Mattisons
 

Wedding Timeline

Six Months to One Year Before:

  • Select a Wedding Planning guidebook at your local bridal stationary shop.
  • Set your date and time for ceremony and reception.
  • Create your budget.
  • Reserve a location for your ceremony and reception; select the officiate.
  • Decide on size and type of wedding.
  • Decide on guest list, start gathering names and addresses.
  • Choose a professional photographer, florist, videographer, caterer, DJ or band, and wedding consultant (if you choose to use one). Announce your engagement.
  • Have professional engagement portrait taken and submit to newspaper.
  • Select attendants for the wedding.
  • Select bridesmaids' dresses, keep color swatch for decoration color coordination.

Four Months Before:

  • Finish your guest list.
  • Finalize honeymoon plans.
  • Complete necessary requirements for marriage license.
  • Continue work on ceremony plans.
  • Make plans for where you'll live after the wedding.
  • Make sure all bridal attire is ordered.
  • Arrange for both mothers to coordinate attire.
  • Register for gifts at a bridal registry.
  • Order personal stationery and invitations.
  • Shop for your trousseau. 

Two Months Before:

  • Mail out invitations five weeks prior to wedding.
  • Finalize ceremony plans.
  • Finalize plans with photographer, videographer, florist, DJ or band, caterer.
  • Finalize music selections for ceremony and reception.
  • Plan rehearsal dinner.

One Month Before:

  • Get marriage license.
  • Attend to transportation requirements for your wedding day.
  • Purchase gifts for attendants and bridal party.
  • Start your record of gifts received.
  • Final fittings for bride and attendants.
  • Contact your photographer for your formal bridal portrait.
  • Purchase gift for fiancĂ©e.

Two Weeks Before:

  • Check on accommodations for out of town guests.
  • Confirm all honeymoon arrangements. 

One Week Before:

  • Insure that the wedding party picks up their attire.
  • Write thank you notes for parents, close friends, or relatives who will receive them on your wedding day.
  • Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, distribute wedding party gifts.
  • Make sure you have marriage license and rings.
  • Contact guests who have not R.S.V.P.'d.
  • Give final count to caterer, finalize seating arrangements
  • Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.

On Your Wedding Day:

  • Allow ample time for makeup, nails, getting dressed, and other details.
  •  Relax and Enjoy!!!

After The Wedding:

  • The day after the wedding, send thank you cards to the bride's parents and the groom's parents with a personal note expressing your gratitude for the wedding and reception.