Start your wedding
planning with an easy-to-use wedding checklist that will keep you
organized and on top of things! I suggest you print out these wedding
checklists and put them in your wedding notebook for easy reference.
____Tell your parents, important family members, and close friends the good news!
____You might also want to announce your engagement in the newspaper, on a wedding website with an email sent out to all your friends, or in the most traditional way, with mailed engagement announcements
____Have an engagement party, if you'd like
____Envision the tone of your wedding: Formal or casual? Day or evening?
____Consider having a wedding theme, which will help pull together the style, look, and feel of your wedding
____Choose your wedding colors, which will add visual unity.
____Set your budget
____Decide who will pay for everything. Will your parents cover it all? Can you contribute? How will expenses be split?
____Start your guest list.
____Select a date and time. Have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable.
____Select and reserve your ceremony and reception sites.
____Hire a wedding consultant, if you're using one
____Choose and book your wedding officiant.
____Choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers
____Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians
____Arrange for a tasting with your caterer
Your Wedding Checklist: 10 to 12 months before your wedding
____Tell your parents, important family members, and close friends the good news!
____You might also want to announce your engagement in the newspaper, on a wedding website with an email sent out to all your friends, or in the most traditional way, with mailed engagement announcements
____Have an engagement party, if you'd like
____Envision the tone of your wedding: Formal or casual? Day or evening?
____Consider having a wedding theme, which will help pull together the style, look, and feel of your wedding
____Choose your wedding colors, which will add visual unity.
____Set your budget
____Decide who will pay for everything. Will your parents cover it all? Can you contribute? How will expenses be split?
____Start your guest list.
____Select a date and time. Have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable.
____Select and reserve your ceremony and reception sites.
____Hire a wedding consultant, if you're using one
____Choose and book your wedding officiant.
____Choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers
____Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians
____Arrange for a tasting with your caterer
Your Wedding Checklist: 8 to 10 months before your wedding
____Shop for and order your wedding dress and accessories, including veil, gloves and shoes____Sign a contract with your wedding caterer
____Book wedding florist and choose arrangements
____Book your musicians and/or DJ for both ceremony and reception
____Select and confirm your wedding photographer (and your videographer, if you're using one.)
____Look into wedding insurance and decide if it's a good option for you
____Plan your honeymoon
____Shop for and order your bridesmaid dresses
____If you're making your own wedding favors, start doing so now.
____Meet with wedding cake designers or bakers and arrange for a tasting (Yum!)
Your Wedding Checklist: Four to six months before your wedding
____Send save-the-date announcements or call out of town guests to let them know the final date, time, and location of the wedding.____If you're purchasing wedding favors, do so now
____Start planning your rehearsal dinner. Give the host(s) your guest list
____Examine your beauty regimen.
____If your caterer isn't doing it for you, reserve any rental equipment you'll need, including dishes, tables, chairs, linens, tents
____Register for gifts.
____Select your wedding cake designer, and order your wedding cake
____Arrange wedding transportation.
____Order stationery
____Select a calligrapher, if you're using one
____Select the groom's tuxedo or other attire, what the groomsmen will wear, and arrange to purchase or rent
____Purchase your wedding rings
____Book wedding night accommodations and accommodations for out-of-town guests
____Buy gifts for your wedding party, parents, and each other.
____If you're changing into "going away outfits" before you leave the reception, purchase those now
Your Wedding Checklist: Two to three months before your wedding
____Give a list of "Must Take" photographs to your wedding photographer____Discuss your wedding menu with your caterer
____Meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding ceremony
____Write your wedding vows
____Attend any bridal showers
____Mail your wedding invitations
____Think about your wedding hair and makeup - If you're doing your own, try out hairstyles, purchase any extra makeup, think about having a "makeover party" with your girlfriends.
____Book your hairstylist and/or makeup artist, if you're using them. Meet with each of them to experiment with styles and colors
____Schedule your wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
____If your state requires it for a marriage license, make blood test appointments
____If you're going to change your name, complete those documents
____Send wedding announcements to local newspapers
Your Wedding Checklist: The month of your Wedding
It's finally here! There's just a few more things to do to make sure everything's perfect____Apply for your marriage license
____Have your final gown fitting. It's helpful to have a bridesmaid with you to learn how to bustle your train and fasten any tricky buttons (and help you go to the bathroom, if you've got a big wedding dress!)
____Check with your bridesmaids and groomsmen to make sure they've gotten their attire, confirm arrival times, and answer any last minute questions
____Contact your vendors (caterer, officiant, cake baker, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, transportation, hotels) to confirm arrival and delivery times.
____Write and print your wedding program
____Create welcome baskets or bags for out-of-town guests
____Send change-of-address information to post office
____Write thank you cards as you receive wedding gifts
____Ask your mother or maid of honor to contact any guests who have not RSVP'd
Your Wedding Checklist: One to Two Weeks Ahead
____Arrange seating plan, and write place cards____Give your final head count to your caterer, and confirm any last minute details
____Write toasts for the rehearsal and dinner and reception
____Try on your wedding shoes, and wear them on carpeted surfaces around the house
____Arrange for a plant waterer/pet sitter/babysitter while you are on your honeymoon
____Pick up your wedding dress
____Attend your bachelor party or bachelorette party, if you're having them
____Send your travel plans and contact information to a family member and your house sitter (in case of emergency)
____Finalize seating chart
Your Wedding Checklist: The Day Before Your Wedding
____Do something to relax and enjoy the company of your out-of-town friends____Assign responsibilities to your wedding party (handing out corsages and boutonnieres, greeting and seating guests, checking on vendors)
____Confirm wedding day transportation
____Have a manicure and pedicure or other pre-wedding spa pampering.
____Give your wedding party gifts
____Rehearse ceremony
____Hold the rehearsal dinner
Your Wedding Checklist: Day of the Wedding
____Give thank you gifts to your parents____Enjoy your wedding!
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