18-12 months out
ㅤㅤ F ㅤ igureㅤoutㅤyourㅤbudget.ㅤHowㅤmuchㅤwillㅤyouㅤandㅤyourㅤ spouse-to-beㅤcontribute?ㅤWillㅤyourㅤfamiliesㅤbeㅤchippingㅤ in?ㅤ(Beㅤprepared—thoseㅤwithㅤaㅤfinancialㅤstakeㅤoftenㅤ wantㅤaㅤsayㅤinㅤthingsㅤlikeㅤtheㅤguestㅤlistㅤandㅤmenu.)ㅤ ㅤㅤ C ㅤ hooseㅤanㅤofficiant.ㅤYouㅤcanㅤbookㅤone,ㅤorㅤyouㅤcanㅤ talkㅤaㅤfriendㅤorㅤlovedㅤoneㅤintoㅤgettingㅤlicensedㅤandㅤ ordained.ㅤ(JosieㅤLucianoㅤhasㅤputㅤtogetherㅤaㅤguideㅤforㅤ would-beㅤofficiantsㅤonㅤpageㅤ12.) ㅤㅤ P ㅤ ickㅤyourㅤdateㅤandㅤbookㅤyourㅤvenue(s).ㅤTheㅤearlierㅤ youㅤdecide,ㅤtheㅤbetterㅤyourㅤchancesㅤofㅤgettingㅤbothㅤtheㅤ dateㅤandㅤlocationㅤyouㅤwant.ㅤ ㅤㅤ P ㅤ ickㅤtheㅤpeopleㅤwhoㅤwillㅤbeㅤinㅤyourㅤweddingㅤparty.ㅤ Peopleㅤareㅤgoingㅤtoㅤstartㅤwonderingㅤaboutㅤthisㅤasㅤsoonㅤ asㅤtheyㅤhearㅤyou’reㅤengaged.ㅤHavingㅤtheseㅤdetailsㅤ ironedㅤoutㅤwillㅤmakeㅤplanningㅤforㅤlead-upㅤeventsㅤlikeㅤ bachelorㅤandㅤbacheloretteㅤpartiesㅤandㅤtheㅤrehearsalㅤ dinnerㅤeasier. ㅤㅤ T ㅤ heㅤguestㅤlistㅤcanㅤbeㅤaㅤsourceㅤofㅤinfiniteㅤstress—andㅤ evenㅤcombat—betweenㅤfutureㅤspouses.ㅤAㅤspreadsheetㅤ canㅤhelpㅤyouㅤkeepㅤthingsㅤinㅤperspective.ㅤUseㅤitㅤtoㅤ trackㅤnames,ㅤcontactㅤinfo,ㅤRSVPsㅤandㅤtheㅤlike.ㅤ ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤyou’reㅤgoingㅤtoㅤhireㅤaㅤweddingㅤplanner,ㅤthisㅤisㅤ theㅤtimeㅤtoㅤstartㅤshoppingㅤaroundㅤforㅤone.ㅤIfㅤyouㅤ don’tㅤwantㅤone,ㅤthat’sㅤyourㅤcall—justㅤmakeㅤsureㅤyouㅤ considerㅤallㅤofㅤtheㅤhypotheticalsㅤbeforeㅤyouㅤdecide.ㅤ Forㅤexample,ㅤwhatㅤifㅤyouㅤplanㅤtoㅤdecorateㅤyourㅤvenueㅤ theㅤnightㅤbeforeㅤbutㅤfindㅤoutㅤthatㅤthere’sㅤbeenㅤaㅤ last-minuteㅤbookingㅤforㅤthatㅤnight,ㅤandㅤnowㅤyouㅤcan’tㅤ decorateㅤtillㅤtheㅤmorningㅤof—canㅤyouㅤdeal?
