12 Month Wedding Countdown Checklist
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Announce your engagement.
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Locate and buy the engagement rings
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Set a wedding budget, and who is contributing
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Pick your preferences for a wedding date and time, and finalize after okaying with important guests, location, or officiant.
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Set a wedding date.
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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
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Set a wedding time.
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Brides: It's never too early to begin thinking about your gown. Start by figuring out what style will look best on you.
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Determine the type of wedding you want.
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Get organized! Start a notebook/file folder to house all your wedding-planning paperwork in one place
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Research reception hall locations.
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Select and book your reception location.
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Locate a ceremony site.
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Select and book your ceremony site.
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Decide on and meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and any religious requirements (such as counseling).
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Set up hotel arrangements for out of town guest.
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Set up the music for your wedding and reception.
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Decide who will be in your bridal party.
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Start looking for wedding dress.
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Start looking for formal wear/tuxedo.
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Start looking for bridesmaids' dresses.
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Start looking for formal wear for the groomsmen.
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Find a photographer and set up an appointment to look at their work.
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Find a videographer and set up an appointment to look at their work.
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Find a florists and set appointments to look at their work.
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Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
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Set up contracts from all the professionals you choose.
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Register for your wedding gifts, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower or engagement party as well.
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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.
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Contact newspapers to announce your engagement (you may need to have an engagement photo taken as well).
Six to Nine Months Before The Wedding
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Start coming up with your guest list, have your family and friends help you with this task.
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Select the attendants for your wedding party.
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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.
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Purchase your wedding dress.
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Think about how you might want to wear your hair
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Purchase your groom's tuxedo or set up arrangements for the rental of it.
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Check with the bridesmaids to make sure they have purchased their dresses.
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Arrange for the groomsmen to purchase or set up arrangements for the rental of their tuxedos.
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Shop for the accessories.
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Start planning for your honeymoon.
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Choose a photographer.
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Choose a videographer.
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Choose a florist.
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Choose and order a wedding cake.
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Purchase and send guests save-the-date greetings
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Arrange the Rehearsal
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Arrange for transportation.
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Order your invitations and announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes).
Four to Six Months Before The Wedding
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Check requirements for marriage license
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Shop and select wedding rings.
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If you are renting equipment, reserve it, this includes arches, floral items etc.
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Decide on a floral scheme, choose flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Be sure to sign a contract outlining what you agreed upon.
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Grooms: Decide what style of formalwear you will be wearing
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Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent tux, suit, or other formal attire.
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Select your invitations and announcements, and then order them.
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Select your thank you notes and stationery, and then order them.
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Order all the men's attire.
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Finalize your guest lists.
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Inform mothers to select their dresses.
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Finalize honeymoon details and your reservations.
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Finalize honeymoon travel details
Two to Four Months Before The Wedding
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Confirm the details with the caterer.
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Brides: Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, gloves, etc.) and either purchase or pass along purchasing information.
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Brides: Buy any special lingerie your gown requires in time for first fittings.
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Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the information they need to buy and/or reserve their attire
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Prepare maps and directions for the ceremony and reception.
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Select wedding rings and have sized.
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Select a wedding guest book.
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Set the dates and times with the officiant for the rehearsal.
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Set up the bridesmaids' luncheon.
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Brides: Provide a guest list to bridesmaids for your shower.
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Determine your design and printing of the invitations.
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Finalize the florist photographer.
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Schedule portrait session if you need one for a newspaper wedding announcement
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Finalize the videographer.
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Finalize the florist.
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Make or buy favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box)
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Finalize accommodations for out of town guest.
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Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.)
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Talk to your maid of honor and best man about party plans (such as the shower and bachelor party).
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Confirm the wedding cake details.
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Pick up your invitations
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Start addressing invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the two-month mark).
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Talk to people you'd want to do special performances or readings as part of the ceremony.
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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
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Send out invitations (be sure to add extra postage for overseas guests).
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Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
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Set appointment for your formal bridal portrait.
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Select gifts for your attendants
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Set appointments with your hairdressers and makeup artists
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Brides: Decide on and purchase major accessories (veil and shoes) prior to final fittings
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Finalize the transportation.
