Announce your engagement to family and friends!
Start envisioning the style of your wedding.
Work on a budget and find out who is contributing.
Interview or select your officiant and wedding location.
Select wedding date and time possibilities and finalize after
okaying the date with the officiant, location, important guests
and important vendors.
Reserve the location and officiant for your ceremony.
Begin interviewing wedding consultants and/or start asking
for local wedding vendor recommendations from friends and
family.
Start thinking about your gown and in what style you'll look
your very best!
Start interviewing caterers, reception sites and reception
musicians.
9-11
MONTHS:
Reserve your reception site.
Set a date and purchase invitations for an engagement party
if you choose.
Start a notebook/file folder to store all your wedding paperwork
and ideas.
Create an initial guest list and decide the approximate wedding
size. Include your parents' requested guests.
Select your bridesmaids and groomsmen and ask them to do you
the honor.
Hire a consultant and request a signed contract.
Have an engagement picture taken.
Contact your local newspaper and local newspapers of your
parents' to announce your engagement. Contact The Grand Island
Independent at 308-382-1000 or at 422 West 1st Street, Grand
Island.
Choose a color scheme for the wedding.
Decide on the caterer and initial menu, and then calculate
the price per guest.
Begin shopping for a style of your wedding gown by looking
through magazines.
When you've found the gowns you like, visit bridal boutiques
to try them on.
Send a deposit to your caterer.
Research cultural traditions or ethnic customs you may want
to incorporate into your special day.
Finalize your guest list.
Start auditioning reception bands or DJs.
If you're planning an outdoor wedding, consider renting a
tent and lighting.
Contact florists to discuss your preferences and best options.
Meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony details and religious
requirements.
Interview and request price estimates from several photographers
and videographers.
Narrow down your gown choices and enlist close relatives and
friends to assist in the final decision.
Reserve the reception band or DJ, get a signed contract and
make the deposit.
6-8
MONTHS:
Begin thinking about your gift registry and scout out stores
at which you hope to register.
Make a list of possibilities and request demo tapes from ceremony
musicians.
Begin looking for cake designs you like and find a baker .
. . your caterer is the best source for leads.
Reserve your photographer and videographer, select the package,
complete the contract and provide the deposit.
Start shopping for the bridesmaid dresses, and take their
suggestions/recommendations to heart.
Choose your florist and send your deposit.
Make sure your maid of honor and best man are in the loop.
Register for your wedding gifts, keeping in mind some options
for upcoming bridal shower and engagement party gifts.
Decide on the bridesmaid dresses and collect your bridesmaids'
measurements and sizes.
Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests and
wedding party members.
Contact out-of-town family and friends with the final wedding
date so they can plan accordingly.
Choose your wedding cake, hire your baker and pay the deposit.
Book your ceremony musicians and provide a deposit.
Start planning the rehearsal dinner, in accordance with the
groom's family. Provide the host with a list of your wedding
party and special > guests you request be invited.
Compose wording for your invitations and select the design.
Also discuss reception cards, reply cards and thank you notes.
Determine the final guest list and number of invitations needed.
Finalize your reception menu and other details with the caterer
or reception site.
4-5
MONTHS:
Reserve any tables, chairs and other rental equipment needed
for the ceremony and reception.
Start researching honeymoon destinations.
Finalize your invitation wording and order your invitations
and other stationery. Request a final proof before they are
printed.
Look at tuxedo, suit or formal attire samples for the groom
and groomsmen.
If you choose to use a calligrapher or learn it yourself,
research your options and make your decision.
Reserve a site for the rehearsal dinner.
Put together hotel and city information for out-of-town guests.
Mail it to them separately, or have it professionally printed
to include with the invitations.
Book a hotel room for your wedding night.
Meet again with your florist to think about flower arrangements
you like and what flower arrangements, bouquets, corsages
and boutonni¸res you will need.
Decide on your honeymoon and make your travel and lodging
reservations.
Finalize your groom's and groomsmen's attire. Collect measurements
and shoe size from each.
Decide the floral scheme, choose flowers, negotiate prices
and sign a florist's contract.
2-3
MONTHS:
Choose your attendants' accessories (shoes, gloves, jewelry)
and either coordinate the purchase with them or provide it
as a thank you gift.
Consider special ceremony and reception decorations you'll
need, like an aisle runner, candelabras and backdrop for the
cake table.
Experiment with new beauty routines or tanning plans if you
wish to.
Shop for and purchase your wedding rings.
Be sure all bridesmaid dresses and accessories are purchased.
Make or buy favors for the guests if you desire.
Talk to your maid of honor and best man about a possible shower
or other party plans.
Before your first fitting, be sure to buy any special lingerie
your gown requires.
Get any necessities for an international honeymoon: birth
certificate, passport, visa, and vaccinations.
Pick up your invitations.
Confirm the delivery date of the bridesmaid dresses.
Take better care of yourself by eating right and exercising.
Ask individuals to do special performances like readings,
music, hosting, etc.
Address your invitations or take them to a calligrapher. Invitations
should be sent 6-8 weeks before the ceremony.
Confirm the delivery date of your gown and schedule your fittings.
Arrange for all insurance policies (health, auto, homeowner's
and life insurance) to include you and your future spouse.
Have your wedding bands engraved, if you desire.
Create a bridal shower guest list for the shower host.
Begin your gown fittings.
Arrange wedding-day transportation for you, the wedding party
and any guests you choose.
Mail your invitations.
6
WEEKS:
Order liquor, wine and or champagne, if it is not included
in the catering order.
Start writing your ceremony program.
