Prepare Your Year-Long Wedding Checklist

Your wedding should be coming up within the next 6 to 12 months. Do you know what to do and when exactly you need to do them? Here is a guided timeline that specifically gives you the approximate time tasks that should be completed within that time frame.

Use the following list as a guide to help you get the right things done, in the appropriate order. Print this guide out and “check off” all the items that you have completed to make things less stressful and more fun for you.


Six To Twelve (6 -12) Months Before The “Big Day”!

Announce your engagement

Decide on what kind of wedding and the time of day. Are you prepared to feed your guests dinner or do you want a simple ceremony with cake and punch only? The time of day that you choose will dictate the food choices.

Pick a date. Do this as soon as possible so that your bridal party and faraway family can begin making arrangements for hotels and scheduling time away from their workplace.

Choose a location. Remember to take into consideration what the weather could be like on your wedding day. So keep an open mind. Set a budget. This is so important. Discuss it carefully between the two of you and your respective families.

Start planning the reception. Secure a hall, hotel, lodge, or whatever suits you guys for your reception area.

Select the bridal party. It is important to do this as soon as possible so these special people can set aside some time away from work to fulfill their duties and roles in your wedding.

Secure the church and inquire about premarital counseling. Some churches require this for a marriage to be allowed.

Choose your colors. Your flowers, attire, linens, and cake will reflect your choice. Since you have to shop for these items fairly far in advance, it’s important that you are rock-solid on your color decision.

Choose and order the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ gowns and accessories. Choose wisely and stay within your budget.

Start planning the honeymoon. The groom often takes the lead on this, but it should be a spot you will both enjoy.

Begin your bridal registry. Visit your favorite stores and choose items that you will need to start your life together.

Select and order wedding invitations and announcements.

Select the caterer, photographer, florist, and musicians. Keep their phone numbers handy in case you need something.

Choose and order the wedding rings.


Three Months Before The “Big Day”!

Complete the guest list.

Plan to have both mothers select their dresses. The mother of the groom will often wait for the mother of the bride to select her dress.

Make reservations for the honeymoon. Remember to tell them that you will be newlyweds. You’ll be surprised at how many perks you will get!

Confirm the dates and times with the florist, caterer, photographer, musicians, and the church.

Discuss transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites.

Order the wedding cake.

Choose and order the tuxes

Schedule the bridesmaids’ dress fittings. It is also a good time to choose and dye the shoes if that is necessary.

Place engagement announcement in the local newspaper (optional).


Two Months Before The “Big Day”!

Prepare and mail the invitations.

Get the marriage license.

Finalize the honeymoon reservations.

Make transportation arrangements


One Month Before The “Big Day”!

Reserve accommodation for the guests.

Record gifts received and send thank-you letters to each person. Many couples think that they must wait to send those thank you notes. Get them done as soon as the gifts begin to arrive to avoid stressful times later on closer to your wedding.

Purchase the gifts for the bridal party. Brides often buy inexpensive earrings or necklaces that the bridesmaids can wear to the wedding. Popular choices for the groomsmen are money clips, key chains, or ball caps.

Schedule the final fittings for the bride and bridesmaids.

Get Wedding programs printed.

Schedule appointments at beauty saloons for attendants, if needed.

Host the bridesmaids luncheon.

Purchase a guest book and decide where it will go. Some couples place the book just inside the door of the church or wedding area. Some prefer to display it at their reception. In either case, have someone stand nearby to invite guests to sign the book.


Two Weeks Before The “Big Day”!

Arrange to have names changed on the driver’s license, social security, etc...

Finalize the number of guests with the caterer.


One Week Before The “Big Day”!

Start packing for the honeymoon. Be sure to choose clothing that you won’t need during this very big week for you.

Plan the seating arrangements for all guests.

Have a beautician practice fixing your hair. You may also want to practice your make-up or make an appointment at a department store so it can be done for you.

