – linen, furniture, etc.
- Finalize cake details, type, place order
- Schedule dress fitting
- Reserve men’s formal wear
- Schedule hair & makeup appointments for your wedding party
- Tie up loose ends with:
- Guest list – finish collecting email addresses in your spreadsheet
- Invitations – finalize wording, consider other stationary: programs,
- menu cards, place cards, thank you cards, etc
- Ceremony readings & vows / Reception timeline: dinner, toasts, first
- dance, etc.
- Catering details
- Send out event schedule to all vendors
- Purchase wedding rings
- Check that all your documents are up-to-date for your honeymoon
- Plan your wedding shower
2 Months Out
- Send out invitations
- Research marriage license requirements
- Check with your vendors to ensure that they have everything they need
- Remind wedding party to make sure everything they need is ordered/purchased
- Write/send out thank-you cards for wedding shower gifts
1 Month Out
- Enter RSVP’s into your spreadsheet – Contact those that have not yet replied
- Send out rehearsal dinner invites
- Schedule your final dress fitting! (Don’t forget to bring your shoes)
- Finalize:
- Vows & Readings with your Officiant
- Song list for DJ/Band during each portion of your wedding
- Photo shot list with your photographer
- Timeline for day-of ceremony & reception
- Pick up your wedding rings
- Make sure you have all of the details
- Guest book
- Unity candle
- Toasting flutes
- Cake servers
- Gift card collector and anything else you plan to incorporate
- Purchase thank you gifts for your wedding party
- Send out final payments to venue/vendors
- Send final guest count to caterer & venue
- Make seating chart
- Send driving directions to transportation vendor
- Finalize Bar Contract and send Payment
Week of Wedding
- Confirm all final payments received!
- Confirm arrival times for vendors, guests, and wedding party
- Pick up your gown!
- Put together a Bridal Emergency Kit (bobby pins, travel hairspray, fashion tape, sewing kit, deodorant, lipstick/lip gloss, etc.)
- Pack for your honeymoon (don’t forget to check the weather!)
- Pamper yourself a little… You deserve it! Schedule a massage or facial
Day Before
- Pack day-of bag (Button down shirt so you don’t mess up your hair, shoes, jewelry, wedding rings, marriage license, emergency kit, etc.)
- Print off and read over your Wedding Day Checklist PDF
- Appoint someone to gather gifts/belongings/flower bouquets etc.
- Organize tip envelopes for vendors
- Get a mani/pedi
- Enjoy rehearsal & rehearsal dinner (don’t get carried away with drinks!)
- Take a deep breath
- Get a good night’s rest!