Decide on and purchase wedding day accessories, such as your
veil, shoes and jewelry. Incorporate them into your final
fitting.
Begin working on your vows, especially if your choose to write
your own.
Arrange for guest parking at the reception.
Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests.
As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items
to your registry list.
If necessary, arrange for a babysitter at the reception.
Research your local marriage license requirements. In Hall
County, you can acquire a marriage certificate at the Hall
County Register of Deeds (121 South Pine Street 308-385-5080).
The fee is $15, and both the bride and groom must be present.
You will need to have a valid photo ID (driver's license)
and your Social Security card present. Blood tests are not
required > in Nebraska.
Attend your final wedding gown fitting.
Finalize your vows.
Set aside some time to write thank-you notes for shower gifts
and gifts received prior to the ceremony.
Buy a guest book and nice pen.
Make an appointment to take your headpiece, veil and jewelry
to your hairstylist to finalize your wedding day style.
Schedule wedding day beauty appointments.
Attend any bachelor or bachelorette parties.
Buy thank you gifts for the maid of honor, bridesmaids, personal
attendant, flower girl, best man and groomsmen, ushers, ring
bearer, candle lighters and any other members of the wedding.
3-4
WEEKS:
Address and mail invitations for the prenuptial dinner.
Do trial runs of your hair and makeup.
Finish and print your ceremony programs.
Get the marriage license.
Work on a list of music for the reception. Feel free to list
both songs you would and would not like played.
Discuss your ceremony music with the musicians and agree on
final choices.
Pick up your wedding rings and check the inscriptions before
you leave the store.
Add your rings and gifts to your homeowner's insurance.
Wrap the gifts for your wedding party and write each person
a nice note of thanks.
Shop for any missing accessories: stockings, earrings, evening
bag, perfume, etc.
Have a follow-up meeting or phone call with the officiant
to go over ceremony timing and details.
Confirm wedding-night and honeymoon reservations.
Work on your sparkling smile by avoiding tea, coffee and tobacco.
If necessary, try whitening toothpaste or consider a professional
bleaching with your dentist.
Prepare paperwork to officially change your name. To get a
new Social Security card in Grand Island, contact the Social
Security Office at 308-385-6443.
Sit for your bridal portrait, if you decide to get one.
Get your final pre-wedding hair cut.
Work out wedding day timing and details and draw up a schedule.
Contact your wedding party to relay critical information about
the rehearsal and wedding.
Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed,
blue," if you're following that custom.
Pick up your gown. Have it steamed, if necessary, and hang
it (outside of the garment bag) off of the floor in a secure
location.
Finalize any special preferences, readings or other ceremony
details with your officiant.
Continue writing thank you notes for already received gifts.
You can send them as soon as you have them written.
Plan a party or go out for cocktails to thank your attendants
for their help.
Confirm the head count, delivery time and location with the
cake maker.
If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you
want everyone to stand in.
Finalize any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding
party and make lists.
Practice walking in your wedding shoes.
Contact the caterer with your final head count and confirm
set-up and menu instructions.
Call the reception manager to make sure your vendors have
access to the site for deliveries and set up.
1-2
WEEKS:
Sketch out your seating plan if you're having a seated reception
meal.
Make reception place cards or give them to your calligrapher.
Contact your officiant to verify rehearsal details and the
wedding day schedule.
Confirm delivery locations, times and final arrangement count
with the florist.
Purchase travelers checks for your honeymoon.
Shop and pack for your honeymoon.
Confirm the final payment amounts with all of your vendors.
Verify the location, date and time with your photographer,
as well as a "must take" photo list.
Verify the location, date and time with your videographer.
Have the groom get his final haircut.
Pick up the tuxes and have all men try them on.
Give the seating chart to the caterer/reception manager/host.
Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.
Plan any additional night-before activities with friends,
family and/or attendants.
Designate who will meet, greet and handle each vendor on your
wedding day.
Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night and designate
someone to deliver it to the hotel.
Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with your parents
in case of an emergency.
Confirm the date, location, time and "play list" with your
reception musicians.
Get your last manicure and pedicure and confirm your wedding
day beauty appointments.
Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts (and any cash)
brought to the reception.
Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans (including transportation
to the airport).
Arrange your wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, jewelry
and an "emergency kit" with breath mints, aspirin, makeup,
safety pins, thread, hairspray, etc.
Drop off favors, guest book and pen at the reception site.
Rehearse the ceremony with your officiant and wedding party.
Enjoy your rehearsal dinner!
Set two alarms for the next morning to be sure you're up on
time.
DAY
OF:
Have a massage in the morning.
Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at
the reception.
Enjoy your special day!
Thank your parents for all of their help and remind them you
love them.
DAY
AFTER:
Arrange for a bridesmaid or your mother to pick up your wedding
dress and other personal belongings at the hotel after you
depart.
Take your gown and veil to be cleaned. Make sure the cleaner
is experienced in preserving/storing wedding gowns.
Freeze the top layer of your wedding cake until your first
anniversary celebration (save some cocktail napkins, too)!
Mail gifts to your parents to thank them for their support.
Make sure all vendors have been paid.
Take your film and one-use cameras to be developed.
Take the bridal bouquet and other wedding mementos to be preserved.
Have fun on your honeymoon!
2
WEEKS AFTER:
Officially change your name with the social security office,
the department of motor vehicles, your bank, insurance agent,
employer, etc.
Develop pictures from your honeymoon.
Send your wedding announcement (and photo) to your local newspaper(s).
Stow away your marriage certificate.
Within one month of your wedding, open all the gifts and promptly
write your thank you notes.
Find out when you can expect your edited video from the videographer.
