Bridal Checklist; also Share Your Ideas & Stories

This handy checklist with a timeline that will help you keep your plans on track toward your goal of a wonderful beginning to a lifetime of memories.

At engagement, or 12–24 months before wedding

____ Announce your engagement to family, and then friends.

____ If you don’t already have it, go with your fiancé to the jeweler to select your engagement ring, or have it resized if needed.

____ Schedule sitting or have someone take engagement picture for announcement.

____ Prepare and send out newspaper/web announcement of your engagement.

____ Meet with both sets of parents. Set a budget, and agree on who will pay for what.

____ Attend a bridal show to help you view your options and get new ideas.

____ Determine what style of wedding you want and how formal it should be.

____ Meet with clergy. Arrange for pre-marital counseling or classes suggested by clergy.

____ Schedule an appointment with your family physician or OB/Gyn for a physical examination, any inoculations you may need, and assistance with family planning, if needed.

____ Pick a ceremony site. Make alternative plans if the wedding is to be held outside.

____ Set the date and time of wedding and reception. Note: You will need to coordinate your ceremony site, reception site, date and time of wedding, budget and size of the wedding before any other definite plans can be made.

____ Ask both families to compile guest lists and give them a deadline to complete them.

____ Choose your attendants and establish with them what costs they will pay and what you will provide.

____ Have your fiancé select his groomsmen and set up the same ground rules with them.

____ Select the wedding consultant, if you plan to use one, or ask a trusted friend or relative to assist you.

____ Select the reception site.

____ Select your color scheme.

____ Select a photographer.

____ Select a videographer.

____ Select a website designer if you plan to have a personal wedding web site.

____ Select music for the ceremony.

____ Select a disc jockey or band.

____ Select a florist.

____ Arrange for limousine service or other transportation.

____ Select caterer, if it’s not provided by the reception site.

____ Select a baker for wedding cake, if not provided by reception caterer.

____ Select a rental company for any chairs, tables, candelabra, etc. that you might need.

____ Get information from travel agents on possible honeymoon locations.

____ Apply for your passport, and remind your fiancé to do so as well. Note: It is wise to apply for a passport even if you are unsure whether you will need one for your honeymoon. Passports are now needed for even short trips to Canada and Mexico.

____ Shop for your gown, veil, headpiece, jewelry and accessories. Note: You should order your gown at least seven months before your wedding date.

____ Select attendants’ gowns. Note: Order them at about the same time as your gown. Get a swatch of fabric so that you can coordinate all the other wedding colors.

____ Select shoes for you and attendants. If shoes must be dyed, have them all done at the same time to ensure the best color match.

____ Set up a record-keeping system for all wedding details, contracts, etc., as well as for guests, invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes.

____ Purchase photo albums and scrapbooks to memorialize events

____ Register at stores in the towns of both families, as well as the town(s) where you and your fiancé currently live.

____ Decide where you will live after your wedding.

____ If needed, select a Realtor or begin looking for an apartment. If you plan to purchase, now is a great time to get your mortgage loan pre-approved. 6 to 9 months before wedding

____ Select the style of formalwear for the groom and his groomsmen.

____ Firm up honeymoon plans and verify reservations.

____ Pick your beauty consultant, stylist, or makeup artist.

____ Order the wedding cake and groom’s cake.

____ Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner, or remind the groom’s family, if they are hosting this event.

____ Reserve the wedding night hotel suite.

____ Contact valet parking services, if you will need it either at the wedding or reception location. ____ Select and order “Save the Date” cards. If your wedding is to be a destination wedding, mail them out now.

4 to 6 months before wedding

____ Finalize the guest list, eliminating duplicates and trimming it to meet your budget.

____ Enter guests’ names, addresses, and phone numbers into your record book.

____ Mail your “Save the Date” cards if your wedding is to be local.

____ Plan the bachelor/bachelorette parties, or remind your maid of honor and best man to plan them.

____ Select wedding rings.

____ Make arrangements for your out-of-town wedding attendants. Help them reserve their rooms, arrange for transportation, and provide them with maps.

____ Remind both mothers to purchase their wedding outfits. The bride’s mother has first choice of color and style.

____ Select favors. If you or someone else is making them, start preparing them now.

____ Make appointments for the hairdresser, nail salon, makeup and tanning. Try that new hairstyle now, rather than just before the wedding.

____ Select major appliances, flooring, paint and furnishings for your home together.

____ Order invitations, wedding stationery and personal stationery with your married name, if you plan on changing it.

____ Buy stamps for wedding invitations, shower invitations, thank you notes.

____ Reconfirm plans with ceremony and reception sites, clergy person, caterer, florist, photographer, videographer, ceremony and reception musicians, baker and travel agent for honeymoon plans.

____ Check on the status of attendants’ gowns.

____ Design maps to wedding and reception sites to be inserted into the invitations.

____ Bring your wedding website online.

____ Write and review wedding vows, if appropriate.

____ Select pertinent readings, poems, etc. for the ceremony.

____ Ask special people to do reading or sing at the ceremony.

____ Begin dance lessons in preparation for your wedding dance at the reception. Wear the shoes you will wear to the wedding to prevent slip ups.

