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.

4 to 6 months before the wedding

• 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.

Complete task with each vendor

• 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.

2 months before wedding

• 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.

One month before wedding

• 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.

2 weeks before wedding

• 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.

1 week before wedding

• 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.

24 hours before wedding

• 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.

Before the ceremony

• 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.

Before the reception

• 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.