YOUR “I-DO” MASTER CHECKLIST

YOUR “I-DO” MASTER CHECKLIST

By Kelly Rhodes, Southern Frills Weddings & Events

Photo by Sarah Coleman

6-12 MONTHS PRIOR

• Announce the engagement

• Set a preliminary budget to guide planning/ figure out who all will contribute

• Hire a wedding planner

• Create a wedding email (gmail or yahoo) to keep all things wedding in one place

• Start compiling a guest-list with addresses and current name spellings. Guests can be organized in the following categories: family, friends, work friends, other

• Establish an ideal wedding date

• Choose color scheme, theme, and overall formality. What do you want your wedding to look, smell, sound, taste, & feel like?

• Begin visiting ceremony & reception locations that fit your desired date, aesthetic, and guest count

• Start looking at wedding attire

• If there will be an engagement party or rehearsal dinner, set a date & location and purchase invitations

• Begin shopping for wedding rings

• Meet with the following vendors:

  Photographer Videographer

  Florist DJ/Band

  Caterer Bakery

  Transportation Officiant/Minister/Notary

  Entertainment for cocktail hour/ceremony

  Rentals (tents, staging, lounge, bars, accent décor, lighting, hanging installations)

• Order and mail out Save-The-Dates once your venue is booked

Photo by Sarah Coleman

4-6 MONTHS PRIOR

• Review the budget

• Wedding attire:

  Get fitted

  Purchase bride(s)/groom(s) attire

  Purchase mother’s attire

  Purchase bridesmaids and groomsmen attire

  Purchase accessories

  Find a reliable seamstress

• Guestlist:

  Determine if children will be invited

  Determine # of out-of-town guests

  Reserve or find suggestions at a hotel for guests

  Finalize guestlist

• Pick out and order wedding favors

• Pick out and order wedding invitations

• Register for gifts

• Finalize honeymoon plans

• Solidify plans for the rehearsal dinner (if necessary)

• Schedule hair stylists (as well as the trial run)

• Determine if meals served at the reception will be plated or buffet

• Determine what customs, traditions, vows, or readings you wish to have

• Sign up for premarital counseling/mentoring (if required)

2-4 MONTHS PRIOR

• Finalize food/menu

• Select person to hand out programs

• Start addressing invitations

• Prepare maps/directions cards

• Purchase wedding party gifts

• Communicate hotel recommendations for out of town guests

• Arrange final fittings for wedding attire

• As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items to registry

• Arrange for babysitter at reception (if necessary)

• Select ushers (if applicable)

• Send out thank you notes for wedding and shower gifts

• Finalize photo-shot lists

• Other purchases:

  Toasting flutes Cake knives

  Unity ceremony items

  Favors

  Sign in items

  Dancing accessories

  Card box

• Mail out invitations 8 weeks prior to the wedding

• Reconfirm honeymoon plans and reservations

Photo by Sarah Coleman

1-2 MONTHS PRIOR

• Obtain your marriage license (from 3 to 30 days of the wedding date)

• Schedule meeting with officiant to finalize the wording

• Confirm florist orders with planner

• Arrange parking for reception (if needed)

• Ensure that out-of-town guests know the cut-off date to make their reservation

• Finalize vows

• Begin to prepare seating arrangements for reception

• Send rehearsal dinner invitations

• Wrap wedding party gifts

• Get something old, new, borrowed and blue

• Select the order in which you want wedding party to enter ceremony location

• Select ceremony & reception music

  While guest arrive

  Seating of the grandparents & parents

  Processional (entering of officiant & wedding party)

  Your grand entrance

  Unity ceremony song

  Recessional (The exiting of wedding couple followed by the party)

  Grand entrance into the reception with your wedding party

  First dance

  Father and daughter dance

  Mother and son dances

  Cake cutting

  Bouquet toss

  Garter removal & toss

  Last dance

2 WEEKS PRIOR

• Obtain marriage license if you have not yet done so

• Discuss service with officiant

• Practice walking in wedding shoes

• Arrange for return of groom’s attire, if needed

• Let your bank company know you will be out of town

• Write toasts for rehearsal dinner and reception

• Final meetings with all vendors and planner two weeks before wedding

• Have manicure and pedicure (1-3 days before the wedding)

• Prepare tip and payment envelops for officiant and other vendors

• Make sure wedding gifts are being logged in book; send thank you notes promptly

• Finalize seating chart

• Pay final vendors fees at the final meeting with vendors

• Put together an overnight bag for wedding night

• Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency

• Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts brought to the reception

• Provide caterer with final head count 7 days prior to the wedding

• Confirm early meeting times with wedding party for the day of the wedding

• Your wedding planner will email a detailed wedding day itinerary to all wedding vendors

• Exfoliate your skin as much as possible

THE DAY BEFORE THE BIG DAY

• Suits to be picked up the day before the wedding

• Meet at rehearsal venue with wedding party and planner

• Bridesmaids to steam their dresses

• Drop off favors, guest book, pen and all accessories with the wedding planner

• The wedding planner will hand out the wedding day itineraries to the wedding party at rehearsal

Kelly Rhodes

Owner + Lead Planner

We are a wedding design company focused on creating a luxury experience for our clients. We take our client’s personalities, preferences, and love story and bring their dream wedding to fruition. Creating unique and beautiful experiences for them and their guests. Anticipating their needs and desires for a seamless process that is fun and exciting through their engagement.

(850) 382-2448

SouthFrillsEvents.com