To-Do List

You just got engaged...now what? Here is a comprehensive to do list to make sure that you don't forget anything before your special day.
 
==Before Wedding==
===11 Months Before Wedding===
*Decide on the budget.
*Start the guest list.
*Determine a time frame for your wedding date. Narrow down your wedding date to a few weekends that don’t conflict with other family events.
*Choose a color scheme for your big day.
**Click for sample color themes
*Search for a ceremony venue.
*Search for a reception venue.
===10 Months Before Wedding===
*Book your ceremony venue. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Choose the members of your wedding party - maid of honor and best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring bearer, flower girl as well as your ushers - and invite them to take these roles.
*Create your wedding website.
*The Knot
*MyWedding.com
*Search for a caterer.
**Click for wedding food ideas.
*Search for a photographer/videographer.
*Search for a florist.
**Click here for flower ideas.
*Search for a band or a DJ.
*Select save-the-date cards and order.
**Click here for save the date cards.
===9 Months Before Wedding===
*Book your caterer. Create deposits/payments schedule. Begin working on a menu.
*Spring Food Menu Idea
*Book your DJ and/or band. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Set up your registries. Add registries page to your wedding website.
*Book your photographer/videographer and schedule engagement photo shoot. Create deposits/payments
*schedule.
*Book your florist. Create deposits/payments schedule.
**Click here for flower ideas.
*Search for an officiant.
*Book your officiant. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Add accommodations and travel info to your wedding
*website, so your guests know what to expect.
*Send save-the-date cards (be sure your guest list is finalized first). Include hotel information for out-of-town
*Save the Date Cards
*guests., if it’s available, plus your website address.
*Start shopping for your gown
**Click here for wedding dress ideas.
===8 Months Before Wedding===
*Select your wedding dress and place the order. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Search for a wedding cake baker.
*Wedding Cakes
*Order your wedding cake. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Finalize floral arrangements and design with florist.
*Search for a wedding stationer for invitations, plus place cards, menus, announcements (if you’ll use them) and thank-you stationery (which you may need to order now)
*​Beau-Coup.com
*Search for a ceremony musician.
*Book your invitations vendor. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Book your ceremony musician. Create deposits/payments schedule.
*Discuss rehearsal dinner — who will host? Whoever is hosting should begin searching for a venue. You will also need to negotiate who will be invited.
===7 Months Before Wedding===
*Attend engagement photo shoot with photographer.
*Search for a vendor to help with your hair, makeup, or any prewedding pampering.
*Select your bridesmaid dresses and flower-girl dress, and have your attendants place their orders.
*Purchase accessories for your gown, such as a veil, shoes, undergarments, and jewelry.
**​Beau-Coup.com
*Choose groom’s attire.
*Rehearsal-dinner host should finalize venue.
*Book accommodations for your wedding night.
*Book your hair and makeup trial appointment.
**Hair Ideas
**Nail Ideas
*Plan and book your honeymoon, including travel, accommodations, and activities.
*Finalize the text for your invitations and place the order. Also consider purchasing thank-you notes and wedding announcements from the same vendor.
*<Finalize the menu and service details with your caterer.
*Choose your bridesmaids’ accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc.). Purchase or pass along the purchasing information.
**​Beau-Coup.com
*Choose groomsmen’s and ring bearer’sattire (including a rental shop if they’ll be renting formal attire). Send them the information necessary to purchase or rent.
*Purchase your wedding bands.
*Check your gift gift registry. If items on your list have been discontinued, you may want to update the registry.
*Design and start creation of favors.
**Wedding Favors
===5 Months Before Wedding===
*Discuss and confirm party plans for bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as any shower that is offered, with your maid of honor and best man.
*For an international honeymoon, begin to get your papers in order (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
*Ask your readers to be a part of your ceremony. Begin a search for readings, and discuss them with your officiant.
*If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.
**Bridesmaid Dress Ideas
*Schedule gown fitting appointments. Your first appointment should be directly after you receive the gown, and the last appointment should fall no later than three weeks before the wedding.
