Wedding To-Do List When you are planning for your wedding, there is so much to do that you don't want to leave anything off. So, to help you in keeping everything straight, we have created a wedding to-do list to help you keep everything in order! (While some of these items might not apply to you, you can just cross them off your list.) Twelve Months Before The Wedding Set the date for the big day Pick out the engagement ring and have it sized Sit down with both sets of parents and decide what type of wedding you want to have Decide on your budget for the entire wedding Sit down with your soon-to-be-spouse and create a preliminary guest list Order engagement announcements Decide on an indoor or outdoor wedding Decide on the church or place to hold the wedding ceremony Decide on a place for the reception Choose a wedding officiant to perform the ceremony Choose the size of your wedding party Choose the people to be in your wedding party Get confirmation that your selected wedding party will be able to be in your wedding Look into and discuss wedding insurance with your spouse Choose a honeymoon location Start to gather the requirements for your ceremony (baptism certificates, divorce decrees, or any other items or paperwork that the officiant might require from you both) Apply for passports or visas if traveling out of the country for your honeymoon Choose your wedding colors Begin the search for your wedding gown Begin the search for bridesmaid dresses Choose a wedding florist Choose a wedding photographer Choose a wedding videographer Choose a wedding band, DJ, or other music. Begin selection process for a catering company Begin the search for mother of the bride and mother of the groom attire Begin the search for the groom's tuxedo and groomsmen's tuxedos or wedding attire Reserve the date that you have set for your wedding with: 1
Videographer Florist Church or other site for your ceremony Church or other site for your reception Wedding band, DJ, musicians make sure they have the required legal permits with regard to the Society of Canadian Artists (SOCAN) Start a must play and do not play list for your reception music Start to check with local hotels and motels about discounts for your out of town guests Register with at least two stores Decide on and book your wedding day transportation Nine Months Before The Wedding Choose and order your wedding gown Choose and order your bridesmaid's dresses Choose and order the groom's tuxedo Choose and order the groomsmen's attire Choose and order the mother of the groom and mother of the bride's attire Choose and order the flower girl's dresses Choose and order the ring bearer's attire Prepare a wedding shower guest list Finalize the guest list Choose and send out wedding invitations with RSVP Book honeymoon Start deciding on wedding bands and rings Begin working on the ceremony: Write your vows Select music for the ceremony Select readings or bible passages for the ceremony Shop for wedding favour rs Shop for bridal party gifts Purchase jewellery for the bridesmaid Decide on hairstyle for the bride Decide on hairstyles for bridesmaids Purchase the other items needed for the bride: Shoes Undergarments for under the wedding dress (pantyhose, corset, etc) Garter Petticoat (if needed) Buy a cake serving set 2
Buy set of toasting flutes Buy a ring pillow Buy or rent the unity candle or any other items needed for the ceremony Buy the flower girl's basket Buy guestbook for the wedding reception Start to plan the music arrangement for the reception Start to plan seating for the reception Decide and order the wedding cake Six Months Before The Wedding Have engagement photos taken Decide on and order ceremony programs Schedule ceremony rehearsal with all the bridal party Schedule the rehearsal dinner Send out invitations to the rehearsal dinner Start a must take photo list for the photographer Mail out all remaining invitations for the wedding with RSVP Make a list of all RSVP cards that come back Select a menu for reception Select a caterer who can organize both the food and bar if required, including filing Special Event Permits and have them organize the legal requirements to set up a bar Have your wedding gown fitted Have bridesmaid's gowns fitted Have groom's tux fitted Have groomsmen's tuxes fitted Schedule a hair and makeup trial for bride and bridesmaids Start to pay on the deposits for: Videographer Cake Caterer/Food service Service personnel Three Months Before The Wedding Schedule the hair, makeup, nail, and tanning appointments for the bride and bridesmaids Start to break in your wedding shoes Make sure that you have the Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue taken care of Begin to call guests on your list who have not RSVP 'd yet File for your marriage license Start to shop for honeymoon attire 3
Plan wedding shower and send out invitations Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties Hold wedding shower Send out thank you cards for wedding shower gifts Start to prepare a day of timeline for vendors and bridal party members Send out your wedding announcement to the local papers Make all final payments to the vendors for the wedding Confirm all honeymoon reservations as well as travel arrangements Schedule your transportation from the reception to the honeymoon transportation (such as the airport, dock, or other site) Start to gather all wedding ceremony accessories (license, ring pillow, flower girl basket, guest book, candles, etc) in one bag or box and appoint someone in your bridal party to bring them to the ceremony Start to gather all the reception accessories (guest book, toasts, cake topper, camera, etc) and designate someone in your bridal party to bring them to the reception Prepare any speeches that you or your new spouse will make Set aside tips for each different vendor in a specific envelope and designate someone in your bridal party to ensure that they get to each vendor Verify with the dress shop that all the dresses will be ready at least one week before the ceremony Verify with the tuxedo shop that all the groomsmen and groom's tuxedos will be ready at least one week before the ceremony Make sure that the cake is ordered to your specifications The groom should choose his father's and the bride's father's attire for the wedding Six Weeks Before The Wedding: Make final arrangements for transportation for the entire wedding party, including the bride and groom to the ceremony Pick up your wedding rings from the jewellery shop to ensure that any sizing problems are fixed by the wedding date Make a master guest list of those who have already RSVP' d Start to make your final calls to those guests who you haven't heard from Make the final arrangements with: Videographer Caterer or food service Florist Cake Salon Alterations shops for wedding gown and tuxedos Pick out gifts for the bridesmaids Pick out a gift for the groom 4
Pick out a gift for the bride Make sure that all thank you notes for wedding shower gifts have gone out already if not, do so now Make the final decisions on all floral arrangements, such as your bouquet, corsages, and any other flowers that will be done for the wedding Two to Three Weeks Before The Wedding: Make an emergency kit for the day of the wedding to take with you to the ceremony, including such items as: hair spray safety pins make up for emergency touch-ups Go in for your final fitting of your wedding dress, take your shoes with you to ensure proper fit Have your bridesmaids go in for their final fitting of their dresses, and have them take their shoes Have the groom and groomsmen go in for their final fittings of their tuxedos The bride and groom need to go to the court house to pick up your wedding license, take any required documents with you, such as blood tests, divorce decrees, etc. Make sure that the arrangements for your wedding day transportation is in place, along with the transportation for the rest of the wedding party Make the final arrangements for the wedding rehearsal dinner Make sure that the following vendors have their must play/photo lists:, videographer and the DJ, band or musicians Visit the salon and take your headpiece/veil with you and pick out your hairstyle for the wedding Work out the final seating arrangements for the reception Write out place cards for the reception Confirm the wedding date with all the vendors for the wedding and reception Make sure that your wedding favours are completed and are all in one box or bag for the wedding One Week Before The Wedding: Create a final guest list Give the caterer or food service vendor the final count for guests at the reception Make sure that the bridal party knows exactly where the rehearsal dinner and rehearsal are to be held and the time Pack for your honeymoon Purchase traveler's checks or other monetary items for your trip If anyone in the bridal party has a special job, such as bringing the favours for the reception, make sure to call them and remind them of their job Make copies of all your important documents (passport, birth certificates, licenses etc.,) if you are traveling outside of Canada for your honeymoon The Day Before The Wedding: Make sure that everyone in your wedding party knows how they are getting to the wedding and reception Attend the rehearsal and dinner Get a good night's sleep before your big day!! 5