Wedding Planning Guide
12+ Months prior to your event -
Task |
Who’s Responsible |
| Purchase engagement ring. | Groom |
| Announce your engagement to families and friends. | Bride & Groom |
9-12 Months prior to your event -
Task |
Who’s Responsible |
| Select a church or other venue and a reception site.
Prime sites can book up to 1 year early. This will help you secure color, decor and vendor choices. |
Bride |
| Have an engagement picture taken. | Bride & Groom |
| Select a wedding consultant if you plan to use one. They
can help with referralsfor vendor choices. |
Bride |
| Select attendants, including Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids, Best Man, Groomsmen and Ushers. You will want 1 usher for every 50 guests. |
Bride & Groom |
| Select the caterer, if not provided by the reception facility. Check to see if bartenders and staff are included. |
Bride |
| Submit engagement information and photograph to newspapers if appropriate. |
Bride & Groom |
| Select photographer and videographer. | Bride |
| Shop for your gown to allow time for ordering and altering. |
Bride |
| Select the musicians and/or a DJ for the wedding and reception. |
Bride |
| Start writing up the guest list. | Bride & Groom |
6-9 Months prior to your event -
Task |
Who’s Responsible |
| Select a florist to ensure they are available for your wedding date. |
Bride |
| Enroll in null Wedding Registry. | Bride & Groom |
| Start researching honeymoon destinations including
passport and visa entry requirements. |
Bride & Groom |
| Schedule fittings for bridal attire the first will be
held when your dress arrives. |
Bride |
| Choose attendant’s dresses. You may wish to have
your maid of honor help in the selection. Wedding Attire. |
Bride |
| Select a bakery for the cake if not provided by the caterer.
Remember that most bakeries have tastings, so enjoy! |
Bride |
| Meet with the officiant to discuss the ceremony. Have any
required pre-wedding counseling and discuss any special ceremony requests. |
Bride & Groom |
| Finalize contracts and pay required deposits. | Bride |
| Have mothers begin dress shopping with your style,
formality and colors in mind. |
Bride |
| Order wedding ring(s) and any specialized engraving. | Bride & Groom |
3-6 Months prior to your event -
Task |
Who’s Responsible |
| Research and reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests.
Check to see about shuttle services for airport and reception venue. |
Bride |
| Have the mothers purchase their dresses. | Bride |
| Choose bridal accessories including headpiece or veil,
undergarments and shoes so that they may be worn for first fitting. |
Bride |
| Reserve wedding night accommodations. | Groom |
| Finalize all honeymoon and travel plans. File for passport and
travel visas if required. |
Groom |
| Begin planning reception including linen colors, china
choices and centerpieces. |
Bride |
| Arrange for welcome gifts to be placed in guests rooms when they arrive.
They may include maps and timeline. |
Bride |
| Reserve rental equipment for the ceremony and reception including linens,
tent, china or crystal and fountains or arches if appropriate. |
Bride |
| Finalize the menu with the caterer or banquet manager. | Bride |
| Order invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards and personalized stationery. | Bride |
| Select the music for the ceremony including pre-ceremony seating, mothers
seating, bridal party, processional, recessional and internal ceremony music. |
Bride |
| Have gentlemen measured, and select and reserve tuxedos. | Bride |
| Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner. | Groom |
| Schedule additional fittings for bridal attire, attendant’s dresses and mother’s dresses. | Bride |
| Finalize guest list with fiancee and parents. | Bride & Groom |
| Check with the County Clerk’s office about requirements for marriage license,
which may involve a blood test. |
Bride & Groom |
0-3 Months
Task |
Who’s Responsible |
| Order the wedding cake and confirm delivery time and location. | Bride |
| Meet with the florist to decide on bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, ceremony and reception. | Bride |
| Set the ceremony and reception schedule including arrival time, receiving line,
cake cutting and toast. |
Bride & Groom |
| Arrange transportation for the wedding party. | Bride |
| Plan bridesmaids’ luncheon for when all attendants will be in town. | Bride |
| Finalize ceremony details with officiant including any original vows. | Bride & Groom |
| Have final dress fitting. | Bride |
| Keep a record of gifts received. Follow up with thank you notes as soon as possible. | Bride |
