Wedding To-Do Check-Off List
Hey Smarties! Here are a few tips for you on how to take care of, and cross your tasks from the wedding to-do list, in the best possible timing and order.
6 to 12 months before the wedding
- Announce the engagement to family and friends.
- Discuss the wedding style the two of you envision.
- Discuss among the two of you and both sets of parents how the wedding expenses will be shared or divided.
- Choose an honor attendant and your bridesmaids.
- Choose a best man and groomsmen.
- Register for wedding gifts. (That is the fun part!)
- Select a wedding date.
- Pick out a bridal gown and tux along with the accessories.
- Meet with the officiant and fiancé to discuss the ceremony.
- Discuss honeymoon plans.
- Select ceremony and reception sites.
- Shop for wedding rings.
- Complete your guest list and ask your parents to do the same.
- Interview and hire professionals.
- Send “Save the Date” cards if you set your dates far in advance, or if it falls during a holiday season.
- Reserve rentals.
- Delegate transportation arrangements.
- Determine requirements for marriage license.
- Arrange for physical exam or blood test (if needed).
- Reserve hotel room for wedding night if you’re not departing on honeymoon immediately after reception.Choose wedding favors.
- Make sure everyone knows their task in the wedding.
- Stationer: Order invitations and all other stationery. Contact and reserve calligrapher, if desired.
- Caterer: Discuss and choose menu. Carefully choose and order your tableware and dinnerware from Smarty Had A Party according to your decorations idea.
- Baker: Order the cake if the caterer is not providing it.
- Florist: Order floral arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages.
- Photographer: Give shot list and discuss style of photos.
- Videographer: Discuss various styles and approaches of wedding and videos and express you’re preferences.
- Entertainment: Select style of music for ceremony and reception. Compile a list of music for both and give a copy to the band leader and/or DJ.
- Address invitations and send them out.
- Check on vendors' progress and confirm arrangements with each one.
- Select gifts for each other, attendants, parents and other helpers.
- Pick up rings and make sure they fit.
- Select readings, poems, or prayer for the ceremony. (Give copies to everyone who will be reading them.)
- If writing all or part of your vows, begin to put them together.
- Stay on top of thank you notes. Try to send them every time you receive a gift.
- Confirm transportation arrangements and honeymoon plans.
- Start working on favors if you or the wedding parties are making them.
- Check final details with all of your vendors.
- Have your final fitting for the gown. Bring shoes and hair accessories to confirm that they match.
- Send out additional invitations as you receive regrets (when someone cannot make it).
- Work on seating plans.
- Meet with officiant to finalize the plans for the ceremony.
- Make arrangements for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
- Organize going-away outfit and clothing for the honeymoon.
- Schedule final hair trimming.
- Plan transportation to the ceremony and the reception.
- Check in with vendors as needed.
- Pick up marriage license with fiancé.
- Pick up wedding gown. Confirm that you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
- Practice hairstyles (with/with out headpiece), either by yourself or with a stylist.
- Schedule makeup trial run or practice.
- Begin writing seat place cards or delegate this task to calligrapher, stationer, or attendants.
- Compose reception toasts.
- Check in with vendors as needed.
- Confirm seating plan and give caterer final guest count.
- Finish writing seating and place cards.
- Assign wedding-day duties to your attendants and helpers.
- Pack for the honeymoon.
- Attend rehearsal dinner.
- Create a checklist of all items you will be bringing to the ceremony and reception.
- Have breakfast with attendants, close family or a few friends.
- Touch base with wedding consultant if you hired one.
- Before dressing, take a nice relaxing bubble bath or enjoy a massage.
- Give groom’s ring to honor attendant to hold for the ceremony.
- Give bride’s ring to the best man in sealed envelope.
- Have luggage and honeymoon documents taken to the reception location.
- Collect bridal bouquet and emergency kit (sewing, aspirin, and so on.) to the ceremony.
- Pin on the boutonnieres.
- Give gifts to the parents to thank them for their help and support.
- Confirm that chairs are set up and that all elements of the décor have been properly arranged.
- Confirm that the musicians/DJ arrived on time, to setup.
- Confirm that attendants and groomsmen have arrived at the ceremony location, and distribute flowers and boutonnieres.
- Confirm that officiant has arrived at the ceremony location.
- Confirm that the photographer and/or videographer have arrived.
- Have honor attendant and best man sign the wedding certificate as witnesses.
- Ensure that the guest chairs, table and buffets have been set up and arranged according to plan.
- Confirm that guest tables are set with specified elements, such as specialty linens, place cards, and favors.
- Confirm that the caterer and/or bartender have arrived at reception location.
- Confirm that a microphone (preferably cordless) is available for toasts.
- Confirm that the photographer and/or videographer have arrived.
