• Officially announce your engagement
• Set a budget
• Decide on the date and time for the wedding
• Choose location of ceremony and reception
• Begin looking for your wedding dress
• Select the wedding party
• Start first draft of your guest list
• Start planning your honeymoon

6-9 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Purchase wedding dress and accessories
• Decide on bridesmaids dresses
• Hire a florist and discuss decorations
• Hire catering service
• Hire wedding photographer/videographer
• Hire DJ /band
• Choose officiant and discuss ceremony
• Start thinking about gift registry options
• Reserve hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
• Finalize guest list
• Have an engagement party if you wish
• Book honeymoon

4-6 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Select and order wedding invitations and stationery
• Choose wedding cake
• Discuss menu ideas with catering service
• Arrange for rental items (arches, candelabras, china, crystal, flatware…)
• Buy wedding rings
• Organize groom’s tux and decide what groomsmen will wear
• Make sure bridesmaids ordered their gowns and decide on accessories
• Look for wedding favors
• Confirm dates for bridal shower and bachelorette parties
• Start registry (before sending bridal shower invitations)
• Get ideas for wedding hair and makeup
• Organize helpers (readers, musicians, guest book attendant etc.)

2-4 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Finalize guest list and send invitations
• Select place for rehearsal dinner
• Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
• Finalize menu
• Select music for ceremony, reception etc.
• Book makeup artist and hairstylist
• Check tuxes for groom and groomsmen have been ordered
• Organize wedding transportation (for you and your guests)
• Order wedding favors
• Find gifts for each other, your attendants, shower hostess, parents etc.
• Purchase bridal party gifts
• Purchase wedding accessories (candles, baskets, ring pillow etc.)
• Check registry regularly (there always have to be enough options left)
• Start preparations for honeymoon
• Send invitations 8 weeks before wedding date

1-2 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Have first bridal gown fitting
• Finalize ceremony readings, songs, etc.
• Design wedding programs
• Meet with officiant to finalize ceremony
• Write vows
• Prepare photo and video shot list

3-4 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Get marriage license (normally no earlier than 30 days before wedding)
• Arrange name change
• Mail rehearsal-dinner invitations
• Meet with stylist to discuss makeup and hair
• Confirm hotel arrangements for out-of-town guests

1-2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Have final wedding gown fitting
• Finalize wedding-day schedule and share with attendants, parents and all vendors
• Pick up wedding dress and make sure all accessories are together
• Give caterer/reception site final head count
• Provide wedding party and out-of-town guests with itinerary and maps
• Finalize seating arrangements
• Prepare place cards
• Prepare wedding favors for transportation
• Complete seating plan for reception
• Confirm all rental and floral delivery dates and times
• Confirm arrival times for attendants
• Pack for wedding night and honeymoon

THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Prepare payment envelopes, choosing who is responsible for each one
• Give rings to best man
• Gather wedding dress and all accessories
• Get a manicure, pedicure, massage
• Rehearse ceremony with officiant and wedding party
• Confirm flight arrangements for honeymoon

THE WEDDING DAY

• Try to eat breakfast
• See hairdresser
• Have makeup applied
• Don’t forget rings (if you haven’t given them to best man) and wedding license
• Take a relaxing bath

AFTER WEDDING

• Get wedding gown cleaned and preserved
• Write and send thank-you notes
• Complete process of name change
• Finalize gift registry
• Meet with photographer/videographer to finalize albums/video

*AFTER THE VOWS…

• 72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.
• Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.
• During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer – reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!
• When asked 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.
• 65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey.

*These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides Magazine, 2001.