Wedding Day Checklist

12 Months Before – by Date / / 8-9 Months Before – by Date / /

□ Attend the consultation with Bride & □ Book musicians for the reception (band, DJ, etc..)
□ Groom Have Bride & Groom complete □ Book photographer
Wedding □ Book videographer
□ Registration Form □
□ □
Have Bride & Groom select bridal party
and other attendants (Rule of thumb is

□
one usher per 50 guests)
Provide Bride & Groom with wedding
□ etiquette information (as
□ required/needed)
□ Have Bride & Groom finalize wedding date
□ Prepare budget and review it with Bride &
□ Groom Book ceremony venue and pay
deposit
□ Book reception venue and pay deposit
□ Determine if venues require proof of
liability
insurance, and if so, make
arrangements Have Bride & Groom prepare
list of guests to attend Coordinate
engagement party (if requested)

10-11 Months Before – by Date /

/
□ Determine customs and/or traditions,
personalized vows, readings and/or
exchanges the Bride & Groom would
like to include in the ceremony (lighting

□ of unity candle, flowers to mother, family

member, etc.)

□ Have Bride & Groom meet with you and

□ the wedding officiant

Book caterer

□ Book musicians for the ceremony (soloist,

□ organist, etc...)

□
 Book florist
Book cake designer/baker
Book transportation for wedding and
related events Have Bride & Groom sign
up for premarital
counseling (if required or desired by
couple) Have Bride select and purchase
wedding dress,
headpiece/veil, shoes, lingerie, and
accessories Have Bride select bridesmaid(s)
and flower girl(s)
dresses and accessories

6-7 Months Before – by Date / /

Make □
arrangements to have bridesmaid(s)
□
and flower girl(s) fitted with dresses
Have mother(s) of the Bride & Groom
□
select dress Have Bride & Groom sign up
□
with a gift registry
(up to three registries) and select
□
desired gifts Book calligrapher
Book rentals such as tents, tables, chairs,
□
linens, china, glassware, cake knife,
toasting glasses, candelabras, etc...
□
(as required or requested)
Have Bride & Groom send any required
deposits to vendors and suppliers
□
Remind Bride & Groom to book their
honeymoon and update passports,
□
obtain visas and get any necessary
inoculations
Reserve rooms for out-of-town guests (if requested)
Review all vendor/supplier contracts and
provide advice to the Bride & Groom
5 Months Before – by Date / / planning a bridal shower and a

□
bachelorette
Order invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards,

□
/ bachelor party
etc... Select and order all flowers

□ Plan the reception including finalizing

theme, décor, etc... Select favors, table

□ centerpieces, decorations, candles,

etc...

□ Have Bride & Groom finalize ceremony

music selections
Have Bride & Groom finalize reception

□ music selections

□ Provide music requests and lists to all

musicians Have Bride & Groom finalize
wedding invitation list

4 Months Before – by Date / /

□ Review budget and checklists with Bride &

Groom to ensure everything is on track
□ Remind Bride & Groom to select their

□
wedding
rings and arrange for engravings

□ Have Groom select and be fitted for tuxedo

or an alternative formal wear and shoes

□ Have groomsmen (and ring bearer and

ushers,
if applicable) fitted for tuxedos or
alternative formal wear including shoes

□ Meet caterer (with the Bride & Groom) for

□ tasting and review menu options

Order wedding cake and Groom’s cake (if

□ desired)
Have Bride & Groom arrange for MC and

□ other speakers, such as individuals

making toasts at the reception

□ Have Bride & Groom select and

arrange with individuals to handle
guest book
Have Bride & Groom select and arrange
with individuals to hand out programs
Talk to Maid of Honor & Best Man about
 Have Bride & Groom book honeymoon □ Meet with stationer to have invitations,

□
suite for the wedding night RSVP cards, thank you cards,
Have Bride book suite to get ready in on itineraries, programs, menus, and

□
the day of the wedding (if any accessories printed/made
applicable)
Have Bride & Groom arrange for
planning of a rehearsal dinner
and day after wedding brunch (if
desired)

3 Months Before – by Date / / Have Bride

make all appointments for hair, make- □

□
up, and manicure/pedicure
Have Bride & Groom get blood tests

□
and/or have medical examinations
(if required)
Provide caterer with food/menu and
beverage selections. □
Plan additional liquor needs (if □
□
required) Have Bride & Groom
select any readings (and

□
readers) for the ceremony
Have Bride & Groom meet with the
officiant to review ceremony and
finalize vows
Determine what customs and/or
traditions the Bride & Groom would □
like to include at the reception, □
such as formal cake cutting, toasts,
etc... □
Finalize time and location of
rehearsal Prepare maps, sets of
directions, information □
sheets, and hotel recommendations □
for out- of-town guests □
Prepare wedding program, wedding
weekend itinerary, and wedding day
schedule
Obtain wedding invitations list from
couple Provide wedding list to
calligrapher
2 Months Before – by Date / / 3 Weeks Before – by Date / /

□ Pick up and mail out wedding invitations □ not provided by the rental company

□
(along with RSVP cards, etc...) or caterer (candles, goblets, ring pillow,
Contact booked venues to confirm □ guest book, cake knife, etc...)

