The What's Ahead Checklist.......

6 to 12 Months ahead

{ } Announce your engagement

{ } Set the date of your wedding

{ } Determine the type of wedding and your wedding budget

{ } Pick your wedding and reception sites

(These sometimes have to be reserved quite a bit in advance)

{ } Choose an officiant for your wedding and meet with him

{ } Decide if you want to have a wedding consultant

{ } Choose your attendants (ie. bridesmaids and groomsmen.)

{ } You and your fiance' need to draw up your guest lists

{ } Choose a store(s) to set up your bridal gift registry at

{ } Select your wedding dress and veil

{ } Choose your bridesmaids dresses

{ } Go to a men's formal wear store to choose the Groom's

and Groomsmen tuxedo's or other attire for the wedding

{ } Begin finding and booking your florist, band or DJ for the reception, the caterer,

the musicians for the wedding ceremony, the photographer/videographer,

and a limousine or other transportation desired to the ceremony and reception

4 to 6 Months ahead

{ } Order your wedding bands and have them engraved

{ } Help mother's choose their dresses

{ } Choose your wedding and reception music

{ } Finish planning the details of the ceremony and reception

{ } Choose a bakery and order the wedding cake and the groom's cakes

{ } Order your wedding invitations, announcements, and personal stationery

{ } Finalize your guest list

{ } Make your honeymoon plans and reservations

{ } Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner

2 to 3 Months ahead

{ } Address your wedding invitations

{ } Get your engagement pictures taken

{ } Buy your attendants gifts

{ } Get your marriage license

{ } Plan your bridesmaids' luncheon

1 to 2 Months ahead

{ } Pick up your wedding rings

{ } Buy the groom's gift

{ } Schedule an appointment with your hair stylist and make-up artist. (optional)

{ } Send out your wedding invitations and announcements

{ } Don't forget to write your Thank You notes as your gifts arrive

{ } Plan the accommodation for your out of town guests

{ } Have your formal wedding portrait taken now if you intend on having one

{ } If you are going to have your engagement picture published in the newspaper, then now is the time to submit a 5x7 glossy black and white photograph to the newspaper

2 Weeks ahead

{ } Draw up your seating arrangements for the reception and make up the placement cards

{ } Confirm all of your arrangements with the caterers, florists, officiant, DJ or other musicians,

the bakery, transportation, reception hall site,and ceremony site

{ } Make any and all necessary changes to your Social Security, driver's license,

credit cards, bank accounts, etc........

7 Days ahead

{ } Have your bridesmaids' luncheon

{ } Let your caterer know the final number of guests that will be attending

(some places require this even sooner, so be sure to check)

{ } Confirm your honeymoon reservations and start packing

{ } The groom attends his bachelor party

{ } Confirm your rehearsal plans

{ } Make sure all the guests and attendants have directions and are aware

of their accommodations when they arrive

The Day before the Wedding

{ } Get everything packed you will need to take with you to the wedding site

(ie. your bridal accessories, a spare pair of hose, and other essentials)

{ } Don't forget your going away outfit for after the reception

{ } Pick a quiet moment to give your fiance' their wedding gift

{ } Go to your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

{ } Be sure to relax and get a good nights sleep

The Big Day

{ } See your beautician for all your final beauty details, after all you made it all happen and you deserve the very best.

{ } Make the most of your BIG DAY!

{ } Now relax, put on your biggest smile, and thank everybody for their help

{ } Most of all, just enjoy yourself on your special day !