Wedding Planner
| Planning Task | Who | Completed |
|
12 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Purchase engagement ring | Groom | |
| Announce your engagement | Both | |
| Establish a wedding date and time | Both | |
| Set a preliminary budget to guide your planning. Decide how to divide costs | Both | |
| Decide on type of wedding: size, formality, theme, etc. | Both | |
| Reserve church or other facility for wedding ceremony | Bride | |
| Reserve reception facility | Bride | |
| Reserve rehearsal dinner facility | Groom | |
| Decide and book who will officiate at the ceremony | Both | |
| Hire a wedding consultant, if you choose to use one | Bride | |
| Contract with a photographer and videographer | Bride | |
| Contract with a florist | Bride | |
| Contract with a bakery for wedding cakes, etc. | Bride | |
| Contract with musicians for reception | Bride | |
| Contract with musicians for rehearsal party | Groom | |
| Contract with a caterer if not provided by reception facility | Bride | |
| Schedule engagement announcement photo | Bride | |
| Publish engagement announcement in newspaper | Bride | |
|
9 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Determine the number of guests to be invited. Start your guest list | Both | |
| Select maid of honor and attendants | Bride | |
| Select best man and ushers (1 usher per 50 guests) | Groom | |
| Order wedding gown, headpiece, veil, shoes, and accessories | Bride | |
| Order bridesmaids' gowns | Bride | |
| Purchase/Order mothers' dresses and accessories | Both | |
| Purchase wedding rings and order special engravings | Both | |
| Start planning the honeymoon | Groom | |
| Arrange transportation for wedding party | Groom | |
| Reserve hotel accommodations for out of town attendants and ushers | Both | |
| Plan reception | Bride | |
|
6 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Register with a gift bridal registry in the towns of both families | Bride | |
| Schedule a meeting with your officiant to discuss the ceremony | Both | |
| Finalize all contracts and pay required deposits | Both | |
| Schedule fittings for bridal attire | Bride | |
| Decide where to live after the wedding; make necessary arrangements | Both | |
| Reserve rental equipment for ceremony and reception | Bride | |
|
4 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Finalize guest list; make sure names, addresses, and zip codes are available | Both | |
| Order invitations, thank-you cards, and personal stationery | Bride | |
| Finalize honeymoon plans; obtain passports, if necessary | Groom | |
| Start purchasing items for the trousseau | Bride | |
| Send thank-you notes in a timely manner; purchase gift book to keep organize | Bride | |
| Verify marriage license and blood test requirements in your state | Groom | |
| Make appointments for physical exams if necessary in your state | Both | |
| Contract with a calligrapher, if you choose to use one | Bride | |
| Schedule additional fittings for bridal attire | Bride | |
| Solidify plans for the rehearsal dinner | Groom | |
| Meet with the florist to decide on bouquets, corsages, and ceremony flowers | Bride | |
|
3 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Order wedding cake | Bride | |
| Arrange tuxedo rentals and fittings for ushers, if necessary | Groom | |
| Make financial arrangements with florist for groom's responsibility | Groom | |
| Plan the bridesmaid's luncheon and make catering arrangements, if necessary | Bride | |
| Confirm all details with vendors (caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, etc.) | Bride | |
|
2 Months Before The Wedding |
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| Address invitations and announcements | Bride | |
| Prepare directions and maps for out of town guests | Both | |
| Purchase wedding attendants and ushers gifts | Both | |
| Finalize ceremony details with officiant | Both | |
| Arrange for final fittings for bride, all attendants and ushers | Both | |
| Schedule bridal portrait | Bride | |
| Complete blood tests; get marriage license | Both | |
| Pick up wedding rings; verify engraving and sizing | Groom | |
| Attend to legal matters - joint checking account, credit cards, insurance, will | Groom | |
| Order reception favors | Bride | |
| Review all aspects of wedding ceremony, reception, and rehearsal dinner party | Both | |
| Meet with wedding consultant, if using one | Bride | |
| Purchase fiancé gift, if gifts are being exchanged between bride and groom | Both | |
| Make appointment with hairdresser for wedding day | Bride | |
| Select music for the wedding and reception | Both | |
|
6 Weeks Before The Wedding |
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| Mail out of town invitations | Bride | |
| Catch up on sending thank-you notes for wedding and shower gifts | Bride | |
| Have bridesmaids luncheon | Bride | |
| Finalize rehearsal dinner arrangements, including menu and estimated counts | Groom | |
| Purchase wedding accessories - ring pillow, toasting goblets, candles, garter etc. | Bride | |
| Schedule moving arrangements, if necessary | Groom | |
| Reserve ceremony location for wedding rehearsal | Bride | |
| Make arrangements to preserve wedding gown, bouquet, etc. | Bride | |
| Purchase going away outfit | Bride | |
|
4 Weeks Before The Wedding |
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| Mail in-town invitations | Bride | |
| Reconfirm honeymoon plans and reservations | Groom | |
| Prepare place cards for rehearsal dinner and establish seating arrangement | Both | |
| Finish addressing wedding announcements to be mailed day of the wedding | Bride | |
| Call guests who have not RSVP'd | Both | |
| Confirm florist orders | Bride | |
|
2 Weeks Before The Wedding |
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| Finish organizing your trousseau | Bride | |
| Pick up honeymoon tickets, traveler's checks, etc. | Groom | |
| Confirm accommodations for out of town guests | Bride | |
| Confirm transportation for wedding party | Groom | |
| Get haircut | Groom | |
| Fill out a change of address if moving to a new home; get new home ready | Both | |
| Ask a dependable person to monitor the guest book | Bride | |
| Prepare and mail the wedding announcement for the newspaper | Bride | |
| Make sure all wedding attire is ready for bride, groom, attendants, and ushers | Both | |
| Make a checklist for your wedding day | Both | |
| Meet with all service providers to review every detail | Both | |
| Make sure wedding gifts are being logged in book; send thank you's promptly | Bride | |
|
1 Week Before The Wedding |
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| Wrap wedding party gifts. Distribute at rehearsal dinner party | Both | |
| Delegate wedding day responsibilities to dependable friends | Both | |
| Finalize meal count for rehearsal dinner | Groom | |
| Finalize food quantities for reception | Bride | |
| Complete last minute place cards for rehearsal dinner and review seating | Groom | |
| Review any special wedding ceremony seating details with the ushers | Groom | |
| Give marriage license and gratuity for officiant to best man | Groom | |
| Pack for the honeymoon | Both | |
| Make sure wedding attire fits | Both | |
| Give photographer a list of poses you want | Both | |
| Practice with you hairstyle | Bride | |
| Make sure wedding bands fit | Both | |
| Pick up rental wedding attire | Groom | |
| Ask someone to be on hand to run errands the day of the wedding | Both | |
| Complete thank you notes for gifts received so far | Bride | |
| Get a manicure (the day before the wedding) | Bride | |
|
The Wedding Day |
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| Organize going away attire and travel documents | Both | |
| Give wedding rings to best man | Groom | |
| Make sure marriage license is witnessed (signed) as required. Give to best man. | Groom | |
|
After The Wedding |
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| Submit name change to Social Security and Driver's License Dept. | Both | |
| Make sure all thank you notes have been written | Bride | |