Cherry Creek Events : the Wedding Planning Timeline

Cherry Creek Events : The Wedding Planning Timeline:

12 Month in Advance:

❏Announce Engagement to Friends and Family.

❏HIRE CHERRY CREEK EVENTS TO COVER YOUR EVENT NEEDS!

❏If families have not yet met, make sure both families meet each other.

❏Throw an engagement party [if desired] or attend one hosted by friends and family.

❏Choose a style for your wedding. Do you want a theme? Would you Like to use a specific color combination?

❏ Select your wedding date. Until this date is selected you won’t be able to plan much else. Find out from local City Hall or Nekws Calendars about special events that may conflict with your wedding. Check with close family and potential wedding party members to ensure the date you’re considering is a date they are available.

❏Decide the basic Vision. Is there a specific season you want the wedding to take place during? Will the ceremony/reception be indoor or outdoor? What will be your dress code? Is the tone formal or informal? What time of day will the events be- morning or evening ceremony/receptions? Will it be a large event or one more intimate?

❏Where is your ceremony location? Will it be at your hometown or that of your partner? Is this a destination wedding? Will the ceremony be held in an urban or country setting? Is a nearby location such as a resort or hotel preferred?

❏What is the basic wedding Budget? What amount can you afford to spend on the wedding? It is best to set this price now to direct the path the wedding planning will take.

❏Prioritize. Decide what will make or break the wedding experience for you and your partner. What is most important: guests? Food? The venue? You should have a firm idea of what’s most important to you, before you can allot money in the budget.

❏Who will pay for what?Are you and your partner paying for everything? Are one or both sets of parents contributing? Knowing exactly where the money comes from will help allot your funds without overdrawing accounts or accidentally maxing out credit cards.

❏Open a “wedding only” bank account. Start depositing savings as soon as possible.

❏Consider Air Miles Reward or getting a Cash-Back credit card. If you’re going to charge your wedding expenses, it might as well build credit for something fun and useful!

❏Select an estimated number of guests. Are you having 30 or 300?

❏Are you and your partner considering a prenuptial agreement? If so, you should contact a lawyer and start the process now.

❏If you have a preferred venue for ceremony and/or reception, make sure to book them now! Some popular places book 2 years in advance! Contact site managers for availability dates. If they are already booked, you’ll need to brainstorm other locations.

❏Book your engagement photo shoot with photographer and venue.

❏Start browsing magazines, stores, and online for wedding attire ideas.

❏If planning to create a Pinterest board- create it now

❏Research potential vendors for hire. Photographers, Videographers, Bands, DJ’s, Florists, Caterers, Ect.. Set up appointments to meet vendors in person to look at their portfolios.

❏Appraise Engagement Ring for insurance if necessary. If you desire the wedding bands to be engraved, make these arrangements.

❏Start thinking about who you want for honor attendants.

❏Start to collect addresses for guest you are planning to invite.

❏Mail Save-the-Date cards. If the wedding is overlapping with another important event, you don’t want people to forget and accidentally double-book. If you are having a destination wedding- these are a great idea!

❏Purchase Thank You cards that can be sent out over the course of planning the wedding.

❏If you are planning to have a wedding website- Now is the time to start it.

11 Months in Advance

❏Are you going to purchase wedding insurance? Now is the time to purchase a plan if you decide to get one.

❏Finalize theme/style of wedding especially for ceremony and reception.

❏Meet with many Caterers.

❏Meet with bands and DJ’s for reception and parties. Listen to demos and request song lists.

❏Meet with many florists to view sample bouquets and arrangements.

❏Book the ceremony venue if not already done and schedule the ceremony rehearsal.

❏Book the reception venue if not already done and pay the deposit. Be sure that guest parking and transportation are arranged.

❏If your ceremony is outdoor, make a “rainy day” plan

❏Continue to browse wedding gowns- do not buy one yet.

❏Finalize wedding party and approach them to ask if they are up to the task.

❏Meet with your officiant to discuss the ceremony details. Will you plan/ write your own readings? vows? or will they provided? Are you going to perform any rituals?

❏Set the honeymoon budget

❏What do you need to get your marriage license? You cannot get a valid wedding license without valid ID, so make sure to have all your required documentation.

10 Months in Advance

❏Select and Order the Bridal Gown

❏Get necessary permits if the ceremony will take place in a public place, such as a park.

❏Talk to the wedding party, especially honor attendants, about their duties and responsibilities.

❏Start pre-marriage counseling. (Optional. Sometimes required by officiant)

❏Visit Lawyer to update Your Personal Will if Needed.

Nine Months in Advance

❏Set up Gift Registry

❏Decide the type of food (sit down meal, buffet, etc..) and the amount of food (appetizers, courses, midnight buffet, etc.) that you will want at the reception.

