Print the full list.

9-12 Months before the wedding

• Bookmark this site for easy reference. click here.
• Choose your wedding date - and alternative ones so you can be flexible when it comes to the availability of a venue or a wedding professional you want to hire.
• Find a location for your ceremony site.
• Reserve reception site.
• Clear the date with your officiant.
• Announce your engagement in local newspapers.
• Set a preliminary budget.
• Arrange get-together for families to meet, celebrate, and discuss wedding plans.
• Enlist help. Consider hiring a bridal consultant. If your budget doesn’t allow this, ask relatives and close friends to assist you in specific tasks.
• Begin compiling your guest list.
• Choose your attendants, and ask them to be in your wedding party.
• Select wedding gown, shoes, and accessories.
• Decide on bridesmaid's dresses and flower girl’s dress.
• Start thinking about your honeymoon.
• Complete your wedding website and tell all of your friends and family through a newsletter!

6-9 Months Before

• Choose your caterer.
• Hire musician for ceremony.
• Hire band/disc jockey for reception.
• Book your photographer.
• Book your videographer.
• Select your baker and order the cake (and groom’s cake, if you desire).
• Choose your florist.
• Reserve rental equipment, including tent, tables, chairs, linens, china, and any other desired items.
• Register for gifts.
• Shop for wedding rings.
• Book your travel and accommodations for your honeymoon.
• Make sure your visas and passports are up to date, and any other required travel documents if you’re traveling abroad. Inquire about necessary immunizations.
• Attend premarital classes.
• Order invitations and other wedding stationery. Don’t forget thank you notes!
• Book calligrapher
• Mail save-the-date cards to out-of-town guests.
• Hold block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests and let your guests know through a newsletter from your website. (Remember to ask for any group discounts or special packages.)
• Reserve your room for wedding night.
• If you are having an at-home wedding, begin any necessary home improvements and/or landscaping work.
• Make sure contracts, deposits, and arrangements are complete with all of your service providers.

4-6 Months Before

• Verify that the wedding gown, bridesmaid’s dresses, and flower girl’s dress have been ordered.
• Make appointments for gown fittings.
• Choose and order formal wear for groom and attendants.
• Make sure all out-of-town male attendants have submitted their measurements to your formal wear provider.
• Help both mothers’ coordinate, shop, and order their wedding day attire.
• Make sure addresses are up to date for the guest list.
• Schedule a time for the ceremony rehearsal.
• Plan a rehearsal dinner for members of your wedding party, your family and out-of-town guests.
• Meet with florist to discuss and decide upon bouquets, arrangements, etc.
• Purchase/order/make gifts for bridal party and groomsmen.
• Reserve your wedding day transportation.
• Check the state requirements for a marriage license.
• Shop for trousseau.

2-4 Months Before

• Prepare directions on the website for your guests to reach your events without getting lost.
• Give the caterer or other food suppliers a close idea of the number of guests you expect.
• Plan post wedding brunch.
• Address your invitations and announcements or have them addressed. They should go in the mail six to eight weeks before your big day.
• Make a date with your photographer for any formal portraits you desire.
• Meet with your officiant to discuss the service.
• Write your vows, if you are doing so.
• Choose readings and/or songs for the ceremony; ask those you want to read or perform if they will do the honor
• Make a song list for the major highlights of the reception (first dance, cake-cutting, bouquet toss, etc.)
• Make an appointment to have a trial run with your hair stylist and makeup artist.
• Purchase your wedding rings and arrange for engraving.
• Select gift for groom, if you are exchanging presents.
• Select thank you gifts for parents.
• Purchase a going away outfit.

2 Months Before

• Mail out your invitations.
• Send bridal portrait and wedding announcement to newspapers.
• Schedule beauty appointments for the wedding day.
• Purchase special accessories for your wedding day attire.
• Give your disc jockey/band a list of songs that you want and don’t want to hear.
• Plan a luncheon with the bridesmaids.
• wardrobe for showers, pre-wedding parties, and honeymoon.

1 Month Before

• Obtain marriage license (the time period during which this needs to be done varies according to local regulations; check with the local town clerk’s office.)
• Create and order ceremony programs.
• Put together welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
• pick up ordered tuxedo/suit, if purchasing. (groom and groomsmen)
• Start arranging seating plan and make up place cards.
• Pick up wedding rings
• Confirm that all male and female attendants have been fitted for formalwear.
• Make final menu decisions.
• Discuss wedding photo shots with photographer and videographer.
• Keep track of all the gifts coming in.
• Write thank you notes for the gifts.
• Check with your florist to confirm dates and times of flower deliveries.
• Review your wedding day transportation plans and make sure drivers are clear about addresses, times, and number of passengers.

2 Weeks Before

• Pick up wedding gown and confirm it fits properly.
• Finalize seating chart for reception.
• Finish addressing announcements to mail on wedding day.
• Provide the caterer with final head count.
• Compose toasts for rehearsal dinner and wedding reception
• Make a detailed schedule of the wedding reception events (first dance, dinner, cake-cutting, etc.) to give to all applicable service providers.
• Break in shoes and scuff bottoms.
• Begin packing for honeymoon.

1 Week Before

• Pick up tuxedo, if renting.
• Confirm reservations for wedding night and honeymoon.
• Put tips for service providers in labeled envelopes and seal.
• Organize the final payments for service providers who need to be paid on the day of the wedding.
• Finish packing for honeymoon.
• Purchase traveler’s checks for honeymoon.
• Make a list of everything you need to bring to the wedding.
• Host the bridesmaids’ luncheon, which is normally held the day before the wedding to accommodate your out-of-town attendants.
• Confirm all details with service providers (officiant, musicians, disc jockey, florist, photographer, videographer, limousine, caterers, and baker.
• Arrange for your mail to be held at the post office during your honeymoon.
• Arrange for the stores where you are registered to hold deliveries.
• Ask a friend or family member to help deliver the gifts that are brought to your reception to your home or another safe spot.
• Wrap gifts for bridal attendants and have them ready for the rehearsal dinner.
• Confirm that your out-of-town guests are set with hotel accommodations, transportation and wedding- day directions.
• Verify that all attendants have picked up their formal wear.
• Confirm that all attendants know when to arrive at the ceremony rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and wedding ceremony.
• Pay upcoming bills that will be due while you are away.
• Arrange to move your belongings to new home.

1 Day Before

• Drop off welcome baskets to the hotel for your out-of-town guests. (or ask an attendant to do so)
• Get a manicure and pedicure
• Review any special seating arrangements with users.
• Make sure you have the marriage license.
• Check all final details with the service providers.
• Attend bridesmaids’ luncheon.
• Have ceremony rehearsal.
• Attend rehearsal dinner, hand out gifts to wedding party.
• Give groom his gift or it could be done on the wedding night.
• Relax and enjoy this time!!

The Night Before

• Sleep, sleep, sleep! You want to feel and look the best for your big day.

The Big Day!

• Allow time for dressing, makeup, and hair styling.
• Make sure to eat!
• Keep calm! Breathe!
• If you have planned to have photographs taken before your wedding, allow ample time so you’re not rushed.
• ENJOY YOUR BIG DAY! Refuse to let anyone get under your skin. You have planned long and hard for this day. Savor every minute of it.

After the honeymoon

• Report your name change to Social Security, DMV, etc.