A Wedding Checklist

Posted on: March 05, 2011

Although it's very possible to plan a wedding in less time, the most typical timeline for planning a wedding from start to finish is about one year. The main reason for this is in many areas, ceremony and reception locations are booked at least a year in advance as are many other service providers within the wedding industry. Also, some priests require you to be engaged for at least one year before they will marry you.

Get ready for things to be fairly hectic when planning the big day.  We know and can understand that when you're scouring 77Diamonds for your wedding jewellery and managing a million other details - flowers, dresses, photographers, you name it - your main goal is to get everything perfect.  Take heart and read the timeline we put together to ensure everything runs smoothly.

 

12 or More Months:

 

Be happy…you're engaged!

Send out engagement announcements - emailing would work

Find out what your budget is and put together a budgeting spreadsheet

Decide on the level of formality and theme

Estimate the number of guests

Book the ceremony and reception venues - these could fill up quickly

Book the officiant for your ceremony

Hire a wedding planner if you're using one

Begin looking for your dress and attendants' dresses

Get a web-designer for your website

 

9 - 12 Months:

 

Choose who will be in your wedding and ask them

Reserve a caterer

Book your photographer / videographer

Book your florist

Book your musicians / DJ for the reception

Order your wedding cake

Look into planning your honeymoon

Order your dress and attendant's dresses

Register at your favourite store(s)

 

6 - 9 Months:

 

Book your limousine

Order guest favours and packaging

Order invites and stationary

Start planning your honeymoon

Purchase wedding bands

Look into what you need for the marriage licence

Decide on your menu

Book musicians for the ceremony

Book any accommodation you will need right after the wedding

Reserve accommodations for people from out of town

 

3 - 6 Months:

 

Attend preliminary dress fittings

Reserve tuxes for the guys

Book hairdresser / make-up artist / aesthetician

Finalize the guest list

 

2 Months:

 

Mail invitations

Buy gifts for parents and attendants

Final dress fitting

Fine tune details of reception and ceremony

Print programs

 

1 Month:

 

Get marriage license

Organize rehearsal dinner

Finalize details of photography / video

 

2 Weeks:

 

Write speech

Finalize décor details of reception and ceremony

Do make-up and hair consultation

Call guests who haven't replied

Give song list to DJ

Make reservations for the rehearsal dinner

 

1 Week:

 

Have final seating plan done

Do up the place cards

Confirm final number of guests with caterer

Have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

Give gifts to parents and attendants

Confirm with vendors you're using that everything is all set

Choose someone to give back rental materials

Choose someone to watch the money box

Plan logistics of who is driving on the wedding day and which vehicles to use (if you didn't rent a limousine)

Write cheques for giving out on wedding day

Pack for honeymoon

 

On the Day:

 

Give wedding bands to best man

Give cheques to be given out to the best man

Get ready, arrive on time….and have lots of fun! (You earned it…)