Wedding To-Do Check-Off List

Milena Kukurekovic

Wedding To-Do Check-Off List

Hey Smarties! Here are a few tips for you on how to take care of, and cross your tasks from the wedding to-do list, in the best possible timing and order.

6 to 12 months before the wedding

  • Announce the engagement to family and friends.
  • Discuss the wedding style the two of you envision.
  • Discuss among the two of you and both sets of parents how the wedding expenses will be shared or divided.
  • Choose an honor attendant and your bridesmaids.
  • Choose a best man and groomsmen.
  • Register for wedding gifts. (That is the fun part!)
  • Select a wedding date.
  • Pick out a bridal gown and tux along with the accessories.
  • Meet with the officiant and fiancé to discuss the ceremony.
  • Discuss honeymoon plans.
4 to 6 months before the wedding
  • Select ceremony and reception sites.
  • Shop for wedding rings.
  • Complete your guest list and ask your parents to do the same.
  • Interview and hire professionals.
  • Send “Save the Date” cards if you set your dates far in advance, or if it falls during a holiday season.
  • Reserve rentals.
  • Delegate transportation arrangements.
  • Determine requirements for marriage license.
  • Arrange for physical exam or blood test (if needed).
  • Reserve hotel room for wedding night if you’re not departing on honeymoon immediately after reception.Choose wedding favors.
  • Make sure everyone knows their task in the wedding.
Complete task with each vendor
  • Stationer: Order invitations and all other stationery. Contact and reserve calligrapher, if desired.
  • Caterer: Discuss and choose menu. Carefully choose and order your tableware and dinnerware from Smarty Had A Party according to your decorations idea.
  • Baker: Order the cake if the caterer is not providing it.
  • Florist: Order floral arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages.
  • Photographer: Give shot list and discuss style of photos.
  • Videographer: Discuss various styles and approaches of wedding and videos and express you’re preferences.
  • Entertainment: Select style of music for ceremony and reception. Compile a list of music for both and give a copy to the band leader and/or DJ.
2 months before wedding
  • Address invitations and send them out.
  • Check on vendors' progress and confirm arrangements with each one.
  • Select gifts for each other, attendants, parents and other helpers.
  • Pick up rings and make sure they fit.
  • Select readings, poems, or prayer for the ceremony. (Give copies to everyone who will be reading them.)
  • If writing all or part of your vows, begin to put them together.
  • Stay on top of thank you notes. Try to send them every time you receive a gift.
  • Confirm transportation arrangements and honeymoon plans.
  • Start working on favors if you or the wedding parties are making them.
One month before wedding
  • Check final details with all of your vendors.
  • Have your final fitting for the gown. Bring shoes and hair accessories to confirm that they match.
  • Send out additional invitations as you receive regrets (when someone cannot make it).
  • Work on seating plans.
  • Meet with officiant to finalize the plans for the ceremony.
  • Make arrangements for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
  • Organize going-away outfit and clothing for the honeymoon.
  • Schedule final hair trimming.
  • Plan transportation to the ceremony and the reception.
2 weeks before wedding
  • Check in with vendors as needed.
  • Pick up marriage license with fiancé.
  • Pick up wedding gown. Confirm that you have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
  • Practice hairstyles (with/with out headpiece), either by yourself or with a stylist.
  • Schedule makeup trial run or practice.
  • Begin writing seat place cards or delegate this task to calligrapher, stationer, or attendants.
  • Compose reception toasts.
1 week before wedding
  • Check in with vendors as needed.
  • Confirm seating plan and give caterer final guest count.
  • Finish writing seating and place cards.
  • Assign wedding-day duties to your attendants and helpers.
  • Pack for the honeymoon.
  • Attend rehearsal dinner.
  • Create a checklist of all items you will be bringing to the ceremony and reception.
24 hours before wedding
  • Have breakfast with attendants, close family or a few friends.
  • Touch base with wedding consultant if you hired one.
  • Before dressing, take a nice relaxing bubble bath or enjoy a massage.
  • Give groom’s ring to honor attendant to hold for the ceremony.
  • Give bride’s ring to the best man in sealed envelope.
  • Have luggage and honeymoon documents taken to the reception location.
  • Collect bridal bouquet and emergency kit (sewing, aspirin, and so on.) to the ceremony.
  • Pin on the boutonnieres.
  • Give gifts to the parents to thank them for their help and support.
Before the ceremony
  • Confirm that chairs are set up and that all elements of the décor have been properly arranged.
  • Confirm that the musicians/DJ arrived on time, to setup.
  • Confirm that attendants and groomsmen have arrived at the ceremony location, and distribute flowers and boutonnieres.
  • Confirm that officiant has arrived at the ceremony location.
  • Confirm that the photographer and/or videographer have arrived.
  • Have honor attendant and best man sign the wedding certificate as witnesses.
Before the reception
  • Ensure that the guest chairs, table and buffets have been set up and arranged according to plan.
  • Confirm that guest tables are set with specified elements, such as specialty linens, place cards, and favors.
  • Confirm that the caterer and/or bartender have arrived at reception location.
  • Confirm that a microphone (preferably cordless) is available for toasts.
  • Confirm that the photographer and/or videographer have arrived.
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