Wedding To Do

Yesterday I mentioned that I've been using weddingwire.com to keep my wedding planning organized. I also have a massive binder that I am using to store all of my paper documents. The most helpful thing for me has been the weddingwire checklist. I am a very visual person and an avid list-maker, so having a comprehensive Wedding Checklist is something I most definitely need. I thought I'd share with you the list so any future brides out there can use it OR any past brides can give me some ideas of what to add to it. J and I don't have a for sure wedding date since we have yet to book our church or reception site, but we are hoping for November 5, 2011 so that is the date I am using for the timeline.

CHECKLIST by Month:

Before December 2010

	Decide on the budget, and enter it into your Budget Tool.
	Choose a color scheme for your big day.
	Search for a ceremony venue.
	Having an engagement party? Set a date, choose a location, create a guest list, and mail invitations.
	Determine a time frame for your wedding date. Narrow down your wedding date to a few weekends that don't conflict with other family events.
	Start the guest list. Use the guest importer and address collection tool to quickly build your guest list.
	Search for a reception venue

December 2010

	Book your ceremony venue. Record deposits and payments in your Budget
	Book your reception venue. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.

January 2011

	Choose your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Invite them to be in your wedding party.
	Create your wedding website.
	Search for a caterer.
	Book your caterer. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool. Begin working on a menu.
	Search for a photographer.
	Search for a florist.
	Search for a videographer.

February 2011

	Search for a band.
	Search for a DJ.
	Book your band. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Book your DJ. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.

March 2011

	Set up your registries. Add registries page to your wedding website.
	Book your photographer. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Book your florist. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Book your videographer. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Search for an officiant.
	Book your officiant. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Schedule premarital counseling (if required)

April 2011

	Reserve hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. Add accommodations and travel pages to your wedding website.
	Send save-the-date cards (be sure your guest list is finalized first). Include hotel information for out-of-town guests, if it's available, plus your website address.
	Start shopping for your gown.
	Search for a wedding cake maker.
	Select your wedding dress and place the order. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Order your wedding cake. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.

May 2011

	Search for a wedding stationer for invitations, plus place cards, menus, announcements (if you'll use them) and thank-you stationery (which you may need to order now).
	Search for a ceremony musician.
	Search for a rentals supplier if you need to rent chairs, chair covers, a tent, etc.
	Book your invitations vendor. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Book your ceremony musician. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Finalize your order for event rentals. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Discuss rehearsal dinner with the groom's parents — who will host? Whoever is hosting should begin searching for a venue. You will also need to negotiate who will be invited.

June 2011

	Search for a vendor to help with your hair, makeup, or any prewedding pampering.
	Select your bridesmaid dresses and flower-girl dress, and have your attendants place their orders. Record payments in your Budget Tool.
	Choose groom's attire; will you purchase or rent? Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Rehearsal-dinner host should finalize venue. If you are hosting, record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Book accommodations for your wedding night.
	Contact out-of-town guests and notify them about the hotel block and other discount travel information. Utilize your wedding website to convey this information.
	Plan and book your honeymoon, including travel, accommodations, and activities.

July 2011

	Book your hair and makeup appointment. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.
	Purchase accessories for your gown, such as a veil, shoes, undergarments, and jewelry. Record payments in your Budget Tool.
	Finalize the text for your invitations and place the order. Also consider purchasing thank-you notes and wedding announcements from the same vendor.
	Finalize the menu and service details with your caterer.

August 2011

	Confirm number of bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces with your florist.
	Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc.). Purchase or pass along the purchasing information.
	Contact the groomsmen and give them information about their attire.
	Purchase your wedding bands. Record payments in your Budget Tool.
	Check your gift registry. If items on your list have been discontinued, you may want to update the registry.
	Design and create favors. Search for a favors vendor if you want specialized favors.
	Search for a transportation vendor.
	Book your transportation vendor. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.

September 2011

	Discuss and confirm party plans for bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as any shower that is offered, with your maid of honor and best man.
	For an international honeymoon, begin to get your papers in order (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
	Ask your readers to be a part of your ceremony. Begin a search for readings, and discuss them with your officiant.
	If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.
	Schedule gown fitting appointments. Your first appointment should be directly after you receive the gown, and the last appointment should fall no later than three weeks before the wedding.
	Provide guest lists to your maid of honor and best man for your shower, bachelorette party, bachelor party, and other social events.
	Mail out wedding invitations.
	Research local marriage license requirements. Schedule a blood test appointment if one is required in your state. Don't forget to check when the license expires and if there is a waiting period.

October 2011

	Track gifts received from guests and send thank-you notes.
	Check on your hotel room blocks to ensure important guests have made their travel arrangements.
	If you have guests attending from out of town who are parents, help them by locating babysitting options for them.
	Order alcohol (wine, champagne, liquor) if they are not included in the catering contract. Discuss with your caterer to determine how it will be transported to the wedding.
	Design your ceremony programs and print them.
	Purchase a guest book and a few nice pens.
	Purchase or make gifts for your bridal party and close family. Don't forget ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, and readers!
	Write your vows if you choose to personalize them. Send a copy to your officiant.
	Alert your wedding party to the rehearsal. The rehearsal-dinner host should send rehearsal dinner invitations.
	Obtain a marriage license. Follow your state's guidelines concerning how soon you can apply, and how long the license is valid for.
	If you have a DJ, work on a list of 'must-play' and 'do-not play' songs. Be sure you also send them selections for your introductions, first dance, cake cutting, father/daughter dance, anniversary dance, and last dance.
	If you have a band, work on a list of 'must-play' and 'do-not play' songs. Be sure you also send them selections for your introductions, first dance, cake cutting, father/daughter dance, anniversary dance, and last dance.
	Determine your ceremony music selections and send the list to your ceremony musicians.
	Shop for all additional accessories like undergarments, jewelry, headpiece, bridal purse, etc.
	Pick up wedding rings and check the inscriptions before you leave the store.
	Create a wedding day schedule. Send the information to your wedding party and vendors.
	Finalize any special preferences, readings, or other ceremony details (in writing) with your officiant.
	At your final gown fitting, bring a friend to learn how the bustle will be tied.

