| For those of you who aren't sure where to start... |
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Bridal Checklist |
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Here's what you need to do... |
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Between 10-12 months prior to your wedding
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| Buy yourself a planning guide or organizer to: organize all the information you collect, keep vital contact information and orders for caterers, florists, and anyone else involved, to jot down ideas as they come or are given to you, etc... | |
| Select a wedding planner, or if you choose to plan it yourself, select a thorough planning book or organizer. Remember, when interviewing a potential wedding planner/bridal consultant to check references and ask for samples of their work (pictures, letters of reference, etc...). Try to spend some time talking to them and tossing ideas around to get a feel for their style and their personality. If they seem unorganized, or you are uncomfortable with them, move on because you will be spending a lot of time and trusting a very important day with whomever you choose. | |
| Discuss the style of the wedding (colors, theme, etc...), as well as the budget with your fiancé, your parents, as well as your fiancé's parents. Remember to make sure everyone feels comfortable expressing their ideas and keep an open mind, but it's your big day so don't let them dismiss your ideas either. | |
| Talk to friends and co-workers for ideas and references. Someone may know of a great bridal shop, or of a DJ they used for an event and really liked. When having to choose so many different business to purchase from, order from, or use it never hurts to have a little positive feedback first. Plus, you never know who might be in a position to get you a great deal or discount. | |
| Speak to your clergy and your families clergy, ask any questions you may have. | |
| Start the hunt for the perfect location. Keep an open mind in this area too. Great locations could be anywhere from a friend or family members house, to a local park, winery, lake or other water feature, garden, or a traditional chapel. Look around, even Disneyworld caters to weddings now so the possibilities are limitless. | |
| Begin to interview caterers, DJs, photographer, etc... Try to find the best deal but keep in mind most of the time you get what you pay for, so be careful. | |
| By the end of this period you should have selected your: wedding planner, ceremony site, photographer, caterer, florist, and DJ or musicians. | |
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Between 7-9 months prior to your wedding |
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| Choose your attendants. (Bridesmaids, Maid of Honor, flower girl, etc...) and be sure your mate chooses his. | |
| Sit down with your fiancé and start to compile your guest list. Make sure to start with an approximate number based on the size of your wedding, but it's not upsetting each other by squabbling over a few extra cousins or friends. | |
| Contact and set up a time for you both to visit your clergy or justice of the peace. | |
| Now comes the fun
part, begin shopping your dress, his tux, and your attendants clothes.
For most women their wedding gown is one of the most important (and
enjoyable) decisions.
Go in with an open mind and no pre-set image of what you want and your sure to find something you love (if you decide what you want before you shop you may not find exactly what you were thinking of). Take your Bridesmaids with you, let them take a look at different colors and styles and put in their input. If they can't come with you, get some bridal magazines and let them look over them and mark several styles they like. In most cases they will be putting up the money for the dress, so if it's something they like, they may be able to wear it again. |
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| Check out the bridal
registries at the major department stores or any other well known store
that offers the service. Register with at least two, preferably three
places. Keep in mind that some people will not be able to afford high
ticket items, but some will be looking for exactly that... so make sure
to have a good range of prices.
Pick more than you think you should, a lot of times when someone will go to purchase your gift several items will be out of stock, and if there's only a few things to choose from it can be quite frustrating. Register for what you need, or will need in the future, but throw in a few pretty frames, vases or items like that for those guests who don't like to give towel sets and crock pots. If at all possible, mention to people to get GIFT RECEIPTS. This will save you a lot of headaches and time. Not to mention you wont have to carry three toasters around to every place you registered to find out where they came from. Usually it the guest uses the registry that wont be a problem, but if they forget to hand it to the clerk or if there's a system error you'll be receiving duplicates. |
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| Look in magazines, online, or go to a travel agency to get brochures and start going over honeymoon options with your fiancé. Keep in mind weather conditions for the time of year you will be going when choosing a destination. If you can't afford a honeymoon and don't have help from family to pay for it, consider online honeymoon registries where your guests can contribute money towards your honeymoon instead of buying gifts. | |
| By the end of this period you should have chosen your attendant's apparel as well as yours, and have it on order. You should set up an engagement photo session. Have completed you bridal registry (but make sure to check closer to the wedding to make sure that the things you really wanted have not been discontinued). | |
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Between 4-6 months prior to wedding |
