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.