Wedding Checklist

6 Months (Before Wedding)

First and foremost, you should talk to each other about the vision you both
share for the kind of wedding ceremony and celebration you desire. Do you
want the traditional ceremony or something a little more non-traditional?
Think about all possibilities and don’t let anyone else force you into making
a decision you don’t really want to make.
Decide on theme or color scheme for your wedding and reception. Start
exploring all the steps you must take and all of the protocols for getting
married before you make any financial decisions. Pick up a few wedding
magazines and visit some of the wedding-related web sites on the Internet.
Start keeping a notebook filled with your ideas, names and numbers, prices,
and any other information you learn so you’ll have all the details about your
wedding in one place. You may also wish to use the notebook as a diary to
record your thoughts and feelings as you move closer to your wedding day.
Pick a date for your wedding and make sure the day is based upon your own
preference, as well as the availability of venues and of guests.
Consider appointing someone -- like a professional wedding planner, family
member or friend -- to plan your wedding. Don’t try to do it alone!
Start working on a realistic budget and make sure you decide who will pay
for what.
More and more couples create their own website and a blog to post their
thoughts, photographs, and videos for their families and friends to see. Some
free services and websites offer an opportunity to send e-invitations to guests,
as well.
Now’s the time to identify the members of your wedding party. Remember that
most members, if not all, will play key roles in the wedding and can help you
with the actual planning. Your wedding party should be comprised of close
friends and family members who you trust to help. Once selected, think about
inviting them to a planning meeting so they feel more like a part of everything.
Send a written announcement and photograph of your engagement to your
newspaper.
Identify and meet with the clergy or officiant who you want to lead your wedding
ceremony. And don’t forget to bring a list of questions to the meeting.
Pick out your invitations and stationery and make certain it fits with the theme
and colors you selected for your wedding.
Decide on the type of formal or informal clothes you and the members of your
wedding party will wear during the ceremony, and order them now.
You should start reviewing venues for the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony
and reception.
Begin reviewing caterers, bakeries, limousine companies, travel agencies,
photographers, videographers, florists and musicians.

3 – 6 Months (BW)

Start getting written agreements with important vendors, such as caterers,
bakeries, limousine companies, travel agencies, photographers, videographers,
florists and musicians.
Choose your registry services and begin selecting the gifts you would like to
receive from your friends and family.
Schedule a date for the fitting of your clothes for you and members of your
wedding party.
Finalize the site for the ceremony, rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
Order your wedding rings, together.
Make final plans for the honeymoon, such as airline, hotel, and car rental.
Don’t forget to get your passports, if needed.
Decide on the type of musician or music you’ll need, such as live band, solo
musician, or DeeJay.

Now it’s time to select your musician for the rehearsal reception, wedding
ceremony and reception. Make sure you obtain an agreement in writing, such
as an e-mail confirmation.
Decide if you want a Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the wedding reception.
Very often, the live band or DeeJay you select can also serve as the MC.
Secure a contract with the transportation company for a limousine for the bride
and groom.
Finalize plans for your rehearsal and associated dinner and reception.
Make certain you now completely understand how to obtain a marriage license.
Select the flowers and arrangements for all the bouquets, corsages, and
decorations.
Find a professional studio photographer and have your portrait taken.
Make an appointment to get your hair and makeup done in preparation for
the portrait.

2 to 3 Months (BW)

The guest list should be completed and you should start sending out invitations.
Finalize everything with the catering, bakery, and floral vendors. Make certain
you can taste the samples of food, but don’t eat the flowers.
Locate a hotel to reserve rooms for your out-of-town guests and family members.
Think about something your out of-town guests can do like an organized tour of
the area or going to a show.
Identify what you’ll need to rent, like tents, chairs, silverware, decorations, and
lighting.
Consider producing a video or slide presentation of old photographs of the bride
and groom which can be shown continuously during the reception. You can also
upload the video or photographs to your website.
Design and order any special banners or very large photographs to be displayed
during the wedding reception.

Order any special clothing or lingerie required for the wedding rehearsal, ceremony,
reception or honeymoon.

3 to 8 Weeks (BW)

Start considering whether you want to write your own vows and what readings you
may want to hear during your ceremony. You should start writing the vows now and
complete them before you meet with the clergy or officiant again.
Obtain your official guest book for the wedding and reception.
Select and order any special gifts from the bride and groom to be given to members
of the wedding party and or to any other special guests.
By now, everyone in the wedding party should have the fittings for their clothing
completed.
If possible, the bride’s maid and the groom’s best man should each plan a separate
party for members of the wedding party who are associated with either the bride or
the groom.
Make certain all logistics are finalized with the clergy or officiant.
Complete and submit all forms for changing names, social security, insurance,
driver’s licenses, and addresses.
Send your written wedding announcement and a photograph to your newspaper,
any wedding websites and all other wedding publications.
Confirm the rehearsal and reservations for the rehearsal dinner and reception.
Contact every vendor with whom you’ve contracted and confirm what they are
providing.
Get the wedding rings and make sure they’re tucked safely away.
Go get the marriage license, together.
Confirm all your reservations for the honeymoon.

Speak with your videographers, photographers and musicians to confirm they
know your precise expectations.
Meet with the MC to develop a script for all events of the wedding reception.
Make sure your MC knows the tone for the reception and the type of humor that
may be appropriate. Also, provide the MC with a complete phonetic list of names
to be announced.
Send the formal invitation for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner to all members
of your wedding party and any special guests.
Let someone know how you’d like your limousine decorated and stocked with
refreshments.

1 Week (BW)

Call all of the guests who have not responded to the invitation.
Plan all the seating arrangements for the wedding reception
Write and print a welcome note and agenda for the wedding ceremony and the
reception.
Prepare and print the place cards for the reception.
Speak with whomever will toast the bride and groom to express your personal
desire for the tone of the toast.
Go down the list and make sure all of the details are in order, such as cake knife,
toasting glasses, ring pillow, gifts for guests, cameras for guests, etc.
Finalize all travel and reservation details for your honeymoon. Oh, and now is a
good time to pack your suitcases before things become too hectic.
Make sure the limousine driver knows what to do.
If possible, try treating yourself to some special time alone before the big day.
For example, spend a weekend at a resort or spa, or just relax somewhere in the
country.

1 Day (BW)

Pick up all the rented clothing and deliver it to the members of your wedding party.
Attend the wedding rehearsal and dinner, and don’t drink too much and go to
bed early.

Wedding Day

Thanks to your great preparation and delegation of responsibilities, everything goes
smoothly and your wedding day becomes one of the greatest memories of your lives.

Contact Me Today: (703) 751-2614 or John@TheMusicofLove.com

Wedding Checklist