Now that you are engaged, you have probably been thinking about planning your wedding. Most of us have an idea about our dream dress and perfect colors. A wedding involves much more than a dress and colors. It involves multiple steps and the coordination of other people. To put the plan into action with proper organization, we need to make a wedding checklist. Most couples begin putting their wedding together about 12 to 14 months prior to the date. Every wedding checklist begins with a date.
Wedding Checklist 12 Months
Pick a date for your wedding day. Some couples pick a date that is significant to their relationship, such as an anniversary or the day they met. If you have trouble picking a date, pick a season and year for the wedding, while maintaining flexibility to coordinate with the availability of the wedding venue. Pick a date that works with the timeline of your wedding checklist and that doesn’t rush the planning.
Gain inspiration. This is the time to scroll through social media and tour wedding venues for ideas. Flip through bridal magazines. Attend bridal shows. Think about your colors and theme along the way, as you collect inspiration to develop your unique design. This wedding checklist item is all about daydreaming. Have fun with it!
Create a budget. Sit down with your partner and family to develop a realistic dollar amount for spending for the entire ceremony and reception. There is a reason this wedding checklist item is near the top of the list. The budget will help you develop the blueprints for planning your wedding.
Pick your wedding party. As soon as the word is out that you are engaged, your friends and family will get anxious about who you will select to be in the wedding party. This wedding checklist item is a very sensitive one. Always choose people that are close to you, supportive and positive. Never choose a bridesmaid based on their feelings.
Create a guest list. While this wedding checklist item isn’t about sending out invitations, it is very important to estimate the size of your wedding. You need an idea about who you will invite for budgeting purposes later. For example, if you are spending less on catering with a smaller wedding, you might be able to afford the more expensive dress.
Hire a planner or not. Many couples choose to hire a wedding planner. However, all-inclusive wedding venues, like Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine, have in-house wedding designers and wedding planners to plan, design, and create your entire wedding from ceremony to reception. Contact wedding venues before hiring a wedding planner to see if a wedding planner should be on your wedding checklist.
Book a wedding venue. Yes, this is an early wedding checklist item. Do not wait to select your wedding venue. You will want to make sure your date is available and the location is secured. This is the foundation to the event you are about to create.
Hire vendors. Choose and hire your photographer, caterer, cake decorator, deejay and hair and makeup artist as soon as you have the date and the venue locked down. Do not wait on this wedding checklist item. The calendar of a professional vendor fills up quickly.
Wedding Checklist 9 Months
Purchase the wedding attire. This is one of the most exciting wedding checklist items. It is time to shop for the wedding dress and tux you will wear on your magical day. You probably need to schedule a couple fittings before the wedding. Do not make this a last minute item. Postponing this wedding checklist item will only cause you to stress and fear not finding the perfect dress at some last minute point in time later.
Reserve hotels for out of town guests. This wedding checklist item does not always apply to everyone, and when it does, we do not always think of it. When the wedding party is flying in from out of town, they will need a place to stay. Organizing a hotel in advance will prevent chaos later.
Create a gift registry. Sign up for a gift registry at three different retailers to accommodate the disparate budgets of your guests. This is another exciting wedding checklist item. Have fun and build the registry with your partner.
Create a wedding website. This growing trend should definitely make every wedding checklist. Creating a personal page about you and your partner, the wedding date, registry information and travel details is not only a wonderful way to share with family and friends, but it can help to keep a large wedding party and guests in the loop.
Wedding Checklist 6 Months
Purchase or create invitations. You will not be sending out invitations until much later, but this is the time to design and create your invitations. Make sure you have addresses or email addresses for all of your recipients. You will have a much smaller wedding than you planned, if you do not have invitations organized.
Plan the honeymoon. Do not wait until the last minute. Planning a honeymoon takes thought and time to make it a truly magical experience. Think about your destination. Purchase tickets. If you will be traveling abroad, make sure you check travel advisories, obtain your passport, and schedule necessary doctor appointments.
Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses and the wedding party. Make sure this wedding checklist item is complete not less than six months prior to the wedding date. You will need to have the entire wedding party fitted.
Meet with the officiant. Make sure you have secured this important wedding checklist item. It is one of the most important tasks to planning a wedding.
Arrange transportation, limos and cars. The bride, groom and wedding party should have special transportation to the venue. The bride and groom usually make a wedding exit in style. This means renting a limo or horse and carriage.
Create your day of event timeline. This will involve the timing for the cutting of the cake, the first dance, and bouquet toss. Wedding venues, such as Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine, offer day of event coordinator service to make sure your most important day unfolds just the way you planned it. Check with your wedding venue when developing your timeline.
4 Months
Book the venue for the rehearsal dinner.
Sample and order the wedding cake.
Provide your bridal shower host with your guest list.
Create your music playlist for your deejay or band.
3 Months
Finalize the floral arrangements.
Purchase favors.
Create a list for those toasting at your reception and giving speeches, and ask them now.
Purchase lingerie.
Schedule another fitting for your wedding dress.
Purchase rings.
Purchase a veil, if you did not purchase one when you purchased your wedding dress.
2 Months
Follow up with your vendors. Make sure you have discussed details about your wedding with your photographer, and other vendors. Provide your deejay or band with a playlist.
Mail out invitations six to eight weeks prior to the ceremony.
Arrange and attend a bachelor or bachelorette party.
1 Month
Count and organize the RSVP’s.
Obtain your marriage license.
Schedule your last fitting.
Stock the bar.
Make sure all of your vendors are paid.
Confirm the time and location for hair and makeup with your stylist.
Assign guest seating.
Purchase gifts for the wedding party to give at the rehearsal dinner.
Write your vows.
Cut and color hair, if you intend on doing this before the wedding.
1 Week
Confirm time and location with vendors.
Make sure your day of event coordinator has your timeline and list for who will be bustling your dress and carrying out specific tasks.
Pick up the dress, suit and wedding party attire.
Provide the final headcount to the caterer.
Pack for your honeymoon.
Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine
Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine is the finest in the art of designing and creating fairy tale weddings. Take the stress out of planning your wedding day, and speak to a professional designer and planner at Crystal Ballroom Saint Augustine.