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Begin working on vows, particularly if you're writing your own
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Begin writing the ceremony program if you are having one
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Arrange for a babysitter for the reception, if necessary
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Submit your wedding announcement to newspapers (if you so desire)
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Research local marriage license requirements
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Buy a guest book (and a nice pen).
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Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.
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Grooms: Attend your bachelor party (and be sure to thank the best man afterwards).
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Finalize vows
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Brides: Attend final wedding-gown fitting
Four to Six Weeks Before The Wedding
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Decide your menu for the reception or finalize it with cater or reception hall
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Buy a gift for the groom.
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Schedule a final fitting for your wedding dress.
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Purchase an outfit to wear when leaving the reception hall.
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Pick up your wedding rings.
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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
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Brides: Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" if you want to include these customs in your wedding
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Get a head start on those thank-you notes (it will feel great to get a batch out before the wedding).
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Purchase all wedding accessories.
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Confirm photographer details and arrival.
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Confirm videographer details and arrival.
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Confirm florist details and delivery times.
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Plan the seating for the reception.
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Start preparing placement cards.
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Make sure all bridesmaids’ attire has been fitted.
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Buy a gift for the bride.
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Choose the music for your ceremony and the reception.
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Work on a list of "must-play" (and "must-not play") songs for your DJ or band
Two Weeks Before The Wedding
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Make arrangements to have your wedding gifts move to your home.
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Handle business and legal details; which includes, name changes, address changes for bills etc.
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Reconfirm your out of town guests' hotel accommodations.
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Make sure all clothing and accessories for you and the bridal party are ready.
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Obtain your marriage license and certificates that may be needed.
One Week Before The Wedding
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Review any seating details with the ushers
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Make sure all wedding attire fits comfortably for all of the attendants.
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Finalize the seating arrangements for the reception hall.
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Reconfirm your honeymoon reservations and tickets.
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Pack for your honeymoon.
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Call any guests who have not responded.
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Finalize the place cards for the reception.
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Review all the final details with your photographer.
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Review all the final details with your videographer.
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Review all the final details with your florist.
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Review all the final details with your baker
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Give a final count to the caterer.
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Remind wedding party of the exact time and date.
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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.
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Wrap the wedding party gifts.
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Finalize your rehearsal dinner arrangements
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Grooms: Pick up your tux and try it on. (Don't wait until the day of to do this!)
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Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family
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Grooms: Get your final haircut
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Distribute wedding-day directions, schedule, and contact list to all parents, attendants, and vendors.
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Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night (toothbrush, sexy lingerie, etc.) and designate someone to deliver it to the hotel for you
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Brides: Get a manicure and pedicure and confirm big-day beauty appointments.
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Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash) brought to the party
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Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency
One Day Before The Wedding
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Rehearse the ceremony with the officiant and wedding party
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Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation to airport, etc.).
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Brides: Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
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Get a manicure or massage.
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Visit your family the night before and get to sleep early.
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Attend wedding rehearsal.
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Relax!
The Wedding Day
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Allow plenty of time to get dressed
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Take it easy
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Go to your hairdresser and makeup appointments
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Set aside a private moment together after the ceremony to exchange gifts and a sweet congratulatory kiss (or two).
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Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.
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Confirm with people who you expect to say grace at the reception (if desired)
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Take a moment to thank your parents and tell them that you love them -- this is a sweet but sad day for them
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Enjoy your wedding!
After the Wedding
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Arrange for a bridesmaid or mother to pick up your wedding dress and other personal belongings at the hotel after you depart.
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Freeze the top layer of the wedding cake to be enjoyed at your first anniversary celebration
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Take the bridal bouquet and other wedding mementos to be preserved, if you are a true sentimentalist
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Arrange for your gown and veil to be cleaned and preserved. Make sure the provider is experienced in preserving wedding gowns.
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Take any personal film to be developed. These will probably be the first photos available to you, since professional proofs may take weeks.
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Mail gifts to your parents to thank them for their help and support.
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Make sure that ALL vendor bills have been paid in full.
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Find out when you can expect your edited wedding video from your videographer
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Within two months of your wedding, set aside some romantic evenings to write thank-you notes.