The Master To Do List

Here it is! The master to do list.
A step-by-step plan to planning and
enjoying your perfect wedding!
Announce Your Plans

Choose your rings.

Tell your parents and your children, if you
have them.

Tell other close friends and family.

Announce your engagement in the press—
alumni magazines or websites, and newspapers
in couple’s current city, hometowns,
and each set of parents’ current cities of
residence.
Planning Phase

Decide on the degree of formality and the
number of guests you’ll invite.

Hire a wedding planner if you want one to
oversee the entire affair. If not, ask a reliable,
organized friend not in the wedding party to
oversee the wedding day details for you.

Choose preferred dates and times for the
wedding—your final decision will be based on
the availability of your church or synagogue,
officiant, and preferred reception site.

Reserve the venue for the wedding and
rehearsal, and make certain the officiant is
available.

Set a time to meet with the officiant, especially
if you’re having a religious ceremony.

Plan church/synagogue arrangements.
Determine whether any premarital counseling
or classes are required, and schedule
that as early as possible.

Reserve the reception site.

Start working on your guest list.

Send “save the date” cards if you are using
them.
Choose Your Attendants

Invite the bridesmaids, maid or matron of
honor, best man, groomsmen, ushers, and
others to participate in your wedding.

Give each attendant a list of his or her
responsibilities.

Copy all wedding party names, addresses,
phone numbers, faxes and e-mail addresses
into your three-ring binder. Keep an electronic
file of everything too.

Create a detailed calendar for the months
preceding your wedding date.
Choose Your Service Providers

Hire a caterer, call your Aunt Mary, or get
food service recommendations from your
reception site.

Interview and hire florist—view
samples/photos of work of at least three,
contact recent clients for references, and
request estimates.
Interview and hire photographer and videographer—
view samples/photos of their work,
contact recent clients for references, and
request estimates.

Interview and hire (or ask if you have
talented friends or family) musicians for
the ceremony—make sure the site allows the
music you plan for.

Hire a band or DJ for the reception.

Reserve block of hotel rooms for out-oftown-
guests, including hospitality suite if
needed.
Leading Up to the Big Day

If the reception is to be at a home, begin
planning logistics, consider the current decor
when making your color selections, and
begin any necessary refurbishing as well as
reserving any rental items needed.

Shop for your gown, veil, and other attire.

Select and purchase wedding shoes.

Schedule initial consultation with stylist for
your wedding day hairstyle and makeup.
Begin growing out hair if necessary and
experimenting with highlights or color if you
choose. Select hair accessories to match your
hairstyle.

Schedule any desired cosmetic procedures
with dentist, orthodontist, dermatologist,
esthetician, etc.

Choose dresses for bridesmaids and flower
girl; advise them about shoes, jewelry, makeup,
and accessories.

Advise the mothers on attendants’ dress
colors so they may make their selections.
(MOB first, then MOG and stepmothers).

Choose attire for groom, groomsmen, ushers,
FOB, FOG, stepfathers, and ring bearers;
schedule fittings and reserve tuxedos.
Whether hiring limousines or using friends,
contract (or arrange) all wedding party transportation
to the ceremony and from the ceremony
to the reception. Consider arranging
transportation for out-of-town relatives as
well.

Schedule fittings for attendants.

Have a blood test if required.

Order invitations, thank you notes, and all
stationery.

Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the
wedding.

Decide upon the particulars of your wedding
reception.

Schedule bridal gown fittings as necessary.

Coordinate dates with hosts and hostesses
for bridal or couples’ shower, bachelor, and
bachelorette party. Provide hosts and hostesses
with guest lists.

Coordinate other parties—bridesmaids’
tea/brunch/spa party, groomsmen’s
outing, welcome BBQ for out-of-town guests,
etc.

Send a schedule of shower and party dates
to the bridal party.

Keep a record of all your wedding gifts, item,
date received, and who the gift was from.
Send out thank you notes within one week of
receipt of gifts.

Select the groom’s ring if it is to be a doublering
ceremony, and have it engraved.