❏Will you be serving liquor? What will you serve? How much? Will it be Open Bar? Part free or Part pay? Offer cocktails as well as beers and wines? Do you need to hire a bartender?

❏Select and order the veil or headpiece if it did not come with the gown.

❏Confirm the delivery date, time, and location of the Bridal Gown

❏Start Looking Into Hotel, Airfare, and Car Rental Reservations for out-of-town guests.

Eight Months

❏Sign Vendor Contracts and Pay Deposits. (Florist, Caterer, Photographer, Videogrpaher, Baker, Band, DJ…)

❏Review Budget

❏Start a detailed Guest List

❏First Bridal Gown Fitting- if gown isn’t being custom made. (Have made of honor go with the bride if available and the bride wants.) Bride should bring her shoes to the fitting because shoes can affect hem length. If Bride does not yet have her shoes, bring a pair that is the same height as the bridal shoes.

❏Select Bridesmaid gown style and accessories.

❏If needed or desired, start a fitness plan.

Seven Months

❏Notify bridesmaids about dress fittings. Have measurements taken and order dresses if needed.

❏Decide on Groomsmen attire- Tuxedo, suit, etc.

❏Select attire for Ring Bearer and Flower Girl.

❏Stationary. Choose style, font, paper stock, format, and color of wedding invitations. Work out the wording. Do the same for seating cards and any other stationery you plan to use. Order needed supplies.

❏Hire a calligrapher or printer if needed.

❏Decide on ceremony program wording. Decide on the order of events.

❏Book a hotel block of rooms for out-of-town guests.

❏If you don’t have wedding bands already, order them.

❏Buy Bridal accessories.

❏Purchase Bridal Lingerie.

❏Is anything being thrown after the ceremony? Decide now and check regulations for confetti, birdseed, rice, bubbles, flower petals, sparklers, other? Always verify with the ceremony venue about regulations on these things.

Six Months

❏Verify Selections with Vendors. (Table Settings, Flower Arrangements, Style of Menu, etc.)

❏Create maps and give directions for guests. You want the route from the airport (train or bus station, etc) to the hotel to be clearly described. You will want to have directions from hotel to ceremony venue, from ceremony to reception, and then from reception back to hotel. Always double check that directions are correct.

❏Hire limousine or car services for bridal couple and wedding party. If you plan to drive yourselves, make careful arrangements for carpooling to ensure everyone arrives safely and on time.

❏Any proofs or calligraphy need to be approved and final orders made.

❏Start considering the plans for the Honeymoon. Are you going tropical? Are you going jet-setting tour of Europe? Gather travel brochures, check websites, and talk with travel agents.

❏Make sure to schedule time off work! You will need a few days or even a week to take care of last minute details and mentally prepare.

❏Hair and makeup appointment for the bride and bridesmaid for the wedding day in rehearsal days need to be booked.

❏Finalize the guest list

❏linen rental place setting silverware glassware etc. and make the booking for your wedding day.

❏If you’ve already received gifts send Thank You cards.

❏The Bride's mother and the groom's mother need to know what to expect so they can start looking for their wedding day outfits.

❏Formal wear for the groom needs to be reserved. It the best man is available the groom can invite him to the fitting.

❏Schedule fittings for the groomsmen and reserve their formal wear from the rental company.

❏Are you having wedding favors? If so what are they? Do supplies need ordered?

❏Are you staying in bridal suite, hotel room, or bed and breakfast on your wedding night? You will need to book the room now.

❏ What gift are you giving the wedding party? If any…

❏ If you are worried about dancing at the reception look into dance lesson opportunities.

Five Months

❏Honeymoon destination finalized. Book white accommodation and get visas have a current passport and make other travel arrangements as needed.

❏ Wedding cake taste testing. Decide on one you love. Place an order, sign a contract, and arrange delivery.

❏ If having a rehearsal dinner make restaurant reservations and select the menu for the night.

❏ Gift Registry update. Update wedding website.

❏For ceremony, review reading and poetry.

❏Work on vows.

Four Months

❏Finalize the wedding vows.

❏ Bridal Dress / gown fitting with shoes and lingerie.

❏Start addressing invitation envelopes. You can make labels use a computer printer and ask wedding party for help and addressing them. Or hire a professional.

❏ Purchase the groom accessories like cufflinks, tie, socks, etc.

❏ Buy attendant gifts.

❏Trial Hair and Makeup Appointments need booked for Bride and her attendants.

❏Provide a “Must Play” and “Do Not Play” list to the Band or DJ. Provide an outline for special dances to be included. Provide an outline of planned events such as speeches, dinner, breaks, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc..to the band so they know what to expect.

❏Decide if you (Bride and Groom) will see each other before the ceremony. This can affect when the photographer/ videographer will show up and how they will divide their time.

❏Book the restaurant that will host the after-wedding brunch. Select Menu.

❏If your honeymoon is a destination location, check with a doctor for if you need special shots before leaving.

