12 Months to go
What kind of wedding would you like to have? Discuss with fiancé and write down all ideas. This is a brainstorming session, so don’t make any judgements on each other’s ideas. That comes later. At this stage, just let the creative juices flow and have fun with it.
Discuss your budget and who is paying for what. Maybe you want to get your parents involved in this step, maybe you don’t. This is a the time to decide how you will keep your budget (sample Wedding Budget Planner here). Be realistic. If you only have $500 for the entire wedding, you shouldn’t be planning on 100 guests. Leave a few hundred dollars unplanned for unexpected costs.
If your budget allows it, you may want to consider hiring a wedding coordinator.
Talk to the officials where you are planning on holding the wedding ceremony (Priest, Pastor, Justice of the Peace, City Hall) and check the available dates. The earlier you get this done, the better your chances of getting the date you want.
10 Months to go
Are you going to have bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers or other honored roles? Choose these people and ask them to be in your bridal party.
Meet with photographers and videographers, florists, caterers, Bands or DJ and discuss your budget and your plans with them. Get their input and listen to their ideas of what can be done on your budget. These are professionals with lots of experience.
Discuss the guest list with your fiancé and both families. This is sometimes a tension-filled session. Be generous and don’t forget that it is not just your own wedding.
If applicable, send out notifications to your local newspapers of your engagement.
Discuss the honeymoon and who is responsible for planning it. This is traditionally the groom’s job, but today many couples like to plan together.
Keep your budget up to date!
8 Months to go
Start thinking about what music you would like during the ceremony, and what music should be played during the reception. Having already talked to the musicians and DJs, you should have a general idea of the style and direction of the music, now is the time to start picking out certain pieces.
It is now time to start looking for your wedding dress. Remember that if you have to special order a dress it can take up to 3 months to get it. Your seamstress will also need a bit of time to do the hemming and alterations.
Look into buying a wedding planner and a system for storing pictures, magazine pages with ideas, notes, and a way to file things like invitations, thank-you notes, etc.
Don’t forget to take time off work, if applicable. Where possible, take at least 2 days off before the wedding, and a day or two after the wedding, should you not be going directly on your honeymoon.
6 Months to go
You’ve surely already thought about it, but now is the time to define your colour scheme for the wedding. This is something both of you should agree upon.
If you haven’t already you really need to order your dress by now. Ideally you should have it hanging and ready to go a few weeks before the wedding. Since you have decided on the colors of the wedding, you can now decide on the bridesmaids and flowergirls dresses. A great way to let everyone choose their own dress, but all still having the same color is to buy white dresses and have them professionally dyed in one color. This way your bridesmaids will feel every bit as beautiful as you.
Don’t forget the underthings and accessories. Depending on your dress you might need a crinoline, corset, or other special underwear. Your girls just might, too! While you shouldn’t skimp on these things, don’t forget that buying them at a bridal boutique will make them cost anywhere up to 4 times what they might in a department store. If your budget is tight, it pays to look around here. Don’t forget things like veils and tiaras, ring pillows, etc.
It’s now time to design and order things like stationary, programs, napkins, invitations and other paper items. Order at least 20 invitations and thank-you cards than you think you need. It is much cheaper to order them in advance then to have to re-order them. These things can take up to 3 months to be delivered.
The groom should be picking out his outfit around now, too. Either renting a tux or buying a suit, it is time to go about it.
If you are having a wedding table in a store, you should be picking out the items and patterns that you want.
3 Months to go
It’s ring shopping time! Choose and order your rings and have them engraved. Think about what you would like to have written in your partner’s ring.
Your wedding dress should be ordered and under way by this time. Take it in for any alterations that may need to be made.
Make a storyboard for the wedding day (or for the whole week if you need the crutch). Start with the minute you wake up and plan every second of the day, including everyone’s roles. Find a sample storyboard here.
Order your wedding cake(s).
