When you reply “I DO”

12+ months before

Envision your wedding and draw up a budget.

Assemble your “planning team.” Consider hiring your Wedding Planner.

Pick a wedding date and time and ask your Wedding Planner to find the venue that will suit to your style but also number of guests.

Start planning the guest list so to finalize the number of them.

Optional: Have an engagement party.

8–10 months before

Bride: Think about, shop for and order your gown.

Envision reception food.

Decide the type of entertainment. A violin or saxophone or harpist for the cocktail hour, a DJ or band for the party?

Think about your floral décor.

Ask your Wedding Planner to suggest and then book your wedding professionals as photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ, florist, hair and make up stylists, cake designer.

Ask your Wedding Planner to get quotes from rental companies if you need to rent anything for the ceremony or reception, such as chairs, tables and a tent.

Research a wedding insurance policy to protect your deposits. WedGreece can provide it.

Research and reserve accommodation for out-of-town guests. WedGreece can coordinate it.

Decide on the gifts for the guests.

Prepare a wedding website.

6–8 months before

Order bridesmaid dresses.

Start planning honeymoon.

Send save-the-date cards. This is a particularly good idea if you’re marrying during a tourist or holiday season or having a destination wedding.

4–6 months before

Attend prewedding counseling, if required.

Shop for and order invitations and wedding rings.

Shop for formalwear.

Renew or get passports, if necessary.

3 months before

Hire a calligrapher, if you want your invitations professionally addressed.

Attend your shower. (It may be earlier, depending on when your hosts decide to have it.)

Groom: Rent the men’s formalwear.

Ask your Wedding Planner for hiring wedding day transport: limousines, other cars. Look into transportation sooner if you’re considering renting streetcars or over-the-top travel.

2 months before

Mail your invitations.

Write your vows.

Purchase gifts for parents, attendants and each other.

Apply for a marriage license. Check with the local bureau in the town where you’ll wed.

1 month before

Bride: Have final gown fitting.

Bring your maid of honor along to learn how to bustle your dress. Have the dress pressed and bring it home.

Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding.

Make last-minute adjustments with your Wedding Planner regarding the vendors.

Create a wedding program to hand out to guests.

Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.

2 weeks before

Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a response.

Deliver must-have shot lists to your Wedding Planner in order to give it to the photographer and videographer. Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken.

Deliver final song list to your Wedding Planner for the DJ or bandleader.

Include special song requests and songs you don’t want played.Bride: Get your last prewedding haircut and color.
Give your marriage license to your officiant.

1 week before

Give to your Wedding Planner the reception site/caterer final guest head count. Include vendors, such as the photographer or band members, who will expect a meal. Ask how many extra plates the caterer will prepare.

Ask your Wedding Planner to discuss with you the plan reception seating chart and to print place and table cards, or finalize list with the calligrapher you’ve hired.

Ask your Wedding Planner if he has called all wedding vendors and confirm arrangements and if all the information he needs on ceremony and reception site as schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers have been coordinated.

Groom: Get your hair trimmed.

Attend bachelor/ette parties.

2–3 days before

Bride: If you need to, have your gown pressed or steamed and plan the hair and make up trial.

Groom: Go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear.

Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits.

Determine wedding party positions during the ceremony and the order of the party in the processional and recessional.

Hand off place cards, table cards, menus, favors and any other items for setting the tables to the caterer and/or Wedding Planner.

Reconfirm final details with your Wedding Planner. Discuss any necessary last-minute substitutions and check the transportation vehicles for you and the guests.

Deliver welcome baskets to the hotel concierge; include names and delivery instructions.

Day before

Provide your Wedding Planner with a second phone number to call on the day of the wedding and the name of either a family member or a friend to coordinate in case of any problem.

Write checks and/or talk to wedding hosts (usually your parents, if not you) about any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.

Night before

Rehearse ceremony. Meet with wedding party, ceremony readers, immediate family and your Wedding Planner at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out the details.

Bring unity candle, aisle runner, yarmulkes or other ceremony accessories to the site.

Attend rehearsal dinner.

Present attendants with gifts at the rehearsal dinner. You’ll want to do this especially if the gifts are accessories to be worn during the wedding.

Day of wedding

Give wedding bands to the best man and maid of honor to hold during the ceremony.

Give to your Wedding Planner the officiant’s fee envelope, to be handed off after the ceremony.

Get some rest at least 3 hours before the ceremony.

Postwedding

Pre-arrange for someone to help your Wedding Planner return any rentals.

Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were especially helpful.