Transcona Country Club

Wedding Checklist

12 Month Wedding Countdown Checklist

Announce your engagement.
Locate and buy the engagement rings
Set a wedding budget, and who is contributing
Pick your preferences for a wedding date and time, and finalize after okaying with important guests, location, or officiant.
Set a wedding date.
Begin working on a preliminary wedding guest list and decide on your wedding's approximate size. Request lists from both sets of parents and create your own wish list
Set a wedding time.
Brides: It's never too early to begin thinking about your gown. Start by figuring out what style will look best on you.
Determine the type of wedding you want.
Get organized! Start a notebook/file folder to house all your wedding-planning paperwork in one place
Research reception hall locations.
Select and book your reception location.
Locate a ceremony site.
Select and book your ceremony site.
Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (such as counseling).
Set up hotel arrangements for out of town guest.
Set up the music for your wedding and reception.
Decide who will be in your bridal party.
Start looking for wedding dress.
Start looking for formal wear/tuxedo.
Start looking for bridesmaids' dresses.
Start looking for formal wear for the groomsmen.
Find a photographer and set up an appointment to look at their work.
Find a videographer and set up an appointment to look at their work.
Find a florists and set appointments to look at their work.
Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
Set up contracts from all the professionals you choose.
Register for your wedding gifts, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower or engagement party as well.
Visit bridal shows; look at magazines, bridal guides and the internet to help you come up with ideas for your wedding, your wedding planner / Consultant can also help.
Contact newspapers to announce your engagement (you may need to have an engagement photo taken as well).

Six to Nine Months Before The Wedding

Start coming up with your guest list, have your family and friends help you with this task.
Select the attendants for your wedding party.
Make sure your maid of honor and best man are aware of what you expect of them -- providing a list of their duties will help.
Purchase your wedding dress.
Think about how you might want to wear your hair
Purchase your groom's tuxedo or set up arrangements for the rental of it.
Check with the bridesmaids to make sure they have purchased their dresses.
Arrange for the groomsmen to purchase or set up arrangements for the rental of their tuxedos.
Shop for the accessories.
Start planning for your honeymoon.
Choose a photographer.
Choose a videographer.
Choose a florist.
Choose and order a wedding cake.
Purchase and send guests save-the-date greetings
Arrange the Rehearsal
Arrange for transportation.
Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes).

Four to Six Months Before The Wedding

Check requirements for marriage license
Shop and select wedding rings.
If you are renting equipment, reserve it, this includes arches, floral items etc.
Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
Grooms: Decide what style of formalwear you will be wearing
Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent tux, suit, or other formal attire.
Select your invitations and announcements, and then order them.
Select your thank you notes and stationery, and then order them.
Order all the men's attire.
Finalize your guest lists.
Inform mothers to select their dresses.
Finalize honeymoon details and your reservations.
Finalize honeymoon travel details

Two to Four Months Before The Wedding

Confirm the details with the caterer.
Brides: Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, gloves, etc.) and either purchase or pass along purchasing information.
Brides: Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.
Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire
Prepare maps and directions for the ceremony and reception.
Select wedding rings and have sized.
Select a wedding guest book.
Set the dates and times with the officiant for the rehearsal.
Set up the bridesmaids' luncheon.
Brides: Provide a guest list to bridesmaids for your shower.
Determine your design and printing of the invitations.
Finalize the florist photographer.
Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement
Finalize the videographer.
Finalize the florist.
Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box)
Finalize accommodations for out of town guest.
Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.)
Talk to your maid of honor and best man about party plans (such as the shower and bachelor party).
Confirm the wedding cake details.
Pick up your invitations
Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the two-month mark).
Talk to people you'd want to do special performances or readings as part of the ceremony.
Send wedding bands out to be engraved (make sure they'll be back in time for the wedding).

