First things to Plan...

• Wedding Date
• Rehearsal Date
• Invitations should be mailed 6 weeks before the wedding
• Wedding dress should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding
• Bridesmaids' dresses should be ordered at least 6 months before the wedding
• Bride's hair should be cut and colored approximately 15-20 days before the wedding
• Groom's hair should be cut 2 weeks before the wedding

• Purchase engagement and wedding rings; arrange for engraving
• Select a wedding date and time
• Announce your engagement and wedding date
• Discuss and create a preliminary budget with all involved
• Determine your wedding theme or style
• Reserve your ceremony location
• Determine who will officiate the ceremony
• Interview party planners and/or wedding consultants if you choose to use a professional planner
• Reserve your reception location
• If you plan to have your reception outdoors, make alternate plans for bad weather
• Decide in your color scheme
• Determine the size of the guest list
• Start compiling names and addresses of guests
• Select bridal attendants
• Obtain bridal attendants measurements and sizes
• Select groomsmen
• Obtain groomsmen's measurements and shoe sizes
• Plan reception
• Select a caterer
• Select a photographer
• Select a videographer
• Select a florist
• Select a band or DJ
• Select soloists, organists, musicians for ceremony
• Select your dress and order if necessary
• Select your headpiece
• Select bridesmaids' dresses and order if necessary
• Select and order invitations, matches, napkins, thank-you notes and programs
• Start planning honeymoon
• Start addressing invitations and announcements when they arrive
• Pre-address than-you note envelopes while addressing invitations and announcements. (This saves a great deal of time later.)
• Prepare maps and directions to include with your invitations.
• Check with the post office for the amount of postage needed to mail the invitations when all the pieces are included in the envelope.
• Register with bridal registries
• Reserve the rehearsal dinner location
• Select a baker for the cake

• Check with your local newspaper for the form and timing of your wedding announcement submission.
• Have mothers select their dresses
• Select the men's formal wear
• Choose songs that you would like for the band or DJ to play at your wedding
• Keep gift checklist up to date and write thank-you notes daily
• Arrange accommodations for attendants who do not live in town
• Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests
• Hire limousines and/or other transportation
• Make appointments for physicals and update your immunization shots and records
• Shop for wedding rings
• Start planning the honeymoon
• Begin shopping for trousseau
• Begin addressing invitations and announcements. (They should be sent 4-6 weeks before he wedding.)

• Finish addressing invitations and send them out.
• Finalize all details with the caterer, photographer, florist, reception coordinator, musicians, etc.
• Order the wedding cake if it is not supplied by the caterer.
• Finalize the ceremony details with the officiant.
• Make rehearsal and rehearsal dinner arrangements.
• Plan the bridesmaids' luncheon.
• Make appointments with your hairdresser and mark-up artist.
• Finalize honeymoon plans.

• Have a final fitting of the wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses.
• Have a formal bridal portrait done.
• Complete all physical and dental appointments.
• Get blood test and marriage license.
• Make transportation arrangements for the wedding day.
• Purchase gifts for all of the attendants and particpants.
• Purchase gift for your fiance
• Keep careful records of the gifts you receive and write thank-you notes as you receive them.
• Select responsible person to handle the guest book.
• Make sure that all of the men's attire has been ordered.
• Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit.
• Take care of legal affairs such as changing the names on insurance policies, etc.
• Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests.
• Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to the newspaper.

• Arrange to have wedding gifts moved to your new home.
• Turn in a change of address card to the post office if necessary.
• Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on the wedding day.
• The groom should have his hair cut.
• The bride should have her hair colored if necessary.

• Contact guests who have not responded.
• Give the final count to the caterer and review the details.
• Go over any final details with all wedding professionals you have hired.
• Give the photographer a list of pictures you would like.
• Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video.
• Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception.
• Plan the seating arrangements.
• Continue to write thank-you notes.
• Pack your suitcases for the honeymoon.
• Make sure you have the marriage license.
• Make sure that you have the wedding rings and they fit.
• Make sure that all wedding attire is picked up and it fits.
• Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.
• Make sure that you have your plane tickets.

• Have the bridesmaids luncheon if you are not having it the day of the wedding and you haven't already had it.
• The bride should have her nails done.
• Have rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties at least twice.
• Go over special seating or pew cards with the ushers.
• Give any instructions about on the wedding day such as what time everyone should be at the church for pictures, what type of transportation is provided, where the reception is, etc.

• Have the bridesmaids' luncheon if you have not already had it.
• The bride should have her hair and makeup done.
• Make sure that each of you have the rings.
• Make sure that you have the marriage license.
• Place the officiant's fee in an envelope and give it to the best man so he may resent it after the ceremony.