The Best Place Online To Start Your Wedding
___ Envision your wedding and draw up a budget.
___ Assemble your "planning team." Consider hiring a wedding consultant.
___ Pick a wedding date and time. Select several options, then check with your
venues, officiant, and important guests before finalizing.
___ Start planning the guest list.
___ Look for and book ceremony and reception sites.
___ Ask friends and relatives to be in the wedding party.
___ Optional: Have an engagement party. You may want to register
beforehand for gifts.
___ Bride: Think about, shop for, and order your gown.
___ Envision reception food.
___ Decide what type of entertainment you want. A pianist for the cocktail hour,
strolling violinists, a DJ, or band?
___ Think about your floral decor.
___ Research and book your wedding professionals. Interview vendors:
photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ, florist.
___ Research a wedding insurance policy to protect your deposits.
___ Research and reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.
___ Register for gifts.
___ Contact rental companies if you need to rent anything for
ceremony/reception, such as chairs, tables, and tent.
___ Book ceremony musicians.
___ Order bridesmaid dresses.
___ Start planning honeymoon.
___ Send save-the-date cards. This is a particularly good idea if you're
marrying during a tourist or holiday season or having a destination wedding.
___ Attend pre-wedding counseling, if required.
___ Shop for and order invitations and wedding rings.
___ Shop for formal wear.
___ Renew or get passports, if necessary.
___ Envision your wedding cake and research, interview, and book a cake
designer.
___ Order wedding cake.
___ Hire a calligrapher, if you want your invitations professionally addressed.
___ Attend your shower. (It may be earlier, depending on when hosts decide
to have it.)
___ Groom: Rent the men's formal wear.
___ Hire wedding-day transport: limousines, other cars. Look into
transportation sooner if you're considering renting streetcars or over-the-top
travel.
___ Mail your invitations.
___ Write your vows.
___ Purchase gifts for parents, attendants, and each other.
___ Book your stylist and try out big-day hairstyles.
___ Book a makeup artist and go for a trial run.
___ Apply for a marriage license. Check with the local bureau in the town
where you'll wed.
___ Bride: Have final gown fitting. Bring your maid of honor along to learn how
to bustle your dress. Have the dress pressed and bring it home.
___ Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the
wedding.
___ Make last-minute adjustments with vendors.
___ Create a wedding program to hand out to guests.
___ Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
___ Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a
response.
___ Deliver must-have shot lists to photographer and videographer. Include
who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken.
___ Deliver final song list to your DJ or band-leader. Include special song
requests and songs you don't want played.
___ Bride: Get your last pre-wedding haircut and color.
