Wedding Countdown

Planning a successful wedding requires careful planning. We have created timeline for some of the most important elements of your wedding planning process.

1 year before your wedding day (or anytime after your engagement)

• Announce your engagement
  

• Determine the wedding date
  

• The bride and groom should introduce the parents, if they haven't already met
  

• Set your budget
  

• Hire the wedding planner
  

• Research possible reception sites
  

• Make a rough draft of the guest list
  

• Join a fitness club if you aren't already a member at one. Planning and going through your wedding is going to be a lot of fun, but you will need to be in good shape to handle the demands of the wedding planning process.
  
  6-9 months before

• Decide on your caterer
  

• Hunt for your wedding gown
  

• Select your wedding party
  

• Book a DJ or a band
  

• Sign up with a bridal gift registry
  

• Shop for the bridal attendants' dresses
  

• Choose a florist
  

• Hire a photographer and a videographer

  4-6 months before

• Finalize your wedding guest list
  

• Search for a hotel for your out of town guests
  

• Order your wedding invitations
  

• Purchase your wedding gown
  

• Call the bakeries or cake decorators in your area to check for date availability.
  

• Make travel arrangements for your honeymoon

  2-4 months before

• Order your wedding favors
  

• Shop for your wedding bands
  

• Find out about your state's marriage license procedures
  

• Reserve or purchase the tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen
  

• If required by your state, get a blood test
  

• Finalize your wedding reception menu with your caterer
  

• Order you wedding cake
  

• Contact your ceremony site about your ceremony music
  

• Make arrangements about your reception music (DJ or band)
  

• Organize the rehearsal dinner
  

• Reserve tables and other necessary items with a party rental company

  1-2 months before

• Run a complete test of your wedding makeup and hairdo
  

• Mail or deliver the wedding invitations

  1-3 weeks before

• Complete the final seating chart for the wedding reception
  

• Contact photographer with the details of the ceremony

• and reception sites
  

• Provide your reception venue with a final head count based on the RSVPs received
  

• Make final adjustments to your wedding gown
  

• Facials should be booked for the bride, groom and bridesmaids
  

• Get your luggage ready for the honeymoon
  

• Your bridesmaid or a reliable friend should make sure the following items are promptly delivered: Toasting glasses, Band-Aids, Nail clippers, Cake knife, Emergency sewing kit

  Last minute

• Most importantly, relax. You are about to experience one of the best days of your life.
  

• Welcome your out-of-town guests
  To help you relax, do some light physical exercise
  

• Have your hairstylist and makeup artist do their magic on you
  

• Keep smiling, it's your special day!