Get together again with the caterer and/or restaurant and start planning the menu or buffet. Don’t forget to ask things like how many waitstaff are they planning with, how will drinks be served (self service, bottles on tables or waitstaff), discuss whether you are having an open or closed bar, and how long it should run. Let them know the tentative plan for the day.
Start planning the seating arrangements. This is a long and arduous task, but there is a great software called Table Planner that will help you do this.
Finish your guest list and compile your invitation list. Check and double check name spellings and proper titles.
2 Months to go
Check state and county marriage license requirements and apply for your license.
Send out wedding invitations.
Plan the rehearsal dinner and perhaps also a bridesmaids lunch. Make sure the location that you are having the ceremony at knows that you want a rehearsal the day before, and check the time.
Make rooming arrangements for your out of town guests and family. If you let the hotel know that you are having a wedding and you are planning on having a few people stay, you can often get special room rates. If this is the case, don’t forget to mention this in the invitation. A quick handwritten note on your bridal stationary with the name and address of the hotel and the rate code makes the invitation very personal and stylish.
Don’t forget gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, personal wedding gift for your partner, and perhaps a little something for the parents.
Make an appointment for manicure and pedicure for the day before the wedding and hair and make up on the wedding day. Also schedule a hair and makeup appointment about 1 month before the big day to do a trial run of your hairdo.
Keep updating your storyboard.
You certainly have been keeping your budget updated? Now is a good time to go over your budget and make sure you are staying with it. If necessary check where you can still save. The goal is to keep those unallocated few hundred dollars unallocated and unused!
One Month to go
Get that storyboard near finished. Add in and re-check all important telephone numbers, names and addresses. Use this chance to check the telephone numbers by calling and confirming all your contracts and arrangements.
Pick up all accessories like rings, bridal accessories, ring pillow, guest gifts, candles, guest boo, keepsake albums, etc. Store in a safe area and write down in your storyboard where you stored them.
You should be going to final fittings for your clothing, and not just you! The members of the bridal party should also be getting last minute fitting, including the gents. Try everything on again. You should also have a trial run for hair and makeup.
Arrange for transportation to the church or ceremony location and to the reception.
2 Weeks to go
Pick up your marriage license and any other official documents you may need (baptismal certificate, birth certificate, passports for bi-national marriages).
You should by now have a fairly final guest count. Inform all your suppliers, the caterer/restaurant, photographer, musicians etc.
Think about all official documents that may need to be changed to a new last name after the wedding: drivers license, passport, credit cards, bank accounts, social insurance cards etc. Get the paperwork out of the way.
1 Week to go
Host a bridemaids lunch and hand out wedding party gifts. At this stage you might want to hand out a copy of the storyboard so that everyone has all important information with them, and everyone knows what is expected of them. If you had the time up til now, you might want to make personal storyboards where everyone gets a copy that only includes information relevant to them. Take this opportunity to confirm addresses and directions. Give the head usher any special information on seating arrangements.
Prepare a wallet that the groomsman should have containing money for all fees for the day. Don’t forget choirs, the church, photographer and anyone else to be paid on that day. Add extra money for surprises.
If you are leaving on honeymoon right after the wedding, get your bags packed.
One Day to go
Pack a bag with anything you might need in an emergency: new nylons (two pair!), nailpolish, hairspray, safety pins, etc.
Get you manicure and pedicure done.
Pick up Flowers, Cake or anything that is not being delivered. Decorate the church or ceremonial location. If the venue is not doing the set up, you will need to set up the reception, set the tables, put out the decorations, menu cards, set up the DJ and Band area, etc.
Go over your storyboard making sure all information is up to date. Print out and give a full copy to the maid of honor and the best man.
It’s time for the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Try to stay relaxed—you’ve done a great job organizing everything and it will all run smoothly!
The Wedding Day
Start the day with a good breakfast, even if you are nervous and don’t feel like eating. It may be 12 hours until you eat again!
Have your hair and make up done.
Enjoy your well planned wedding, you deserve it after all that hard work!
