You have just become engaged — congratulations! It is now time for you to start planning your dream wedding. Confused on where to start? Follow our simple wedding checklist to get the ball rolling!
Between nine and 12 months until the wedding
- Officially announce your engagement
- Set a date, and choose your venue. Book both reception site and site for marriage ceremony
- Discuss the budget and decide who will contribute to your big day.
- Officially ask your bridal party
- Decide what kind of wedding you want to have; small, large, informal, black-tie, and start a rough draft of your guest list.
Six to nine months until the wedding
- Send out a save the date announcement, especially to out of town guests. It is a good idea to include places they can stay while in town, so make sure to talk to nearby hotels and inns to see if they can block out rooms.
- Start looking for your wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses — the best part!
- Discuss wedding party rentals with your venue. As a rule of thumb, if you are hosting an event where you may need a rental tent, it simply makes sense to invest in tent rentals, tent accessories, and wedding linen rentals from the same place.
- Hire the DJ or band, along with your officiant.
- Look into honeymoon options
- Go through the catering menu and make a final decision. Don’t forget vegetarian options!
- Choose your florals: bouquets, corsages, centerpieces, aisle markers, and flower girl petals.
Three to six months until the wedding
- Send out official wedding invitations
- Order your wedding cake
- Buy the wedding rings
- Formalize your wedding registry and send out the information to your guests.
- Figure out the details for your rehearsal dinner
- Organize transportation on the day of your wedding for both your bridal party and your guests if the wedding and reception are at two separate locations.
One to two months until the wedding
- Have a final dress fitting for both yourself and your bridesmaids
- Create your wedding programs
- Arrange name change if you are planning to do so.
- Set up an appointment to get your marriage license within your state.
- Finalize seating arrangements.
- Call people on your guest list who have not yet RSVP’ed.
Once you have checked off every detail on this list, it will be time to enjoy your dream wedding!