Wedwiz.com - Keeping it simple, direct and to-the-point...

Print this timeline and keep it as an ongoing checklist of tasks. There are additional spaces in each section for you to add your own reminders.

You can also download a copy of the timeline here (MS Word format).

11-12 Months Prior

Determine the wedding date.

Get organized. Create a notebook and set up
the sections as outlined in chapter 1.

Determine a "theme" for the wedding. Determine "theme song" for the wedding if applicable. Take into account the season of the wedding.

Determine your budget and decide who will pay for what.

Start looking for reception sites. If it's a popular place, you may want to go
ahead and put a deposit down.

Start interviewing caterers.

Start talking to photographers.

Get a photo with your future spouse - for newspaper
engagement announcements.

Search for ceremony site, church, park other location. If it's a popular place, you may want to go ahead and put a deposit down.

Select and hire the officiator for your wedding.

Announce the engagement – You might put it in local newspaper.

9-10 Months Prior

If you have not booked a ceremony site, do so.

If you have not booked a reception site, do so.

Finalize your catering decision and hire one.

Begin interviewing photographers and videographers.

Begin to audition DJ and/or band.

Decide on Bridesmaids and Groomsmen and let them know
of your decision.

Draw up a rough draft of your wedding guest list. Remember your budget and how many people you're financed for!

If you're hiring a consultant, do it now.

Keep trying on gowns.

At the 9 month point, you should have finalized deals with DJ or Band, photographer and Videographer.

Having hired many of your vendors. Amend your budget (see our budget (see our budget calculator) and see where you're at financially.

6-9 Months Prior

Begin shopping for your gown, headpiece and accessories.
Keep in mind the bridesmaid’s attire, as well as mom's.

Begin shopping for bridesmaid's attire.

Sign up for a gift registry and spend a day selecting gifts
for your registration.

Finalized the guest list.

Decide on invitation wording and order your invitations, inserts,  directions cards and thank you cards.

Start looking at and pricing wedding cakes.

Audition/get tapes of ceremony musicians.

Book, and give deposits if required, to ceremony musicians or singers.

If honeymoon is international (including Bahamas and most island destinations), order passport if you don't already have one.

4-6 Months prior

Start planning honeymoon. Talk to travel agents about earlybird discounts.

Make final decision on a gown and buy it. Begin alterations if needed.

If buying wedding insurance, investigate and buy it now.

Order a wedding cake. Make definite arrangements for delivery time and place.

Meet with bridesmaids and groomsmen and let them know what's expected of them. Providing them with a timeline and list of tasks will be a good idea. Have all bridesmaids bring their measurements.

Talk to hairstylists and makeup artists.

Make final decision on bridesmaid’s dresses.

Finalize your guest list.

Reserve the honeymoon travel and accommodations.

If out-of-town guests are coming, reserve their hotel rooms
and rental cars if needed.

Finalized any menu arrangements with the caterer.

Shop for your wedding bands.

Shop for and select mother's gowns and accessories.

Book the hotel suite for your wedding night.

Shop for your florist. Compare at least 4.

Hire your florist and confirm all details

Start any diets now (or earlier).

2-4 Months Prior

Grooms shop for and reserve your formalwear.

If there are any rental items such as stage,
tables, chairs or tent, reserve these items now.

If having a rehearsal dinner, book the location.

Reserve your limousine or wedding transportation. Also arrange
transportation for the wedding party, if you're doing that.

Mail out your invitations

Meet with Officiant and finalize all details of the wedding. Decide on any decorations or accessories that you must buy or rent for the ceremony.

Talk to all musicians and reading artists and finalize their participation at the occasion.

Draft up a wedding program and order copies of it.

Make a song list, and other instructions (announcements,
when to play what song, etc.) and give it to your DJ or band.

Finalize all male attendant measurements and make sure they
have reserved their attire.

Pick up and trying-on of gown. Make sure all accessories are accounted for. If anything is still missing (shoes, gloves, jewelry) buy it now.

Make arrangements for any bachelor or bachelorette parties.
Reserve any restaurants or clubs that will be used.

Buy any ceremonial decorations or accessories.

Make all arrangements for while your away (pet-sitter, luggage bought, work vacation time, etc.)

If having any sort of Pre-Wedding party or luncheon, make the reservations or other arrangements.

Order your favors. If they are personalized, also order your
wedding party gifts.

Arrange for your wedding bands, or other personalized
items to be engraved.

Get blood tests.

At local courthouse, apply for a marriage license
(Nevada can be done day before wedding)

Start browsing around for vows that you might be saying to each other.

If you have not hired a hair stylist and/or makeup artist, do so.

Order labels with "Mr and Mrs. Your-name" and address.
For your after-wedding thank-you notes.

If having hair dyed, moles removed, teeth whitened, liposuction, do it now.  If you smoke, now's a good time to quit. Diet should be very serious by now.

1-2 Months Prior

Grooms make sure you have all accessories such as shoes or cufflinks.

Finalize any wedding day transportation or limos for out-of-towners, wedding-party, guests of honor. Include times they need to arrive.