Six to Eight Weeks Before The Wedding

Send out invitations (be sure to add extra postage for overseas guests).
Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
Set appointment for your formal bridal portrait.
Select gifts for your attendants
Set appointments with your hairdressers and makeup artists
Brides: Decide on and purchase major accessories (veil and shoes) prior to final fittings
Finalize the transportation.
Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own
Begin writing the ceremony program if you are having one
Arrange for a babysitter for the reception, if necessary
Submit your wedding announcement to newspapers (if you so desire)
Research local marriage license requirements
Buy a guest book (and a nice pen).
Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.
Grooms: Attend your bachelor party (and be sure to thank the best man afterwards).
Finalize vows
Brides: Attend final wedding-gown fitting

Four to Six Weeks Before The Wedding

Decide your menu for the reception or finalize it with cater or reception hall
Buy a gift for the groom.
Schedule a final fitting for your wedding dress.
Purchase an outfit to wear when leaving the reception hall.
Pick up your wedding rings.
Work out wedding day timing and details (who will get the bride there, where the wedding party will dress, etc) and draw up a schedule
Brides: Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" if you want to include these customs in your wedding
Get a head start on those thank-you notes (it will feel great to get a batch out before the wedding).
Purchase all wedding accessories.
Confirm photographer details and arrival.
Confirm videographer details and arrival.
Confirm florist details and delivery times.
Plan the seating for the reception.
Start preparing placement cards.
Make sure all bridesmaids’ attire has been fitted.
Buy a gift for the bride.
Choose the music for your ceremony and the reception.
Work on a list of "must-play" (and "must-not play") songs for your DJ or band

Two Weeks Before The Wedding

Make arrangements to have your wedding gifts move to your home.
Handle business and legal details; which includes, name changes, address changes for bills etc.
Reconfirm your out of town guests' hotel accommodations.
Make sure all clothing and accessories for you and the bridal party are ready.
Obtain your marriage license and certificates that may be needed.

One Week Before The Wedding

Review any seating details with the ushers
Make sure all wedding attire fits comfortably for all of the attendants.
Finalize the seating arrangements for the reception hall.
Reconfirm your honeymoon reservations and tickets.
Pack for your honeymoon.
Call any guests who have not responded.
Finalize the place cards for the reception.
Review all the final details with your photographer.
Review all the final details with your videographer.
Review all the final details with your florist.
Review all the final details with your baker
Give a final count to the caterer.
Remind wedding party of the exact time and date.
Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party, and make lists/info sheets as needed. If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you want everyone to stand in.
Wrap the wedding party gifts.
Finalize your rehearsal dinner arrangements
Grooms: Pick up your tux and try it on. (Don't wait until the day of to do this!)
Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family
Grooms: Get your final haircut
Distribute wedding-day directions, schedule, and contact list to all parents, attendants, and vendors.
Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night (toothbrush, sexy lingerie, etc.) and designate someone to deliver it to the hotel for you
Brides: Get a manicure and pedicure and confirm big-day beauty appointments.
Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash) brought to the party
Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency

One Day Before The Wedding

Rehearse the ceremony with the officiant and wedding party
Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation to airport, etc.).
Brides: Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
Get a manicure or massage.
Visit your family the night before and get to sleep early.
Attend wedding rehearsal.
Relax!

The Wedding Day

Allow plenty of time to get dressed
Take it easy
Go to your hairdresser and makeup appointments
Set aside a private moment together after the ceremony to exchange gifts and a sweet congratulatory kiss (or two).
Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.
Confirm with people who you expect to say grace at the reception (if desired)
Take a moment to thank your parents and tell them that you love them -- this is a sweet but sad day for them
Enjoy your wedding!

After the Wedding

Arrange for a bridesmaid or mother to pick up your wedding dress and other personal belongings at the hotel after you depart.
Freeze the top layer of the wedding cake to be enjoyed at your first anniversary celebration
Take the bridal bouquet and other wedding mementos to be preserved, if you are a true sentimentalist
Arrange for your gown and veil to be cleaned and preserved. Make sure the provider is experienced in preserving wedding gowns.
Take any personal film to be developed. These will probably be the first photos available to you, since professional proofs may take weeks.
Mail gifts to your parents to thank them for their help and support.
Make sure that ALL vendor bills have been paid in full.
Find out when you can expect your edited wedding video from your videographer
Within two months of your wedding, set aside some romantic evenings to write thank-you notes.