Getting Organized
Our monthly checklist helps you plan the big day.

A good wedding planner breaks wedding planning into steps, supplies helpful advice and provides fill-in-the-blank worksheets for estimates from different businesses. A bride should have the planner with her at all times for note-taking, quick reference and recording estimates.

You may want to use this list as a guideline, checking items off as you complete each task. For more planning guides and worksheets, go to kcweddings.com and click on “Planning.” We've put together a comprehensive collection of work sheets and checklists to make your wedding planning easier. Simply print off the pages you need, assemble them in a binder and you've got a wedding planner that's perfect for keeping track of your many tasks. Each page is printer-friendly with room for notes.

Even though you will probably enlist the help of your fiance, family and friends, most of the details will still be left to you. As a result, it's imperative to make lots of lists and check them twice. With so many details to keep track of, it's also helpful to have a to-do calendar to refer to.

To aid you in planning, this calendar lists some tasks that the bride and groom can do together—as well as those traditionally falling on the bride's or groom's to-do list.

A Year or More Before the Wedding

Together

• Select a wedding date and a backup date in case your wedding or reception site is unavailable for your first choice.
• Consult parents on budget and financial support.
• Set a budget and decide how many guests to invite.
• Decide if you want a formal or informal wedding.
• Buy wedding rings.

Bride

• Choose and secure wedding site.
• Choose and book officiant.
• Choose and secure reception location.
• Choose a wedding consultant or planner if needed.

Groom

• Discuss division of financial obligations with fiancee and parents.
• Select and purchase bride's rings.

Nine to 12 Months Before the Wedding

Together

• Complete guest lists. Begin gathering names and addresses for invitations.
• Arrange for families to meet if they haven't already.
• Have engagement photos taken.
• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests and members of the bridal party.
• Reserve a place and time for the rehearsal dinner.
• Check marriage license requirements for your state.
• Set appointment for blood tests if required in your state. (Blood tests are not required in Missouri or Kansas .)
• Begin planning honeymoon.

Bride

• Purchase bridal gown, and schedule fittings and delivery date.
• Select wedding attendants, including maid/matron of honor, bridesmaids, flower girl, ring bearer, gift table and guest book attendants.
• Select and book caterer, photographer, videographer, reception entertainment, florist and decorator, if needed.
• Choose color scheme for wedding and reception.
• Choose attendants' attire.

Groom

• Choose your best man, groomsmen and ushers. Ideally, plan for one usher per 50 guests.
• Begin planning honeymoon.

Four to Six Months Before the Wedding

Together

• Discuss ceremony and any prewedding requirements with officiant.
• Finalize guest list.
• Register for gifts.

Bride

• Order bridesmaids' dresses and arrange fittings and delivery date.
• Help mothers coordinate and select their dresses.
• Order invitations, announcements, thank you notes and stationery.
• Select baker. Order wedding cake, groom's cake and mints.
• Order any reception favors.
• Schedule rehearsal at wedding site.
• Announce engagement in newspaper.
• Check passport and visa, if necessary, for honeymoon.
• Begin shopping for trousseau.
• Plan bouquet and gown preservation.

Groom

• Book hotel room for wedding night.
• Select and order formalwear for men in bridal party.
• Choose and book limousine or wedding-day transportation for bridal party.
• Start planning rehearsal dinner with your parents.
• Make reservations for honeymoon: airline, cruise ship, accommodations, etc.
• Check passport and visa, if necessary, for honeymoon.

Two to Three Months Before the Wedding

Together

• Choose readings and vows for ceremony.
• If necessary, arrange to move to new home.
• Write thank you notes as gifts arrive.

Bride

• Mail invitations.
• Plan attendants' parties.
• Finalize plans with photographer, videographer, baker, florist, reception entertainment, decorators and caterer.
• Finalize ceremony details, including music, scripture readings, order of ceremony, etc.
• Choose gifts for groom and bride's attendants.
• Purchase accessories such as toasting goblets, cake knives and servers, ring pillow, garter and candles.
• Schedule consultation and appointment with makeup artist, hair stylist, manicurist and pedicurist for yourself and, if necessary, your attendants.

Groom

• Confirm rehearsal dinner arrangements.
• Purchase gifts for the bride and groomsmen/ushers.

One Month Before the Wedding

Together

• Pick up wedding rings and check any engraving for accuracy.

Bride

• Purchase gifts for attendants.
• Print wedding programs and any other items being personalized, such as napkins, matchbooks, etc.
• Have final fittings for bride and attendants.
• Pick up gown or have it delivered.
• Make name change to proper documents, including driver's license, Social Security card, car registration, credit cards, deeds, employee records, IRS and post office records, passport, savings accounts, voter registration, checking accounts, etc.

Two Weeks Before the Wedding

Bride

• Meet with photographer and give him/her a list of specific pictures you want taken.
• Meet with videographer and give him/her a list of specific people you want included in the video.
• Meet with reception entertainment and give list of music to be played during special events, such as bouquet-tossing, garter-tossing, first dance, father/daughter dance, etc.
• Confirm rehearsal and rehearsal dinner dates and times with bridal party.
• Arrange reception seating, and prepare place cards if needed.

Groom

• Arrange with best man for transportation from reception to airport or hotel.
• Schedule hair cut/styling appointment.
• Double-check your wedding attire, and confirm sizes and pick-up times for groomsmen/ushers.
• Confirm honeymoon details: tickets, reservations, passports, rental cars, etc.
• Send change of address information to post office if necessary.

One Week Before the Wedding

Together

• Pick up travelers' checks for honeymoon expenses.

Bride

• Give caterer final guest count and confirm all details.
• Review details and last-minute arrangements with photographer, video-grapher, entertainment and florist.
• Pick up all wedding attire and make sure it fits.
• Confirm time/place for rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding with attendants. If pictures will be taken before the ceremony, arrange for wedding party to be dressed and at site two hours before ceremony.
• Assign tasks to be done on the wedding day to your wedding party.
• Pack suitcase for honeymoon.

Groom

• Confirm reservation at hotel for wedding night.
• Confirm time/place for rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding with attendants. If pictures will be taken before the ceremony, arrange for wedding party to be dressed and at site two hours before ceremony.
• Assign tasks to be done on the wedding day to your wedding party.

The Day Before the Wedding

Bride

• Present gifts to attendants.

Groom

• Pick up formalwear.
• Confirm pickup times with limousine or other transportation.
• Explain special seating arrangements for family and guests to your head usher.
• Present gifts to groomsmen and ushers.
• Pack suitcase for honeymoon.

The Wedding Day

Bride

• Leave plenty of time for getting ready.
• Have someone else mail wedding announcements, if necessary.

Groom

• Remember to take wedding rings and license to ceremony.
• Give best man officiant's fee in a sealed envelope.
• Leave plenty of time for getting ready.

After the Honeymoon

Together

• Write and mail thank you notes for gifts received at wedding and after.
• Make arrangements to receive wedding photos.

Bride

• Have bridal gown professionally cleaned and preserved.