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12
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Explore
Pre-Marital counseling from your local clergy or a professional
(Highly recommended even if you have been married before).
Also great for blending families. |
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Secure
your music for both the reception and wedding and pay the initial
deposit. |
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Time
to start a health and fitness plan with your significant other if
you haven’t already.
Not fun, but “we” have to do it. (Suggestion—Join a
club—Get an exercise partner).
Be sure to include kids if they are old enough.
This will be their big day also. |
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Shop
for wedding/engagement rings.
If you are blending families, be sure to select necklaces
to be engraved for the kids.
They will receive these when rings are exchanged. |
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Contact
caterer and pay the deposit.
VERY IMPORTANT – You’ll get a better deal. |
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Secure
and pay the deposit on your reception location.
If it’s an open area, make sure there is no fee!!! |
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Determine
who is going to pay for expenses.
Sometimes everyone contributing to the wedding fund at a
local bank is the most fun.
Of course, the money can only be drawn by both parties.
Be sure that money is placed in this account on a weekly
basis, even if it doesn’t seem like you need to and your wedding
is a long way away. |
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11
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Book
your photographer and pay the deposit. |
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Book
your wedding location and pay the deposit. |
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Time
to get the gowns started.
So be sure who your attendants, matron of honor and flower
girls are.
It is time for the couture to order the fabric for ALL THE
GOWNS.
So check everyone’s budget and decide on how much they
can afford for their gowns. (Please try to make sure these are
gowns that your attendants will be able to wear to another special
event).
I am sure you have a couple of those bridesmaids dresses in
your closest that you spent a whole lot of money on and wouldn’t
wear EVER again.
For a quote, get a general size of all your attendants and
yourself and contact Gowns by Kay—She will be able to give you a
very general quote on the cost of the gown if you know what you
want, or the fabric if you are not sure of the gown and can
provide some less expensive alternatives that will look just as
nice.
In some cases the full price is required for gowns.
Gowns by Kay only asks for a ½ deposit. |
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If
your dresses, headpieces, etc. are being delivered and a local
alteration shop will be doing your altering, now is the time to
make an appointment for a fitting—Plan on making the appointment
for about 2 months before the wedding. |
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Give
some thought to the reception and honeymoon while relaxing at the
movies with your special someone. |
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10
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Make
sure no one is feeling left out—Take the kids to the movies…Have
ice cream with someone you haven’t had time for, etc.
VERY IMPORTANT—RELAX. |
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Check
requirements for the marriage license. |
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If
you are handling your wedding yourself—Now is the time to
contact the florist—then call GOWNS BY KAY-- |
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Just
in case, it’s not too late to get a little pre-marital
counseling. |
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Now
is the time to reserve any wedding day rental equipment you will
need. This includes, but is not limited to, tables, chairs, china,
silverware, gazebo, etc.
and pay that deposit. (Please note:
Sometimes rental places want all the money up front
be prepared). |
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9
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Start
your gift registry – Best bet, the net.
All major stores have a wedding registry web site.
I suggest only one or two local department stores.
That way you’ll get gifts from people who can’t come
but want you to have a gift you want. |
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Be
sure to select your gift choices.
You for sure don’t want 120 blenders, or 120 dinner
plates. |
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Make
sure the wedding guest list is nearly complete and you have all
the addresses. |
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Now
is the time to make arrangements for out of town guests.
(If they are relatives, ask mom now, if it’s OK for them
to stay that their house).
Most motels/hotels give a discount if you guarantee a
certain number of rooms.
If you have a huge number of out of town guests coming GET
THE RATE and let the guests know how much to send. (Ah finally,
something you don’t have to pay for). Unless of course you are
just dying to pay for some extra stuff. |
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7
TO 8 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Because
this is NOT FUN we are going to do it over two months… |
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Time
to make reservations for the honeymoon and pay the deposit. |
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Pay
off the wedding location. |
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Pay
off the reception location. |
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Pay
off music (this may be both the DJ and your harpist). |
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Pay
deposit on the cake. |
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Pay
deposit on transportation. |
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Pretty
much everybody you have talked to so far will have their hand out….Time
to pay….(Smile, it’ll make it easier, REALLY, Trust me on
this!) |
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6
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Finalize
the guest list. |
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Decide
and order favors (Please don’t try to make them yourself, or
make your family do it, just order them done) |
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Begin
your record of gifts received and keep thank you notes on hand so
you can send them immediately upon receipt of the gift.
