Wedding Planning Guide

Here is a handy guide to help you plan out your wedding from start to end. Print it out and dont forget to also use the Wedding Budget Guide.

Timeline

As soon as you hear wedding bells

Tell close family and friends
Ask close relatives and friends to be attendants
Set up budget- determine who pays for what
Determine ceremony site and book officiant - send confirmation letter
Research and book hall and catering - send confirmation letter
Set wedding date
Start guest list
Send out 'Reserve the Day' cards to wedding party, family and special guests
Reserve rooms for out-of-town guests - send confirmation letter
Research and book photographer/videographer
Book organist, soloist or choir for ceremony - send confirmation letter
Book musicians or DJ for reception - send confirmation letter
Book rental equipment, if needed - send confirmation letter
Research and choose flowers - send confirmation letter
Shop for wedding dress and order it
Decide on colour scheme
Choose and order attire for wedding party - send confirmation letter
Get marrage licence
Apply for passport
Set up personal wedding web page
Write and place engagement announcement
Talk to hairdresser - you may want long hair

Six months prior to the wedding

Read confirmation letters and contracts and send changes to suppliers
Choose food and drink - send confirmation letter
Order the wedding cake - send confirmation letter
Research and order favours for tables - send confirmation letter
Secure sound equipment - send confirmation letter
Order invitaions - send confirmation letter
Start shopping for wedding rings
Research and order gifts for wedding party
Register gift preferences with local merchants
Book a hotel room for wedding night
Book honeymoon trip - send confirmation letter
Remind fiance to book site for rehearsal party (Groom's responsibility)
Groom and groomsmen to start shopping for formal wear

Three months prior to the wedding

Read confirmation letters and contracts and send changes to suppliers
Apply for liquor licence if having a host bar
If having a host bar, make a list of wine, beer and liquor needed
Research and book wedding day and honeymoon transportaion
Finalize guest list
Send invitations
Start working on seating plan
Write or choose vows
Ask those whom you want inbolbed in ceremony readings and choose text
Order wedding rings
Purchase gifts for parents and attendants
Groom and groomsmen order formal wear
Make appropriate hair, nail and spa appointments

One month to go

read confirmation letters and contracts and send changes to supppliers
Check invitations to see who has not replied and call them
Fine tune seating arrangements
Make any last minute adjustments to floral arrangements before florist orders flowers
Choose wedding music and deliver a list of need-to-have songs and don't play songs to musicians or DJ
Deliver a list of need-to-have photos to photographer
Have a fitting for entire wedding party
Write wedding program
Confirm appropriate hair, nail and spa appointmenst
Make a conscious effort to stay healthy and calm
Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and get sleep

Two weeks to go

Go through check lists, read confirmation letters and contracts, talk to suppliers to ensure orders have been filled and everyone is ready
Create list of wedding day contact phone numbers
Assign wedding day 'trouble shooter' who is not involved in wedding party - give them your final instructions and phone nmbers of all your contracts
Send a final head count to hall or caterer
Finalize seating chart and write out table cards
Supply reception site with a list of requests from vendors, i.e. tables
Supply ceremony and reception site with list of delivery times
Confirm honeymoon reservations

One week to go

Groom and groomsmen go for final fitting and pick up formalwear
Pack for honeymoon
Write cheques and gather cheques for items still to be paid
Write cheques for tips and set money aside for unanticipated tips
Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Present gifts to attendants and parents at rehearsal dinner
Don't forget to balance your festivities with sleep and proper diet

After the wedding

Call and thank attendants and family
Send thank you cards for gifts
Send thank you notes to vendors that you feel did a great job
If your last name will be changing, you'll need to change it on identification cards and banking and credit information - you'll need your record of marriage to make the changes