It’s a year before the wedding and you have a lot of planning to do. With so many things to plan, coordinate, and prepare for it’s hard to know where to start. Remember you can’t do it all in one day. And as tempting as it is to wait until the last minute, don’t because it will cause you more stress in the long run and possibly prevent you from getting the wedding that you want.

Check out our Master Planner to help keep yourself on track and stress to a minimum.

1 Year before
 
- Announce your engagement / Have an Engagement party 
- Arrange for parents to get together 
- Decide on wedding style and formality 
- Pick a date and time 
- Set a budget and decide who will be contributing 
- Start planning guest list 
- Select Bridal party 
- Choose a wedding planner or wedding planning helper 
- Research and book wedding and reception sites 
- Select the Officiant 
- Start looking for wedding bands, and an engagement ring if necessary

9-10 months before

- Register for gifts 
- Order invitations, announcements, and thank you cards 
- Choose the florist 
- Decide on reception food and hire a caterer 
- Finalize guest list and confirm addresses 
- Chose a photographer and/or videographer 
- Book musicians and/or DJ 
- Shop for your gown 
- Decide on the bridesmaid dresses 
- Select groom and groomsmen’s attire 
- Determine what needs to be rented and contact rental companies 
- Discuss honeymoon plans
- Send save the date cards (optional but a good idea if your wedding is during a tourist or holiday season or is a destination wedding)
- Determine decorations for the ceremony and reception

6-7 months before

- Order gown and schedule fittings and delivery date 
- Talk to a travel agent about the honeymoon and finalize plans 
- Confirm all vendors and dates in writing
- Book rehearsal dinner location
- Meet with florist to choose arrangements 
- Send out invitations

4-6 months before

- Go to cake tastings
- Prepare maps and directions for ceremony and reception 
- Order bridesmaid dresses
- Get or renew passports if necessary
- Make accommodations for out of town attendants and guests
- Have both mothers coordinate and select their dresses 
- Have an engagement picture taken
- Select people for the guest book attendants and other roles / buy guestbook
- Plan bridesmaid luncheon
- Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner – don’t forget to check with the Officiant for availability 
- Decide on gifts for wedding attendants 
- Begin research for your states marriage requirements 
- Send deposit payments as necessary

2-3 months before 

- Order formalwear for groom and groomsmen
- Meet with caterer or banquet manager to discuss menus, service style, wine lists, etc
- Buy and wrap attendant gifts
- Book a room for your wedding night
- Check in with your vendors to see what else may need to be done
- Order wedding cake
- Hire wedding day transportation
- Mail invitations eight weeks prior
- Plan the wedding day schedule with your coordinator
- Meet with musicians to finalize music for the ceremony, discuss first dance, bride / father dance, mother / groom dance 
- Attend your shower!
- Schedule consultation with your hair and makeup stylists 
- Gather RSVPs to determine final numbers

1 month before 

- Get marriage license
- Have final gown fitting.
- Be sure bridesmaids have their gowns ready for the wedding 
- Make last minute adjustments with your vendors
- Create wedding program for guests 
- Plan and order welcome baskets for out of town guests 
- Plan clothes needed for honeymoon 
- Make insurance policy changes you’ll need post wedding
- Contact guests who have not responded
- Finalize details with the church, reception hall, photographer, videographer, florist, etc 
- Review your payment schedule, most final payments are due around this time 
- Plot the seating for your reception 
- Write your toast for the rehearsal dinner 
- Meet with your coordinator to work out final details 
- Confirm rehearsal and wedding day plans with attendants and Officiant 
- Confirm rehearsal dinner plans
- Confirm honeymoon plans 
- Check on shoes and accessories for yourself and others 
- Groom should check on accessories for himself and the male attendants

2-3 weeks before 

- Confirm all times with vendors 
- Confirm hotel arrangements for out-of town guests

1 week before 

- Give caterer final guest count 
- Place the fees due on the wedding day in envelopes 
- Put together toasting glasses, guest book, unity candle, cake knife, etc and give to your coordinator to take to and from the wedding site 
- Give the bridesmaids’ luncheon 
- Pack for your honeymoon 
- Obtain cash and travelers’ checks for the honeymoon 
- Make arrangements for wedding gifts to be brought to your new home

1-2 days before 

- Greet or make arrangements for others to greet out-of-town guests as they arrive 
- Take care of last minute beauty details
- Double check that you have packed everything you will need at the wedding site and give to your coordinator
- Wedding rehearsal and dinner 
- Give marriage license and the honorarium for the Officiant to the best man 
- Put together a cheat sheet with all of the vendors phone numbers 
- Plan car to transport from ceremony to reception

Your wedding day 

- Be sure to eat! 
- Hair and makeup 
- Relax and enjoy yourself

Copyright 2008 by Fusion Innovative Marketing