*Provide guest lists to your maid of honor and best man for your shower, bachelorette party, bachelor party, and other social events.
*Search for a transportation vendor (limo, bus for guests, etc.)
*Book your transportation vendor. Create deposits/payments schedule.
===4 Months Before Wedding===
*Stuff and send out wedding invitations.
**Wedding Invitations
*Track gifts received from guests and send thank-you notes.
**Thank You Notes
*Check on your hotel room blocks to ensure important guests have made their travel arrangements.
*Design your ceremony programs and print them. Create menu cards for the reception tables, if you’ll be using them.
*Research local marriage license requirements. Schedule a blood test appointment if one is required in your state.
*Don’t forget to check when the license expires and if there is a waiting period.
*Decide on a guest book option.
**Guest Book Options
*Purchase or make gifts for your bridal party and close family. Don’t forget ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, and readers!
===3 Months Before Wedding===
*Alert your wedding party to the rehearsal. The rehearsal-dinner host should send rehearsal dinner invitations.
*Obtain a marriage license. Follow your state’s guidelines concerning how soon you can apply, and how long the license is valid for.
*If you have a DJ/band, work on a list of ‘must-play’ and ‘do-not play’ songs. Be sure you also send them selections for your introductions, first dance, cake cutting, father/daughter dance, anniversary dance, and last dance.
*Determine your ceremony music selections and send the list to your ceremony musicians.
*Shop for all additional accessories like undergarments, jewelry, headpiece, bridal purse, etc.
**Jewelry
*Create a wedding day schedule. Send the information to your wedding party and vendors.
*Finalize any special preferences, readings, or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.
*Notify your maid of honor/mother/or friend to attend your final gown fitting so they can learn how the bustle will be tied.
===2 Months Before Wedding===
*Verify with your reception venue to make sure your vendors will have access to the site when they need it.
*Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangements with your florist. Make a list of who will get bouquets,corsages, and boutonnieres, and recruit someone to oversee this on the wedding day.
*Confirm the rehearsal details and wedding day schedule with your officiant.
*Pick up the tuxedo/suit and try it on at the shop. See if there are any additional alterations to be made.
*Confirm location, date, and time with your photographer. Create your ‘must-take’ photo list.
*Confirm location, date, and time with your videographer.
*Confirm all honeymoon travel plans. Give someone a copy of your itinerary and contact information in case of an emergency.
*Shop and pack for the honeymoon.
**Honeymoon Links
*If you’re having a receiving line, determine the order everyone will stand in.
===1 Months Before Wedding===
*If you have guests attending from out of town who have children, help them by locating babysitting options for
*them.
*Write your vows if you choose to personalize them. Send a copy to your officiant.
*Pick up wedding rings and check the inscriptions before you leave the store.
*Call guests who have not yet RSVP’d for the wedding and rehearsal dinner to get a final head count.
*Create your seating chart. Make place cards or give typed names to your calligrapher.
*Give the seating chart to your caterer, reception venue manager, and wedding coordinator.
*Prepare your toasts and thanks to friends and family.
**Examples of Wedding Speeches
*Send your transportation vendor the schedule, addresses, and contact phone numbers for the wedding day.
*Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors. Mail your payment checks or make arrangements for the wedding day.
===1 Week Before Wedding===
*Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
*Confirm number of bouquets, boutonnieres, and centrepieces with your florist.
*Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with your wedding cake vendor.
*Pick up your gown. Before leaving the shop, try it on to make sure there are no additional alterations to be made.
*Drop off favors, placecards, guest book, pens, cake knife, toasting flutes, and all other reception items at the reception venue.
**​Place Cards 
**Toasting Flutes & More
*Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc.).
==After Wedding==
*Arrange for gown and veil to be cleaned and preserved. Make sure the provider is experienced in preserving wedding gowns.
*Take the bridal bouquet to be preserved, or save a petal to be pressed for your scrapbook.
*Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
*Write thank-you notes for all the gifts you received at the wedding and before. Traditional etiquette gives you an 8-week grace period.
**Thank you Notes 
Category:Decor
Category:Flowers