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UPON ENGAGEMENT... Set dates for all traditional ceremonies/dowry discussions according to your culture. Select the date! Consider a date that will accommodate your family and friends, such as the school holiday months when kids are out of school and when most individuals plan their annual vacations. Also, when considering a date near a major holiday, keep in mind that most reception locations Choose wedding theme and style. Choice of theme and style of the wedding is what really speaks about you or your relationship. Invitations, favors, flowers and so on can all reflect your theme throughout the day. Determine your budget. The first consideration of the wedding is the budget. It becomes more important when the budget is small.Be realistic when creating the budget. Determine WHO is paying for the wedding: the bride's family, the Groom's family, the couple or a combination of both. Highlight the one or two items that will mean the most to the both of you and budget the other items around these one or two major items. Book the officiant. Make sure that whomever you want to marry you both is available. Reserve both the wedding and reception locations. Reserving the location of both your wedding ceremony and reception is one of the most important tasks that must be done once an engagement is announced. If the date of the wedding is in close proximity to a holiday, this task becomes even more pertinent. Hire the wedding consultant. If you are considering using a wedding consultant, conduct your interviews now. Make sure you choose a consultant who is not only professional and a member of an accredited wedding consultant association but someone who is amiable and easy to work with. Compile the guest list. Although this SHOULD be one of the fun aspects of planning a wedding, it often becomes the basis of many heated debates. Also, keep in mind that the length of the guest list is often in direct correlation with the budget. The larger the wedding and number of attendants, the greater the expense. Each additional guest means an extra invitation and meal. Select members of your wedding party. Honor your family and friends by selecting them to stand next to you both on your special day. 9 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR BEFORE THE WEDDING... Choose the caterer. If you are evaluating a caterer, make sure to sample their menu and personally meet with the caterer. Obtain references and Book the photographer. Don't take these professionals for granted! Good photographers are booked quickly! Ask the right questions and view their portfolio. Keep in mind that he/she is responsible for capturing the formal and candid moments of your day that will last a life time. Be picky! You should list all the pictures that you would like to have in your wedding album and agree with the photographer. In order to keep costs down, compare hourly fee prices versus package prices. Book the videographer. More and more couples are opting to capture their wedding day on celluloid in addition to photo paper. Again, ask the right questions and view some sample wedding videos. Make sure the videographer you interview will be the ACTUAL professional who will be there at your wedding. Hire the florist. Considered to comprise one of the biggest shares of the budget "pie." The florist makes it his/her job to assist you in color coordination and bouquet arrangements. Remember that flowers are seasonal so it is important to get the florist’s advice. Book the entertainment for both the ceremony and reception. Evaluate demo tapes of the entertainment whether it's a DJ, harpist, soloist, string quartet or live band. Make sure to discuss different music genres in their repertoire. Also, discuss which songs to play during the processional, ceremony and recessional. Order the wedding gown, veil, shoes and other accessories. The earlier you choose and order your gown, the better off you will be. You want to receive the wedding gown for final fitting weeks in advance... with time to spare.
4 to 6 MONTHS BEFORE... Shop and order wedding party dresses and tuxedos. If some members of the wedding party live far away, tailor shops and bridal shops in their area can take their measurements. Have each member of the wedding party mail their measurements to your bridal or tuxedo shop. Reserve rental equipment. If you are planning an outdoor ceremony and/or reception, make sure to reserve the tables, chairs and tents now. Order the wedding cake. This is the fun part! Shop the local bakers and make sure you sample their "sweet" perfections. Peruse their portfolios and consider referrals from others. Discuss the colors and design of the cake to match the look and formality of the wedding. Order wedding stationery. Includes wedding invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards, and place cards. Make honeymoon reservations. Make sure you have a current passport for international destinations. Make a doctor's appointment, if necessary. If your state requires a blood test, arrange the test now. Book transportation. Reserve any special transportation needed on the day of the wedding: limos, horse-drawn carriage, Rolls Royce, etc. Reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests. Most hotels will offer group discounts if you block/reserve several rooms for your out-of-town guests.
2 TO 3 MONTHS BEFORE... Finalize the guest list. Approximately 20% of your guest list will not be able to attend the wedding. Mail wedding invitations. Allow your guests enough time to make the necessary arrangements. 8 weeks for out-of-town guests and 6 weeks for local guests. Meet with caterer and/or banquet manager. Finalize the menu and room decorations. Meet with officiant. Discuss any special readings for the wedding ceremony. Make copies of these readings and forward to those who you have asked to do the reading so they have plenty of time to practice. Arrange gown final fitting. Make sure you bring along the shoes and lingerie that you will wear on your wedding day. You want to make sure EVERYTHING looks just right! Write your vows. It takes time to express your love for one another on paper. This is one of the best ways to add an individual touch to your wedding. Make sure you check with the person conducting the ceremony to ensure you include what must be said and carried out to make the wedding legal. Arrange rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner allows close family and friends from both sides to meet each other, some for the first time. The rehearsal dinner is usually a casual affair and never as formal an event as the actual wedding. You can host it at a family member's home, a small restaurant or banquet hall. Purchase wedding favors. Contrary to popular belief, wedding favors (the gifts that each guest takes home with her to remember the day) are not required. If you choose to provide these gifts to commemorate your event, there are many choices available. Think outside the picture frame and choose guest giveaways as clever and colourful as the rest of your day. Purchase wedding party gifts. You can thank your wedding attendants buy purchasing accessories they can wear on the day of the wedding such as cuff links, earrings or purses. Purchase the wedding bands. It can be something simple or absolutely extravagant. Most importantly, the wedding bands are the tangible expression of your love for one another.
1 MONTH BEFORE... Obtain the marriage license. You can usually obtain the license up to 30 days in advance. Gift for each other. Just to say "I love you." Purchase the guest book. Place the guest book at the entrance to the reception so that each one of your guests can write a special message. Organize wedding programs. More and more couples are creating programs that will be passed out before the wedding ceremony. The program outlines the ceremony's agenda, its readings and its participants. Most importantly, it can assist those guests who are not of the same religion or faith. Send wedding announcements to newspapers. Let the local newspapers announce your wedding. Arrange trial-runs. Meet with your hair stylist and/or make up artists for a run-through. Send out thank you notes. You may receive wedding gifts well before the actual wedding day. Not only is a "thank you" expected by the gift-giver but it also acknowledges the fact that you actually received the gift. MONTH OF THE WEDDING...THE FINAL SPRINT! Pick up wedding dress. Make sure the wedding dress is stuffed to preserve its shape and covered with a protective bag. Finalize seating assignments. Involve both sets of parents. They can inform you of any rifts between family and/or friends. Finalize the guest count. Inform caterer or banquet manager of the final guest count. Write speeches. A speech during the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception are both expected. A simple "thank you" for those who have shared in the day's festivities and who have come near and far to witness the love and commitment you have for one another should suffice. Address wedding announcements. Announcements are for those family and friends who were not able to attend the wedding. Make hair and make up appointment. Pack for the Honeymoon. Pack for the day after your wedding. If your reception is at a hotel or a bed and breakfast Confirm details with vendors. Secure details with florists, photographers, caterers, videographers, Pass out wedding day schedules. Make sure each wedding day participant is aware of the day's activities and their role. GET PLENTY OF REST SO YOU’LL LOOK YOUR BEST! Courtesy of Glass Slipper |
