A Wedding Countdown Schedule
Wedding CountdownSix to 18 months ahead:
First things first: share the news with your family and close friends. The bride’s parents are traditionally informed first (with or with the Groom formally asking her father’s permission), then the groom’s.
An engagement party may be appropriate
A get-together should be arranged for the families if they have not yet met. This is traditionally arranged by the groom’s family.
With the engagement official and the consultation of both families, a time and place for the wedding should be tentatively decided.
Agree on an estimated number of guests.
Consult your officiant before choosing a firm date and time. Restrictions may apply depending on the time of year and religious restrictions.
This is also the time to inform your officiant if you plan on composing your own vows. Some do not allow it, while others may be able to assist you with the process.
If you do not belong to a religious congregation but with to be married in a house of worship it’s best to allow time to look around. Restrictions may apply such as attending a certain number of services or marriage preparation classes.
Time to budget for the wedding, reception and honeymoon. While, in the past, the bride’s family paid for the entire celebration, today’s etiquette says that any division of expenses needs to be negotiated. Often the bride and groom pay for some expenses on their own or with the help of both families.
At this time you may want to consider hiring a wedding consultant to help with the planning and budgeting of the entire event or of certain aspects.
Reserve a venue for the reception as soon as the wedding date is set. Some locations, depending on wedding size and city in which it will take place, may require eight months to over a year in advance.
Contact a photographer and videographer early considering the best are often booked many months in advance.
Engagement photos may be taken at this time.
Consider purchasing wedding insurance to protect against problems with the site, vendors, or members of the bridal party.
If you want to hire additional ceremony musicians be sure to check with officiant regarding rules governing them.
If you want live music at the reception, ask the catering manager about possible restrictions and book the appropriate band. Otherwise, book a disc jockey.
If your reception location does not offer a catering service, contact a caterer with a budget in mind and decide on the style of service and menu.
Choose your attendants.
Begin to shop for the bridal gown, headpiece, and bridal attendants' dresses. Many of these items may need to be special ordered which can take up to 18 weeks.
Choose your table ware patterns, linens, and other gift selections to be listed with the bridal registry you select.
Four to six months ahead:
Decide who you would like to speak at the reception and in what order then ask them to do so.
Although formalwear rentals can often be supplied quickly, the groom should ideally make rental arrangements for himself, groomsmen, ushers, fathers, etc. at this time. A final fitting should be arranged a few days prior to the wedding to allow for last-minute alterations. If purchasing formalwear, begin shopping now.
Choose invitations, inserts, and thank-you notes.
Consult a travel agent or website to make honeymoon travel and hotel reservations. Be sure to have valid passports and ask about required visas or immunizations if traveling internationally.
Compile a flower arrangement list for the wedding and consult a florist regarding design, composition, and color.
Finalize the guest list in collaboration with both families. Consider the needs and activities for the out-of-town guests.
Three months ahead:
Make plans to get your marriage license.
Reserve a number of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
Place your invitation and stationary order. This allows for a month to have the order completed with any necessary corrections made, two weeks to address and mail them, and six weeks for your guests to receive and respond. If you have a large number or out-of-town guests, you may want to send them out even sooner.
Plan the details of the ceremony with the officiant.
Shop for wedding rings. Custom-made rings may require more time.
Order a cake.
Contact a wine and liquor representative if your catering manager is not handling the liquor for the reception. Make arrangements for a liquor license, if required.
Plan the ceremony and reception.
One to two months ahead:
Mail the invitations six weeks prior to the wedding date.
Plan the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal party.
Purchase attendants’ gifts and a wedding gift for your new spouse.
Confirm all wedding-day beauty or grooming appointments in advance.
Finalize arrangements with photographer and videographer.
Finalize arrangements with the florist.
Finalize arrangements for transportation too the ceremony, reception and wedding-night destination.
Confirm delivery or pickup times for all the attendants’ attire.
Purchase the wedding license.
Start planning your honeymoon wardrobes and assessing your luggage needs.
One to two weeks ahead:
Finalize arrangements with the catering manager and liquor representative, if needed.
Confirm the number of guests with the caterer, in writing if possible. You many need to phone guests that have not yet replied.
Pick-up the wedding gown.
Research cleaning and preserving services for the wedding gown. Make arrangements to have it treated during your honeymoon.
The best man should coordinate the final fittings for the groom and ushers and arrange the pickup of the rental garments. He should also arrange to return the groom’s tuxedo.
If desired, prepare announcements to be mailed immediately after the wedding.
Prepare envelopes with payments, donations, or gifts (as appropriate) for ceremony officiant and musicians.
The night before:
Finish packing for the wedding night and honeymoon.
If you are having a rehearsal party, bring gifts for the attendants.
Entrust payments to the best man, who should deliver them after the service or reception.
On the day:
The bride and her attendants see hairdresser and makeup artist.
Don’t forget to bring: car keys, wedding rings, marriage license, house keys, airline tickets, passports, money and honeymoon hotel confirmation as needed.
Have your honeymoon luggage packed in the trunk of the car driving you to the wedding-night destination.
Be dressed and ready for the photographer or videographer about two hours prior to the ceremony.
The bride should transfer her engagement ring to her right hand.
Relax and enjoy the day!