Make sure that the wedding rings are picked up and fit.


The “Big Day”!!!

Congratulations! You made it to your big day! The last thing to do is to just relax. You’ve earned it and should enjoy your entire day!

Easy Tips to Throw the Wedding of Your Dreams

Even for the millions of brides who came before you, planning the perfect wedding has been an extraordinary affair and without a doubt an overwhelming task. That’s why we’ve prepared the following special wedding tips to get you thinking in the right direction. We’re certain you’ll be able to use our helpful wedding tips to plan the perfect day!

Selecting the Date:

Selecting the date of your wedding will help you immensely in your planning. Only when the date is chosen can you proceed to book your wedding and reception location, the person who will perform your wedding, and ensure that the people you would like for your bridal party reserve that day.

In choosing the best wedding day that’s right for you and your fiancé, be sure to check the yearly calendar for special three-day holidays – that way if you choose to have your wedding on a 3-day weekend, your out-of-town guests will have some extra travel time to work with and perhaps plan a mini-vacation.

If you plan to have a traditional, religious ceremony for your nuptials, also be sure to plan your special day separate and apart from major religious holidays. Of course you’ll want a date that holds good weather potential too, so we recommend using the Farmer’s Almanac or reviewing previously recorded weather averages to pick the best day for your dream wedding.

But please do keep in mind that these studies are not 100% reliable in predicting the actual weather on your wedding day! It’s also a good idea to stay away from certain dates such as September 11, the Ides of March, weekends with Friday the 13th, any daylight savings dates which can disrupt your guests’ arrival at your own wedding and Superbowl Sunday! Also, try not to plan your wedding date around the holidays when your guests are expected to celebrate with their own family and friends!

Wedding Party, Speeches, Ushers & Others

If you plan to have a wedding party, selecting from your friends and family can be a difficult task.

Remember that in addition to the best man, maid of honor, groomsmen and bridesmaids, you also can ask people to be readers during the ceremony, or to give speeches during the reception or the rehearsal dinner, to be an usher or to be in charge of the guestbook and making sure people sign it as they arrive. Some people opt to keep it simple and just have a maid of honor and a best man.

It is appropriate at the time of the wedding to give a gift to the wedding party as a thank you for all the effort that they have put into helping you plan your perfect day. Gifts range from small personal gifts, like a framed picture of you with your wedding party, to more extravagant gifts like pieces of jewelry.

The wedding party gift provides a very good opportunity to coordinate your bridal party, such as by gifting each a necklace or shoes to wear as part of their bridesmaid attire.

Ceremony & Reception Locations:

The location of your wedding ceremony and reception is all about you and your fiancé’s preferences and any financial limitations you may have. But you certainly will have an array of options to choose from.

For example, you can opt for the traditional wedding ceremony in a church, synagogue, or other religious site or you could enjoy reciting your vows on a beach somewhere overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Likewise your wedding reception can be located in your home, under a big white tent overlooking the beach, or in a grand hall or ballroom. You must also choose whether your wedding will be held at a location close to where most of your friends and family live, or whether you will have a destination wedding. Again, this will depend on your tastes and of course, your wedding budget!

Wherever you choose to have it, you will need to thoroughly research your reception location to collect the following information:

(1) Will the facility provide you with the wedding vendors you will need (i.e., caterer, baker, etc.) or will you need to hire independent vendors to set up at the facility?

(2) What are the facility’s rules about delivery by outside vendors? (i.e. when can the florist set up?)

(3) What sort of supplies (i.e., tablecloths, dishware, silverware, wine glasses, etc) will be provided by the facility and what remaining supplies will you need to independently rent?

(4) Does the place have a storage facility to store wedding supplies (chairs, tables, etc.) if their delivered too early?

(5) Does the place provide food catering and what type of food menu can they prepare?

(6) Do they offer a variety of alcoholic drinks and what does their menu of drinks look like?

