Planning a wedding involves a million decisions. Using this checklist will ensure that nothing is overlooked.

• Announce your engagement to family, and then friends.
• Prepare and send out newspaper announcement of your engagement.
• Meet with both sets of parents. Decide upon a budget, and list who will pay for what.
• Determine wedding style and degree of formality of your wedding.
• Meet with clergy. Arrange for pre-marital counseling or classes suggested by clergy.
• Select ceremony site.
• Select wedding consultant.
• Select reception site.
• Look for unusual locations, even if they donıt need to be reserved this far in advance.
• Begin to make alternate plans if wedding is to be held outside. (Indoor site availability, tents, etc.)
• Set date and time of wedding and reception.
  Note: You must 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.
• Both families begin to compile guests lists. (Set definite date for final lists.)
• Select color scheme.
• Select photographer.
• Select music for ceremony.
• Select florist.
• Select limousine service or other transportation.
• Select caterer (if not provided by reception site).
• Select rental company.
• Select baker for wedding cake (if not provided by reception caterer).
• Select balloonist.
• Get information from travel agents on possible honeymoon locations.
• Choose your attendants.
• Have fiancee select his groomsmen.
• Shop for your gown, veil, headpiece, jewelry and accessories. Note: You should order your gown at least 7 months before your wedding date.
• Select attendants gowns. Note: These gowns should also be ordered at approximately same time as your gown. Obtain a swatch of fabric to coordinate all 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.)
• Develop a record-keeping system for all wedding details, contracts, etc.
• Develop a record-keeping system for guests, invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes.
• Register at stores in the towns of both families.
• Decide where you will live after your wedding.
• Select a Realtor if needed.
• Begin looking for an apartment, if necessary.
• Purchase calendars for all involved in the wedding, and highlight all important wedding-related dates.

• Select formalwear.
• Finalize honeymoon plans.
• Apply for passport and arrange for inoculations (if necessary).
• Select beauty consultant.
• Order wedding cake and groomıs cake.
• Make arrangements for rehearsal dinner. (Or remind groomıs mother, if his parents are hosting this event.)
• Reserve wedding night hotel suite.

• Finalize guest list, eliminate duplicates.
• Enter guestsı names, addresses, and phone numbers into appropriate record book.
• Plan bachelor/bachelorette party.
• Select wedding rings.
• Make arrangements for out-of-town wedding attendants (Rooms, transportation, maps.)
• Remind both mothers to purchase wedding apparel. (Brideıs mother has first choice of color and style.)
• Select favors. (If they are to be made, begin preparations.)
• Make appointments for hairdresser, nail salon, makeup, tanning.
• Try new hairstyle now, rather than just before wedding.
• Select major appliances and furnishings for your home together.
• Order invitations, wedding stationery, personal stationery with your married name, etc.
• Buy ³Love² 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 status of attendantsı gowns.
• Design maps to wedding and reception sites to be inserted into invitations.
• Write and review wedding vows, if appropriate.
• Select pertinent readings, poems, etc. for ceremony.
• Ask special people to do reading at the ceremony.
• Design wedding program handout for ceremony.
• Arrange to have wedding program printed.
• Plan itinerary for out-of-town guests (special parties, dinners, activities).
• Begin shopping for trousseau.
• Make sure all deposits are paid, and contracts signed.

• Address wedding invitations. (Invitations should be mailed six weeks before wedding date.)
• Select gifts for attendants.
• Compile bridal shower guest lists.
• Make an appointment for a complete physical and dental cleaning/checkup.
• Purchase garter, cake top, knife, toasting glasses.
• Purchase or make pillow for ring bearer.
• Schedule appointment for formal bridal portrait.
• Shop for honeymoon outfits and going away outfit.
• Shop for honeymoon accessories. (Tanning lotion, films, etc.)
• Pack honeymoon clothes which are out of season (bathing suits, shorts, etc.)
• Schedule wedding rehearsal.
• Purchase or arrange to borrow luggage for honeymoon.

• Have fittings for gown and attendantsı gowns.
• Have formal wedding portrait taken.
• Obtain marriage license. (30 days before wedding date)
• Send invitations to rehearsal dinner. (Or remind hostess to do so.)
• Plan bridesmaidıs luncheon.
• Purchase wedding gift for fiancee.
• Maintain records of all gifts given, thank yous sent.
• Prepare seating list for reception and make place cards, if appropriate.
• Confirm attendantsı outfits with them.
• Review and change beneficiaries life insurance policies, if necessary.
• Review other insurance (automobile, homeowners) if they will be changing.
• If appropriate, purchase renters insurance.
• If you have agreed to a prenuptial agreement, meet with lawyers.
• Arrange for furniture movers (if necessary).
• Open joint checking and savings accounts.)
• Change names on charge accounts.
• Arrange for new telephone listing.
• Arrange for housesitter during honeymoon.
• Give itinerary for honeymoon to one or both sets of parents.
• Confirm ceremony details with officiant.
• Finalize wedding music with organist.
• Finalize music list for reception. Request special dances, songs, etc.
• If appropriate, place liquor order.
• Make an itinerary for your wedding day. Give to all wedding party members, parents, 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 formalwear.

• Call guests who have not responded to invitations.
• Call caterer for last minute details, preliminary head count.
• Keep up with thank you notes.
• Confirm time and date of wedding rehearsal with all wedding party members.
• Ask post office to stop mail while you are 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, itineraries.
• Confirm out-of-town guest reservations, transportation.
• Make list of emergency numbers of honeymoon locations, and list of credit card numbers to leave at home with both sets of parents.

• Try on wedding gown to check fit and make sure it is pressed.
• Continue packing for honeymoon.
• Purchase travelerıs checks for honeymoon.
• Remind attendants about wedding day schedule.
• Reconfirm all wedding plans: ceremony and reception site, florist, photographer, videographer, musicians, baker, and honeymoon plans.
• Write thank you notes to all who helped you with wedding plans and details.
• Give caterer/reception site final head count.
• Make final payment for any services that require prepayment.
• Provide wedding party and out-of-town guests with itinerary and maps (if necessary).
• Make up emergency kit with essentials to have on hand for wedding and reception (needle, thread, safety pins, tape, mirror, white bobbypins, scissors, tissue, extra stockings).
• Pay upcoming bills.
• Verify that all attendants have wedding apparel.

• Finish honeymoon packing.
• Set aside everything you will need at ceremony site: gown, headpiece, veil, accessories, shoes, stockings, slip, emergency kit, purse, brush, hairspray.
• Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
• Give each other wedding gifts.
• Give attendantsı and groomsmen their gifts.
• Give the best man the officiantıs fee.
• Get a good nightıs sleep!

• Forget any details that run amok.
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Take a relaxing bath.
• See hairdresser for wedding hairstyle.
• Have makeup applied.
• Donıt forget rings and wedding license.
• Thank everyone for their help.
• Enjoy the day!

• Write thank you notes for all wedding gifts.
• Have a beautiful life together!

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