Step By Step Wedding Planning

Wedding planning can be a stressful time in a bride and groom’s life. In addition to all of the phone calls, appointments, and decisions you will have to make, wedding planning can be even more difficult to do if you are unsure of the timeline you should follow in order to plan a successful wedding while following appropriate etiquette. While every wedding is different and may follow a somewhat different timeline, the general timeline to follow is pretty much the same for every wedding.

What You Should Do Two to One Years Prior to the Wedding

Two to one years before your special day, you should pick a date for the wedding and determine your budget. Make sure to go over your budget with everyone who is involved in this aspect of your wedding. You will also need to select your reception and ceremony location.

You might need to change your wedding date in order to have your reception or wedding at the location of your dreams. Popular locations can fill up a couple years in advance. If your date is firm, you might need to select a different location. At this point, you will also need to decide whether or not it is necessary to hire a professional wedding planner.

What You Should Do Twelve to Nine Months Prior to the Wedding

Twelve to nine months before the wedding, need to determine who you will have in your bridal party and who will officiate your wedding. One of the most important parts of the wedding planning process at this point is to decide on the theme and colors you will use for your wedding. This way, you can begin shopping for the bridal gown and accessories, as well as the dresses and accessories for the bridal party.

At this stage of the wedding planning process, you will also need to decide who you will be inviting to your wedding. In addition, you need to start selecting your disc jockey or band for your wedding, your videographer and photographer, your caterer, and your florist.

What You Should Do Nine to Six Months Prior to the Wedding

By this stage of the wedding planning process, you should be selecting the flowers you will use for your centerpieces, bouquets, corsages, altar displays, and anywhere else you will be using flowers. You also need to make arrangements for transportation on the day of your wedding and make reservations for accommodations for your wedding guests who live out of town. Be sure to register for gifts as well.

At this point in the wedding planning, you also need to start thinking about your honeymoon. This will be one of the most memorable vacations of your life, so make sure it is special. In order to get all of the accommodations and other arrangements you like, you need to make your plans well in advance.

What You Should Do Six to Four Months Prior to the Wedding

By six to four months before the wedding, your wedding planning focus should turn to selecting tuxedos for the groom, the fathers of the groom and the bride, and for the groomsmen. You should also select your wedding cake, invitations, and wedding rings.

Any other printed materials you will need, such as napkins or ribbons for your favors, should also be ordered by this time. If you haven’t done so already, you also need to schedule your vacation time at work.

What You Should Do Four to Two Months Prior to the Wedding

It is getting close to your big day – but there is still plenty of wedding planning to do! Now, you need to select your accessories for your reception, such as your toasting flutes, guest book, garter, and wedding favors. You should also mail your invitations two months in advance and make arrangements for beverages and liquor, if you choose to have it, at your reception location.

At this point in the wedding planning process, you also need to purchase gifts for your wedding attendants. In addition, you should meet with the officiant in order to go over the procedures of the ceremony. If you plan on writing your own vows, those should be completed by now so you can share them with the officiant while going over the ceremony.

What You Should Do One Month Prior to the Wedding

One month prior to the wedding, your wedding planning revolves around confirming reservations, getting final fittings for your wedding attire, and making appointments for the big day. This includes makeup, hair, manicure, and massage appointments, You should also apply for your marriage license.

What You Should Do One Week Prior to the Wedding

Most of your wedding planning is done by now, but you most likely are really feeling the stress at this point. But, all that is left to do is to start packing for your honeymoon and to confirm the number of guests who will be attending so you can notify the caterer.

What You Should Do the Night Before the Wedding

The night before the wedding, all of the hard work you put into wedding planning is paying off. Now, you can enjoy yourself at the rehearsal dinner as you give your gifts to the members of your bridal party. You will also need to lay out you wedding attire and be sure to get a good night’s sleep for your big day.

See Also:

Using Wedding Planning Software