Six to Twelve Months Before Your Wedding
____
Order your
cake early from Ms Cakelady!
____ Visit
AfricanAmericanweddingexp.com
on a regular basis for great ideas... and some
fun
____ Select a Wedding Date and Time (and
possibly a backup date)
____ Announce your engagement in the paper
____ Plan an engagement party with family and
friends
____ Talk with a bridal consultant or wedding
coordinator
____ Find out what bridal shows are in the area
and plan on attending
____ Agree on a preliminary budget
____ Decide who will pay for what and how
expenses will be shared
____ Call your church or synagogue for an
appointment with the Officiate
____ Consider and ask friends and family to
serve as wedding attendants
____ Start a "planning system" and system of
organization
____ Start your wedding guest list
____ Start thinking about ideas/themes for your
reception and catering plans
____ Determine what type of entertainment you
want to have for your reception
____ Decide the type of wedding you would like
to have (size, formality, and setting)
____ Think about your color schemes
____ Explore pre-marital counseling
____ Start health and fitness plan if you're not
already in one!
____ Select your reception location
____ Select your professional photographer
____ Select your videographer
____ Select professional caterer (if necessary)
____ Select Musician or Disc Jockey
____ Select your florist
____ Shop together for your wedding rings
____ Select wedding dress and headpiece, and set
a date for fittings and delivery
____ Select your bridesmaids' dresses and
accessories
____ It's time to choose a honeymoon and
location
Four Months Prior To The Wedding
____ OK, now it's time to spend some REAL time
at details, details...
____ Check the requirements for marriage license
____ Select and discuss your color schemes with
the florist/decorator of choice
____ Again consider pre-marital counseling
____ Reserve your wedding day rental equipment
____ Decide upon a gift registry and select your
gift choices
____ Order your invitations and related
stationery needs
____ Start shopping for the men's’ wedding
attire
____ Reserve your wedding day transportation
____ Research and select readings for ceremony
____ Make music selections for ceremony and
reception
____ Decide upon and order favors
____
Call your baker,
then choose your cake,
and groom’s cake
____ Help both mothers coordinate and find their
wedding day clothing
____ Review your contracts with all of your
vendors and service providers (DETAILS!!)
Two Months Before Your Wedding
____ Well, at this point you could be writing
for
____ Have engagement portraits taken
____ Place your engagement announcement in the
newspaper
____ Mail out invitations and announcements
____ Decide on the men's’ wedding attire
____ Arrange and plan your rehearsal dinner
____ Purchase your wedding day accessories
____ Arrange attendants' parties
____ Prepare accommodations for out-of-town
attendants and guests
____ Consider a hairdresser and/or makeup artist
and book appointments
____ Finalize all honeymoon plans
One Month Left!
____ Final wedding dress fitting
____ Final fitting for your wedding attendants
____ Obtain marriage license
____ Have your attendants' parties
____ Purchase your going-away outfit
____ Create a calendar of events for the wedding
day.
____ Make sure your accessories are in order
(rings, pillow, garter, etc.)
Two Weeks Remaining!
____ Finalize arrangements with the
entertainers
____ Provide a list of music you would like
played (or not played)
____ Finalize music during special events such
as first dance, dance with dad, etc.
____ Pick up your wedding rings and make sure
that the engravings are correct
____ Make sure they fit!
____ Contact the guests who have not responded
to your invitations.
One Week To GO!
____ If you can, take the week, or part of the
week off from work!
____ Make sure your marriage license is in order
____ Prepare seating arrangements, if necessary
____ Purchase travelers checks, confirm
honeymoon reservations
____ Pack your baggage for your honeymoon
____ Have your wedding ceremony rehearsal
____ Instruct your wedding party on what they
will be doing on the day of the wedding
____ Have your rehearsal dinner
____ Make sure all wedding attire fits properly
____ Give the best man the amounts your vendors
are to be paid on the day of the
wedding
____ Inform your caterer of the total guest
count
____ Confirm out-of-town guests have
transportation and sleeping accommodations
____ Check with your florist and/or balloonist
to make sure they will arrive when scheduled.
Your Wedding Day
____ Your primary goal today is to get married!
Have fun! Forget about
____ Relax, enjoy yourself, and remain calm!
____ Allow at least two hours for dressing
____ Allow plenty of time to apply your makeup
and style your hair
____ If professionals are doing your hair and/or
makeup, determine the time they need
____ If photographs are to be taken before the
ceremony, allow plenty of time for that!
____ Remember to bring the rings and marriage
license
____ Seat guests as they arrive
____ The groom’s parents should be seated about
5 minutes before start time
____ Mother of the bride is normally seated last