Select wedding gifts for each other if you are
exchanging gifts.
Order thank-you (hostess) gifts or flowers
for those who entertain for you.

Select gifts for the maid/matron of honor,
bridesmaids, flower girl, ringbearer, ushers,
groomsmen, and best man.

Make plans for the honeymoon, including
passports, visas, and inoculations if needed.

Change your name(s) on all important business
papers (insurance, credit cards, bank
accounts, legal documents, driver’s license),
if applicable.

See your attorney about making a will.

Schedule manicure and pedicure for the day
before the wedding.

Schedule hair and makeup appointments
for bride and bridesmaids the day of the
wedding.

If you are announcing your wedding in any
newspapers, check for requirements.

Keep the groom’s family up to date on the
guest list and wedding gifts received.

Confirm that space will be available for the
bride and bridesmaids to dress on the wedding
day.

Set a date to go with the groom to get a marriage
license. (Take cash for license fee,
results of blood test, driver’s license, or any
other required documents. Call ahead to confirm
what you’ll need.)

Save some ribbons from gift and shower
packages for your bridesmaids to make
into mock bouquets to use at the wedding
rehearsal.

Make arrangements for the rehearsal dinner.

Select a responsible person to handle the
guest book at the wedding and bring it to
the reception.
Design your wedding program and have it
printed.

Plan for something old, something new,
something borrowed and something blue, a
penny in your shoe, and any other tradition
or superstition that’s important to you.

One week before the wedding, confirm all
vendors by phone or fax, including caterer,
florist, photographer, videographer, musicians,
limo service, parking attendants, last
minute gown alterations, time you can get
into the ceremony site, and cake delivery.

Prepare checks for all outstanding balances
due to vendors, ceremony and reception
musicians, the officiant’s honorarium or fee,
etc. Be sure to have your checkbook on hand
the day of the wedding to cover any forgotten
items or amount discrepencies that crop up.

The Week Prior to the Wedding

Pack for honeymoon. Carry all legal and
travel documents, cameras or camcorders,
and travelers checks in a purse, travel bag,
or other small carry on bag.

Confirm all honeymoon plans[md]flight
schedules, hotel reservations, directions, etc.

Confirm wedding night arrangements or
reservations, including your transportation
from the reception to your wedding night
suite and delivery of your luggage to the
suite if departing for the honeymoon the
next day.

Make arrangements for someone to take the
bride’s gown to be cleaned and preserved
and return the groom’s tuxedo following the
wedding.

Write thank you notes to your parents for
their love and support. Have them delivered
while you are on your honeymoon.

Have any necessary hair removal procedures
performed—eyebrow shaping, bikini line for
honeymoon, back waxing for finance’, etc.

Plan activities for out-of-town attendees.

Prepare your home for house guests.

Confirm any last minute changes and guest
count for the rehearsal dinner.

Count acceptances for the reception and
estimate the number of late responses; notify
the caterer (check their “guarantee”
requirement times).

Create and organize table and menu cards
for the reception.

Gather in one place everything you will need
to dress for the wedding. Refer to the emergency
checklist in Chapter 14.
The Day Before

Make sure all vehicles used are fueled, clean,
and ready for passengers.

Deliver goody bags to hotels where out-oftown
guests will stay.

Pick up wedding gown and veil.

Pick up tuxes—try them on at the shop!

Take favors, disposable cameras, decorations,
cake knife and server, and toasting glasses
to reception site. Make arrangements for
someone to gather items for you following
the ceremony and at the end of the reception.

Nail appointment for manicure and pedicure
and relaxing massage.

Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Day of Wedding

Bride’s hair and make up appointment.

Give payment envelopes with checks to a
trusted friend or family member to distribute
to vendors, musicians, and officiant on
the wedding day.

Give groom’s wedding band to maid/matron
of honor and bride’s wedding band to best
man prior to ceremony.

Eat something.

Delegate all event management duties to
someone else.

Get married.

Enjoy the party!