Wedding Day Planning Checklist

Summer is the busiest season for weddings. Wedding season starts at the beginning of May and runs to the end of September. If you started planning your wedding months (or even a year) ago, it is now time to count down to your wedding day. Planning a wedding requires organization and attention to detail. There are many things that have to be remembered by both the bride and the groom. In order to keep everything organized, wedding organizers recommend the couple put together a wedding planning checklist so they will not miss any major details. There are many things that should be finalized and taken care starting at least a month before the big day up until the actual wedding day.

One Month Before Wedding Day

The month before the wedding is when all of the small details fall into place. The items on the wedding planning checklist might seem long, but they can quickly get accomplished:

• Meet with the vendors – photographer, caterer, florist, DJ or band to start finalizing plans for the wedding day.  Create a plan for table arrangements and decorations with the caterer.
• Finalize flowers order. Designate a place to drop off the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres on wedding day.
• Meet with the officiant to discuss the specifics of the service such as the music, hymns and readings. Create the wedding program.
• Finalize all transportation for wedding day, including shuttles for guests and limo or cars for the wedding party.
• Apply for the marriage license. If the bride or groom will be changing their names, then that process should be started at least one month before the wedding.
• Bride should be have final gown fitting. Bring bridesmaids or maid of honor to learn how to bustle the dress for the reception. Get the dress pressed and ready to be worn.
• Check with the wedding party to make sure that the bridesmaids have their dresses and the groomsmen their formal wear (suits or tuxes).
• The bride should do a hair and make-up test.
• Create your wedding day schedule such as who will be giving speeches, which bridal party member will be assigned certain tasks, etc.
• Start gathering items that will be needed for the honeymoon.

Wedding Week Checklist

The week of the wedding is when all of the details need to be finalized and confirmed with vendors, wedding party members and family. There will be many things that a couple will need to check off on their wedding week checklist:

• Review the RSVP list and give the final count to the caterer and reception hall.  Don’t forget to include any vendors (photographer, DJ, etc.) that will also need to be fed.
• Give the final song list to the DJ or the band.
• Give the photographer a list of places that you would like to have wedding day photos taken  Confirm the wedding day photo schedule (pre-ceremony or post-ceremony).
• Create a reception seating chart and place cards.
• Confirm arrangements with the vendors for wedding day.
• Confirm final payment amounts with the vendors
• Groom and groomsmen should have final fitting and pick up their suits.
• Finalize packing for honeymoon.
• Designate a member of family or wedding party to be liaison with vendors.
• Designate a family member to be in charge to collect presents and the top of the wedding cake on wedding day.
• At rehearsal dinner, give gifts to wedding party.
• Give officiant the marriage license.
• Remove wedding reception items (such as decorations, favors, table arrangements, etc.) that were stored in a storage unit and drop off at reception room or hall.

Wedding Day Schedule

Today is the day to celebrate everything that you have created and then checked off on your wedding planning checklist:

• Be calm! Eat a good breakfast. Allow plenty of time to get ready.
• For the bride – choose a button down or very loose shirt when getting hair and make-up done for the ceremony and reception.
• Give rings to the best man for the ceremony.
• Enjoy your big day!

Once the new couple settles back into their routines after the wedding and honeymoon, it is time to go through all of their gifts and duplicate items (if they are combining households). There will be household storage items that can easily be placed in a self storage unit until the couple decides to either sell, donate or throw away.