____ Design wedding program handout for the ceremony.

____ Arrange to have the wedding program printed.

____ Plan itinerary for out-of-town guests (special parties, dinners, activities).

____ Start shopping for your trousseau.

____ Make sure all deposits have been paid and contracts signed.

2 to 4 months before wedding

____ Address wedding invitations. They should be mailed six weeks before your wedding date.

____ Select gifts for attendants.

____ Compile bridal shower guest lists.

____ Make an appointment for a dental cleaning/checkup.

____ Purchase garter, cake top, knife, and toasting glasses. Make arrangement for the engraving of your cake utensils.

____ Purchase or make pillow for ring bearer.

____ Attend a wine tasting to select wines or champagnes to be served at the reception.

____ Schedule appointment for formal bridal portrait.

____ Shop for honeymoon outfits and going away outfit.

____ Shop for honeymoon accessories. (Tanning lotion, sunglasses, photo memory cards, etc.)

____ Pack honeymoon clothes that are out of season (bathing suits, shorts, etc.)

____ Schedule the wedding rehearsal.

____ Check your luggage for the honeymoon. Purchase or arrange to borrow any pieces you might need.

1 to 2 months before wedding

____ Have fittings for your gown and the attendants’ gowns.

____ Have your formal wedding portrait taken.

____ Rehearse your wedding dance in your gown to check for difficulties.

____ Go with your fiancé to get the marriage license. Reruirements, time limits, cost, etc. can vary with the state and county. Often you must have cash to pay for the license. Check the details before you go.

____ Send invitations to the rehearsal dinner or make sure the host/hostess does so.

____ Plan your bridesmaid’s luncheon.

____ Purchase your wedding gift for your fiancé.

____ Keep up your records of all gifts you’ve been given and thank you’s you’ve sent.

____ Prepare your seating list for the reception and make place cards, if appropriate.

____ Review the attendants’ outfits with them and make sure they have what is needed.

____ Review your insurance policies (life, auto, homeowners or renters) and make any needed changes. If you plan to change beneficiaries, do so now.

____ Select a financial planner.

____ Begin the process of adding your fiancé to your health insurance policy, if he will be covered.

____ If you have agreed to a prenuptial agreement, meet with lawyers.

____ Update your will and change executor if you wish.

____ Arrange for furniture movers (if necessary).

____ Open joint checking and savings accounts.

____ File for a name change to the Social Security Administration, if you are changing your name.

____ Change names on charge accounts if your legal name will change.

____ Arrange for new telephone listing.

____ Arrange for house sitter and/or pet sitter during the honeymoon.

____ Give a copy of your honeymoon itinerary to one or both sets of parents.

____ Confirm ceremony details with clergy or other person officiating the wedding.

____ Finalize wedding music with organist.

____ Finalize music list for reception. Request special dances, songs, etc.

____ Place the liquor and/or wine order, if you plan to serve it.

____ Make an itinerary for your wedding day. Give copies to all wedding party members, parents and the wedding consultant.

____ Wrap gifts to each other and gifts for attendants.

____ Pre-pack any non-necessities for honeymoon.

____ Make sure all transportation arrangements for wedding party have been finalized.

____ Confirm that all men have been fitted for their outfits.

2 weeks before wedding

____ Call any guests who have not responded to invitations.

____ Call caterer for last minute details and give them a preliminary head count.

____ Keep up with thank you notes.

____ Confirm the time and date of the wedding rehearsal with all wedding party members.

____ Ask the post office to stop mail while you’re away on your honeymoon.

____ Fill out change of address card at post office, if necessary.

____ Notify police of dates you will be away. Ask them to check on your home.

____ Obtain travel tickets and itineraries.

____ Confirm the reservations and transportation of out-of-town guest.

____ Make list of emergency numbers of honeymoon locations, and list of credit card numbers to leave at home with both sets of parents.

1 week before wedding

____ Try on your wedding gown to check fit and make sure it is pressed.

____ Continue packing for the honeymoon.

____ Purchase traveler’s checks for the honeymoon.

____ Remind your attendants about the wedding day schedule.

____ Reconfirm all wedding plans: ceremony and reception site, florist, photographer, videographer, musicians, disc jockeys, baker and honeymoon plans.

____ Write thank you notes to all who helped you with wedding plans and details.

____ Give your caterer/reception site the final head count.

____ Make final payment for any services that rewuire prepayment.

____ Provide wedding party and out-of-town guests with itinerary and maps.

____ Make up emergency kit with essentials to have on hand for the wedding and reception (needle, thread, safety pins, tape, mirror, white bobby pins, scissors, tissue, makeup, extra stockings, etc).

____ Pay upcoming bills.

____ Verify that all attendants have their wedding apparel.

1 day before wedding

____ Finish packing for the honeymoon.

____ Set aside everything you will need at ceremony site: gown, headpiece, veil, accessories, shoes, stockings, slip, emergency kit, purse, brush, and hairspray.

____ Enjoy the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

____ Give each other your wedding gifts.

____ Give attendants’ and groomsmen their gifts.

____ Give the best man the officiant’s fee.

____ Get a good night’s sleep!

Wedding day

____ Don’t sweat the small stuff.

____ Eat a good breakfast

____ Take a relaxing bath.

____ See the hairdresser to have your hair styled.

____ Have makeup applied.

____ Don’t forget the wedding license.

____ Give the rings to the best man and maid of honor for safekeeping.

____ Thank everyone for his or her help.

____ Enjoy the day!

After the wedding

____ Have your wedding gown cleaned and preserved.

____ Write thank you notes for any wedding gifts you haven’t acknowledged. P.S. Get your husband to help!

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