Wedding Timeline
Congratulations! You’re engaged!! Check out the wedding timeline below to find out what you and your groom need to do before the big day!
10-12 Months Before
 |
Introduce both families and officially announce your engagement. |
|
Find out who pays for what and start a budget. |
|
Create a guest list and manage it with our easy-to-use tool. |
|
Compare calendars and select a tentative date. |
|
Choose your wedding party. |
|
Create a wedding website to share your engagement. |
|
Consider whitening your teeth for your engagement parties and photographs. |
|
Conduct interviews and hire a wedding coordinator if applicable. |
|
Decide if you want premarital counseling. |
|
Start looking photos of wedding dresses for inspiration. |
|
Send your engagement photo to the local paper. |
|
Begin thinking about where you want to honeymoon. |
|
Visit and book your reception site, and arrange for parking. |
|
Visit and book your ceremony location, including rehearsal time. |
|
Create a save-the-date guest list. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 – 5 Months Before
|
Start thinking about cultural traditions for your wedding. |
|
View wedding invitation styles and research proper wording. |
|
Look at photos to get ideas for wedding cake designs, and meet
with bakers to taste samples. |
|
Discuss menu ideas with your catering manager. |
|
Shop for wedding rings. |
|
Look for the groom’s tux and decide what groomsmen will wear. |
|
Confirm your bridesmaids ordered their gowns and decide
on accessories. |
|
Have your mother and future mother-in-law coordinate and select
their dresses. |
|
Compare pricing, place your wedding invitation order, and book
your calligrapher. |
|
Purchase your wedding rings and send for engraving if applicable. |
|
Get ideas for wedding favors. |
|
Confirm dates for bridal showers and bachelorette parties. |
|
Make sure you’ve started your registries before bridal shower
invitations are sent. |
|
Choose your baker and finalize wedding cake. |
|
Reserve rental equipment such as chairs, tables, linens, tents, etc. |
|
Research and book your rehearsal dinner location. |
|
Get ideas for wedding hair and makeup. |
|
Notify any family or friends whom you would like to give readings,
sing solos, serve as guest book attendant, etc. |
|
Interview and hire any additional management staff and
babysitters if needed. |
|
Give your guest list to shower hostesses and check that
your registry has enough items. Update wedding website. |
|
Consider getting wedding insurance. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 – 3 Months Before
|
Finalize guest list and submit invitations to calligrapher. |
|
Book makeup artist and hairstylist. |
|
Order your wedding favors. |
|
Candles, baskets, ring pillow… it’s time to start browsing and purchase
wedding accessories! |
|
Consider signing up for dance classes. |
|
Schedule your last tasting and finalize menu. |
|
Find gifts for each other, your attendants, your shower hostess, and your parents. |
|
Confirm tuxes have been ordered for groom/groomsmen. |
|
Prep for your honeymoon – do you have everything you need? |
|
Choose your getaway! Finalize wedding transportation. |
|
Take care of business: Look into joint bank accounts, insurance, and merging
your money. |
|
Select your music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and review
with musicians, singers. |
|
Check that there are enough options left on your registry, and update your
wedding website. |
|
Finalize rehearsal dinner plans and order rehearsal invitations, menus, table
numbers, escort cards, and any other stationery accessories. |
|
Mail invitations eight weeks before your wedding day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 – 2 Months Before
|
Have your first bridal gown fitting. Remember to bring stockings, shoes, the appropriate bra, hair accessories, jewelry, a camera, and your mom or best friend. |
|
Finalize ceremony readings and songs, and review with performers. |
|
Order liquor/beverages not handled by caterer. |
|
Meet with your officiant to finalize the ceremony, including attendant formations. |
|
Begin writing your vows if applicable. |
|
Begin writing thank-you notes for bridal showers and early wedding gifts, and update your registry at the same time. |
|
Research where to get your marriage license. |
|
Prepare a photo and video shot list, naming important family members and guests. |
|
Schedule the bridesmaids’ luncheon and buy attendant gifts if you haven’t already. |
|
Begin whitening your teeth for your wedding day. |
|
Consider liability insurance for your reception location. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 – 4 Weeks Before
|
Finalize your jewelry, which may include something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. |
|
Prepare a must-have shot list for your wedding photographer and videographer. |
|
Finalize your “must play” and “don’t play” music lists and review with musicians. |
|
Practice your first dance wearing your bridal shoes. |
|
Design and order your wedding program. |
|
Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements, and give loved ones your itinerary in case of emergency. |
|
Call guests who haven’t RSVP’d. |
|
Pick up your wedding rings. |
|
Get your marriage license, typically no earlier than 30 days before the wedding. |
|
Research how to change your name. |
|
Mail your rehearsal-dinner invitations. |
|
Purchase small candles, candies, and mints for your guest powder room. |
|
Meet with your stylist to discuss and test the perfect makeup and hair for your bridal style. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 – 2 Weeks Before
|
Have your final wedding gown fitting. |
|
Finalize your wedding-day schedule (including receiving-line order) and share with attendants, parents, and all vendors. |
|
Confirm all of your beauty appointments. |
|
Confirm pick-up times, schedules, and addresses with your wedding-day transportation. |
|
Pick up your wedding dress and make sure all of your accessories are together. |
|
Pick up the groom’s outfit, make sure it fits, and gather all of his accessories together. |
|
Finalize your vows for the ceremony. |
|
Get your hair colored and trimmed (don’t wait until two days before the ceremony). |
|
Confirm final headcount. |
|
Give final attendance numbers to vendors and confirm final date/time for deliverables and pick-ups after wedding. |
|
Pack for your wedding night and honeymoon. |
|
Create a “wedding box” to gather your ceremony accessories (marriage license, candles, ring pillow, basket, guest book) and assign someone to transport. |
|
Prepare a “reception box” for accessories such as guest books, cameras, toasting goblets, cake toppers, etc., and assign someone to transport. |
|
Prepare all of your wedding favors for transportation to reception venue and assign someone to move them. |
|
Finalize your seating arrangements (making sure you involve both sets of parents) and submit to caterer. |
|
Prepare place cards. |
|
Confirm dates/times/locations for all photo and video sessions the day of the wedding. |
|
Confirm dates/times/locations with all vendors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Day Before
|
Prepare a list of payment envelopes – including tips – earmarking who is responsible for distributing to vendors. |
|
Hand out assignment lists and checklists to ensure everyone knows their tasks, including person responsible for transporting gifts. |
|
Hand out ceremony box to appropriate person. |
|
Hand out reception box to appropriate person. |
|
Hand out favor box to appropriate person. |
|
Assign someone to mail your announcement cards. |
|
Gather together your wedding dress, accessories, and bridal emergency kit. |
|
Get a manicure, pedicure, and massage. |
|
Rehearse ceremony with officiant and wedding party. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Wedding Day
|
Your day has arrived! You may be nervous, but try to eat breakfast and drink plenty of fluids. |
|
Take a lavender bath – it’s very relaxing. |
|
Be sure to wear a button-down shirt for your hair and makeup appointments. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
After the Wedding
|
Get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved. |
|
Preserve your bouquet. |
|
Write and mail your thank-you notes. |
|
Complete your name-change kit. |
|
Check into your store’s bridal registry completion program. |
|
Meet with photographer and videographer to finalize albums/video. |
|
