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Wedding Checklist: |
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12 Months Before your Wedding day |
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Announce your engagement |
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Arrange for your two sets of parents to get together if they haven't already met |
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Decide on a date |
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Go over the budget (include both sets of parents or anyone else who'll be paying for any portion of the event) |
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Interview wedding planners if you'll be using one |
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Pick the ceremony site and visit the officiant. |
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Work on guest lists to get a rough head count |
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Visit reception sites and reserve one |
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Shop for your gown |
6 - 9 Months Before your Wedding day |
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Choose your wedding party |
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Choose a caterer |
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Enroll in a bridal-gift registry |
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Order your wedding gown |
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Shop for the bridal attendants' dresses |
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Choose a photographer and/or a videographer |
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Hire a florist |
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Book the musicians and/or DJ |
4 - 6 Months Before your Wedding day |
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Order the wedding invitations, envelopes, thank-you cards, and any other wedding stationery you need |
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Shop for the cake |
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Scout accommodations for out-of-towners so you can send guests a list of nearby hotels in various price ranges. (Most hotels offer lower rates if you tell them a group is coming.) |
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Complete the guest list. (Assume 20 percent of the invitees probably can't come) |
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2 - 4 Months Before your Wedding day |
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Call the county clerk's office to find out about requirements for the marriage license. Get a blood test, if necessary |
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Order the tuxedos for groom and groomsmen |
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Make your honeymoon reservations. Compile all the necessary travel documents (passport, visas, etc.) |
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Meet with the caterer or banquet manager to discuss menus, service style, wine lists, etc |
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Order the wedding cake |
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Buy thank-you notes for attendants |
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Shop for wedding bands |
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Arrange the rehearsal dinner |
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Meet with party-rental companies, if necessary, for tables, chairs or other items |
4 - 8 Weeks Before your Wedding day |
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Mail invitations eight weeks ahead of the date |
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Do a hair and makeup run-through (with headpiece) |
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Book your favorite beauty pros to prepare you for that all-eyes-on-you moment |
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Look over insurance papers with your fiancé (car, life, medical, home)—you may need to make changes in the policy when you go from single to married |
2 - 4 Weeks Before your Wedding day |
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Do seating for the reception |
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Confirm details with the photographer, florist, etc |
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Send an engagement photograph with a wedding announcement to newspapers |
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Have your final dress fitting |
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Write your rehearsal-dinner toast |
1 Week Before your Wedding day |
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Place fees in envelopes to be given to the organist, soloist, minister, etc. on the big day |
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Give caterer the final head count |
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Appoint a punctual pal to bring the cake knife, toasting glasses or other heirlooms to the wedding site early (and be responsible for getting them home again) |
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Get a manicure, pedicure, facial, massage or other beauty treatments of your choice |
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Pack for the honeymoon (arrange for someone to bring your luggage and going-away outfits to the reception site if you're leaving from the reception) |
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Contact a Flower Preservation Vendor to preserve your Bouquet after the wedding |
The Day Before your Wedding day |
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Make sure the Wedding Gown is pressed and steamed |
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Greet out-of-town guests |
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Go to the gym, take a long walk, or do some other stress-reducing activity |
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Schedule time for beauty—a manicure touch-up or a hairstyling appointment—before the rehearsal dinner |
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Go to the wedding rehearsal and dinner following |
Your Wedding Day |
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Make sure you eat something |
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Visit your Beauty Salon for Hair styling & make-up. (Bring veil & headpiece) |
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Bring a change of clothes if you are leaving for your honeymoon |
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Try to relax... unwind yourself... and savor the unfolding of your Special day |
Post Wedding and Honeymoon |
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Preserve your Bouquet |
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Contact a Gown preservation Vendor to hand clean, press and preserve your bridal gown |