November 2011

	Call guests who have not yet RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner to get a final head count.
	Pick up your gown. Before leaving the shop, try it on to make sure there are no additional alterations to be made.
	Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
	Verify with your reception venue to make sure your vendors will have access to the site when they need it.
	Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with your wedding cake vendor.
	If you're having a receiving line, determine the order everyone will stand in.
	Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party and make sure they're aware of their duties.
	Create your seating chart. Make place cards or give typed names to your calligrapher.
	Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangements with your florist. Make a list of who will get bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres, and recruit someone to oversee this on the wedding day.
	Confirm the rehearsal details and wedding day schedule with your officiant.
	Pick up the tuxedo/suit and try it on at the shop. See if there are any additional alterations to be made.
	Prepare your toasts and thanks to friends and family.
	Give the seating chart to your caterer, reception venue manager, and wedding coordinator.
	Send your transportation vendor the schedule, addresses, and contact phone numbers for the wedding day.
	Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors. Mail your payment checks or make arrangements for the wedding day. Record payments in your Budget Tool.
	Shop and pack for the honeymoon.
	Confirm location, date, and time with your photographer. Create your 'must-take' photo list.
	Confirm location, date, and time with your videographer.
	Rehearse the ceremony with your officiant and wedding party.
	Confirm all honeymoon travel plans. Give someone a copy of your itinerary and contact information in case of an emergency.
	Give wedding announcements to your maid of honor to be mailed on the wedding day.
	Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc.).
	Drop off favors, placecards, guest book, pens, cake knife, toasting flutes, and all other reception items at the reception venue.
	Enjoy your wedding day! Take a moment to step back and enjoy a quiet moment with your new spouse.

After November 5, 2011

	Ensure all your vendors have been paid in full.
	Arrange for gown and veil to be cleaned and preserved. Make sure the provider is experienced in preserving wedding gowns.
	Write thank-you notes for all the gifts you received at the wedding and before. Traditional etiquette gives you an 8-week grace period.
	Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, auto, homeowner's, and life insurance.
	Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.

Seeing it all laid out in front of me really stresses me out. Luckily, I have plenty of time and plenty of help to get everything on this list accomplished. I love that it's broken down month-by-month so I can schedule ahead and really make sure I'm on top of everything.

The first thing I did after getting engaged was create a wedding e-mail address. I highly recommend this as I have been sending and receiving all wedding related e-mails with this address. It keeps everything in one place so it's easier to find it. I get about 100 business e-mails, plus blog e-mails, plus personal e-mails a day on my other address, so I knew it would be too much to get wedding e-mails sent there as well.

I am really excited because I have completed everything on the "Before December 2010" list.

Before December 2010

X	Decide on the budget, and enter it into your Budget Tool.
X	Choose a color scheme for your big day.
	Search for a ceremony venue.
X	Having an engagement party? Set a date, choose a location, create a guest list, and mail invitations.
X	Determine a time frame for your wedding date. Narrow down your wedding date to a few weekends that don't conflict with other family events.
X	Start the guest list. Use the guest importer and address collection tool to quickly build your guest list.
X	Search for a reception venue

-We have our budget and have been using the Budget Tool I mention yesterday. Super helpful!
-I have always known I wanted my wedding colors to be black and white. So this was decided before I was even engaged. I want a really timeless and classic look but still modern and unique, which is why I'll be using ALL black and white, no accent colors AT ALL. In fact, it bugs me that the bouquets will have green stems.
-We've searched for and decided on our ceremony venue, Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church. Once we figure out our reception venue we can send them a deposit!
-My dad and step-mom are throwing us an engagement party on November 6th! I am so excited! We have it all planned and everyone has been invited!
-We have a time frame for the wedding and an ideal wedding date set (November 5, 2011), once we decided on our reception venue we will have a 100% for sure wedding date! Can't wait!
-We have made our first draft of the guest list! There may be some tweaking done closer to the wedding, but for now we're good. I have all of our guests entered in to the guest list tool, now I just need to start gathering addresses.
-I have been searching and visiting several different reception venues and we have it narrowed down to two!

Up next on my Wedding To-Do list is:

December 2010

	Book your ceremony venue. Record deposits and payments in your Budget
	Book your reception venue. Record deposits and payments in your Budget Tool.

It's nice to know I have through December to figure this out but the holiday months are crazy busy for us! We have eight parents, which means a lot of places to visit and a lot of people to see. Plus, my birthday is in December so we are always running around like crazy people. My goal is to have our church and reception site booked by our engagement party (November 6th). This way we will have a for sure date to share with everyone at the party and we can take a little planning break, get through the holidays and then hit the ground running again in January.

Any wedding planning advice you want to share? How did you stay (or how are you staying) organized?