(7)Is there enough parking, bathrooms, and electrical outlets available to comfortably handle the demands of your special event?

(8) Can the place supply a dance floor or will you need to rent one?

(9) Are there coolers at the facility to store flower centerpieces and also the wedding cake?

One of the single most expensive items at reception is the cost of drinks. You need to determine whether you will host a bar, or have a cash bar where your guests can buy their drinks. Also, decide ahead of time what drinks you will serve with meals or for toasts. As you can imagine, there are an endless number of factors to consider in choosing your reception site so when researching various locations, we recommend writing your questions down ahead of time before meeting with the reception coordinator that way you’ll be sure to hit all the right points at your meeting together.

Your Wedding Dress and Bridesmaid Attire

Searching for your perfect wedding dress can be fun and overwhelming. Make sure to start the process at least 4 months before the special day. Some designers need at least 6 months to get you your dress.

Look through magazines, visit bridal shows, surf the net. Try to decide first what style dress you prefer.

Also, most dresses come in varying colors of white, and some are multicolored. Think about how your dress will look like next to your bridesmaids in pictures. Don’t forget your accessories your jewelry, purse, bra and underwear, shoes and a veil and crown.

With respect to your bridesmaid dresses, first determine what color you would like for your bridesmaids. Then determine what kind of dress style would look best on your bridesmaids – bearing in mind if certain women are heavy set, their coloring and other physical attributes. At that point you need to decide whether all the bridesmaids will wear the same dress or whether they can wear different styles in the same color. You also need to determine whether your maid of honor will wear the same dress or whether her style of dress will be different in any manner.

Whether it’s your wedding dress or the dresses of your bridal party - remember to ask how long it takes to get the dresses in, and make sure you have 3 weeks to a month available for fittings and alterations.

Finally, don’t forget to tell your bridal party any preferences you may have as to the

Entertainment & Music:

Choosing the right entertainment and music for your special night can be a very challenging task! After all, the right music and entertainment can simultaneously put a smile on your guests’ faces as well as ensure some memorable moments at the party. You can hire a live band to belt out your favorite tunes or hire a one-man DJ, which will leave more room for a dance floor. Having a live band can be much more expensive than a DJ, so make sure to evaluate this against your budget.

In either case, make sure to prepare a list of the songs you want to hear at the reception. Also, make sure to let your band or DJ know what songs you have chosen for your entrance into the reception, your first dance, and any dances with parents or special relatives. Also, don’t be afraid to add some ethnic music at the reception. For example, consider adding some up-beat middle-eastern music to your wedding so you and your guests can practice belly dancing! Your guests will appreciate your unique style and diverse music choices and they’ll be happy to belly dance the night away!

In the event that you cannot get the floral arrangements you want on your budget, try decorating with candles. They are far less expensive, but can also achieve a very elegant setting. If you are worried about candles going out try using flameless candles – even your guests won’t know the difference.

Make sure to handle candles carefully as there is risk of fire. Also, make sure that your location permits the use of candles; some may not permit this due to insurance limitations.

Flowers:

Choosing the right flowers will depend on a number of factors such as the bride’s tastes and her personality. Ultimately, your flowers should compliment the overall theme of your wedding, as well as be a nicely added accessory to your wedding dress and your bridesmaids’ dresses. Of course, your wedding budget will also be a determinative factor in choosing the right florist!

We recommend asking any potential florist to show you live sample bouquets and centerpieces that you can view, not just photo booklets of their latest work. After all, seeing live samples will give you the opportunity to clearly judge the florist’s work and talent at making the perfect flower piece. Also, after you’ve decided on the right flower type, colors and style, be sure to ask your florist to prepare a sample of what your flower pieces will actually look like before she mass produces them for your special occasion. That way, you won’t be surprised or disappointed by the look of your flowers on your wedding day as you would have already seen a real live sample ahead of time! Seeing the real thing can also ensure that you and your florist are on the same page when it comes to creating the perfect flowers for your perfect day!

