Your Wedding Preparation Timeline

By offthechartentertainemnt
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22 Aug, 2017
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Whether you are planning to tie the knot after only a few months or to stretch out your engagement for two years or more. Here is a wedding preparation timeline to keep in mind.

Congratulations on your recent engagement! Did you know that the average engagement is about 16 months long, according to Real Simple. Whether you are planning to tie the knot after only a few months or to stretch out your engagement for two years or more, there are some wedding-planning items that are best to do at certain times. Here is a wedding preparation timeline to keep in mind. Your personal timeline will vary based on how much time you have, whether your wedding is planned for a busy wedding month or at a less-traditional time of year, and how large your bridal party and guest lists are.

One Year Before the Wedding
You may have just gotten engaged, or maybe you are now starting the one-year countdown. Either way, this year will fly by! A few things that you need to do, if you haven’t already, include making a wedding budget, choosing your bridal party, reserving your venue, making your guest list, and beginning a list of caterers, wedding DJs , florists, photographers and other wedding professionals. (Get recommendations from friends who have gotten married in the past year.)

Nine Months Before the Wedding
Now it’s time to start booking those wedding professionals! You don’t want to do this too early, but especially if you’re planning to be married in the late spring, summer, early fall, around the winter holidays or on Valentine’s Day, you’ll need to book your photographer, wedding entertainment company, florist and other professionals about nine months before the big day. You’ll also want to start your bridal registry and go dress-shopping.

Six Months Before the Wedding
Wow, the first half of that planning year has gone by quickly, hasn’t it? The next six months will fly right by. This month, you should be ordering invitations (your guest list is done, right?), going shopping with your bridesmaids for their dresses, ordering your veil, call limo companies, send save-the-date cards if you’re getting married during a popular time of year, and choosing and meeting with your officiant. If you are planning a church wedding, be advised that your pastor or priest may recommend or require a pre-marriage class, so be sure to schedule that now.

Three or Four Months Before the Wedding
It’s time to start wrapping up some final details. Meet with your wedding DJ to choose a playlist, buy wedding shoes, schedule fittings for you and your bridesmaids, plan the honeymoon and the rehearsal dinner, order your cake, choose your menu and flowers, and make a timeline of activity for your wedding entertainer. This is also when you and your betrothed should choose and order wedding rings.

The Last Few Months Before the Wedding
At this point, you’ll just be making sure that everything is in place for your special day. Make sure that you have hair and nail appointments booked, and leave plenty of time for getting your marriage license, along with any blood tests that might be required in your state. Send out invitations two months before the wedding, and you should have your RSVP cards back a month or so before the big day. This is when you can give the final headcount to your caterer or venue.

As your wedding day approaches, you’ll be finalizing all details with all of your vendors, making final payments on all services, and, hopefully, finding some time to pamper yourself during your last days as a single woman! You’ll probably enjoy a bridal shower and a bachelorette party. Be sure to savor these days, as they will go by very quickly. You’ll be a brand new bride before you know it, and well on your way to a lifetime of happiness with your new spouse.