A Memorable Day You Expect to Remember Forever
Here is something to help you get things running smoothly....
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Introduction to families(if you haven’t done so)
Announce engagement to family and friends
Set a date (and time)
Book the location/venue (church and/or reception hall, preferably one year in advance – consider parking facility)
Book the wedding officiant
Decide where you will live after wedding
Determine your budget (who pays for what)
Start selecting wedding vendors (some might prefer getting booked one year in advance)
- Florists
- Cake baker
- Caterer
- Music (DJ/ band/singer - for ceremony and reception)
- Photographer/Videographer
- Entertainment for the wedding
Begin shopping for gown, headpiece and veil
Determine wedding type (size, formality, style)
Determine a theme, color scheme (consider the season)
Determine and notify those who you would like to be in the entourage/attendants
Hire a wedding coordinator/consultant (if necessary)
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- Finalize booking of vendor services (Florist, Cake Baker, Caterer, Music, Photographer/ Videographer)
- Start compiling guest list (Include parents’ guest list)
- Inform out-of-towners of the wedding date (The earlier the guests can book a flight and/or accommodations, the easier and most likely less expensive the travel and accommodation expenses.)
- Start planning for honeymoon
- Start shopping for wedding rings
- Announce engagement in local paper
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- Order gowns for bride (and headpiece & veil) and bridesmaids – includes mothers of the bride and groom
- Order tuxedos for Groom and groomsmen (Consider the theme/color scheme)
- Finalize and Book honeymoon (accommodations and flight, if necessary)
- If honeymoon is international, order passport (if you don’t already have one) and start looking at luggage to buy for the trip
- Reserve rental equipment for ceremony and reception (stage, tables, chairs, tent, columns - if necessary)
- Register your gift preferences (bridal registry)
- Start tasting cake samples
- Purchase wedding ceremony rings (If you haven’t done so yet)
- Start a workout or diet program if you need to get in shape for the big day (if necessary)
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- Ask event participants such as ushers, readers during the ceremony, etc., of your wish of their participation
- Order wedding cake, and cake top. (Make definite arrangements for time and place)
- Start looking for a hairstylist and makeup artist
- Finalize guest list
- Order invitations, TY notes, and other bridal stationery (Consider postage)
- Consider out-of-town guests, reserve hotels and car rentals (if necessary – consider group rates on accommodations)
- Purchase wedding rings
- Book transportation (to and from venues – church and reception, as well as airport for the honeymoon – if going directly)
- Book hotel for wedding night
- Book calligrapher for addressing envelopes and/or writing place cards (optional)
- Meet with florist to discuss details of wedding
- Have a physical exam (doctor/dentist)
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- Find all wedding accessories (rings, pillow, candles, goblets, decorations for ceremony, etc.)
- Book and make arrangements for rehearsal/pre-wedding luncheon or dinner (venue, food and drinks, date and time)
- Meet with officiant and to discuss and finalize ceremony details
- Finalize menu with caterer (catering details)
- Make arrangements for any bachelor and/or bachelorette parties (Reserve venue) – preferably not less than 2 days before the wedding
- Make arrangements for time away (pet-sitters, work vacation time, etc.)
- Select and Order/purchase party favors (including disposable cameras)
- Select and Order/purchase entourage/attendants gifts
- Make arrangements for wedding rings to be engraved (if needed)
- Get a blood test
- Book hair stylist and make-up artist
- Confirm contracts and services with vendors (date, time, and location)
- Choose a gift for fiance
- Finalize florist details
- Confirm cake details with baker
- Send out invitations (6-12 weeks in advance)
- Set appointment for formal bridal portrait
- Select and order gifts for attendants
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- Obtain a marriage license
- Pick up and make sure all ceremony decorations and accessories are accounted for
- Finalize the readings for the ceremony and send out to whoever is to be reading them
- Finalize After-Wedding Rehearsal event (venue, food and drinks, date, time)
- Compile a song list and other instructions for the DJ or band (announcements, when to play what song, etc)
- Start writing/browsing for ceremony vows/messages (edit and amend as necessary)
- Order After-Wedding Thank You cards (from Mr. and Mrs. ???)
- Make sure champagne is ordered (if not part of catering
- Gowns should be in the final fitting stage
- Send wedding announcements to local papers
- Buy all necessary accessories for both bride and groom (jewelry, cufflinks, shoes – consider how long you will be wearing them, garter, candles, toasting goblets, ring pillow, etc)
- Confirm honeymoon arrangements (lodging, plane tickets, rental car, passport)
- Plan gown preservation
- Plan and book rehearsal dinner/luncheon
- Finalize honeymoon plans
- Complete shopping for trousseau
- Be sure you are sending out thank you notes for any gifts you have received so far
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- Confirms wedding rings are ready (if ordered), engraved
- Check guest list responses – Get a headcount idea (You might want to contact those that have not yet responded to your invitation by this time)
- Draft and order wedding program
- Consider if you need to color your hair
- Bring the veil/headpiece to the hairstylist so you can discuss what style would work best
- Finalize arrangements/last minute details with florists, caterers, photographers/videographers, music for the ceremony and reception, venues, performers, etc.
