Wedding Planning Checklist

9-12 months before the wedding (or as soon as you are able):

• Decide on a location for your destination wedding
• Draw up a wedding budget
• Decide on the size of your wedding and begin developing a guest list
• Gather information about potential ceremony and reception sites, set a date and book as soon as you are sure of your location
• Gather information about marriage requirements for your destination
• Hire your wedding coordinator
• Invite close friends and family to be part of your wedding party
• Choose and book the officiant
• Develop your wedding website
• Research group room rates and reserve blocks of rooms for your wedding party and guests. Update your website with the information.
• Bride-be shopping for your bridal gown
• Begin researching wedding vendors including photographers, videopgraphers, florist, reception bands & DJ’s
• Book your caterer

9 months:

• Order your wedding dress
• Book your photographer
• Book your videographer
• Book your reception band or DJ
• Book your florist
• Send out your Save the Date cards

8 months:

• Decide on menu for reception
• Begin shopping for bridesmaids attire
• Decide on flower
• Make travel arrangements for wedding and honeymoon (if in a different location)

7 months:

• Order bridesmaids dresses
• Begin exploring music selections for your ceremony and reception

6 months:

• Begin attending pre-marital counseling
• Show for wedding invitations
• Groom-begin shopping for attire for you and your groomsmen
• Register for gifts

5 months:

• Gather all of the documentation you will need in order to be married at your destination
• Apply for passport if you do not have one. If you have a passport, be sure it is still valid.
• Obtain a visa if your destination requires one.
• Obtain translations for your documents if required by your destination
• Shop for wedding rings
• Research cake designers

4 months:

• Order your wedding invitations
• Order your wedding cake
• Order your wedding rings
• Make arrangements for limousine or other wedding day transportation

3 months:

• Address your wedding invitations
• Begin writing your wedding vows
• Begin designing wedding program if you intend to have one

2 months:

• Send out your wedding invitations
• Begin deciding on your hairstyle and try different hair do’s
• Purchase gifts for attendants, parents & each other
• Purchase items for gift baskets
• Begin assembling packets for your guests
• Prepare a packing lists for travel to your destination and honeymoon

1 month:

• Have your final dress fitting
• Check in with bridesmaids to be sure their alterations are on schedule
• Finalize the order with your florist
• Assemble gift baskets
• Meet with your photographer to discuss the pictures that are important to you
• Contact your ceremony and reception musicians to finalize the music that will (and will not!) be played

2 weeks:

• Call guests who have not returned their RSVP
• Bride-get your hair trimmed and colored
• Prepare your reception seating chart

When you arrive at your destination:

• Meet with your wedding coordinator to go over last minute details
• If you do not have a wedding coordinator, contact each of the wedding vendors to confirm all arrangements
• Get your marriage license
• Bride-have your dress pressed
• Bride-get manicure and pedicure
• Meet with your hairstylist if you’re having one