Bride's Checklist

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First Priorities Upon Becoming Engaged (typical engagement 3-12 months)
Select a wedding date and time.
Make a preliminary budget.
Start compiling names and addresses of guests and determine the size of the guest list
Select engagement ring with fiance, if he has not already done so.
Announce your engagement in the newspaper.
- Reserve your locations.
ceremony site
reception site
rehearsal dinner/wedding breakfast site
Check catering facilities if you are using a reception center, hotel, etc.
Determine who will officiate at the ceremony.
Determine your wedding theme and style and decide on your color scheme.
- Hire your professionals
wedding supplies / rental
caterer, if necessary.
florist
videographer
photographer
wedding cake.
decide on type of music and hire band, musicians, and/or disk jockey

decorator

limousine transportation or other arrangements for wedding day.
Invitations, personal stationery, and thank you cards.
- Choose your bridal party.
maid of honor
bride's maids
best man
groom's men
all parents
ushers
flower girls
ring bearer
guest book table attendants
- Select all bridal party attire.
bridal dress, headpiece, veil, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories.
men and boy's wedding attire and reserve the right sizes.
maid of honor, bridesmaids and flower girl dresses and order the right sizes.
Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state.
 
- Second Priorities
- Third Priorities (approximately two months before)
Complete guest list and compile them in order.
- Invitations, stationary, etc.
Address invitations and announcements. They should be mailed four weeks before the wedding.
Keep a careful record of all gifts received (write thank-you notes immediately instead of letting them pile up).
Finalize all details with all professionals hired.
Finalize ceremony details.
- Make beauty appointments.
Hairstylist for bridal portrait sitting, bridal video, and wedding day.
Make-up artist for bridal portrait sitting, bridal video, and wedding day.
Any other spa treatments for your bridal party
Choose a formal bridal portrait for display at reception.
Register at a bridal registry in the towns of both families.
Have a final fitting for your dress and bridal attendants' gowns.
Give your bridesmaids a list of people to invite to your bridal shower.
Complete all physical or dental appointments.
- Purchases
Begin shopping for a trousseau.
gifts for all attendants.
gift for fiance, if gifts are being exchanged.
Make sure you have all accessories - garter, guest book and pen, ring pillow, toasting goblets, candles, table place cards, etc.
Prepare maps to ceremony and reception sites, if necessary.
Prepare wedding vows and speeches to be made.
- Caterer.
give a tentative count to the caterer
plan reception menu
Order favors/candies for guests at reception.
Have bridesmaid luncheon (optional).
- Wedding rings.
have rings purchased and sized properly
order engravings
Give photographer the list of pictures you want.
Give videographer a list of shots, photos, music you would like to be included in the video.
Give list of friends/family names and addresses for showers and parties.
Plan any bachelor and bachelorette parties.
 
- One Month Before
Get marriage license.
Call any guests who have not responded to your invitation.
- Attend to various business and legal details. Get the necessary forms to
change name.
social security card
driver's license
insurances - auto, health, etc.
bank accounts
credit cards
Make a will.
Sign any other legal documents necessary.
Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to newspaper.
Sent out wedding announcements and invitations.
Make sure you are eating healthy and taking care of yourself with exercise and plenty of sleep.
This is the time to experiment with self-tanners or tanning beds if having a golden tone to your skin is important.
Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests.
Go over final details with all professional services you have engaged, and inform them of any changes.
Make appointment to have nails done.
Give the musicians the list of music for the ceremony/reception.
Prepare ceremony programs and take to a printer.
Prepare seating arrangements for reception, and write out place cards.
Arrange for someone to assist with last-minute errands and to help you dress.
Practice getting your hair done and determine the time it will take, if doing it yourself.
Practice using your make-up in the same type of lighting you will have on your wedding day, if doing it yourself.
Keep up with thank-you notes.
Plan bouquet preservation.
Begin the teeth-whitening process if you plan to do so.
Confirm all honeymoon arrangements.
 
- Two Weeks Before
Arrange to have possessions and gifts moved to your new home. Give a change-of-address card to the post office.
Make sure all bridal wedding attire is picked up and fits.
Have a final conversation with all professionals with confirmation of all time schedules and maps.
Confirm reservations schedule for rehearsal dinner/wedding luncheon with restaurants.
Take time to write out goals, vows, and commitments. It is important to remember the real reason you are going to all this work - your love and commitment to each other!
Arrange babysitter for reception, if necessary.
 
- One Week Before
Make all final payments to professionals you have hired.
Meet with wedding consultant for a final detailed briefing. Give consultant favors, seating chart and place cards for reception.
Pack your suitcase for the honeymoon.
Attend rehearsal dinner party. Stay calm and enjoy yourself.
Make sure you get a manicure and pedicure for shiny nails and toes.
Make sure all tuxedos are picked up.
Have a rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties at the ceremony, if applicable.
Designate who will meet and help each professional vendor on the wedding day.
Arrange for someone to take care of your bouquet preservation.
Also arrange for someone to freeze the top layer of your wedding cake so you can enjoy it on your first wedding anniversary!
 
- One Day Before The Wedding
- Put everything you need together.
Wedding dress and all associated accessories.
Rings
Marriage license
Emergency kit - make up, hair spray & pick, extra panty hose, pain reliever, breath mints, safety pins, tissues, etc.
That night, go to bed early.
 
- On The Wedding Day
Eat something. You have a big day ahead, and many brides have been known to faint.
Take a nice relaxing bath.
Fix hair or have it done at least three to four hours before the ceremony.
Make sure your nails are done. Allow plenty of time for make-up.
Start dressing one to one-and-a-half hours before ceremony. If pictures are being taken before ceremony, have yourself and attendants ready approximately two hours before ceremony. (Photographers and attendants should arrive 45 minutes to 1 hour prior to ceremony for pictures.)
Have the music start 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.
Have guests seated. Five minutes before the ceremony, have groom's parents seated.
Immediately before processional, the bride's mother is seated and the aisle runner is rolled out.
Attend the wedding luncheon. Allow time to relax before your reception, if possible.
If pictures are being taken at the reception, you, your attendants and family members should be at the reception center two hours before the reception.
Before leaving the reception, thank both sets of parents
MOST OF ALL... ENJOY THIS DAY JUST FOR YOU!!!
 
- After The Wedding
Write and mail thank-you notes.