Countdown To Your Wedding Day

To help you get a better understanding of how to plan a wedding and when you   should make certain decisions, here’s a timeframe that should ensure your   wedding goes smoothly.

10 to 12 Months Before

  * Announce your engagement and introduce your families.

  * Book your reception hall and church as early as possible, preferably at least   a year in advance.

  * Start putting together a guest list and ask your parents whom they’d   like to invite as well.

  * Determining what you can spend, and developing a savings plan.  6 to 9 Months Before

  * Start booking some services, such as a florist, caterer, a DJ/band, and a   photographer.

  * Inform any guests who will be traveling significant distances of the date   of your wedding.

  * Order gowns for both the bride and bridesmaids.

  * Ask someone, such as your priest or rabbi, to be the officiant of your wedding.

  * Book your honeymoon.

4 to 5 Months Before

  * Decide on wedding invitations.

  * Start hunting for a wedding cake by sampling a number of different bakeries   and their style of cakes.

  * Confirm that all of the bridesmaids have ordered their gowns.

  * Start looking for a tuxedo for the groom as well as the groomsmen.

  * Purchase your wedding rings.

  * Let any other people you’d like to participate in your wedding know   of your intentions.

2 to 3 Months Before

  * Finalize your guest list.

  * Mail out your invitations as close to 12 weeks in advance as possible.

  * Finalize your menu choices.

  * Find all your wedding accessories such as the ring pillow, candles, etc.

  * Decide on and purchase gifts for the wedding party and the parents of the   bride and groom.

  * Confirm that all groomsmen have ordered their tuxedos.

  * Finalize all transportation, both to and from the wedding and to the airport   for your honeymoon.

1 to 2 Months Before

  * Schedule the first bridal-gown fitting.

  * Finalize the readings you’d prefer during the ceremony and mail them   out to anyone who has agreed to do a reading.

  * Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner.

3 to 4 Weeks Before

  * Confirm your honeymoon arrangements.

  * See if your wedding rings are ready.

  * Get your marriage license.

  * Check the guest list to see who has and hasn’t RSVP’d. For those   who haven’t, you might want to contact them so you can get a closer idea   of what the head count will be.

  * Prepare your wedding program around this time.

1 to 2 Weeks Before

  * Get a final attendance count and submit it to the caterer.

  * Pick up the wedding gown and tuxedo.

  * Make sure the wedding party picks up their attire.

  * Finalize your vows.Confirm all wedding-day details such as transportation,  photo schedules, and addresses.