Free Wedding Planning Guide and Checklist
Jean Bachcroft
With so much to do, every bride needs a surefire way to get organized and stay on track as she countdown toward that all-important day. Here’s a guide and checklist you won’t want to be without.
12 Months Before
*Buy a wedding planner and organizer (The only realistic alternative to not being well organized is hiring a wedding consultant to manage the details for you.) *Talk with your fiance (and parents if they will be paying the bill and adding to the guest list) about the size and a budget, possible date, and location for the wedding. *Reserve the ceremony and reception sites. (If the wedding will take place in a large city, don’t dilly dally on this one. Wedding venues can be booked up solid for a year.) *Begin shopping for your dress. (You could be looking for that perfect gown for months, and most shops need at least four months to fill an order. Look for styles appropriate for the wedding venue and time of day.) *Shop for or begin making save-the-date cards. *Send your engagement announcement to newspapers.
10 Months Before
*Make an appointment to meet with your clergyman. (At the time you make your appointment, let him know your wedding date. You and your fiance should arrange to meet with him as soon as possible, especially if you live in a large city or are planning to write your own wedding vows.) *Begin scouting around for a baker, caterer, florist, musicians, and photographers. (Once you have found them, ask about and review price options.)
8 Months Before
*Research honeymoon destinations and prices. *Begin the guest list. (Generally, half of the invited guests are the bride’s and half are the groom’s.) *Order your dress. *Book vendors and musicians or a dj. *Choose bridal registries and gifts you would like to receive. *Reserve a block of rooms for out-of-town guests.
6 Months Before
*Mail save-the-day notices. *Select menu and flower arrangements. *Order wedding stationery. *Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses. *Reserve rentals (tents, fans, etc.). *Make honeymoon and flight reservations. *Reserve hotel room for your wedding night.
4 Months Before
*Finalize guest list. *Have first dress fitting. *Order wedding rings. *Schedule rehearsals. *Find out if blood tests will be required. *Get change-of-name forms. *Visit the formalwear shop.
2 Months Before
*Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes. *Pick out shoes. (When you get them home, don’t forget to scuff up soles to prevent slipping.) *Mail wedding invitations. *Finalize vows and give copies to clergyman and groom. *Select gifts for attendants. *If necessary, get change of address forms from post office.
1 Month Before
*Have final dress fitting. *Pick up rings. *Have programs printed. *Confirm all reservations. *Send announcement to newspapers.
2 Weeks Before
*Get marriage license. *Make final arrangements with photographer. *Organize seating plans. *Begin writing thank-you notes. *Type up toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception. *Give final guest count to caterer.
1 Week Before
*Pack for the honeymoon. *Make necessary banking arrangements. *Host bridesmaids’ party and distribute gifts. *Pick up wedding dress. *Confirm rehearsal dinner plans with attendants.
1 Day Before
*Have manicure and pedicure. *Attend rehearsal and dinner. *Mail announcements.
Wedding Day
*Eat breakfast. *Visit hairstylist and have nails touched up.
Best Wishes!
© Copyright 2005 Bachcroft.com. Permission to reprint this article, as is, is granted as long as the proper attribution (author's biography) is given and all active hyperlinks remain intact.
About the author: Jean Bachcroft is a former public relations director, founder of Bachcroft and Aloha Labels, and the publisher and editor-in-chief of Town and Country Shopping Bargains Magazine. For designer wedding, holiday, and year-round mailing and return address labels, you can visit her web sites at http://bachcroft.com and at http://alohalabels.com. For shopping bargains from around the world, visit http://townandcountryshoppingbargains.com.
The latest information and news on Weddings:
The first gay weddings have taken place in Argentina after the implementation of a law approved by parliament earlier this month.
One Heart Weddings New Web Site Helps Brides Select a Theme Celebrating their...
One Heart Weddings provides unlimited access to an expansive online resource featuring hundreds of wedding sets, invitations, save the dates, shower invitations, thanks you cards, slide shows and much more...
A Look Back at Presidential Weddings
The Weddings of Presidents' Daughters Have a History of Capturing the Public's Attention
So Many Details, So Little Time: One Heart Weddings Updated Website is Helpin...
One Heart Weddings is helping busy brides by allowing them the convenience of shopping at home for their wedding paper goods.
White House Weddings: First Daughters Who Have Tied The Knot (PHOTOS, POLL)
Chelsea Clinton's wedding isn't the first First Daughter nuptials to turn into a media circus. Take Nellie Grant, daughter of President Ulysses S. Grant, for example--a drawing of her saying "I do!" made the front page of the papers on June 6, 1874. Other, modern examples include Luci and Lynda Johnson's weddings, Tricia Nixon as the "Cover Girl" bride and Jenna Hager just two years ago.
Famous presidential weddings
Chelsea Clinton isn't the first member of a Presidential family to get married with the spotlight on them. Our George Whipple takes a closer look at presidential weddings of the past.
First Daughters' Weddings: A Look Back At Other White House Nuptials (VIDEO)
In its daily Chelsea Clinton wedding update, "Good Morning America" took a look at other First Daughters' (and Sons') weddings.
RMI Direct Marketing releases weddings insert program
RMI Direct Marketing has released the Exclusively Weddings Package Insert Program to market.
Weddings and Engagements
Click here to see the full list of weddings and engagements
Reverend's 360 sham weddings scam
A vicar was yesterday convicted of conspiracy in Britain's biggest church sham-weddings scam.