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| Review all details with your wedding planner and any businesses you are working with. | |
| Decide the details of your honeymoon and buy tickets, make reservations, or book with a travel agent. | |
| Shop for and order your invitations. Call and schedule a calligrapher if they are not full pre-printed. | |
| Finalize your music selections for the wedding and reception. Be sure to go back over all the final details with any DJs or musicians well in advance so there are no mistakes or misunderstandings. | |
| Be sure that by the end of this period you have ordered the groom's tux, as well as the attendants'. If there is an attendant unable to come out for a fitting, have them measured at a tux shop near them and contact you with the correct measurements. | |
| Book your wedding transportation - limousines, horse-drawn carriages, boat, as well as any trolleys or buses you might need to reserve to transport your guests to the reception if that is needed. | |
| Have your rehearsal dinner plans set, be sure to clear the plans with both your family and your fiancé's. | |
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Between 2-3 months prior to the wedding |
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| Choose and order your wedding rings. | |
| Complete and finalize guest list. | |
| Shop for or pick out clothing for your honeymoon, as well as lingerie (or you can rely on your bridal shower for the latter). | |
| Shop for or order your attendants gifts. | |
| Purchase or order your gift for your fiancé if you plan on exchanging gifts. | |
| Plan out your attire for the wedding reception/party as well as for after. | |
| Finalize your catering, bakery and floral arrangements. | |
| Make reservations for several rooms for your out-of-town guests to stay in (or get your fiancé to handle the arrangements) | |
| Finalize any arrangements for rental items you may need. | |
| Choose any special decorative items you will be taking, or purchase any you still need. | |
| Select any special decorative arches, screens, or other larger decorative items you may need. | |
| Make arrangements for any special lighting you may need, especially if it is an outdoor wedding. | |
| Make appointment at hair salon for next month, test the hairstyle you plan on having. (Think about scheduling any bridal photography sessions you may want for the same or next day). | |
| Make appointment with your hairdresser for the actual time before the wedding. | |
| Make appointment for a manicure and pedicure and any other personal care services you might require. | |
| Make appointment with a makeup artist for your big day, as well as for your bridal portrait if you are having one done. | |
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Between 4-8 weeks prior to the wedding |
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| Mail your wedding invitations. Be sure to include either a pre-planned special itinerary sheet for any early arriving out-of-town guests or a copy of local events and attractions from any local paper, magazine or website you might find. | |
| Schedule and attend your final fittings for your bridal gown, as well as your attendants to be sure everything perfect. | |
| Plan your bridesmaids' party and confirm the location and directions. | |
| Have your Bridal portrait taken by around week six. | |
| Send your local paper and/or wedding publications your announcement and photo. | |
| Be sure to write and send your 'Thank you' notes as you receive your gifts so no one is overlooked. | |
| Reconfirm rehearsal dinner and event reservations | |
| For the sake of peace of mind, personally touch base with every vital professional you or your wedding planner have working with for all your upcoming events | |
| Pick up your wedding rings. | |
| Go together with your fiancé to get your marriage license. | |
| Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and be sure to have your passports if need as well as a portion of your money exchanged into foreign currency if needed at your bank. | |
| Submit your song request list to any DJs or musicians you are working with. | |
| Formally invite your wedding party and your guests to the rehearsal dinner. | |
| Confirm all transportation for the ceremony, reception and honeymoon. | |
| Address your wedding announcements to have ready to mail on your wedding day. | |
| Pick up and prepare all of the necessary paperwork for the name change, as well as contacting any companies who may require that information. | |
| Make any moving arrangements you may need to move your belongings to your new home. | |
| Schedule a day for just you and your family, and possibly one other for just you and your friends. It's a busy time and it's good to just be together without running around on errands or having to make any more decisions. This keeps everyone from feeling neglected as well since you probably have been very busy and preoccupied. | |
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The week before |
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| Begin packing for your honeymoon. | |
| Check any and all final details you have left. | |
| Give or attend a bridesmaid's party/bridal shower. | |
| Give your caterer the final guest count. | |
| Sit down and make a wedding day schedule with your fiancé. | |
| Remind your male wedding attendants to pick up their tuxedos. | |
| Go over your rehearsal dinner agenda with your attendants. | |
| Have your fiancé double check you rehearsal dinner reservations. | |
| Finish packing for your honeymoon, purchase any items you may need and double check tickets, reservations, and any other paper work you will need. | |
| Have rehearsal dinner, distribute wedding day schedule. | |
| Have the day prior to the wedding open to visit a few close friends, or whomever you like. Relax. | |
| Make sure the groom is reminded to bring the license and rings. | |
| Maid of Honor Item Checklist Items to be accounted for by the Maid of Honor:: Wedding
gown and your own dress |
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