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THINGS TO DO

This list does not give you the typical "12 Months Before", but it does tell you everything you need to do, and in some places indicates a time-frame you should be aware of.

These are the decisions you should make in the earliest stages of your wedding planning. Many other decisions rest on these early choices.

  • Decide what style of wedding you want, and what level of formality.
  • Time of year and time of day (this relates to the level of formality-evening weddings are generally formal affairs, etc.)
  • Where you want to have your ceremony and reception (some popular locations are booked a year or more in advance, so expect to have a few alternate sites in mind.)
  • Set a general budget amount and talk with parents about who will pay for what.
  • Find an officiant to perform the ceremony.
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    After these decisions have been made, here is the long list of details and decisions you'll need to attend to:

    • Announce your engagement-send notices to local and hometown newspapers
    • Develop your guest list (or determine a total number of guests you can afford, and work from there.)
    • Set the actual date, after determining availability of ceremony and reception sites.
    • Plan your color scheme
    • Book ceremony site
    • Book officiant
    • Book reception location
    • Book caterer
    • Book photographer
    • Book videographer
    • Choose your attendants
    • Find your wedding attire
    • Select wedding attire and accessories for attendants
    • Determine sizes of attendants and order their attire (dresses should be ordered several months before the wedding; men's attire can be organized three to four months before the wedding.)
    • Determine where you want to honeymoon and begin making travel arrangements
    • Determine what kind of music you want for your reception and ceremony.
    • Book band or DJ, etc for reception
    • Find musicians for your ceremony (many couples don't plan their ceremony until closer to the wedding date, but it may be necessary to arrange for soloists, organists, or ensemble musicians well in advance to assure their availability.)
    • Select florist
    • Buy wedding rings
    • Help mothers select their attire (so that they don't "clash" in photographs!)
    • Order invitations (and thank you notes, table placecards, etc)
    • Arrange to rent any necessary equipment (tables and chairs, silverware, china, tent, etc)
    • Mail invitations 4 to 6 weeks before wedding date (it is helpful to out-of-town guests to receive their invitation well ahead of time, to allow for travel arrangements.)
    • Order wedding cake
    • Arrange for transportation to and from wedding and reception (horse-drawn carriage, limousine, etc)
    • Get marriage license
    • Gather information on out-of-town guest accommodations, and make reservations where needed. (you could include a list with your invitation, telling guests about local hotels and inns, and including phone numbers, and/or an offer to make the reservations for them)

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      If you haven't done these things by one month prior to the wedding, it's time to do them now!

    • Record gifts received and send thank-you notes
    • Plan rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (often the "domain" of the parents of the groom)
    • Purchase gifts for attendants
    • Purchase gifts for each other
    • Schedule final fittings, including shoes and accessories
    • Arrange for cleaning and preserving of wedding dress-ask someone to take it for you after the wedding.
    • Schedule appointments at beauty salon—go 3-4 weeks before the wedding for haircuts, and/or to try out the style you will wear on your wedding day-bring headpiece, veil, etc to incorporate in hairstyle. Also make your appointment for the day of your wedding (or the day before if you're having a simple hairstyle you can sleep on)
    • Invite bridesmaids to have appointments with you at beauty salon
    • Groom get haircut 2-5 weeks before wedding, so it doesn't look "just cut"!
    • Choose someone to attend to the guest book to make sure that all your guests sign it.

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      During the week before the wedding, organize these details to make sure things go smoothly on the day.

    • Make a schedule of your reception. Give copies of this to your best man, maid of honor, wedding coordinator, caterer and photographer.
    • Assign someone (or a few people) to "run" the reception-to take charge of moving events along according to the schedule, and keep things running smoothly. (If you have a coordinator, s/he will do this.)
    • Arrange for someone to gather all necessary items for ceremony and reception, and to transport them to the sites. Arrange for someone to be responsible for returning them afterward.
    • Delegate all tasks for the wedding day—a great way to do this is to write an index card for each person you are delegating tasks to, and give this to them at the rehearsal or a day or two before the wedding. If you are really organized, give a copy of these lists to the best man, maid of honor, or wedding coordinator so they know who is responsible for what tasks.

    Where Do I Begin? General Tips Cost Cutting Tips Resource Book Store The Language of Flowers Short Checklist Long Checklist New Hampshire License Vermont License



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