Congratulations! You just got engaged and the wedding planning has begun. Most of us have a vision about our magical day and all the perfect details. However, planning involves much more than the dream dress and the perfect colors. This wedding planning checklist will help you effortlessly plan the wedding of your dreams.
12 Months of Wedding Planning Begins
Save the date! Some couples pick a date that is significant to their relationship, such as an anniversary or the day they met. The best way to narrow down a date is to pick a season and year for the wedding, while maintaining flexibility to coordinate with the availability of the wedding venue. Pick a date that works with your timeline and doesn’t feel rushed. You want to enjoy this wedding planning process.
Gain inspiration. This is the time to scroll through social media and tour wedding venues for ideas. Flip through bridal magazines. Attend bridal shows. Think about your colors and theme along the way as you collect inspiration to develop your unique design.
Create a budget. Sit down with your partner and family to develop a realistic dollar amount for spending for the entire ceremony and reception. There is a reason this wedding planning item appears so soon on the checklist. The budget will help you develop the blueprints for planning your wedding. Before you create a guest list, you need to know how much you can spend.
Pick your wedding party. As soon as the word is out that you are engaged, your friends and family will be forming a line in anticipation of knowing who you will select to be in the wedding party. This is a sensitive part of wedding planning. Always choose people that are close to you, supportive and positive. Never choose a bridesmaid or best man based upon their feelings.
Create a guest list. While it is not time to send out invitations, it is very important to estimate the size of your wedding. You need an idea about who you will invite for budgeting purposes. For example, if you are spending less on catering with a smaller wedding, you might be able to afford the more expensive dress.
Hire a wedding planner. Many couples choose to hire a wedding planner. However, all-inclusive wedding venues, like Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary, have in-house wedding designers and planners to plan, design, and create your entire wedding from ceremony to reception. Contact wedding venues before hiring a wedding planner to see if a wedding planner should be on your checklist.
Book a wedding venue. Yes, this is an early wedding checklist item. Do not wait to select your wedding venue. You will want to make sure your date is available and the location is secured. This the foundation to the event you are about to create.
Hire vendors. As soon as you have a date and venue secured, choose and hire your photographer, videographer, caterer, cake decorator, deejay and hair and makeup artist. Do not wait on this wedding checklist item. The calendar of a professional vendor fills up quickly.
Wedding Planning with 9 Months to Go
Purchase the wedding attire. This is one of the most exciting wedding checklist items. It is time to shop for the wedding dress and tux you will wear on your magical day. You probably need to schedule a couple fittings before the wedding. Do not delay this wedding planning checklist item to avoid unnecessary stress and urgency later.
Reserve hotels for out of town guests. This does not apply to everyone planning a wedding, but when it does, it is often forgotten until last minute. If your wedding party is flying in from out of town, they will need a place to stay. Organizing a hotel in advance will prevent chaos later.
Create a gift registry. Sign up for a gift registry at three different retailers to accommodate the disparate budgets of your guests. This is an exciting wedding planning checklist item. Have fun and build the registry with your partner.
Create a wedding website. This growing trend should definitely make every wedding checklist. Creating a personal page about you and your partner, the wedding date, registry information and travel details is not only a wonderful way to share with family and friends, but it can help to keep a large wedding party and guests in the loop.
The 6 Month Countdown
Purchase or create invitations. You will not be sending out invitations until much later, but this is the time to decide whether you will be having email invitations or physical invitations, and create them to match your wedding colors and theme. Make sure you have addresses or email addresses for all of your recipients. You will have a much smaller wedding than you planned, if you do not have invitations organized.
Plan the honeymoon. Do not wait until the last minute. Planning a honeymoon takes thought and time to make it a truly magical experience. Think about your destination and purchase tickets. If you will be traveling abroad, make sure you check travel advisories, obtain your passport, and schedule necessary doctor appointments.
Shop for the wedding party. Wedding planning includes the wedding party. Make sure this wedding checklist item is complete not less than six months prior to the wedding date. You will need to have the entire wedding party fitted.
Hire an officiant. This is one of the most important tasks of wedding planning, because your wedding ceremony is the most important part of it all. Make sure you have secured an officiant that can create your unique ceremony and include all of your special rituals.
Arrange transportation, limos and cars. Make sure that you have secured your transportation for your grand entrance and exit. Make a statement and choose something extraordinary with a custom limo or car. You might need a party bus or other transportation for the wedding party.
Create your day of event timeline. This will involve the timing for the cutting of the cake, the first dance, and bouquet toss. Wedding venues, such as Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary, offer day of event coordinator packages to make sure your most important day unfolds just the way you planned it. Check with your wedding venue when developing your timeline.
Things to Do 4 Months Before the Magic
Book the venue for the rehearsal dinner.
Sample and order the wedding cake.
Provide your bridal shower host with your guest list.
Create your music playlist for your deejay or band.
Things to Do with Only 3 Months to Go
Finalize the floral arrangements.
Purchase favors.
Make a request for those special people to deliver a speech at your rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
Purchase lingerie for the honeymoon.
Schedule another fitting for your wedding dress.
Purchase wedding rings.
Purchase a veil, if you did not purchase one when you purchased your wedding dress.
Wedding Planning with 2 Months to Go
Follow up with your vendors. Make sure you have discussed all the wedding planning details with your very important vendors. Provide your deejay or band with a playlist. Communicate important details with your videographer and photographer.
Mail out invitations six to eight weeks prior to the ceremony.
Arrange and attend a bachelor or bachelorette party.
The Last Month of Wedding Planning
Count and organize the RSVP’s.
Obtain your marriage license.
Schedule your last fitting.
Purchase beverages to stock the bar.
Make sure all of your vendors are paid.
Confirm the time and location for hair and makeup with your stylist.
Assign guest seating.
Purchase gifts for the wedding party to give at the rehearsal dinner.
Write your wedding vows.
Cut and color hair, if you intend on doing this before the wedding.
The Final Week
Confirm time and location with vendors.
Make sure your day of event coordinator has your timeline and list for who will be bustling your dress and carrying out specific tasks.
Pick up the dress, tux and wedding party attire.
Provide the final headcount to the caterer.
Pack for your honeymoon.
Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary
Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary is the finest in the art of designing and creating fairy tale weddings. The all-inclusive wedding venue combines all of the furnishings, designs, décor and services to deliver affordable luxury weddings. Take all the stress out of wedding planning, and let the professional designers and planners at Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary create your wedding from fantasy.
Contact the wedding planning team at Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary to begin planning today.
