Wedding Timeline | Our Dream Photos by James DeCamp Photography | Columbus Wedding Photographer, specializing in wedding, portrait & editorial photo

Wedding Timeline

At time of engagement
• Tell your parents the happy news, if they do not already know.
• Buy or make a wedding organizer. Think about whether you will want to have it as a keepsake later on; if so, this may influence your decision about what kind of organizer to have. At a bare minimum, you should have an organized way to keep track of appointments/payments/etc., and a system for keeping track of invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes.
• Write to your close friends and relatives to let them know, unless you plan to have an engagement party.
• Have an engagement photo taken. 9 to 12 months before
• Decide on style of wedding.
• Decide on date of wedding.
• Decide and reserve location for ceremony.
• Reserve officiant.
• Set a tentative budget.
• Decide how expenses will be shared.
• Decide on guest list.
• Announce engagement.
• Select and invite your attendants.
• Book a wedding coordinator.
• Select engagement ring with fiancé if he has not done so.
• Shop for wedding rings.
• Reserve reception location as soon as you have set the date.
• Select and book caterer.
• Select and book photographer.
• Start compiling names and addresses for guest list.
• Decide on your color scheme.
• Start shopping for your wedding dress and headpiece.
• Discuss where you will live after the wedding.

6 to 9 months before
• Select and register your gift preferences in the towns of both families.
• Select florist.
• Select balloonist.
• Select and book videographer.
• Select and reserve rental equipment for ceremony and reception.
• Select and book reception entertainment.
• Order bridal gown. Order bridesmaids' dresses.
• Select bakery for wedding cake.
• Select a travel agent and start planning your honeymoon.

3 to 6 months before
• Complete your guest list and compile in alphabetical order.
• Select and order invitations and announcements.
• Start health and fitness program.
• Check on wedding dress.
• Select and reserve formalwear for men.
• Select and order mother's attire.
• Experiment with hair style.
• Discuss service with officiant.
• Order favors.
• Discuss rehearsal dinner with your fiancé.
• Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
• Check state requirement for blood tests.
• Order wedding rings.

2 months before
• Address invitations and add correct postage. Check one with Post Office.
• Send invitations six weeks before the wedding.
• Confirm all contracts and services with the professionals hired.
• Plan and book rehearsal dinner.
• Finalize honeymoon plans.
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests.
• Purchase attendants' gifts.
• Choose person to attend your guest book. Plan its placement.
• Make reservations for the wedding night hotel.
• Make appointment with your hair stylist on the wedding day.
• Write thank-you notes as you receive gifts.
• Send your announcement to newspapers.

1 month before
• Get blood test and marriage license.
• Have wedding dress final fitting.
• Have bridal portrait done.
• Complete shopping for your trousseau.
• Purchase your accessories such as garter, candles, toasting goblets, ring pillow, etc.
• Have wedding and engagement rings taken to jeweler for engraving and cleaning.
• Maintain records on gifts received, and send thank you notes out immediately.
• Meet with photographer and give him/her a list of shots you would like taken.
• Meet with the entertainers and give them a list of music you would like played.
• Assign responsibilities for: Rental returns, clean up, guest transportation, pick up of any last minute items.

2 weeks before
• Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit properly.
• Continue writing thank-you notes for gifts.
• Final confirmation of all services.
• Address your announcements to mail on the wedding day.
• Attend to business and legal details.
• Get necessary forms for name change.
• Give a change of address card to the post office.

1 week before
• Contact any guests who have not responded.
• Provide caterer with total guest count.
• Provide wedding party and guests a map and timetable for rehearsal, ceremony and reception.
• Plan seating arrangements.
• Pick up marriage license.
• Determine what to do with floral arrangements after reception.
• Pack for honeymoon.
• Purchase traveler's checks.
• Give the bridesmaids' party.
• Remind attendants of rehearsal and dinner details.

Wedding Day
• Eat! Otherwise you may faint!
• Allow time for hair appointment/nails.
• Take a long relaxing bath.
• If pictures are to be taken before ceremony, be dressed and at site one hour prior to hour of wedding.
• Be sure florist knows to have flowers at site 1+ Hours prior to ceremony hour.
• 45 minutes before ceremony ushers are in place.
• 30 minutes before ceremony music begins.
• 5 minutes before ceremony groom's parents are seated.
• Mother of bride seated just prior to processional
• Aisle runner is rolled out.
• Clergy, groom and best man take their place.
• Processional begins.
• Ceremony.
• Recessional.
• Pictures and signing of wedding certificate. Best man and Maid of Honor sign as witnesses.
• Reception.
• Say good-bye's and thank you's to parents.
• FINALLY -- alone and off to honeymoon destination.

after the wedding
• Send thank-you notes as soon as possible after the wedding.
• Have bridal gown cleaned and preserved.
• Change your name on ID and important documents.
• Change of address cards.

Our Dream Photos by James DeCamp Photography | Columbus Wedding Photographer specializing in wedding photography