Three Months

❏Weigh and Pay Postage for all the invitations.

❏Mail out Invitations. Invitations must be out at least 6 weeks before the wedding- no later!

❏If you want a wedding announcement in the paper, submit a photo and write-up to the newspaper now.

❏Discuss plans for the pre-wedding parties: bachelor, bachelorette, or stag and doe parties, etc… with honor attendants.

❏Set a date and time for bridesmaids’ luncheon if one is being held. Also select a location.

❏Update gift registry.

❏For out-of-town guests, you can email” what to do in the city” newsletters. This makes a great impression!

❏Select Rehearsal Dinner attire.

❏Start assembling guest favors if having any. Remember to ask for help from members of the wedding party.

❏If leaving welcome gifts at hotels for the guests coming into town, assemble them now.

❏If wedding couple plans to exchange gifts- start looking now!

❏Schedule remaining spa appointments: manicures, pedicures, spray-tans(needing at least 1 week to set), facials, eyebrow shaping, etc.

❏Make a list of “Must-Take” photos and give it to the photographer.

❏Schedule and book remaining ceremony and reception services. (Valet services, coat check, parking attendants, setup and takedown crew, serving staff and wait staff, lighting technicians, and restroom attendants.)

Two Months

❏Secure a wedding-day dressing rooms for bride, groom, and attendants.

❏Final fitting for Bridal Gown. Take lingerie, shoes, veil or headpiece, and accessories, to try with the gown. Have final alterations made. Arrange for gown steaming. Arrange pickup and delivery of gown. Assign someone to bring the gown on the day of the wedding so the bride doesn’t have to try to remember.

❏Purchase ceremony extras (wine glass, aisle runner, candles, etc.) if needed.

❏If a blood test is required by the state- do it now.

❏Get the marriage license (get at least one extra copy). Check your state- some states only issue the marriage license 30 days in advance- keep that in mind with your wedding date.

❏Get all name-change paperwork in order.

❏If one or both of you will be moving after the wedding, send “change of address” information to your post office. Mail forwarding service should start the day you move.

❏Meet with the bank to discuss changes to accounts, creating joint accounts, changes to insurance policies, etc.

❏Meet with a lawyer to discuss new wills and finalize prenuptial agreement documentation if these are being drawn up.

❏Check on the sizing status of the wedding bands. If they were sent off for engraving, pick them up.

❏Secure tent, chair, and table rentals if needed.

❏Make bookings and reservations for any other wedding activities that are planned.

❏Buy a guestbook- or decide what kind of guest sign-in- to have and purchase supplies.

❏Check with bridesmaids to ensure their dress alterations are complete. Make sure all dresses are picked up, and shoes and accessories are picked up and put with the dresses.

❏Make sure groomsmen have their attire rentals booked. Ensure they have shoes and accessories.

One Month

❏Send out Invites for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

❏Music list should be confirmed with the DJ or Band

❏If you need clothes, swimwear, luggage, shoes, accessories, etc, for the honeymoon then buy these items now.

❏Trial hair and makeup appointment for bride and bridal attendants. Bring veil/headpiece, hair ornaments, along so the stylist can decide how to work them in. You should also bring fabric swatches from the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses for color-matching makeup and accessories. Confirm wedding day appointments before leaving.

❏Order wine, beer, liquor if not provided by the caterer.

❏Confirm Floral Orders and delivery times for locations of wedding venues.

❏How will programs be distributed at the ceremony? Will you have ushers?

❏Schedule setup and takedown for the DJ and or Band. Make sure they will have the room and electrical hookups they will be needing.

❏Create seating arrangement for reception. (Do this toward the end of the month because RSVP’s will still file in)

❏Get hair color touch ups

❏Confirm mani-pedi appointments. These should be the day before the wedding.

❏Finalize wedding day arrival times at each location with videographer and photographer.

❏Arrange for transportation for the honeymoon. Including to and from the airport.

❏Set up arrangements for while you are on honeymoon: pets fed, mail picked up, etc

❏Check passport and travel visa. Have a trusted relative hold a copy for you just in case.

❏Have honeymoon travel itinerary. Leave a copy with trusted relative at home for safety.

❏Arrange return of Grooms and Groomsman rentals. (usually the Best Man does this)

❏Talk to those you desire to give speeches. Let them know when, how long, and what tone to set.

❏Copies of readings, poems, and vows should be given to those who will need them for the ceremony. Allow time to practice.

❏Designate “Master of Ceremonies” if DJ or Band is not doing this role. (This is great for the Best Man)

❏If children are coming to the reception, make arrangements to have a babysitter. Plan a “kid-friendly” meal zone. Have kid activities to help children be occupied during the course of the night.

❏Who will be in charge of handing out the rice, bubbles, confetti, etc… that will be thrown at the end of the ceremony. Ushers are a natural choice. If not having ushers- select someone.