12-8 months out
ㅤㅤ B ㅤ ookㅤyourㅤphotographerㅤand,ㅤifㅤyou’reㅤhavingㅤone,ㅤaㅤ videographer.ㅤ ㅤㅤ W ㅤ illㅤyouㅤbookㅤaㅤbandㅤorㅤaㅤDJ?ㅤEitherㅤway,ㅤit’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤ getㅤthisㅤdone.ㅤ ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤyou’veㅤgotㅤaㅤbunchㅤofㅤguestsㅤcomingㅤfromㅤoutㅤofㅤ town,ㅤyouㅤmightㅤwantㅤtoㅤseeㅤaboutㅤreservingㅤaㅤblockㅤ ofㅤhotelㅤrooms.ㅤThis,ㅤofㅤcourse,ㅤalsoㅤappliesㅤifㅤyou’reㅤ havingㅤtheㅤweddingㅤoutㅤofㅤtown. ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤmakeㅤsomeㅤdecisionsㅤconcerningㅤtheㅤmenuㅤ forㅤyourㅤbigㅤday.ㅤDoesㅤtheㅤvenueㅤofferㅤcatering?ㅤIfㅤ not,ㅤthisㅤisㅤaㅤgoodㅤtimeㅤtoㅤstartㅤmeetingㅤwithㅤcaterers.ㅤ
Sounds like a plan
Get your wedding planning underway with this checklist
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤsendㅤoutㅤ“saveㅤtheㅤdate”ㅤcards,ㅤemails,ㅤ emails, textsㅤorㅤwhateverㅤyouㅤchoose.ㅤYouㅤshouldㅤalsoㅤprobprobablyㅤchooseㅤtheㅤactualㅤinvitationsㅤforㅤyourㅤweddingㅤ andㅤgetㅤthemㅤordered.ㅤ ㅤㅤ M ㅤ eetㅤupㅤwithㅤyourㅤofficiantㅤtoㅤplanㅤoutㅤtheㅤceremony.ㅤ Thisㅤisㅤespeciallyㅤimportantㅤifㅤyourㅤofficiantㅤisㅤaㅤ friendㅤorㅤfamilyㅤmemberㅤwhoㅤdoesn’tㅤhaveㅤexperienceㅤ inㅤtheㅤweddingㅤarena.ㅤYou’llㅤwantㅤtoㅤmakeㅤsureㅤtheㅤ personㅤwho’sㅤdoingㅤyouㅤtheㅤhonorㅤisㅤconfidentㅤandㅤ comfortableㅤwithㅤleadingㅤtheㅤceremony.ㅤ ㅤㅤ B ㅤ ookㅤyourㅤflorist.ㅤByㅤnow,ㅤyouㅤshouldㅤknowㅤwhatㅤ yourㅤweddingㅤcolorsㅤandㅤthemeㅤwillㅤbe.ㅤ
5-4 months out
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤbuyㅤtheㅤdress,ㅤorㅤpantsuit,ㅤorㅤwhateverㅤyouㅤ wantㅤtoㅤwearㅤtoㅤyourㅤwedding.ㅤBetweenㅤorderingㅤandㅤ altering,ㅤaㅤweddingㅤgetupㅤmayㅤtakeㅤupwardsㅤofㅤsixㅤ monthsㅤtoㅤbeㅤready.ㅤ
ㅤㅤ Bookㅤtheㅤvenueㅤforㅤyourㅤrehearsalㅤdinner.ㅤ
ㅤㅤ G ㅤ etㅤyourㅤweddingㅤregistryㅤupㅤandㅤrunning.ㅤMaybeㅤ you’dㅤlikeㅤtoㅤconsiderㅤsomethingㅤinㅤlieuㅤofㅤaㅤregistry?ㅤ Howㅤaboutㅤaㅤ“honeyㅤfund”ㅤtoㅤhelpㅤpayㅤforㅤyourㅤ honeymoon?
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤyou’reㅤhavingㅤyourㅤhairㅤandㅤmakeupㅤdone,ㅤnow’sㅤ theㅤtimeㅤtoㅤstartㅤshoppingㅤaroundㅤforㅤtheㅤrightㅤ person(s)ㅤtoㅤdoㅤit.
ㅤㅤ S ㅤ peakingㅤofㅤwhich,ㅤit’sㅤprobablyㅤaboutㅤtimeㅤtoㅤstartㅤ planningㅤyourㅤhoneymoon.ㅤ
7-6 months out
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤthatㅤhoneymoonㅤyouㅤjustㅤplannedㅤinvolvesㅤaㅤ greatㅤescapeㅤtoㅤforeignㅤshores,ㅤit’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤgetㅤyourㅤ passportsㅤup-to-dateㅤandㅤmakeㅤsureㅤyou’veㅤgotㅤanyㅤ immunizationsㅤyouㅤmayㅤneed.ㅤ ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤgetㅤyourㅤgroomsmen,ㅤbridesmaids,ㅤbridesmenㅤandㅤgroomsmaidsㅤoutfitted.ㅤIt’sㅤimportantㅤnotㅤtoㅤ putㅤthisㅤoff,ㅤbecauseㅤtheyㅤmayㅤneedㅤmultipleㅤfittingsㅤ toㅤgetㅤtheirㅤoutfitsㅤjustㅤright.ㅤButㅤhere’sㅤaㅤthought.ㅤ Ifㅤyou’reㅤsuperㅤbusy,ㅤwhyㅤnotㅤchooseㅤaㅤcolorㅤandㅤ materialㅤandㅤletㅤyourㅤweddingㅤpartyㅤchooseㅤtheirㅤownㅤ outfits?ㅤ(Seeㅤpageㅤ6ㅤforㅤaㅤstoryㅤaboutㅤthis.)ㅤㅤ
