Timeline for planning

Timeline for Planning Your Wedding

The thought of planning a wedding can be overwhelming, and getting started can be daunting.

The following checklist is offered to help couples plan for that special moment — their wedding day.

At 6 to 12 Months

• Set a date. • Who will stand with you?

Choose, ask and confirm the bridal party and groomsmen. • Announce the big news!

Plan an engagement party and don’t forget to announce the engagement in the local newspaper. • Crunch the numbers.

This helps to stay on budget and avoid confusion or hurt feelings. • Reserve venues.

Book locations for both ceremony and reception, and account for potential weather and size of attendance. Popular venues sell out quickly. • Determine time and type.

Formal affairs are in late afternoon or evening, while more casual ones are usually in the morning or early afternoon.

The type of wedding decides if the reception should feature a formal meal or just cake and punch. • Color it fantastic.

Choose wedding colors early and stick to them. Avoid trends and pick what feels right. • Say “yes” to a dress.

Order the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ dresses and their accessories. Keep the budget in mind. • A celebratory trip of love.

Visit a travel agency or online sites and review options (and prices) for the honeymoon.

Both bride and groom should agree whether it’ll be a simple relaxing outing or an itinerary-filled adventure. • Register gift wishes.

The bride and groom should visit their favorite stores and register for items that’ll be needed in their new life together. • Decide the details.

Choose musicians, a florist, a photographer and a caterer. Sample their wares and check their references.

Keep their contact information handy for discussing details as they are decided. • ‘With this ring, I thee wed …’

Shop and design/purchase wedding rings. • Begin pre-marital counseling (required by some churches.)

At 3 Months

• Who’s coming?

Complete the guest list, count up the names and then select and order invitations. • Moms’ day out.

Mothers of the bride and groom should both get their dresses to compliment the rest of the wedding party in style, color, etc. • Introducing Mr. and Mrs. …

In the groom and bride’s first appearance together as husband and wife, keep a running list of any needed items (i.e. chairs, tables, linens, etc.) and be sure to reserve them early.

• Bite the bullet.

Go ahead and sign on the dotted line for the honeymoon. Mention to all providers that the guests planning to travel are newlyweds, because many will provide free surprise perks along the way. • Double-check and recheck.

Call and confirm dates and information with the photographer, musicians, florists, caterer and the church to ensure there’s been no double-booking or other potential disasters. • ‘Your chariot awaits …’

Decide on transportation to and from the wedding and reception sites. Limousine? Horsedrawn buggy? Drive yourself? • Finalize this and that.

Pick a final wedding cake design and groom’s cake design and any other pastries for the reception and get them ordered.

Get the groom and his groomsmen to get fitted and order their tuxedos.

Spend a girls’ day with bridesmaids, getting dresses fitted and scheduling any future fittings.

Choose shoes and get them dyed, if necessary.

At 2 Months And Closing ...

No turning back. • Mail out invitations to the pre-determined guest list. • Visit the courthouse together, with photo identifications and fees in hand, to procure the official marriage license. • Pay for honeymoon and finalize any side trips or relevant details to the trip.

• Help guests with reservations for flights or at local overnight accommodations.

At 1 Month

Lists, lists and more lists … • Start a list of gifts being received. Begin writing and mailing “Thank You” notes as soon as gifts arrive. • Plan the rehearsal and dinner. The groom’s family traditionally arranges and pays for this, but the entire family can contribute to the setup, planning and pulling it off. • Give credit where it’s due. • Buy gifts for the wedding party. • Take care of final dress and suit fittings, as well as appointments for beauty treatments, pedicures/ manicures and hair salon visits. • Host a bridesmaids’ luncheon to show them support and appreciation. • Buy a guest book, choose where to station it at the reception, and designate a “keeper” of the book who can encourage guests to sign.

At 2 Weeks

It’s getting close, so … • Finalize transportation to the church, to the reception and off to the honeymoon. • If planning to take the groom’s last name, brides should visit the proper offices to officially change their driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, passports and other official documents.

Also put in calls to credit card companies, utilities, doctors’ and dentists’ offices and others regularly contacted. Start your future...

...with our history.

The Texas Ranger Pavilion

-Leasing for weddings & other occasions -Lots of parking -Multiple ceremony sites on 12 acre campus -Catering kitchen -HVAC restrooms -Seats up to 350

Contact Erin @ 830-990-1192 or visit www.TRHC.org

At One Week

Full speed ahead … • Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit. • Start packing for the honeymoon. • Give the caterer a final estimate on number of guests. Plan seating arrangements. • Practice hair styles and/or makeup for the big day. • But don’t forget … • Brides should find time in the rushing about of final arrangements to take care of themselves.

Drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, get plenty of rest each day and smile, knowing they’ll soon be united with the ones they love.

The Wedding Day

Hearts joined at last. • With all the planning taken care of, the final hours leading up to the wedding should be a snap. • Best advice for brides: NO amount of planning will guarantee a “perfect” ceremony or reception.

Remember: It’s the mishaps that make things unique and memorable, but the bride’s reaction to these events becomes unforgettable in the minds of her family and friends.

So, roll with the flow, smile and enjoy the spotlight (and the happily ever after, of course).