Wedding Planning Checklist

Planning your wedding requires tracking a lot of details. This checklist will help you keep them all straight:

As Soon as You Are Engaged (Ideally 9+ Months Ahead)

• Decide on your budget and who is going to pay what

• Pick your wedding party

• Start your guest list

• Consider wedding themes

• Find a wedding venue and reserve your date

• Start shopping for a dress

• Start shopping for wedding vendors:

  • Photographer

  • Caterer

  • Officiant

6-8 Months Ahead

• Book Vendors, all of the above, plus:

  • Florist

  • Baker

  • Entertainment

• Send “Save the Date” cards if you have a destination wedding or are getting married around a holiday

• Decide on dress

• Decide on bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s outfits

• Work out arrangements for out-of-town guests

• Register

• Plan honeymoon

• Get invitations

• Reserve infrastructure for outdoor events, if necessary

3-5 Months Ahead

• Set up Rehearsal dinner

• Schedule hair and makeup appointments

• Finalize the guest list

• Purchase wedding rings

• Decide on and purchase favors

• Make sure you have all rentals reserved

• Finalize:

  • Menu

  • Flowers

  • Toast list

  • Cake flavors and design

  • Ceremony readings

  • Events at ceremony and reception

• Start dress fittings

• Send invitations: some people say mail invitations 6-8 weeks before ceremony, but if you haven’t sent out a save the date card, it’s better to mail them a little sooner. The guest list is determined, the date is set. Why wait? The sooner you mail invitations the sooner you can start collecting RSVPs and maybe sneak in a few people you didn’t think you could invite.

6-8 Weeks Ahead

• Touch base with vendors to confirm details

• Meet with photographer to plan photos

• Submit wedding announcement to the papers

• Get dress fitting finalized

3-5 Weeks Ahead

• Collect RSVPs and track down people you haven’t heard from

• Buy extra details, like guest book, unity candle, and other touches

• Stock bar if necessary

• Pick up your wedding license

• Pick up wedding rings and make sure engraving is right

1-2 Weeks Ahead

• Give final count to caterer and wedding venue

• Set up seating chart

• Confirm arrival times and transportation for out-of-town guests

• Designate a proxy to handle “day-of” emergencies. On the day of your wedding, you should be dancing, not putting out fires. Make sure the vendors and venue know this person is empowered to handle decisions.

• Check in again with vendors to confirm details

• Arrange payment for vendors according to the contract. Have checks written for day of payments.

• Pack for your honeymoon

• Assign people to handle small day-of tasks

Wow—that’s a lot to keep track of, especially when you consider that some of those items may take weeks to accomplish. Having an experienced hand to help you can make a big difference. At Stonebrook Manor, we’re not just a wedding venue, we can lend you our expertise to help you get the most wonderful wedding imaginable.

Please contact us today about how we can make your wedding special and easy.