If not part of the catering deal, order any champagne or wine that will need to be poured.

Walk through reception site with photographer and videographer. Discuss photos that might be nice.

If valet parking at reception, hire the valet. If not, make sure of ample parking at the facility.

Write out your final vows and say them out loud to each other.
How do they sound? Rewrite and amend as needed.

Gown should be final-fitted by now. If not, do what needs to be done to finalize the fit.

Send wedding announcements to local newspapers for both bride and groom, as well as any other cities (like colleges) that may have friends.

Order disposable cameras.

Bring your veil to the hairstylist and make sure you have an idea of how the hair will work with the headpiece.

If taking bridal portraits, the day you get your hair done is a good day to reserve having the portraits taken.

At the 1 Month point, look through your notebook. Finalize any loose ends with your photographer, florist, baker, caterer, videographer, DJ, Officiant, travel agent, and any other performer or venue.

Buy a guestbook and 2-3 nice pens.

Call your car and home insurance agents. Make sure you're both insured for auto. Make sure your wedding rings and wedding gifts are included in any policy.

Start thinking of nice toasts you'd like to say for special guests.

Designate a "special assistant" (or two) to help out on wedding day with errands and special tasks.

Give very serious effort now to a perfect diet and skin care regimen.  Start tanning salon treatments if you plan to do so.

Check back with the store(s) you registered at and make sure none of the items you chose have been discontinued, or out of stock.

2 Weeks to 1 Month Prior

Make an accounting of all bridal gifts thus far. Send out thank you notes.

Mail out rehearsal dinner invitations.

Pick up marriage license and blood test results.

Call all musicians and DJ's. Make sure you're still on. Send a final song list to the DJ or band.

Prepare personal notes for each member of the wedding party. Hand -written. Wrap their gifts and get them all ready.

Send in paperwork for legal name change, if applicable.

Bride and groom haircuts should be now… not the week of the wedding.

Finalize all duties with the wedding party. Make sure the all have their apparel and accessories.

You should have gown in hand by now.

Wear your wedding shoes for at least 3 hours. Make sure they're tolerable

2 weeks before, call guest who haven't rsvp'd and get a final head count.

If moving in to a new residence, call the utility companies, landlord, movers, etc. and make any arrangements for the move.

Draw up a seating map for the reception

If you are buying a gift for your spouse, mom, dad or other special person.  Do that now.

Buy placecard holders and other reception accessories on your list.

1-2 Weeks Prior

If any adjustments to head count, notify the caterer, venue, etc.

Make final "wedding day timeline" and give it to your wedding party, parents (and the Officiant!). Make sure everybody knows where to be and when. Determine who will greet all vendors and where to send them.

Finalize your seating chart and make up place cards.

Give the final seating chart to the caterer and/or reception venue manager.

Go over "prop sheet". Buy any emergency items that may be needed for the wedding day, like batteries, razors, anti-cling spray, back-up film, safety pins, etc. Prepare a bag of all of all of these items and give it to your helper to bring to the locations.

Pick up tuxedo for groom and try it on.

Go over you finances. Make sure there is plenty of room on at least 1 credit card (preferably more) for your honeymoon. DO NOT travel with all of your credit cards maxed out. Make credit card payments now  if necessary.

Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon.

Meet with photographer. Give him final list of shots you must have.

Confirm all reservations. This includes hotel for out-of-towners, all cars and limos, your hotel rooms, flights, restaurant reservations, etc.

Shop for honeymoon items (swimsuits, snorkel gear, medicines, etc.)

Prepare a schedule of times and address for limo drivers. Email or fax it to all transportation providers.

3-7 Days Prior

Pack for your honeymoon, include all documents for travel
such as passports in one place.

Email or otherwise contact all participants with instructions for the rehearsal dinner (time, location, etc.)

Prepare an overnight bag for bride and groom on wedding night  (toothbrushes, a snack, deoderant, underwear, etc). Message oil is a good idea too! Arrange for it to be in your hotel room on wedding night.

Pick up any final tuxedo or accessories.

Bachelor or bachelorette party. Leave at least 2 days recovery time.

Get together all cash tips and put them in designated envelopes. Give these to mom or the trusted assistant to give out to the correct parties.

One last call to DJ's, photographer, musicians, caterer…
tie up any final details regarding time and locations.

Coordinate with your special assistant to collect all gifts on wedding day and bring them to your room. Make sure they have tape to secure all cards to each gift, so you know who gave what later on.

If you're a night-owl, start getting up early. So you won't have "jet lag" the morning of your wedding.

Final vacation beauty tasks like bikini-waxing, tanning salons, etc.

Final memorization and practicing of vows. You should be able to recite them in your sleep, in case you might freeze up before the crowd.

Give a list of phone numbers to your special assistant, and 1 or 2 other people. This should have all photographers, DJ's, etc. It should also have numbers for BACK-UPS for all vendors, in case of some disastrous no-show.

Alphabetize your place cards, put them in a box or envelope that way for easy placement later. 

1 Day Prior

Help decorate the ceremony and reception venue. Oversee all seating and stage setup.