Countdown! What to do and when to do it

courtesy Michael Fisk

12+ Months

• Envision your wedding style and color scheme. Make an inspiration board from your favorite magazines.
• Get organized! Start a file or binder for all the wedding-related paperwork, ideas, business cards and brochures. Use our checklist to stay on top of all of your to-dos.
• Work out your budget and discuss who’s going to pay for what.
• Interview planners and hire, if needed.
• Decide on your wedding size and discuss the guest list with your fiancé and families. Remember the best way to cut cost is reduce your guest list.
• Choose your wedding party, including bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers and honored roles.
• Pick a wedding date and time. Finalize it after checking with key guests (parents, bridal party…), potential venues and officiants.
• Reserve the officiant, ceremony and reception sites.
• Schedule a formal engagement photo sitting.
• Begin researching photographers, florists, caterers, bakers and bands/DJs.
• Start looking at dresses in magazines and on websites.
• Have an engagement party. Set a date, draft a guest list, pick a venue and order invitations.

10 Months

• Nail down ceremony structure and requirements with your officiant.
• Register for gifts.
• Interview photographers and videographers, florists and musicians. You don’t need to make specific plans yet, but you should review their work and make sure it suits your style. Then make a deposit to save the date. Adjust your budget after getting estimates if needed.
• Interview caterers and bakers (as in, schedule some tastings!); book one.
• Finalize the guest list (after checking with both sets of parents).
• If you’re having a destination wedding, order your save-the-dates so they’ll be ready to send 6 to 8 months before the wedding.

8 Months

• Reserve tables, chairs and any other rental equipment.
• Find and hire a lighting specialist (if you’re using one.)
• Narrow your dress choices, pick one and place your order.
• Choose the bridesmaid dresses and make sure your girls order them.
• Reserve a hotel block near the reception site for out-of-town guests.
• Interview bakers and book one.
• Create a wedding website. Include info about your wedding, surrounding events and registry.
• Order your save-the-dates so they’ll be ready to send at least 4 months before the wedding. TIP: Order your invites at the same time and cross one more item of your to-do list.
• Plan and finalize the reception menu and how it will be served (sit-down, buffet, appetizers) with your caterer.
• Discuss honeymoon destinations. If you’re going abroad make sure your passport is current as well as any visas or vaccinations that may be required for exotic locations.
• Finalize flower ideas with florist.
• Book ceremony musicians; start working with a song list.
• Consider purchasing wedding insurance.
• Submit your engagement announcement to newspapers (click here to go to the Yakima Herald-Republic).

6 Months

• Send out save-the-dates. Order invites (if you haven’t already).
• Grooms: Decide what you and your groomsmen will wear and give them all the ordering info. If you’re renting a tux, get measured for it. Also buy shoes, stays, cuff links, a pocket square and any other accessories.
• Order the wedding rings; send them out to be engraved if you’d like.
• Make sure the rehearsal dinner site is booked and give the host a guest list. Book venues for any other gatherings, such as a day-after brunch.
• Book a hotel for your wedding night.
• Choose your wedding cake design and flavors (not without tasting them all first, of course!).
• Think about your ceremony décor like extra flowers or an aisle runner.

4 Months

• Begin your pre-wedding beauty routine.
• Book hair and makeup professionals for the day-of and schedule trials.
• Book a spa treatment, manicure and pedicure for the day before. Book a facial for 4 or more days before.
• Make or buy favors and a guest “book.”
• Brides: Schedule fittings for your dress and buy lingerie, shapewear, a veil and shoes in time for the first one.
• Order shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids.
• Book day-of transportation for you, your wedding party and guests.
• Pick up invites; address them yourselves or take the envelopes to a calligrapher with the final guest list.
• Discuss ceremony order, readings and songs with the officiant. Schedule appointments for religious or premarital counseling if necessary.
• Plan the ceremony, reception, master of ceremonies, music and timetables.
• Discuss playlists with your musicians and/or DJ, including a do-not-play list.

2 Months

6 Weeks

• Apply for your marriage license (make sure it doesn’t expire before the wedding.)
• Attend a dress fitting with your shoes and undergarments.
• Finish, proofread and print ceremony programs if you didn’t order them from a stationer.
• Meet with your photographer/videographer and supply a list of special guests and moments you want captured.
• Pick up wedding rings (check inscriptions before leaving the store).
• Fill out paperwork if you’re changing your name.
• Work out the day-of timeline and details; confirm delivery and setup times with the vendors and venue; relay day-of assignments.
• Confirm travel arrangements and wedding party logistics.
• Call guests who haven’t RSVP’d yet.
• Have your hair cut and colored if desired.

2 Weeks

• Send the final guest count to your caterer and baker; confirm the menu. Stock the bar.
• Confirm that vendors will have access to reception site and give site manager a list of requests from vendors.
• Break in your shoes by wearing them around the house.
• Finalize the seating chart and pass it on to your caterer, location manager and/or wedding planner.
• Put together a list of vendors’ phone numbers to have on hand for the day-of and distribute it to vendors, planner, bridal party and family.
• Grooms: Pick up your tux and try it on to make sure it fits. Get a haircut.
• Prepare your toasts and rehearsal dinner speeches to thank friends and family and confirm with guests who you expect to give toasts.
• Confirm all honeymoon reservations and begin packing.
• Go for your final dress fitting.

1 Week

• Pick up your dress.
• Confirm the vendor details and arrival times.
• Give the ceremony readings to those doing them.
• Finish packing for the honeymoon and wedding night.
• Delegate wedding day tasks — someone to be in charge of gifts and cards, someone to cut the cake.
• Send a timeline and list of jobs to the bridal party. Include every member’s contact information.
• Assemble envelopes with tips and final payment for vendors.
• Assemble and distribute welcome bags.

1 Day

• Reconfirm all pickup times and locations.
• Go for a manicure and pedicure and spa treatment. (Do waxings or facials no fewer than 4 days before.)
• Hold the rehearsal and dinner with your officiant and wedding party. Give attendants their gifts at dinner. Give marriage license to officiant.
• Gather your dress, veil, shoes and jewelry. Put together an emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, etc. …).
• Drop off favors, guest book and pen at the reception site.
• Drop off cerermony accessories and décor at the ceremony site.
• Pay and/or talk to vendors about how final balances will be paid.
• Get some much-needed sleep — if you can!

Wedding Day

• Eat small, light meals.
• Do your hair and makeup; get dressed 30 minutes before the photographer’s arrival.
• Knock ‘em dead! Smile, relax and enjoy the day!
• Make time to exchange gifts and a kiss with your new husband.
• We can’t stress this enough: EAT!!!

Day after

• Take gown and veil to be preserved; dry-clean groom’s tux or suit.
• Send gifts to parents.

Filed under Planning Help