Wedding Check List

One Year Before Your Wedding
 

_____ Announce your engagement in church during the announcements.

_____ Plan an engagement party for your family.

_____ Attend bridal shows.

_____ Call the church office (237-7909) and make an appointment with the pastor.

_____ Get together with both sets of parents (if appropriate) and informally discuss wedding plans in general.

_____ Set a date. Make sure people who you want to be there can be:

     _____ The pastor
     _____ Grandparents/parents/relatives
     _____ Attendants

_____ Call the organist/accompanist check the date.

_____ Call the photographer and check the date.

_____ Determine a budget. See Enclosed budget form (W)

_____ Determine who will be paying for what.

_____ Decide who will be the attendants and ask them.

_____ Begin looking at different providers.

_____ Go wedding ring shopping.

_____ Start your guest list.

_____ Go to as many weddings as is possible and take notes.

_____ Reserve the reception site.

_____ Start looking at wedding dresses.

_____ Start looking at attendants’ dresses.

Six Months before Your Wedding

_____ Reserve/confirm the providers (caterers, photographer, musicians, etc.).

_____ Buy/Order your wedding dress.

_____ Buy/Order your attendants’ dresses.

_____ Start planning your reception music.

_____ Register with department stores.

Five Months before Your Wedding

_____Discuss honeymoon plans with your fiancée’, and send for travel information.

_____Check samples of invitations, announcements, and enclosure cards.

_____Begin shopping for your wedding cake.

 
Four Months Before Your Wedding

_____ Select and order you wedding stationery (invitations, announcements, enclosures, scrolls, napkins, service bulletins, and thank-you notes).

_____ Get necessary travel documents (passport, birth certificate).

_____ Draw maps with directions to the ceremony and reception site for out-of-town guests.

_____ Make an appointment with the caterer or banquet manager to discuss your reception menu.

_____ Make an appointment with the wedding hostess for your first meeting for this month.

_____ Make an appointment with the pastor for your second meeting.

_____ Arrange for soloist/music/accompanist.

Three Months Before Your Wedding

_____ Decide on honeymoon destination and call for reservations.

_____ Begin shopping for your going-away outfit and honeymoon clothes.

_____ Finalize your guest list, check for duplicates and correct spelling and addresses.

_____ Review musical selections for the reception with the person providing the music.

_____ Arrange for an engagement picture for the newspaper.

_____ Make an appointment with the florist to discuss the floral budget and make decisions.

_____ Make an appointment with your doctor/gynecologist for a complete physical.

_____ Begin addressing the inner and outer invitation envelopes.

_____ Complete honeymoon plans (air tickets, cruise tickets, hotel reservations, etc.).

Two Months Before Your Wedding

_____ Order the wedding cake and groom’s cake.

_____ If you are going to go abroad have the inoculations, blood tests, physical examinations necessary.

_____ Order the men’s formal wear.

Seven Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Meet with the caterer to firm up reception details (exact number of expected guests, table locations, etc.).

_____ Consult a party rental store if equipment is needed at the reception.

_____ Schedule an appointment with the wedding hostess for two weeks before the wedding.

_____ Make an appointment for during the Third Week Before Your Wedding with your photographer for the formal bridal portrait.
 

Six Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Meet with the organist to discuss the service music.

_____ Plan the rehearsal dinner.

_____ Have the males go to the formal wear rental store and get fitted.

_____ Give the wedding bulletins to the church secretary complete with information for the inside of the bulletin.

_____ Order/make/finish the wedding favors.

Five Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Mail out all the invitations.

_____ Buy/make the thank-you gifts for the members of the wedding party.

_____ Get swatches of attendants’ dress fabric and have shoes dyed in one lot.

_____ Send out-of-town attendants their dresses for final fitting and alterations.

_____ Meet the florist and final order your flowers. Take samples of fabric and pictures of yours and your attendants’ gowns.

_____ Purchase/Borrow garter, guest book, pen, cake knife, and toasting glasses.

Four Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Prepare the wedding announcement for the local newspaper.

_____ Make appointments with hair stylist/makeup artist/manicurist to try out makeup and hair styles for your wedding day.

_____ Finalize all arrangements for the rehearsal dinner (food, table set up, clean up).

_____ Finalize all arrangements for the reception.

_____ Check with attendants regarding their accessories.

_____ Wrap attendants’ gifts and have them ready -- with card -- to present.

_____ Make an appointment for the final fitting of your gown.

_____ Create a list of "Who is coming" and "Who is not".

_____ Begin addressing announcement envelopes.

_____ Select wedding gifts for each other.

_____ Arrange for transportation of the wedding party to the wedding and reception.

_____ Make a seating plan for the rehearsal dinner and reception.

_____ Make a seating plan for the wedding service.

_____ Write place cards for the reception.

_____ Contact the movers if you are moving.

 

Three Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Make another appointment for another final fitting, if necessary.

_____ Send a note to all those who need to be at the rehearsal and advise them of the time/place/date.

_____ Have your formal portrait taken.

_____ Check on the final arrangements of the honeymoon.

_____ Record gifts and send thank-you notes ASAP.

_____ Get the marriage license.

_____ Confirm the transportation to ceremony and reception.

_____ Arrange a bridesmaids’ luncheon.

_____ Hire a "house sitter" for the rehearsal and wedding day for your home, your parents’ home, and your fiancée home.

_____ Pick up tickets and confirm reservations for your honeymoon.

Two Weeks Before Your Wedding

_____ Finalize Hotel arrangements for out-of-town guests.

_____ Plan a "Welcome" package for out-of-town guests.

_____ Send your photograph and wedding announcement to the newspaper.

_____ Check on accessories for the groom and male attendants.

_____ Make an appointment with your hair stylist, makeup artist, and manicurist.

_____ Give addressed and stamped announcements to someone who will mail them the day after the wedding.

_____ Make out the checks for the organist, the wedding hostess, the janitor, the soloist, and anyone who needs to paid.

_____ Follow up on guests who have not returned their response card. You must have an accurate count for the caterer.

_____ Meet with the wedding hostess. Bring the checks and your "Worksheet For Your Meeting With The Wedding Hostess"

_____ Put together a box of snacks (crackers, cheese, water, etc.) for the wedding party on the wedding day.

One Week Before Your Wedding

_____ Eat right and get plenty of rest this week!!!

_____ Give the caterer a guaranteed count for the reception.

_____ Double-check all service providers: florist, photographer, caterer, etc.

_____ Pay balances due on services required before the wedding.

_____ Host the bridesmaids’ luncheon.

_____ Remind everyone of the date and time of the rehearsal.

_____ Go to your manicurist.

_____ Pack for the honeymoon.

_____ Spend some quiet time with your family.

_____ Have "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" ready.

_____ Get to the pastor: The License The Prayers/Vows/Scripture

Two Days Before Your Wedding

_____ Check the weather forecast for you wedding day in Fresno and at the sight of your honeymoon and make any necessary adjustments.

_____ Lay out everything you need to dress on the wedding day in one place at your home.

_____ Put gas in the car.

One Day Before Your Wedding

_____ If you are leaving for your honeymoon from the reception, place your luggage in the car you will be driving.

_____ Go over this check list and notice that you have done everything that you need to do. So RELAX!! -- take a hot bath, go shopping, get into a hot tub, go to lunch with a friend, etc. Do not drink alcohol!

_____ Go to bed early!!!