Wedding Photography by Composure Photography and Videography: Important Timelines for Weddings

First things first:

Print this Time-line Here

Share the news of your engagement with family and close friends
Announce your engagement in the local newspapers.
Set a budget. Establish who will be able to contribute, and how much.
Set the date.
Meet with potential wedding planners or event designers, if you anticipate using one.
Choose your ceremony and reception sites.
Interview Officiants
Establish the number of guests you’d like to invite, and compile a list with input from both sets of parents
Choose your maid of honor, best man and other honor attendants.
Start shopping for your gown.
Begin a pre-wedding beauty regimen to improve your complexion
Schedule any beauty treatments (facials, waxing, brow-shaping, teeth-whitening) that you’d like to have over the next few months.

6 to 9 Months before

4 to 6 months before:

Place orders for all wedding stationary: invitations, envelopes, and thank-you notes. Negotiate a price for programs, menus and escort cards, which will be ordered closer to the date.
Book a calligrapher, if using one.
Meet with cake bakers and schedule tastings.
Book wedding-day transportation.
Make wedding-day appointments for hair and make-up, as well as a run-through four to eight weeks prior to the date.
Research accommodations and group rates for out of town guests.
Finalize the guest list.
Plan the honeymoon and reserve flights, hotel rooms and a rental car.
Plan the rehearsal dinner.

2 to 4 months before:

Contact the town/city clerk’s office to inquire about marriage-license requirements.
Choose attire for groom and groomsmen and place orders (Black socks in our Packing list)
Choose and order wedding favors.
Order the wedding cake.
Meet with officiant to discuss option’s for the ceremony and choose readings; invite loved ones to perform readings, if appropriate.
Select the ceremony and reception music
Shop for attendants’ gifts.
Choose and order items for welcome baskets, if you’re giving them.
Shop for and order wedding bands.
Reserve party rentals-linens, tables, chairs, heaters and tents – if necessary.
Reserve your accommodations for the wedding night.
Confirm group hotel rates for out-of-town guests.

4 to 8 weeks before:

Mail wedding invitations six to eight weeks prior to the date.
Meet with caterer to decide on menu
Send programs, menus and escort cards to stationer to be printed.
Do hair and makeup run-through with headpiece.
Decide on any necessary insurance policy changes.
Gather information from the town/city clerks office to change your name, if desired.
Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.
Finish Bride’s essential Packing list (see List Here)

2 to 4 weeks before:

Create a seating chart for the reception.
Contact all vendors to confirm all details and set a time-line for the wedding day.
Have your final dress fitting with shoes, headpiece, jewelry and lingerie.
Compose your vows, if desired.
Write a toast to give at the rehearsal dinner or during the reception.
Visit the salon for one last haircut and color (guys too)
Send escort cards and seating chart to calligrapher to fill guests’ names and table numbers one to two weeks before the wedding.

1 week before:

Arrange for dress to be picked up or delivered.
Organize all wedding day payments and gratuities in envelopes and decide who will distribute them.
Decide who will transport and collect heirlooms (unity candle, toasting glasses, cake knife) to and from the ceremony and reception
Deliver a final headcount to the caterer.
Take care of last-minute beauty treatments, including waxing, facial (at 2 least day’s before, to avoid redness) manicure’s and Pedicure.
Pack for Honeymoon.
Pack wedding day bag with Essentials List, Lingerie, rings, license, slip on shoes and padded hanger for the wedding dress.

Thursday, February 3, 2011