In the event that you cannot get the floral arrangements you want on your budget, try decorating with candles. They are far less expensive, but can also achieve a very elegant setting. If you are worried about candles going out try using flameless candles – even your guests won’t know the difference. Make sure to handle candles carefully as there is risk of fire. Also, make sure that your location permits the use of candles; some may not due to insurance limitations.

Photographers and Videographers

Usually you will have a lot of choices among photographers and videographers. Make sure to see samples of their work. Ask photographers if they will also shoot your engagement portrait. Look at what type of albums they have for you to choose from. Decide if you also want to purchase an album for any parents – they are usually less formal than your wedding album but may be available in packages.

Make sure to give the photographer a list of pictures that he or she must shoot – such as you with your in-laws or a family portrait with your grandparents, or anything else you would like. Let the photographer know f you want natural pictures taken, or whether you prefer people to pose for pictures, or whether you want a combination.

Videographers also need direction from you – like whether you want the Videographer to film messages from each of your guests or not. Also, you will have to choose music that will ultimately play in the background of all or part of the video. You also need to decide whether the Videographer will film the wedding, the reception or both, and whether he/she will film the period leading up to the wedding.

Make sure to ask how many copies of the DVD you get, and decide if you need to order more for family or friends that you think would appreciate a copy.

Although these wedding tips are a helpful preliminary guide to planning the perfect wedding, we understand that there’s a still lot to do before the big day. The important thing is to pace yourself and to create and organize the special day according to a detailed schedule you’ve prepared. Also where appropriate, don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family for help when you need it!

Wedding Etiquette: - Summarized

Unique Wedding Program Etiquette and Wedding Announcement Etiquette

Looking for solutions for your specialized wedding needs? Whether you are planning a traditional or contemporary wedding, we have unique wedding program etiquette and wedding announcement etiquette suggestions for you here!

Other Wedding Stationery Etiquette

So you have selected your wedding invitations, and you feel like you are done with the wedding stationery. Think again! There is also wedding program etiquette, wedding place card etiquette and wedding announcement etiquette to attend to. If you want your programs, place cards and announcements to all reflect the theme of your wedding and have a design and style to complement your wedding invitations, you should consider having them designed together.

Wedding Programs Etiquette

If you are having a ceremony that not all of your guests will be familiar with, such as a religious ceremony or a unique ceremony that incorporates cultural rites, you may want to consider putting together a wedding program. Even unique fairy-tale-type nuptials require some sort of wedding program so guests can follow along and know where they are in the time line of the entire ceremony.

Any program should include the processional, service components and explanations of any ceremonial elements that may be unfamiliar.

Wedding Place Card Etiquette

Seated dinners of more than 20 guests typically require place cards to help them find the right seats. Typically designed to match the rest of your wedding stationery, these place cards can be pre-printed or hand written. The most common way to introduce place cards to guests is by placing them on a table at the entrance. All names will be in alphabetical order with a table number so the guests can guide themselves to their tables in an organized fashion.

More upscale weddings often employ a host of ushers that guide guests to their tables according to a guest list and seating chart. Once there, the guests will find that their place cards are already in place.

Wedding Announcements Etiquette

As a good rule of thumb, wedding announcements, while not required, should be sent to acquaintances, friends and relatives who were not invited to the wedding, but may show an interest in your marriage. A good audience would be your co-workers or distant relatives. A common mistake is sending these announcements to guests who were invited to the wedding.

Wedding announcements should be sent within a few weeks after the wedding. In a perfect world, they'll all be sent within the first few days following.

The wording and design of the announcement will be similar to what you used on the invitation. If you chose a more traditional invitation where the parents did the "inviting" then that's the way it should be on the announcement. However, more modern couples choose to have the invitation-and announcement-come from them rather than their parents.

Thank You Cards Etiquette

Thank you cards are perhaps the most forgotten part of the wedding. Couples concentrate so heavily on the ceremony and reception and all of their collective elements that they forget post-wedding courtesy.

