Bride and Groom’s list
If the day is magical for you, then it will be for everyone else, too!
9 to 12 months before...
- Set a date
- Decide on size and type of event
- Visit with the Priest or Registry
- Prepare a budget for your wedding
- Determine the time and place of the service
- Determine the place of your reception and book it
- Draw up your guest list
- Ask your family to draw up their guest list
- Seek out and buy a wedding dress and accessories (including shoes, jewellery, veil, or head piece)
- Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses
- Search for and book DJ / band, photographer, videographer, florist, caterer, cake-maker
- Choose a colour scheme
6 to 9 months before...
- Ask family and/or friends to be in the wedding party
- Shop for wedding invitations
- Decide on the groom’s wedding attire, that of the best man, and the bride and groom’s fathers
- Ask your mothers to shop for dresses
- Start planning your honeymoon and book it
- Make sure your passports haven’t expired or are due to expire
4 to 6 months before...
- Book hotel accommodation for your attendants, if necessary
- Begin fittings for wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses
- Order wedding invitations and ‘thank you’ notes
- Arrange a hair stylist and make-up artist
- Choose ceremony music and DJ / musicians
3 to 4 months before...
- Address invitations
- Meet with your caterer to talk about menus
- Give your wedding organiser and chef a rough estimate of guest numbers
- Firm up your honeymoon plans
- Hire a limousine or other transportation for the wedding day, if necessary
- Shop for gifts for your attendants (e.g. bonboniere)
- Start planning music selections for first dance and any other special dances
- Decide on and order wedding rings
- Decide on something old, something new, something borrowed and somethingblue
- Get photos together of bride and groom to display at the wedding (this is usually a photo of when you were children)
- Confirm all details with hired vendors
- Request holiday time from work for honeymoon
2 months before...
- Mail wedding invitations
- Buy a journal for recording the gifts you receive (include the giver, address, the gift and any comments)
- Plan your bachelorette and bachelor parties
- Purchase gifts for guests
- Plan order of events at reception with DJ or band leader
- Confirm ceremony details with priest or registry office
2 to 4 weeks before...
- Have a final fitting of your gown and suit
- Buy a wedding guest book and pen
- Firm up plans with photographer (e.g. formal wedding shots of the wedding party as well as candid shots)
- Confirm wedding site addresses and delivery times with vendors
- Confirm transportation plans
- Do table plans and organise place cards
- Give out invitations one month prior to your wedding
- Get marriage license
- Pick up wedding rings. Do they fit?
1 week before
- Begin packing for your honeymoon
- Touch base with all vendors one last time to confirm details
- Have a list of phone numbers of ALL your vendors on hand (give a copy of this list to a trusted member of the wedding party)
- Get plenty of rest
The Big Day!
- Give yourself plenty of time to relax and get dressed
- Get to your hair and makeup appointments on time
- Bring your marriage license and rings to the ceremony site
- Let the professionals and/or family worry about the details!
Stay calm, relaxed and enjoy: Think about your family and friends gathered to share in
your special day!