□ arrangements and arrange with Bride & □ Have Bride & Groom purchase gifts for bridal
Groom to pay balances due (as □ attendants, parents, ushers, and each

□ required)
Have Bride and bridesmaids attend □
other

□ follow-up wedding attire fittings

Prepare information and instruction

□ sheets for all members of the

bridal party and for all vendors

□ Have Bride prepare guest list for

shower and give to the Maid of
Honor
Have Groom prepare guest list for
Groom’s get together and give to
the Best Man
Have Bride select going away outfit

1
1 Month Before – by Date / /

□ Have Bride & Groom obtain marriage

□ license
(within legal time period, varies by

□ state)
Track gifts received and send out thank

□ you cards (if requested to handle

this)
for Bride & Groom

□
Have Bride & Groom pick up wedding

□
rings and ensure proper fit
Provide the photographer with list of

□
photos to be taken

□
Provide instructions to the videographer
Confirm music lists and arrangements
with the musicians
Confirm rental requirements and drop-off

□
times Pick up any ceremony or reception
accessories
 Follow up with guests who have and time with all
not sent in an RSVP members of the bridal party and all
Prepare seating plan for others assisting with the wedding (such
reception Prepare name as officiant, parents, photographer,
plates/seating cards videographer, musicians, etc...)
Have Bride go in for trial hairstyle and Meet with Bride & Groom to review all
make-up appointment(s) and wedding plans and to get the marriage
confirm wedding license from them
day appointments
Have Bride & Groom prepare and
practice a wedding reception
toast/speech

2 Weeks Before – by Date / / 2

Provide wedding day schedule and □

instructions
to all appropriate vendors
□
Phone to confirm all arrangements with
vendors and suppliers one more
□
time □
Have Bride and bridesmaids pick up
their gowns/ dresses and all □
□
accessories (including veil and/ or
headpiece for Bride, shoes, jewelry,
etc...)
Have couple pick up tickets, itinerary,
traveler’s checks, etc... for
honeymoon
Have Bride arrange for bridesmaids
luncheon and give gifts to
attendants
Have Groom arrange groomsmen get
together and give gifts to
attendants

□
□
1 Week Before – by Date / /

Provide caterer with final numbers for

reception Confirm the rehearsal date

□
□ Find out from Bride & Groom where
wedding gifts that are received on
Day Before – by Date / /

□ day of wedding are to be dropped □ Attend and direct rehearsal

off □ Hand out wedding schedule,
Obtain from Bride & Groom the final itineraries, and instructions to all
checks for vendors’ outstanding members of the
fees (such bridal party and any others involved

□ as musicians, officiant, caterer,

florist, transportation, and your
with the wedding such as ushers,
parents, photographer, videographer,

□ fees, etc...) □ officiant, musicians, etc...

Prepare envelopes addressed to various □ Provide seating details to ushers
Bring ring bearer’s pillow and provide to
□
vendors to pay final fees
Have Bride & Groom pack for their individual responsible for the ring

□ honeymoon including clothes,

toiletries, tickets, passports, visas, □
bearer
Have Groom give Bride’s ring to Best Man
maps, guidebooks, traveler’s checks,
money, etc...
□ (or to you, for safekeeping, if a young
ring bearer is involved in the wedding)
Have Bride & Groom pack their going away Have Bride give Groom’s ring to Maid of
outfits, wedding night, and next day Honor (or to you, for safekeeping, if a
clothes and toiletries young ring bearer is involved in the
wedding)

2 Days Before – by Date / / Oversee the decorating of the

□
ceremony and reception venues
Have Groom and his attendants pick up

□
tuxedoes/formal wear
Day Of Wedding (Prior to Ceremony)

□
Have Bride and Groom give gifts to

□
parents and each other Bring your charged cellphone along with

□
Pack all items you need to bring to the you for the day

wedding ceremony (such as guest Bring your checklists, schedule, list of

vendors and important contact
□
book and pen, marriage license,
information
□
ceremony programs, candles,
emergency kit, special ceremony or Attend to Bride, as required (make sure she eats!)

□ cultural items, etc...) Oversee and coordinate with venue manager,

musicians, photographer, videographer,
Drop off all reception favors, table
centerpieces, cake knife, toasting officiant, florist, decorator, and
transportation. Bring marriage license,
□
goblets, candles, etc... at reception
□ venue so they can be set up prior to guest book and pens, programs, and
candles (and set everything up)
the start of the reception
Have couple confirm early meeting times Bring an emergency kit, which will include:

with bridal party for the wedding day a small sewing kit, safety pins, bobby
pins, antacid, tissue paper, a brush,
hair spray, double-sided tape, two
sliver rings, earring backs, etc...) all
items are necessary incase a
situation arises
Day Of Wedding (Ceremony and After)

□ Attend and oversee ceremony (including

processional, recessional, and receiving
line after ceremony) and provide
supervision, guidance, support,
assistance, instructions, or whatever
may be required for the ceremony to
□ run smoothly
Provide final payment checks to all
□ ceremony vendors

□
Collect marriage license, candles, guest
book and pens, extra programs, and
any items left behind after the
ceremony
Attend photo shoot after
ceremony and coordinate with
photographer

Day Of Wedding (Reception)

□ Oversee and coordinate with venue

manager, caterer, musicians, DJ, cake
designer, photographer, videographer,
□ etc...
□ Coordinate and oversee reception receiving
line Provide final payment checks to all of
□ the

□
reception vendors/suppliers
Coordinate first dance(s), cake cutting,
bouquet throwing, garter toss, etc... (as
requested)
Collect all wedding gifts, envelopes and
cash received at reception and
deliver them to predetermined
location

□
□
After the Wedding (If Requested)
□
□ Drop off wedding dress at cleaners

□ Return Groom’s formal wear attire

□ Arrange for pressing of wedding

□
flowers Send out thank you cards for
gifts
Send out change of address cards (if
needed) Ensure that Bride & Groom receive
marriage license Send congratulations &
“thank you for your
business” cards to the couple