Many couples choose to have their thank you cards printed to match the rest of their wedding stationery. While not required as a matter of etiquette, this is often a good idea.

Everyone who attended the wedding should get a thank you card-whether they brought you a gift or not. If they did bring a gift, it's okay to mention the gift specifically in the thank-you card. If they didn't bring a gift, then thank them for attending.

Couples or families who received one invitation should get one thank you card rather than sending one thank you card per individual.

Whether you are ordering announcements, thank you cards, programs, invitations or other stationery, it is a good idea to order everything together in order to save money and assure the designs are consistent.

Responsibilities of the Wedding Party

Maid of Honor/Personal Attendant: (Usually special friend or sister of the bride.)

• Helps bride with shopping, invitations and other details as requested. Attends all pre-wedding events
• Pays for own wedding attire
• Takes charge of groom's ring during ceremony
• Witnesses, signs wedding certificate
• Helps bride in arranging veil and dress at ceremony and reception
• Returns bride's gown to designated place after wedding.

Bridesmaids:

• Purchases and completes fittings of gowns
• Performs tasks as assigned by bride
• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

Best Man: (Assists groom with all details of the wedding day.)

• Pays for own attire
• Transports groom to the church.
• Supervises the groomsmen, regarding their dress and duties at ceremony
• Takes care of bride's ring until ceremony.
• Presents the clergy person with fee.
• Signs and witnesses the marriage certificate
• Offers the first toast to the bride and groom.
• Dances with the bride after the groom and both fathers have danced with her
• Prepares the honeymoon car, packs suitcases in car.
• Holds for safekeeping, any tickets, keys, etc. for the groom.
• Returns groom's tuxedo to rental shop.

Groomsmen:

• Pays for their own wedding attire
• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Attends bachelor dinner if there is one
• Escorts bridesmaids during the ceremony

Ushers:

• Pay for own wedding attire
• Make sure principles have flowers before being seated. (Unless this task is assigned to another)
• Distribute wedding programs. (Unless this task is assigned to another)
• Seat guests on appropriate side of church.
• Assist elderly guests to seats.
• After all guests are seated, unroll aisle carpet.
• Check church or synagogue for any items left behind.

Ring bearer and Trainbearer Responsibilities

Neither of these is required positions and may be boys or girls. Usually only one ring bearer is used, but two with one ring per pillow will work if you have an abundance of four or five year children that you would like to have involved in the ceremony. Although the rings on the pillows are usually not the actual wedding rings, you could have two ring bearers if you are having a double ring ceremony, one for the bride and one for the groom. Trainbearer or pages usually walk in pairs but a single trainbearer can be used.

Advance Help

If ring bearers and trainbearer are little boys they are not likely to be interested in any pre- wedding parties. If they are girls, they might want to attend the shower and some other parties. They attend the rehearsal and may attend the rehearsal dinner with their families.

At the Wedding

The ring bearer(s) carries a pillow with a ring or rings sewn to it. (These are usually not the real wedding rings but symbolic ones for show only.) They walk either directly in front of or beside the flower girl(s) in the processional and the recessional. If real rings are tied to the pillow, the ring bearer takes the pillow directly to the maid of honor and the best man who will remove the rings. The trainbearers follow the bride in the processional and recessional, and carry the bridal train. During the ceremony, the ring and trainbearers may stand near the groomsmen or sit with their families. They are in the formal photographs of the bridal party.

At the Reception

Ring and train Bearers do not usually stand in the reception line. They usually sit at a table of honor with their families.

Expenses

Families of ring and trainbearers are expected to pay for attire. If travel expenses are involved, the children's families pick up these costs. Ring and train bearers are not expected to bring gifts to any pre-wedding parties they may attend. If their parents attend, gifts expectations would be the same as any other guest. If they attend more than one party, only one shower gift is expected.