How to Plan a Wedding Schedule – Timeline Overview

You have a lot on your plate now that you are planning your wedding. There are several thing you might not be aware of when it comes to planning a wedding. To help you better plan your wedding and keep your stress levels as low as possible, here is a detailed outline to assist you. This is intentionally down backwards, this is to help you from this day forward.

You need to have an estimate of the number of people you will be having at your wedding. Your estimate should be as close to the actual number of people as possible. Because you have not gotten a head count through responses yet, you should estimate by the number of people that you think will definitely be able to attend. The following things should be taken care of around one year prior to the big day.

You will need to reserve a location for the ceremony as well as the reception
- You will need to have at least started interviewing the entertainment for your reception. If possible, already having someone hired is ideal.
- If you are going to have a photographer, a caterer or other professional service person a contract should be signed and deposits made.
- The wedding party should be selected.
- The attire for the entire wedding party should be selected at this point as well as ordered.
- The wedding intention should be placed in the local newspaper.
- The transportation to the wedding should be confirmed.

Approximately four to six months prior to the big day everything should be in place.

Plans for a wedding shower should be at least in the beginning stages.
- Wedding ring shopping can be started.
- Invitations to the wedding should be ordered.
- Guest list should be completed, all addresses should be complete and accurate.
- Honeymoon reservations and confirmation should be made.
- Honeymoon suite reservations should be made for the night of the wedding.
- Any legal documents for your honeymoon travel should be confirmed they are valid and up to date.
- Reservations for hotel room for your out of town guests need to be made.
- Register for wedding gifts and bridal shower gifts.

About two to four months prior to the wedding day:

Music for the ceremony as well as the reception should be selected and given to the professional that will be handling the music.
- Invitations should be mailed
- Wedding favors should be ordered or made.
- You need to get the marriage license in the state you will be getting married.
- Rehearsal dinner reservations need to be made.

Four to six weeks before the wedding day:
- Fitting for wedding attire need to be completed.
- Gifts for the bridal party need to be purchased.
- Wedding shower
- Make the appointments for the hair and make-up for the wedding party.
- Get the marriage license.
- You can start to change your name if you are choosing to.
- If there is going to be a name change, you can notify banks, credit cards, social security card and any other legal documents that will need to be notified of the name change.

Two weeks prior to your wedding day:
- Groom should have his hair cut, do a practice run on the hair and makeup on the women in the wedding party.
- A final head count should be complete and given to the catering service.
- Touch base with everyone that has been hired to do a service for your wedding. Confirm all times, places and the date.
- Seating arrangements and place cards need to be done.

On the day before the wedding:
- Enjoy the rehearsal dinner.
- Get some sleep.

On your wedding day:
- Pat yourself on the back, you did it!
- Bring the wedding rings.
- Designate someone to pay the remaining balances on anything that has a balance.
- Make it to the wedding ceremony on time.
- Eat at least a little something before the ceremony.
- Smile for your pictures.

         

Wedding Budgeting and Finance