| Address invitations and announcements if appropriate. | Bride & Groom |
| Prepare directions and maps for out of town guests. | Bride |
| Appoint someone to be guest book attendant and hand out programs if appropriate. | Bride |
| Make sure all the attendants and other helpers have a copy of the wedding-day
schedule. Paperwork |
Bride & Groom |
| Solidify plans for rehearsal dinner. | Groom |
| Make appointments with your hairstylist, makeup artist and manicurist. | Bride |
| Select song for first dance and rehearse the first dance. If you feel insecure try a few lessons. | Bride & Groom |
| Mail invitations to out of town guests. | Bride |
| Finalize rehearsal dinner arrangements, including menu and estimated counts. | Groom |
| Purchase gifts for attendants and ushers. | Bride & Groom |
| Purchase fiancee’s gifts, if gifts are being exchanged between the bride and groom. | Bride & Groom |
| Shop for honeymoon and going away attire. | Bride & Groom |
| Order reception guest favors. | Bride |
| Don’t forget details like toasting goblets, unity candle, cake knife and cake server. | Bride |
| Make arrangements to preserve wedding gown and bouquet. | Bride |
| Confirm last minute details with all vendors such as caterer, florist, bakery and officiant. | Bride |
| Mail invitations to local guests. | Bride |
| Confirm honeymoon plans and reservations. | Groom |
| Submit a song list to the musicians or music operator for ceremony and entrance order. | Bride |
| Attend to legal matters such as joint checking account, credit cards, name and
address change forms. |
Bride & Groom |
| Schedule a formal bridal portrait. | Bride |
| Make a list for the photographer of the special pictures you want taken. | Bride & Groom |
| Do a hair, makeup and headpiece run through. | Bride |
| Pack wedding day attire and emergency kit to include extra hosiery, band-aids,
sewing kit, crackers and antacid. |
Bride |
| Visit county clerk’s office and obtain marriage license. | Bride & Groom |
| Design the program for the ceremony and have it printed. | Bride & Groom |
| Address the wedding announcements to be mailed on the wedding day. | Bride |
| Send photo and wedding announcement to the newspapers. | Bride & Groom |
| Pick up wedding ring(s) and check their fit. | Bride & Groom |
| Give the caterer the final count for the reception. | Bride |
| Call guests who have not RSVPed. | Bride |
| Ask someone to be on hand to run errands the day of the wedding. | Bride & Groom |
| Pick up honeymoon tickets, traveler’s checks, and pack for honeymoon. | Groom |
| Confirm accommodations for out-of-town guests. | Bride |
| File change of address if moving to a new home. | Bride & Groom |
| Make a checklist and timeline for your wedding day. Give copies to everyone
with duties. |
Bride & Groom |
| Arrange seating plan for reception and prepare place cards and master list. | Bride & Groom |
| Men may wish to get a haircut, and women may wish to have hair trimmed. | Bride & Groom |
| Make sure all wedding attire is ready, pressed and fitted for the bride, groom,
and wedding party. |
Bride & Groom |
| Review seating details for the ceremony with the ushers. | Bride & Groom |
| Complete thank you notes for gifts received so far. | Bride |
| Delegate wedding-day responsibilities to dependable friends. | Bride & Groom |
| Confirm rehearsal plans with officiant, wedding party and confirm
dinner reservations. |
Groom |
| Complete place cards for the rehearsal dinner and review seating arrangements. | Bride & Groom |
| Confirm all wedding day transportation plans. | Bride |
| Host the bridesmaids’ luncheon. | Bride |
| Attend the bachelor or bachelorette party. | Bride & Groom |
| Give marriage license and the gratuity for officiant to the best man. | Bride & Groom |
| Arrange fees in envelopes for musicians, officiant, caterer and bakery, and
have best man give them to appropriate parties. |
Bride & Groom |
| Attend the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Give attendants gifts. | Bride & Groom |
| Get a manicure and pedicure or perhaps a massage and steam bath to relax
you and give you a polished look on your wedding day. |
Bride |
| Give wedding rings to the best man even if they are going on the ring pillow. | Bride & Groom |
| Relax! Take a long hot bath. At Home | Bride & Groom |
| Relax and enjoy your wedding day! Do remember to take time to eat. | Bride & Groom |
| Sign and witness the marriage license. Have best man mail it. | Bride & Groom |
| Have hair and makeup done. Remember to wear a button-up shirt so that
it doesn’t disrupt your hair when you change. |
Bride |
