Checklists & Schedules
Keep on track
Ten to Twelve Months Before Your Wedding
Tell your parents, family members, and close friends the good news!
Arrange for your families to meet, if they haven’t done so already.
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 theme and tone of your wedding: Formal or casual? Day or evening? Religious or secular?
Set your budget.
Decide who’s paying for the wedding, or who’s going to contribute and what.
Start your guest list.
Select date and time (have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable).
Select and reserve your ceremony and reception sites.
Choose and book an officiant.
Choose bridesmaids, groomsmen, and ushers.
Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians.
Eight to Ten Months Before Your Wedding
Shop for and order your wedding dress and accessories, including veil, gloves and shoes.
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.)
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.
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. Arrange for a tasting with your caterer
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.
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.
50% Payment Due to Wiens Family Cellars
Two to Three Months Before Your Wedding
Give a list of “Must Take” photographs to your wedding photographer.
Discuss your wedding menu with your wedding coordinator.
Meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding ceremony.
Write your wedding vows.
Attend any bridal showers.
Mail your wedding invitations.
Think about your hair and makeup – If you’re doing your own, try out hairstyles, purchase any extra makeup, and 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 you’re going to change your name, complete those documents.
Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.
The Month of Your Wedding
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.
One to Two Weeks Ahead
Final Head Count, Final BEO, and Final Payment due no Later than 14 days before wedding.
Arrange seating plan, and write place cards.
Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception.
Try on your wedding shoes, and wear them on carpeted surfaces around the house.
Arrange for a plant water/pet sitter/babysitter while you are on your honeymoon.
Pick up your 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.
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 transportation.
Have a manicure and pedicure or other pre-wedding spa pampering.
Give your wedding party gifts.
Rehearse ceremony.
Hold rehearsal dinner.
Day of the Wedding
Give gifts to your parents.
Enjoy your wedding!
5:00 Ceremony
5:30 Cocktail Hour/ Photos
6:30 Grand Entrance
6:35 1st Dance
6:45 Toast
7:00 Dinner
8:00 Father-Daughter Dance
8:05 Mother-Son Dance
8:10 Open Dancing
8:50 Money Dance
9:00 Cake Cutting
9:05 Bouquet Toss
9:10 Garter Toss
9:15 Open Dancing
10:00 End of Event
$1500 Deposit due at booking
50% Due 90 days before event
100% Due 21 days before event
