| Bride's 12 Month Checklist |
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| 10 TO 12 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Buy your wedding planner or good organizer |
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Discuss the style of the wedding and the budget with your fiancée and ALL parents. |
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Interview wedding consultants, advisors and coordinators. |
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Speak with all your friends - pick their brains - learn who knows what and who knows who. |
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Speak to your clergy - speak with other family members' clergy - ask questions. |
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Begin looking for locations - ceremony - rehearsal dinner - reception - other planned events |
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Begin interviewing Caterers, Bakers, Photographers, Florists, Videographers, Musicians |
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By end of Month 12 select three of your key players: advisor/consultant - caterer and photographer |
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By end of Month 11 select site for the ceremony |
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By end of Month 10 select site for the reception and rehearsal dinner |
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By end of Month 10 select the remaining key players; baker, florist, musicians, videographer |
| 7 TO 9 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Select all of your attendants |
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Together, begin compiling your guest list. |
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Contact and visit clergy or justice of the peace |
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Begin shopping for appropriate clothiers and (ladies) accessorize, accessorize, accessorize, accessorize |
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Register with not less than three well known Bridal Registries for gifts |
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Begin looking at honeymoon options with your fiancée - visit a travel agency or professional specializing in leisure travel - if you plan to leave the country check on your passports. |
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By the end of Month 9 choose clergy |
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By the end of Month 8 decide on a menu. |
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By the end of Month 7 schedule engagement photo session |
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By the end of Month 7 select and order attendant's apparel. |
| 4 TO 6 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Begin review of details with all of your wedding professionals |
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Finalize honeymoon plans with fiancée and book with travel agent. |
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By end of Month 6 shop for and order invitations and announcements |
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Finalize music selection for wedding and reception |
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By end of Month 5 book calligrapher |
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By end of Month 5 shop and order the men's formal wear |
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Book wedding transportation - limousines, horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, boat, or whatever |
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By end of Month 4 have the rehearsal dinner plans in place (make sure you coordinate this with your fiancée). |
| 2 TO 3 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Order the wedding rings!! |
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Finish guest list |
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Lingerie |
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Honeymoon Clothes |
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Attendants' gifts |
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Your gift for your fiancée |
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Pre- & post-wedding party clothes you might need |
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Finalize catering, bakery, floral arrangements (be a little flexible) |
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Reserve a block of rooms for your out-of-town guests (good work for your fiancée) |
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Finalize arrangements for any rental items you may need |
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Candelabra & other silver pieces |
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Special decorative screens & archways |
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Special lighting (particularly if part of the event will be outside or in an unique area where normal lighting may not be possible) |
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Make appointment with your hairdresser (a trial run for next month - also good for your bridal portrait) |
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Make appointment with your hairdresser (final) |
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Make appointment for your nails (hands and feet) |
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Make appointment with a makeup artist for the day of your bridal portrait |
| 4 TO 8 WEEKS PRIOR |
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Mail your wedding invitations and send either you preplanned special itinerary for early arriving out-of-town guests or an activity sheet from area chambers-of-commerce |
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Final fittings (you and the attendants) |
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Plan the bridesmaids' party & confirm the location & instructions |
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By Week 6 have bridal portrait taken |
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Send local paper and wedding publications your announcement and photograph |
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Notes! Notes! Notes! Write Thank You Notes as you receive bridal and wedding gifts |
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Reconfirm rehearsal events and rehearsal dinner reservations |
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For your own peace of mind personally touch base with every key professional you and/or your coordinator have working on all your upcoming events |
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By Week 4 Pick Up Wedding Rings |
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Get marriage license with fiancée |
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Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and (if leaving the country got o bank and exchange at least $100 into foreign currency) |
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Submit request lists to your musicians, photographer and videographer |
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Formally invite wedding party and guests to the rehearsal dinner |
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Confirm all transportation for all events (including honeymoon) |
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Address announcements to mail on your wedding day |
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Prepare all the necessary forms for name address changes on social security card, credit cards, bank accounts, post office, driver's license, etc. |
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Arrange to move belongings to new home |
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By the last day of Week 2 plan a day to be alone with your family |
| 1 WEEK PRIOR |
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On the very first day of the very last week begin packing for your honeymoon |
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Check final details with all your wedding professionals - early in the week |
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Give (or attend) the Bridesmaids' party |
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Give final guest count to the caterer |
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Create a wedding day schedule with your fiancée |
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Remind wedding party men to pick up tuxedos |
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Remind attendants of rehearsal dinner agenda |
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Remind fiancée to double check rehearsal dinner plans |
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Finish packing for your honeymoon |
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Rehearsal Dinner (give wedding day schedule to all) |
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Schedule the day prior to the wedding as a free day - and a day to visit with a few close friends |