- Buy a guest book and 2-3 nice working pens
- Check your insurance policies (car, home, wedding – if rings and gifts are included)
- Start thinking of what to say at the toast
- Designate a “special assistant” for last minute errands and special tasks (someone who can follow up on rental returns, clean up, guest transportation, pick up of any last minute items)
- Give serious thought and effort to a perfect diet and skin care regimen. Start tanning salon treatments if you plan to.
- Meet with officiant to discuss ceremony details
- Choose person to attend to guestbook. Plan placement.
- If moving to a new residence, make arrangements for the move. Call utilities co., landlord, movers, etc.
- Draw up a seating map for the reception
- Buy/prepare place card holders and other reception accessories.. (place cards)
- Go over necessary details with attendants (maid of honor, bride’s maids, groomsmen, ushers)
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- Make sure everyone in the entourage have possession of their attire and accessories (confirm everything fits properly)
- Pick up wedding gown, tuxedo, and rings (make sure everything fits properly)
- Finalize wedding vows
- Pick up marriage license and blood test results
- Confirm wedding-day details such as florists, caterers, photographers/videographers, music for the ceremony and reception, venues, performers, transportation, photo schedules and addresses, etc.
- Confirm all reservations: hotel, flights, out-of-towners’ accommodations, restaurant reservations, car rental, etc.
- Shop for honeymoon items (Consider where you are going – swimsuit or jackets, medicines, snorkel gear)
- Wrap wedding entourage souvenir gifts, with personal notes for each (hand-written).
- Send in paperwork for legal name changes, if applicable
- Get haircuts done for both bride and groom, if applicable (Not the week of the wedding!)
- Finalize all duties with the wedding participants/entourage (timeline, location)
- Finalize seating chart and provide a copy to the caterer and/or venue reception manager
- Buy “emergency items” that may be needed for the wedding day: batteries, razors, anti-cling spray, back-up film, safety pins, etc. Prepare in a wedding day emergency bag and give to the designated helper
- Go over finances for honeymoon. Make sure at least 1 card is not maxed out. DO NOT travel with maxed out credit cards!
- Purchase traveler’s checks for honeymoon, if applicable.
- Walk through the reception site with photographer/videographer (discuss photos you think will be nice)
- Determine what to do with flower arrangements after reception
- Confirm RSVP responses
- Contact any guest that have not responded
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- Get final attendance count for caterer
- Pack for honeymoon. Make sure all travel documents and or passport is in one place.
- Contact all participants for the rehearsal dinner for instructions on time, locations, etc.
- Prepare overnight bag for wedding night (soap, shampoo, towels, toothbrush, deodorant, underwear, clothing for travelling/next day, etc)
- Buy last minute essentials for wedding day and night and /or honeymoon
- Get together all cash tips and put them in designated envelopes and give to trusted assistant who will give out to correct parties.
- Make final confirmations with wedding vendors for time and locations
- Designate a coordinator to assist with collection of gifts on wedding day (Make sure all cards are secured on the gift , so you know who gave what later on when you send “thank you” notes)
- Final memorization and practicing of vows. (You should be able to recite them in your sleep, in case you might freeze up before a crowd.)
- Finalize and alphabetize place cards in a box for easier set-up and look-up
- Go over final details with entourage, if necessary
- Review details of reception seating (including head table)
- Remind attendants of rehearsal
- Delegate responsibilities to a reliable individual for the wedding day
- Finalize rehearsal arrangements and plans
- Continue writing "Thank You" notes as gifts arrive
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- Rehearse for ceremony (Run-through with wedding entourage and officiant)
- Hand out entourage gifts after rehearsal/dinner
- Give all tip envelopes to person designated with the task.
- Final confirmations of all bookings
- Give a list of vendor phone numbers to your special assistant, and maybe 1 or 2 more reliable people who can follow-up in case of certain emergencies (Should also have contact information for back-up vendors, just in case the booked vendor fails)
- Oversee all seating and stage set-up (as much as possible, designate this task to someone very trustworthy)
- Get nails done
- Put together a wedding survival kit (lipstick, powder/foundation, hairspray, extra pair of nylons/stockings, comfortable shoes for reception, breath freshner/mints, hair pins, tissue, aspirin)
- Confirm transportation (pick-up times)
- Make sure the best man has the ring
- Get a good night’s sleep to look good in all the wedding day photos!
- Get a manicure and massage
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- Eat a breakfast with high protein and vitamins … low carb and low sugar. This will keep you from running out of steam and looking droopy later on. Eggs and an olive oil salad are an excellent choice.
- Make sure the best man and maid of honor sign the wedding certificate
- Take a long relaxing bath
- Get hair, nails and make-up done
- Allow plenty of time to dress and enjoy getting ready
- Ushers are in place 45 minutes before ceremony
- Music begins at ceremony venue
- 5 minutes groom’s parents are seated
- Mother of bride seated prior to processional
- Aisle runner is rolled out
- Officiant, groom and best man take their place
- Bridal procession begins for the Ceremony
- Get to the Reception
Relax, Enjoy, Smile...record every wonderful memory in your mind and in your heart!
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- Send thank you notes as soon as possible after the wedding
- Have bridal gown cleaned and preserved
- Change name and address on documents, if applicable
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Remember, even the best laid plans can have some glitches
Enjoy and be merry, a new chapter of your life is about to begin!
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