Wedding Timelines

Six Months to One Year Before:

Bride & Groom

• Set your date and time for ceremony and reception.

• Make up your budget.

• Reserve locations for your ceremony and reception; select the officiate.

• Decide on size and type of wedding.

• Decide on guest list, start gathering names and addresses.

• Choose a professional photographer, florist, baker, videographer, caterer, band or DJ, wedding consultant (if you choose to use one).

• Announce your engagement.

• Have professional engagement portrait taken and submit to newspaper.

Bride

• Select attendants, flower girl, maid/matron of honor.

• Select bridesmaids' dresses, keep color swatch for florist and reception hall color coordination.

Groom

• Purchase engagement ring.

• Select groomsmen, ushers, best man.

• Decide what financial assistance you and/or your family will provide, and discuss with fiancée.

Four Months Before:

Bride & Groom

• Finish your guest list.

• Finalize honeymoon plans.

• Complete necessary requirements for marriage license.

• Continue work on ceremony plans.

• Make plans for where you'll live after the wedding.

Bride

• Make sure all bridal attire is ordered.

• Arrange for both mothers to coordinate attire.

• Register for gifts at a bridal registry.

• Order personal stationery and invitations.

• Shop for your trousseau.

Groom

• Make sure all groom and groomsmen attire is ordered.

Two Months Before:

Bride & Groom

• Mail out invitations five weeks prior to wedding.

• Finalize ceremony plans.

• Finalize plans with photographer, videographer, baker, florist, DJ or band, caterer.

• Finalize music selections for ceremony and reception.

Groom

• Plan rehearsal dinner.

One Month Before:

Bride & Groom

• Get marriage license and/or take care of any other legal requirements.

• Attend to transportation requirements for your wedding day.

• Purchase gifts for attendants and bridal party.

• Start your record of gifts received.

Bride

• Final fittings for bride and attendants.

• Contact your photographer for your formal bridal portrait.

• Purchase gift for fiancée.

• Finish trousseau shopping.

Groom

• Purchase gift for fiancée.

Two Weeks Before:

Bride & Groom

• Attend to miscellaneous business and legal details.

• Check on accommodations for out of town guests.

• Make future housekeeping arrangements as necessary.

• Confirm all honeymoon arrangements.

Bride

• Coordinate attendants' luncheon with maid/matron of honor.

Groom

• Get haircut/styling now, so that it looks natural on your wedding day.

• Coordinate bachelor party arrangements with best man.

One Week Before:

Bride & Groom

• Designate an emergency coordinator from your wedding party and equip them with any and all emergency phone numbers for all suppliers and vendors. Give them a three ring binder with copies of all your wedding day contracts.

• Insure that the wedding party picks up their attire.

• Write thank you notes for parents, close friends, or relatives who will receive them on your wedding day.

• Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, distribute wedding party gifts.

• Make sure you have marriage license and rings.

Bride

• Contact guests who have not R.S.V.P.'d.

• Give final count to banquet hall or caterer, finalize seating arrangements

Groom

• Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.

On Your Wedding Day:

Bride & Groom

• Eat something in the morning.

• Don't worry, be happy!! Enjoy!!

Bride

• Allow ample time for makeup, nails, getting dressed, and other details.

• If there are going to be preparation photos by the professional photographer, start them two hours before the ceremony.

Groom

• Give yourself plenty of time to get dressed.

After The Wedding:

Bride & Groom

• The day after the wedding, send thank you cards to the bride's parents and the groom's parents with a personal note expressing your gratitude for the wedding and reception.