Here is a Wedding Planning Checklist for your convenience.
We have not put a time-line on the list, because couples often
have different time frames in mind.
Most online checklists tell you what to do a year in advance,
and yet most engagements last less than a year!
I guess they want you to feel worried from the start.
Our suggestion is that you print out this list,
and then move each item onto a planning calender with as many months as you have left on it.
And if you'd like to save some money while planning your wedding...
Or get a
wedding coordinator. You may want to do this in addition to the above items.
A good wedding coordinator can keep everything running smoothly, and provide moral support when things seem a bit hectic.
If you're having trouble deciding whether to go with an organizer,
a software package, or a wedding coordinator (or more than one of these)
Please visit our Wedding Planning Tool Guide.
Decide what kind of wedding you want. You've probably been dreaming about this all your life,
so this won't be too difficult, but you may want to run your ideas by the other people
who will be involved with the wedding.
Decide on your wedding party.
Wedding Checklist: Invitations
Decide on a guest list.
Decide which wedding invitations you want.
Send all of the wedding invitations.
While you're at it, you might want to make arrangements for out-of-town guests.
You might also want to provide guests with a list of things to do in the area.
Wedding Checklist: Reception and Rehearsal Dinner
If you don't want to make all the arrangements yourself, you can find a reception coordinator.
OR
Choose a place for the reception, and book it early.
Find a place for the rehearsal dinner. Booking this isn't usually as urgent as is booking the reception hall, since the rehearsal dinner is often served in a reception hall at the church, or in the home of one of the members of the wedding party.
However, it is a good idea to send out formal invitations to the rehearsal dinner.
Find and book a caterer, and select the menu. You may wish to accommodate various dietary habits of others (e.g., Kosher, Muslim, Vegetarian, Atkins-ites).
Choose a cake pattern, and arrange for the cake to be made.
Find and book musicians.
Select Music.
Make beverage arrangements.
Wedding Checklist: Photography and Videography
Book a wedding photographer and a wedding videographer early. Be very diligent in shopping around for this! The number-one regret people have about their weddings is poor picture and video quality.
Find someone to take your engagement photos.
Wedding Checklist: Honeymoon
Decide where to go -- together.
Make travel arrangements.
Make lodging arrangements.
Get your visas??
Buy sunscreen??
Pack.
Wedding Checklist: Clothing and Accessories
Order Men's formal wear.
Order attendants' dresses.
Make sure all your attendants know when to get their fittings.
Shop for and order that beautiful dress that will be worn only once.
Get the wedding rings!!
Lingerie.
Honeymoon clothes.
Arrange your
Hair, Nails, Makeup, etc. appointments.
Wedding Checklist: Ceremony
Find a site for the ceremony. Book this early. Many churches are booked months in advance, especially if you plan a Summer wedding.
Talk to your minister or find a licensed master of ceremony.
Establish a gift registry, or many. You can do this all on-line, now. And you can do it all in one place if you use a universal registry like the one we used to provide at Organized Registry.
Get a gift for your partner !!! Guys! I messed this one up! Believe me. It's important!
Get gifts for your attendants.
After the ceremony, suck it up, and do what has to be done: write those dreaded thank you notes. (Note: You might think about all those thank you notes when you consider how many invitations to send out.)
Wedding Checklist: Miscellanea
Get the wedding license.
Choose a witness for the signing of the wedding license.
