Wedding Planner

Here are a few tips to help with the planning process.

9 To 12 Months Before Your Wedding

• Announce Engagement
• Select Wedding Date
• Hire wedding consultant/coordinator
• Determine type of wedding: location, theme, # of guests, formality, time of day
• Determine budget & how expenses will be shared
• Buy a daytimer to keep track of appointments & events
• Develop a record keeping system for payments
• Create an approximate # guest list
• Decide if you will be inviting children or not
• Select and reserve ceremony site
• Select and book Officiant/Priest/Minister/Rabbi
• Select and book reception location
• Select and order bridal gown
• Determine colour scheme
• If ceremony or reception is at a home, arrange for any home improvements
• Obtain, passports, visas, birth certificates, any documents need for travel and/or marriage licenses

6 To 9 Months Before Your Wedding

• Select and book caterer, if needed
• Select and book photographer
• Select wedding party
• Give wedding party a list of their responsibilities
• Select and buy attire or bridesmaids & flower girl
• Select and buy attire for mothers of the bride and groom
• Select and book ceremony musicians
• Select and book live band or DJ for reception
• Select and book videography
• Select and book florist
• Register for your wedding gifts (this can be done sooner)

4 To 6 Months Before Your Wedding

• Schedule fittings for custom made bridesmaids gowns
• Arrange marriage prep-courses, if necessary
• Reserve rental items
• Select and book decorator
• Finalize an A and B list of guests
• Select and order invitations and other wedding stationary
• Set date, time and location for rehearsal dinner
• Select and book honeymoon night suite
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Start planning your honeymoon
• Shop for your wedding gifts to each other
• Shop for your wedding gifts to your wedding party
• Shop for your wedding gifts to your parents
• Buy shoes, lingerie and accessories for the bride
• Buy shoes and accessories for the bridesmaids
• Select and order wedding bands

2 To 4 Months Before Your Wedding

• Take formal engagement picture
• Select and order wedding cake
• Order party favours/bombonniere
• Select and order decorations
• Purchase honeymoon attire and luggage
• Select and book wedding day transportation
• Start addressing your invitations
• Plan activities for out-of-town guests (optional)
• Go on trials and book wedding day hair and makeup. Bring your headpiece and wear a white shirt
• Obtain marriage license (expires in 3 months)
• Send out your invitations
• Select ceremony readers
• Select ushers to seat your guests
• Select guest book attendant
• Select your MC
• Mail invitations to shower
• Get photography permit, if needed

6 To 8 Weeks Before Your Wedding

• Maintain a record of RSVP's and early wedding gifts
• Maintain a record of shower gifts and send thank you's
• Purchase all ceremony and reception accessories: guest book, toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, etc.
• Select and reserve wedding attire for all gentlemen
• Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner
• Plan bridesmaid luncheon
• Select your something old, new, borrowed, blue

2 To 6 Weeks Before Your Wedding

• Finalize all food and beverages for wedding
• Finalize all ceremony details with Officiant
• Finalize all rehearsal arrangements
• Finalize all floral arrangements
• Final fittings for yourself and bridesmaids
• Make a wedding day itinerary
• Give a copy of the itinerary to your wedding party and vendors
• Finalize all details with all your vendors
• Decide order of receiving line and head table setting
• Contact guest that haven't replied
• Pick up wedding rings
• Give photographer a photo checklist
• Visit reception site for floor plan
• Create reception seating plan
• Give musicians a list of your music selection
• Inform attendants when and where to pick up attire
• Determine VIP seating for ceremony seating
• Print out seating cards
• Pick up honeymoon tickets

1 Week Before Your Wedding

• Give caterer/reception venue final tally of guests
• Pack of your honeymoon
• Wrap reception flavours/bombonniere
• Arrange mail collection while you are on honeymoon

Day Of Rehearsal Dinner For Your Wedding

• Drop all wedding accessories and decor off at ceremony and reception locations
• Make sure you bring all gifts that will be handed out at dinner
• Make sure you have all final payments in envelopes for wedding day
• Pack over night bag for honeymoon suite
• Make sure wedding party has their itinerary
• Make sure gentlemen have black socks
• Go to church for rehearsal
• Review VIP seating with ushers at ceremony location

Your Wedding Day

• Most of the details will be on your wedding day itinerary
• Eat breakfast
• Pack anything remaining on your "To Bring" list in cars
• Make sure Maid of Honour has groom's ring and Best Man has bride's ring
• Make sure you have your marriage license, photo permit and Special Occasions Permit, if needed
• Put your engagement ring on your right hand
• Use your wedding day itinerary to get you through the day on some sort of trouble
• Remember to look around and soak in the views of the day you planned so long and hard for.