| bride |
groom |
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12 Months Before
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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.
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6 - 9 Months Before
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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.
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4 - 6 Months Before
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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
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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.
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4 - 8 Weeks Before
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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.
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2 - 4 Weeks Before
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Puzzle time: 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.
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1 Week Before
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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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The Day Before
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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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Hit the wedding rehearsal and dinner following. |
