1 to 2 Months Before Your Wedding
2 Months
Select Your Dress Accessories:
Now's the time to choose your shoes, veil, and other accessories. You'll want to leave time to pick the right pieces and break in your shoes. A bridal consultant can help you make the best choices.
Create Ceremony Programs:
While programs aren't necessary, they can be helpful if you're having a traditional or large wedding. They also make lovely keepsakes.Usually, the cover of a ceremony program includes the names of the bride and groom, as well as general wedding info like date and location. Inside, you'll list the order of events and wedding party members. Feel free to include other elements like a love poem or directions to the reception venue.
Find Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue:
If you want to include this good-luck tradition at your wedding, let your relatives know, or plan to give them to yourself. Usually, brides are given these small tokens from family members or other guests to wear on their wedding day. Here's a rundown of this tradition:
Research Marriage License Requirements:
Put simply, a marriage license is an application to get married. You'll sign it at your ceremony, send it to your local government, and then receive a marriage certificate. Depending on your state, you might receive your marriage license right away if you visit the county clerk's office, or you might have to wait for it to arrive in the mail a few days later.
Confirm Hotel Reservations:
Call the hotel to make sure the reservations are still set, just to be on the safe side.
Enjoy Your Bridal Shower:
If you have your bridal shower around this time, let yourself relax and enjoy the occasion.
1 Month
Finalize the Ceremony and Reception:
Finalize how many guests will be attending, menu selections, centerpieces, transportation, and cake. Walkthrough the venue one last time to ensure you haven't forgotten anything.
Pay Your Vendors and Prepare Tips
Pay vendors in full if possible, so it's one less thing to think about on your special day. Place tips in labeled envelopes for musicians, hairstylists, makeup artists, drivers, bartenders, servers, and your wedding planner. Then designate someone to take care of making sure your vendors receive their tips.
Have Your Second Fitting:
For all fittings, and especially your final fitting, bring the undergarments and shoes you plan to wear on your wedding day. If you need more alterations and a third fitting, schedule an appointment two weeks before your wedding. For further peace of mind, you might also schedule a fitting a week before your wedding to address any last-minute needs.
Create a Day-Of Schedule:
Create a timeline for the day of your wedding to help everyone stay on track. Include the times of the events that will occur throughout the day from start to finish. The more detailed you can get, the better.
Plan the Night-Before Activities:
Write down your plans for the night before your wedding, which may include your rehearsal dinner and personal reminders. Make sure to leave time for sleep!
Buy Thank-You Gifts:
Purchase thank-you gifts for your wedding party and family members to give out during your rehearsal dinner. Personalized gifts or jewelry to wear on the wedding day are popular options.
Break-in Your Wedding Shoes:
Walk around in your wedding shoes to help you feel more comfortable on your big day. If possible, consider buying a pair of inserts to make them even easier to wear.
Purchase the Tiny Details:
Pick up all of the small items required in your wedding, such as a guest book, cake stand, accessories for the ring bearer and flower child, and anything else needed to make the ceremony and reception complete.
Assign Seating:
If you're choosing to implement assigned seating now's when you should create a seating chart considering your venue's floor plan. Try to seat guests with people they're familiar with and enjoy being around the best you can.
Make Place Cards and Escort Cards:
Escort cards direct guests to their tables while place cards show attendees their specific seats. Have an escort card, which includes a name and table number for each guest. Display the cards near the entrance of the venue and arrange them in alphabetical order, so they're easy to find.