The Ultimate Wedding Countdown!

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple! It's time to plan the most important time in your life and that's your wedding day. I have put together a pretty simple wedding countdown to help make wedding planning a little bit easier.

The Wedding Checklist

- Share the news of your engagement with family and close friends.

- Announce your engagement on social media.

-Decide on a budget.

- Set the date.

-Meet with potential wedding planners or event planners, if you're planning to use one.

-Choose your ceremony and reception site.

Interview officiants.

-Establish the number of guests you'd like to invite, and make a list with input from both set of parents.

- Choose your maid of honor, best man and other members for your bridal party.

- Start shopping for your wedding dress.

-Begin a pre-wedding beauty regimen to improve our complexion.

- Schedule any treatments (facial, waxing, spa treatments) that you'd like to have over the next few months.

6 to 9 months before:

-Book the caterer.

-Create your bridal registry. (Target, Belk, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond)

-Order wedding gown and schedule fitting.

-Purchases your shoes, headpiece, jewelry for wedding.

- choose bridesmaids' dresses

-Choose your photographer (and videographer) and schedule engagement portraits.

- Select our save-the-date cards, especially if you're having a destination wedding or on a holiday weekend.

4 to 6 months Before:

-Place orders for all wedding invitations, envelopes, thank you notes. 

-Meet with the wedding day transportation.

-Make wedding day appointment for hair and make up as well as run through four to eight weeks prior to the date.

-Research accommodations and group rates for out of town guests.

-Finalize the guest list.

-Plan the honeymoon, and reserve flights, hotel rooms and rental car.

-Plan the rehearsal dinner.

2 to 4 months before:

- Contact the town/city clerk's office to inquire about marriage - license requirements.

-Groom, choose attire for the groom and his groomsmen and place orders.

-Select and order wedding favors.

-Order the wedding cake.

-Meet with officiants to discuss ceremony and choose readings.

-Select the ceremony and reception music.

-Shop for bridal parties' gift.

- Shop for wedding bands.

- Reserve party rentals - linens, tables, chairs.

-Reserve your hotel room for the wedding night.

- Confirm group hotel rates for out of town guests.

4 to 8 Weeks Before:

-Mail wedding invitations six to eight weeks prior to the date.

-Meet with caterer to decide on menu.

-Send programs, menus to stationer to be printed.

- Do hair and make up run through with headpiece. 

-Decide on any necessary insurance policy changes.

- Gather information from the town/city clerk's office to change your name, if desired.

- Share your wedding announcements to social media.

2 to 4 Weeks Before:

-Create a seating chart for the reception, if desired.

- Contact all vendors to confirm details and set a time line for the wedding day.

- Have your final dress fitting with shoes, headpiece and jewelry.

- Compose your own vows, if desired.

-Write a toast to give at the rehearsal dinner or during the reception.

- Visit the salon for one last haircut and color. 

1 Week Before:

- Arrange for dress to be picked up or delivered.

-Organize all wedding day payments and fees in envelopes and decide who will distribute them.

-Decide who will transport and collect heirlooms ( unity candle, toasting glasses, cake knife) to and from the ceremony and reception.

-Take care of last minute beauty treatments.

- Pack for the honeymoon.

Happy Wedding Day!