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The Planning Checklist:
Engagement
- Announce engagement to family
- Set the wedding date
- Buy engagement ring(s)
(Diamond
engagement rings are here. Narrow your results by clicking
on your price range or a retailer in the left column.)
- Choose photographer and have engagement photo taken
- Publish public engagement announcement
Wedding Planning Timeline
12 Months Before the Wedding
(or as soon as possible)
- Buy a dated planner or make a binder with full-sized pockets and room for
notes.
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Set up a wedding Website or blog
- Decide type and size of wedding budget
- Who will pay each expense
- Level of formality / time of day
- Number of guests
- Select wedding party
- Maid/matron of honor and bridesmaids
- Best man and groomsmen
- Flower girl & ring bearer
- Ushers
- Begin developing guest list and headcount
- Reserve wedding and reception locations
- Select, reserve, and confirm wedding professionals and
vendors
- Officiate or clergy
- Caterer
- Baker for cake
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Florist
- Band or DJ
- Miscellaneous decorative and other rentals
Six to 12 Months Before the Wedding
- Choose and order
wedding bands
- Choose wedding colors
- Shop for and order or reserve wedding party attire
-
Bridal gown,
veil, headpiece,
shoes
-
Groom's tuxedo,
shirt,
cummerbund /
vest, tie,
shoes
- Bridesmaid's and flower girl's gowns and shoes
- Groomsmen's and ring bearer's tuxedo, shirt, cummerbund
/ vest, tie, shoes
- Parents' dresses and suits
- Finalize guest list
- Register for gifts
- Order and send
save the date cards
- Choose/design and order printed wedding products
- Reserve wedding-night room
- Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
- Plan honeymoon
- airline reservations
- room reservations
- update passport if needed
Four to Six Months Before the Wedding
- Arrange bride's, bridesmaids', and mothers' dress fittings
- Research wedding license requirements
- Plan rehearsal dinner
- Choose and order wedding party gifts
- parents/grandparents
- bridesmaids/groomsmen
- flower girl/ring bearer
- Book limousine or other transportation for ceremony and
reception
- Place orders for ceremony and reception
- ceremony and reception flowers
- ceremony and reception decorations
-
favors or do-it-yourself supplies
- cake
- choose menu
- Confirm all bookings in writing
- ceremony venue
- clergy/officiate
- reception venue
- caterer
- photographer
- videographer
- entertainment
Two to Four Months Before the Wedding
- Address invitations
- Finalize bookings
- guest hotel rooms
- rehearsal dinner reservation
- honeymoon reservations
- Make beauty appointments for bride and wedding party
- Finalize ceremony details
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Two to Four Months Before the Wedding (continued)
- Finalize reception details
- Make appointments for blood tests and immunizations (if
traveling out of the country)
- Buy marriage license
One to Two Months Before the Wedding
- Send wedding invitations
- Send
rehearsal dinner invitations
- Make sure wedding Website or blog is up to date
- rehearsal dinner time/date
- hotel information for out-of-town guests
- ceremony information
- reception information
- Book final fittings and assure accessories are finalized for
women in bridal party
- veil, headpieces, shoes, jewelry
- bride, bridesmaids, mothers
- Finalize tuxedos and accessories for the men
- vests/cummerbunds, ties, shoes, cuff links
- groom, groomsmen, fathers
- Confirm rings have arrived and fit correctly
- Send wedding announcements to local paper
- Arrange for
official name change
Two to Four Weeks Before the Wedding
-
Practice walking
and
breaking in wedding shoes
- Get hair cut and styled as for wedding day
- Confirm all deposits and balances due are paid to vendors
- ceremony venue
- clergy/officiate
- reception venue
- caterer
- baker
- florist
- photographer
- videographer
- entertainment
- transportation
- rentals
- Confirm honeymoon reservations
- Address wedding announcements
- Keep detailed list of gifts received and send thank you
cards as they arrive
- Confirm all gifts for wedding party have arrived
Two Days to One Week Before the Wedding
- Review final details, including guest count, with all
vendors
- Assure wedding party has complete, correctly-fitting attire
and accessories
- bride
- bridesmaids
- flower girl
- mothers
- groom
- groomsmen
- ring bearer
- fathers
- Organize cash fees and tips into envelopes
- clergy/officiate
- driver(s)
- bartender
- other
- Pack for wedding night and honeymoon
- Arrange for mail and newspapers to be held
- Buy traveler's checks
- Gather everything needed for rehearsal and ceremony
- Put together a
bridal emergency kit (mending supplies,
energy bars, water, make-up, hairspray, hairpins) and assign
someone to assure it is close by on the wedding day
Day Before the Wedding
- Give maid of honor and best man wedding bands
- Assign trusted people to important tasks
- marriage license to officiate/clergy
- tips and remaining payments paid
- miscellaneous items to ceremony/reception
- gifts moved after reception
- coordinate wedding party transportation to/from ceremony
- rentals returned
- Get manicure and last-minute beauty treatments
- Give wedding party gifts
- Attend rehearsal and dinner
- Go to bed early
Day of the Wedding
- Eat breakfast
- Allow three hours for hair, makeup, and getting dressed
- Make use of the emergency kit: drink water and snack on
energy bars throughout the day
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The Budget Calculator:
Your total wedding budget, how many guests you will have, and
what aspects of your wedding are important to you will all play a
part in what you will spend on each category. Here are some general
guidelines:
Wedding Planning Tools 1-2%
Wedding Stationary 3-5%
Wedding Rings 2-3%
Wedding Couple's Ensembles and Appearance
10-15%
Bride and Groom Attire
Personal Health, Fitness, and Beauty
- Trainer, gym, or workout equipment
- Nutrition or diet plan
- Haircut and color
- Manicure and pedicure
- Wedding-day make up
- Wedding-day hairstyle
Reception and Ceremony Expenses 50-60%
Decorations and Flowers
Ceremony Services
- Marriage License
- Location Fee
- Officiant
Reception Services
- Reception venue rental
- Equipment rental
- Servers, Valet, Bartender
Food and Drink
- Caterer
- Wedding cake
- Beverages and bar
Photographs and Video 8-10%
- Photographer Services
- Photo Package
- Videographer Services
- Video Package
Music or Entertainment 6-8%
- Ceremony Vocalist
- Ceremony Musician
- Reception Band or D.J.
Gifts 2-3%
- Bridesmaid
- Groomsman
- Flower girl and ring bearer
- Ushers
- Parents
Transportation 2-3%
- Guest parking or shuttles
- Limousine rental
- Car rentals
Other 3-5%
Honeymoon Costs vary widely
- Air fare
- Car rental
- Hotel / resort room
- Extras
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