10 TO 12 MONTHS PRIOR

• Buy your wedding planner or good organizer
• Discuss the style of the wedding and the budget with your fiancée and ALL parents.
• Interview wedding consultants, advisors and coordinators.
• Speak with all your friends – pick their brains – learn who knows what and who knows who.
• Speak to your clergy – speak with other family members’ clergy – ask questions.
• Begin looking for locations – ceremony – rehearsal dinner – reception – other planned events
• Begin interviewing Caterers, Bakers, Photographers, Florists, Videographers, Musicians
• By end of Month 12 select three of your key players: advisor/consultant – caterer and photographer
• By end of Month 11 select site for the ceremony
• By end of Month 10 select site for the reception and rehearsal dinner
• By end of Month 10 select the remaining key players; baker, florist, musicians, videographer

7 TO 9 MONTHS PRIOR

• Select all of your attendants
• Together, begin compiling your guest list.
• Contact and visit clergy or justice of the peace
• Begin shopping for appropriate clothiers and (ladies) accessorize, accessorize, accessorize, accessorize
• Register with not less than three well known Bridal Registries for gifts
• Begin looking at honeymoon options with your fiancée – visit a travel agency or professional specializing in leisure travel – if you plan to leave the country check on your passports.
• By the end of Month 9 choose clergy
• By the end of Month 8 decide on a menu.
• By the end of Month 7 schedule engagement photo session
• By the end of Month 7 select and order attendant’s apparel.

4 TO 6 MONTHS PRIOR

• Begin review of details with all of your wedding professionals
• Finalize honeymoon plans with fiance and book with travel agent.
• By end of Month 6 shop for and order invitations and announcements
• Finalize music selection for wedding and reception
• By end of Month 5 book calligrapher
• By end of Month 5 shop and order the men’s formal wear
• Book wedding transportation – limousines, horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, boat, or whatever
• By end of Month 4 have the rehearsal dinner plans in place (make sure you coordinate this with your fiancée).

2 TO 3 MONTHS PRIOR

• Order the wedding rings!!
• Finish guest list
• Shop till you drop
• Lingerie
• Honeymoon Clothes
• Attendants’ gifts
• Your gift for your fiancée
• Pre- & post-wedding party clothes you might need
• Finalize catering, bakery, floral arrangements (be a little flexible)
• Reserve a block of rooms for your out-of-town guests (good work for your fiancée)
• Finalize arrangements for any rental items you may need
• Candelabra & other silver pieces
• Special decorative screens & archways
• Special lighting (particularly if part of the event will be outside or in an unique area where normal lighting may not be possible)
• Make appointment with your hairdresser (a trial run for next month – also good for your bridal portrait)
• Make appointment with your hairdresser (final)
• Make appointment for your nails (hands and feet)
• Make appointment with a makeup artist for the day of your bridal portrait

4 TO 8 WEEKS PRIOR

• Mail your wedding invitations and send either you preplanned special itinerary for early arriving out-of-town guests or an activity sheet from area chambers-of-commerce
• Final fittings (you and the attendants)
• Plan the bridesmaids’ party & confirm the location & instructions
• By Week 6 have bridal portrait taken
• Send local paper and wedding publications your announcement and photograph
• Notes! Notes! Notes! Write Thank You Notes as you receive bridal and wedding gifts
• Reconfirm rehearsal events and rehearsal dinner reservations
• For your own peace of mind personally touch base with every key professional you and/or your coordinator have working on all your upcoming events
• By Week 4 Pick Up Wedding Rings
• Get marriage license with fiancée
• Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and (if leaving the country go to bank and exchange at least $100 into foreign currency)
• Submit request lists to your musicians, photographer and videographer
• Formally invite wedding party and guests to the rehearsal dinner
• Confirm all transportation for all events (including honeymoon)
• Address announcements to mail on your wedding day
• Prepare all the necessary forms for name address changes on social security card, credit cards, bank accounts, post office, driver’s license, etc.
• Arrange to move belongings to new home
• By the last day of Week 2 plan a day to be alone with your family

1 WEEK PRIOR

• On the very first date of the very last week begin packing for your honeymoon
• Check final details with all your wedding professionals – early in the week
• Give (or attend) the Bridesmaids’ party
• Give final guest count to the caterer
• Create a wedding day schedule with your fiancée
• Reminder Day
• Remind wedding party men to pick up tuxedos
• Remind attendants of rehearsal dinner agenda
• Remind fiancée to double check rehearsal dinner plans
• Finish packing for your honeymoon
• Rehearsal Dinner (give wedding day schedule to all)
• Schedule the day prior to the wedding as a free day – and a day to visit with a few close friends