ㅤㅤ C ㅤ hooseㅤyourㅤcakeㅤandㅤgetㅤitㅤordered.ㅤOrㅤyouㅤcouldㅤ buckㅤtraditionㅤandㅤchooseㅤtastyㅤindividualㅤdesserts.ㅤ (SeeㅤToddㅤSouth’sㅤstoryㅤonㅤpageㅤ9.)ㅤ
ㅤㅤ S ㅤ tartㅤmakingㅤlistsㅤofㅤmusic.ㅤDecideㅤwhatㅤyouㅤwantㅤ playingㅤduringㅤkeyㅤpartsㅤofㅤyourㅤweddingㅤday.ㅤMakeㅤ sureㅤyouㅤalsoㅤhaveㅤaㅤlistㅤofㅤsongsㅤyouㅤdon’tㅤwantㅤtoㅤ hear.ㅤSendㅤthisㅤoffㅤtoㅤyourㅤbandㅤorㅤDJㅤwhenㅤdone.ㅤ
3-2 months out
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤstartㅤdouble-checkingㅤthingsㅤonㅤyourㅤlist,ㅤ startingㅤwithㅤyourㅤrehearsalㅤandㅤreceptionㅤmenusㅤandㅤ theㅤflowersㅤyou’veㅤordered.ㅤMakeㅤsureㅤtheㅤfoodsㅤandㅤ flowersㅤyouㅤwantㅤareㅤinㅤseason.ㅤ ㅤㅤ G ㅤ iveㅤaㅤheads-upㅤtoㅤanyoneㅤyou’dㅤlikeㅤtoㅤhaveㅤspeakㅤ duringㅤtheㅤceremonyㅤorㅤreception.ㅤ
ㅤㅤ W ㅤ riteㅤoutㅤaㅤprovisionalㅤscheduleㅤforㅤyourㅤceremonyㅤ ceremony andㅤreception—asㅤinㅤwhatㅤwillㅤhappenㅤwhen.ㅤGiveㅤ when. Give copies be providing copiesㅤofㅤthisㅤtoㅤtheㅤpeopleㅤwhoㅤwillㅤbeㅤprovidingㅤ food,ㅤmusicㅤandㅤflowers.ㅤThisㅤwillㅤgiveㅤyouㅤplentyㅤofㅤ food, music will give you plenty of time to make adjustments and answer any questions timeㅤtoㅤmakeㅤadjustmentsㅤandㅤanswerㅤanyㅤquestionsㅤ theyㅤhave.ㅤ they have. ㅤㅤ S ㅤSend endㅤoutㅤyourㅤinvitationsㅤaboutㅤtwoㅤmonthsㅤbeforeㅤtheㅤ out your invitations about two months wedding,ㅤandㅤaskㅤeveryoneㅤtoㅤRSVPㅤwithinㅤtwoㅤorㅤ wedding, and ask everyone to RSVP threeㅤweeks.ㅤ
1 month out
ㅤㅤ B ㅤ yㅤthisㅤtime,ㅤyouㅤshouldㅤsendㅤoutㅤasㅤmanyㅤfinalㅤ paymentsㅤasㅤyou’reㅤable.ㅤ ㅤㅤ Iㅤ t’sㅤtimeㅤtoㅤgetㅤyourㅤmarriageㅤlicense.ㅤIfㅤyou’reㅤchangingㅤyourㅤname,ㅤgetㅤseveralㅤcopies. ㅤㅤ ㅤSendㅤoutㅤtheㅤinvitationsㅤtoㅤyourㅤrehearsalㅤdinner.
ㅤㅤ Y ㅤ ouㅤshouldㅤhaveㅤtheㅤnumberㅤofㅤguestㅤnailedㅤdownㅤbyㅤ now,ㅤso—assumingㅤyou’reㅤhavingㅤbooze—goㅤaheadㅤ andㅤorderㅤit! ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤyou’reㅤassigningㅤseatingㅤatㅤtheㅤreception,ㅤyou’llㅤ wantㅤtoㅤtakeㅤcareㅤofㅤthatㅤsoon.ㅤ ㅤㅤ Don’tㅤforgetㅤaboutㅤbridesmaidsㅤandㅤgroomsmenㅤgifts.ㅤ
1 week out
ㅤㅤ Pickㅤupㅤyourㅤoutfit(s).
ㅤㅤ ㅤCallㅤallㅤofㅤyourㅤvendorsㅤtoㅤmakeㅤsureㅤthey’reㅤallㅤset.ㅤ
ㅤㅤ ㅤSendㅤyourㅤfinalㅤguestㅤlistㅤtoㅤtheㅤcaterer.ㅤ
ㅤㅤ D ㅤ on’tㅤletㅤlittleㅤworriesㅤstressㅤyouㅤnow.ㅤThisㅤisㅤit.ㅤ Takeㅤaㅤdeepㅤbreath.ㅤTakeㅤaㅤnap.ㅤTakeㅤaㅤValium—weㅤ won’tㅤjudge.ㅤㅤ ㅤ ❑
ㅤㅤ Iㅤ fㅤyouㅤhaven’tㅤalready,ㅤnow’sㅤtheㅤtimeㅤtoㅤbuyㅤyourㅤ weddingㅤrings.ㅤThisㅤshouldㅤleaveㅤenoughㅤtimeㅤforㅤ themㅤtoㅤbeㅤsized,ㅤifㅤnecessary.ㅤ a special supplement to the reno news & review | january 19, 2017
Bridal Guide
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