Wedding Checklist

 12+ Months

•  Decide on a budget and hash out who's contributing.
• Make sure to insure your engagement ring.
• Start interviewing caterers.

9-11 Months

• If you're having an engagement party, set a date, draft a guest list, and purchase your invitations.
• Begin working on a preliminary wedding guest list and decide on your wedding's approximate size.
• Contact newspapers to announce your engagement (you may need to have an engagement photo taken as well).
• Decide on a caterer. Hash out a rough price per head and begin working on a menu.
• Sign your caterer contract and send in a deposit.
• Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (such as counseling).
• Book reception band or DJ, sign the contract, and send a deposit.

6-8 Months

• Reserve photographer and/or videographer, decide on a package, sign contract, and send deposit.
• Brides: Start shopping for bridesmaid dresses.
• Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services.
• Register for your wedding gifts, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower or engagement party as well.
• Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
• Purchase and send guests save-the-dates if your celebration is over a holiday weekend or at a faraway locale.
• Book a baker, choose your wedding cake design, and send a deposit.
• Brides: Order your gown. Make sure you've asked all the critical questions and your order contains the correct information.
• Book ceremony musicians and send deposit.
• Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.
• Finalize your invitation wording.
• Finalize menu and service details with caterer.
• Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes).
• Research and purchase wedding insurance,

4-5 Months

• Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist.
• Reserve tables, chairs, and/or other rental equipment you'll need (unless caterer or site is taking care of it).
• Book a calligrapher (if you are using one).
• Book rehearsal-dinner site.
• Grooms: Decide on your groomsmen's attire.
• Book your honeymoon flights (if not using frequent flyer miles) and make all your other travel reservations.

2-3 Months

• Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.
• Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement.
• Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box).
• Brides: Make sure your attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories.
• Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
• Brides: Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.
• Grooms: If you are renting a tux, visit the formalwear shop to get measured.
• Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the two-month mark).
• Talk to people you'd want to do special performances or readings as part of the ceremony.
• Brides: Confirm delivery date for your gown and schedule fittings.
• Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, auto, homeowner's, and life insurance.
• Arrange wedding-day transportation for you, your wedding party, and guests (as needed).

6 weeks

• Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
• Order liquor, wine and/or champagne if they're not included in the catering contract.
• Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own.
• Begin writing the ceremony program if you are having one.
• Submit your wedding announcement to newspapers (if you so desire).
• Research local marriage license requirements.
• Buy a guest book (and a nice pen).

3-4 Weeks

• Send rehearsal dinner invitations.
• Do trial runs of hair and makeup; schedule wedding-day beauty appointments.
• Finish and print ceremony programs.
• Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests (if necessary). Check when the license expires.
• Work on a list of "must-play" (and "must-not play") songs for your DJ or band.
• Confirm wedding-night and honeymoon reservations.
• Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
• Finalize any special preferences, readings, or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.

1-2 weeks

• Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
• Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner. It’s okay to do this, you need a final head count!
• Start putting together the seating plan if you're having a seated reception meal.
• Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards (give typed names to the calligrapher if you're using one).
• Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.
• Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash) brought to the party.
• Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency.
• Put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes and give to a designated family or friend to distribute on the wedding day.

Day Before

• Rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party.
• Brides: Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
• Drop off guest book and pen at the reception site.

Day Of

• Take a moment to thank your parents and tell them you love them -- this is a sweet but sad day for them.
• Relax, smile, and enjoy the day!

After the Wedding

• Arrange for a bridesmaid or mom to pick up your wedding dress and other personal belongings at the hotel after you depart.
• Freeze the top layer of the wedding cake to be eaten at your first anniversary celebration (save some cocktail napkins, too!).
• Make sure all vendor bills have been paid in full.
• Within two months of your wedding, set aside some romantic evenings to write that stack of thank-you notes.