Be sure to note in your record who gave you what. |
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Make
out the invitations—Be sure to indicate on the invitation
whether or not children are welcome.
If you are blending families, OF COURSE kids are welcome
and encourage your children to invite their friends too!!!
Just make sure you plan on kid activities.
A clown, a magician, a separate dance floor, games, etc. |
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5
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Time
to buy and freeze the mints. |
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Help
all the moms find and coordinate their outfits.
This may be a challenge if you are dealing with more than
one mom, but you can do it! |
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Sit
down with your significant other and review all the documents and
agreements you have made and paid deposits on.
I’ll bet he’ll find something you forgot. (Guys are
good at that). |
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4
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Have
professional engagement portraits taken.
If you are blending families be sure everybody is in the
photograph.
You’ll really enjoy in later years and everybody will
feel so special. |
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Time
to mail out the invitations, make sure you have included the RSVP
and, if you wish, include a wallet size photo of the engagement
photo. |
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3
MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Have
the attendants, matron of honor, and moms all fitted for their
gowns and outfits.
They will be paying for their own fitting so if they choose
to wait it is up to them, however insist they be fitted prior to
the wedding. |
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RSVPs
should begin to arrive.
Be sure to keep count for the caterer. |
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Guys,
time to go choose tuxes and accessories. |
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Arrange
and plan your rehearsal dinner. |
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Make
sure all of your wedding accessories have been received.
(Including church decorations and receptions decorations if
required) |
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Book
the hairdresser and makeup artist for your attendants. |
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Arrange
attendants and bridegrooms attendant’s parties. (This is to
thank them for their participation. |
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Buy
gifts for the attendants and grooms attendants.
The Matron and Patron of honor get a different gift
(nicer). |
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Finalize
all honeymoon plans and make final payment. |
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Guys,
time to go choose tuxes and accessories. |
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2
TO 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Brides
get your dress fitted and cleaned.
(A tip.
All dresses should be taken to the same cleaners and
cleaned at the same time, then no one’s will get lost). |
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Final
number of guests attending to the caterer. |
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Obtain
marriage license |
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Purchase
going away outfit |
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Make
sure your accessories are in order (rings, pillow, garters,
tossing bouquet, etc. |
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1
TO 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Finalize
arrangements with entertainers and provide them with a list of the
music you wish to be played at the reception and wedding and
during any special events such as first dance, fathers dance,
mothers dance, garter removal, bouquet toss, etc. |
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Pick
up wedding rings and make sure they fit properly.
If you have had them engraved, make sure it’s right
before you leave the store. |
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Contact
the guests who did not respond to your invitations. |
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5
TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Make
sure your marriage license is in order |
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Prepare
seating arrangements, (pew bows, lighting, etc.) |
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Purchase
travelers checks for the honeymoon and confirm the reservations. |
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Pack
your baggage for the honeymoon.
(Guys, this is not the time to smell your underwear and
decide if it’s clean enough for the trip. |
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Have
wedding ceremony rehearsal. |
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Have
wedding ceremony rehearsal dinner. |
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Instruct
your wedding party on what you would like them to do on the day of
the wedding. |
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Make
sure all wedding attire fits properly. |
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Give
the best man the amount the professionals are to be paid on the
day of the wedding. |
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Inform
your caterer of the total guest count. |
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Confirm
out-of-town guests have transportation and sleeping
accommodations. |
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Check
with florist and/or balloonist to make sure they will arrive when
scheduled. |
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1
TO 5 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING |
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Matron
of Honor and Bride spend the day at a spa and relax. |
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Everybody
get hair, makeup and mails done. |
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All
guys get haircuts and make sure everything fits. |
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Pay
off anyone you may have missed. |
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YOUR
WEDDING DAY |
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Relax,
enjoy yourself and remain calm!
Allow at least two to three hours for dressing. |
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Allow
plenty of time for the photographer to take pre-wedding pictures. |
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Remember
to bring the rings and marriage license |
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Make
sure all boutonnieres and bouquets have been distributed |
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Ushers
take their place and begin seating guests. |
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Mother
of the bride is normally seated first. |
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TAKE
A DEEP BREATH, DON’T WORRY, and SMILE. |
