Example Wedding Planning Checklist
3 to 6 months before the wedding:
Decide whether you want to include any readings in the wedding ceremony. If you decide to include readings, click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist. |
Decide on a menu for the Reception. |
You might want to book a hotel room near the reception for your wedding night. |
Make travel and hotel reservations for your honeymoon. |
Plan extra activities for guests who are coming from out of town. |
Decide how many and what types of flower arrangements you want for the Wedding & Reception. |
Meet with the florist to make your final decisions, work out final pricing, and order the flowers for the Wedding & Reception. |
If you want to hire a calligrapher to address your invitations, research and hire one. |
Groom: Start thinking about what you want to wear. (Tuxedo? Suit? Ethnic attire?) |
Start planning the attire for the men in the wedding party. (Tuxedo? Suit? Ethnic attire?) |
Decide whether you want to give guests a small memento, and buy, order, or make them. |
Bride: Buy and wrap a gift for the groom. |
Groom: Buy and wrap a gift for the bride. |
Decide whether to have the men in the wedding party rent or buy their clothes. Click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist based on your decision. |
If you are ordering wedding decorations, order them well ahead of time. If you (or your friends) are making the decorations, make sure that they will be finished well ahead of time -- there will be enough other things to worry about during the last few weeks! |
If you are ordering Reception decorations, order them well ahead of time. If you (or your friends) are making the decorations, make sure that they will be finished well ahead of time. |
Decide on attire for the men in the wedding party. |
Research legal requirements for the wedding. |
Depending on where and when the reception is being held, you might want to rent high chairs or even cribs or changing tables. If you do decide to rent them, click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist. |
If you want to take care of the alcohol yourself at the Reception, click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist. |
Decide what types and amounts of alcohol you want to serve at the Reception. |
If you're writing your own ceremony, start drafting it, including vows, music, readings, and so on. |
The mothers of the couple often coordinate their outfits to make sure that they don't clash with each other or the attendants. Ask yours if they want to do this, and let them arrange it. |
Bride and Groom: If someone else is organizing a rehearsal dinner, coordinate with them on date, time, location, and guest list. |
Ask the Reception caterer whether you can provide your own bottles of alcohol. |
Find out whether the Reception caterer is providing bartenders, and how they will be dressed. |
Bride and Groom: If you're planning an international honeymoon, research and obtain everything you need -- passport, visa(s), birth certificate, and vaccinations. |
Make arrangements to provide for the safety of any guests at the Reception who have too much to drink. If you want to do more than arranging for designated drivers, click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist. |
Groom: If you are renting a tuxedo, decide on a style, get measured, and order the tuxedo. If you are buying something to wear, now is the time to buy it. |
Decide what accessories, if any, you want the bridesmaids to wear, and give them the information they need to buy the right things. |
Decide what you want to use as a cake knife, and borrow, buy or arrange to rent it. |
Think about what other help you might need. Hire vendors, or ask friends and family to help. Some possibilities: managing the guest book, parking, moving flowers from one site to another, babysitting, setting up and cleaning up the wedding and/or reception site, etc. |
Get your invitations and announcements from the printer. |
Bride and Groom: Get physical checkups, if you haven't recently. |
Update your insurance policies to include both of you, and make sure your homeowner's or renter's insurance covers the value of your rings and gifts. |
Collect maps and information about the area and the activities you've planned, and send packets to out-of-town guests. |
Decide whether you want to assign people to specific seats and/or tables. If so, click here to see the list of related tasks the wedding software can add to your tasklist. |
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