The Traditional LDS Wedding Checklist
You’re engaged. Congratulations. Now what? This checklist will help keep you organized while planning your traditional LDS ceremony and reception. Keep in mind that this is a very basic checklist, and should be subject to change based on the season, location, and needs of the wedding.
Four or more months before:
☐Set temple wedding date
☐Set endowment date (if needed)
☐Set budget
☐Reserve reception venue
☐Book a photographer for an engagement session
☐Buy Wedding dress
☐Book florist
☐Book hotel room for wedding night
☐Plan and book honeymoon
☐Compile guest list and gather addresses
☐Purchase or reserve groom’s attire
☐Bride: Make appointment with OBGYN for premarital exam and birth control prescription
☐Find apartment/married housing (get on more than one waiting list)
Three months before
☐Register for gifts
☐Make and send save-the-dates
☐Buy stockings or any special undergarments for your wedding dress
☐Order catering
☐Send dress out for alterations
☐Book wedding photographer
☐Book wedding videographer
Two months before
☐Try out makeup and hairstyles
☐Have final dress fitting with shoes, accessories, and undergarments
☐Obtain marriage license and request certified copies (for documentation when changing the bride’s last name)
☐Book deejay
One month before
☐Arrange transportation for the wedding day (for bride and groom, and parents of each; to and from the temple, to and from the reception site)
☐Ask an endowed family member or friend to be a temple escort for endowment session
☐Break in wedding shoes at home
☐Notify caterer with final guest count
☐Buy guest book
☐Book wedding cake at bakery
☐Reserve rental equipment venue will not provide: linens (table cloths and chair covers), decorations, centerpieces, etc.
☐Confirm specific wedding assignments:
- Pick up wedding cake
- Pick up bouquets and other floral pieces
- Wedding dress care; who will bring it to the bride after hair and makeup, who will take it after the reception
- Pick up rental equipment, drop off rental equipment next day
- Setting up reception space, as needed
- Cleaning up reception space, as needed
- Attend reception site for catering drop-off
Two weeks before
☐Bride: Contact your bishop to interview for a temple recommend
☐Groom: Contact your bishop to interview for a temple recommend, returned missionaries need to interview for a living ordinance temple recommend.
☐Contact bakery for confirmation and delivery options. If no delivery options are available, assign the responsibility to pick up the wedding cake
☐Contact florist for confirmation and delivery options. If no delivery options are available, assign the responsibility to pick up bouquets and centerpieces
☐Pack for honeymoon
☐Find storage space to keep your things while you are on your honeymoon
☐Book hair and makeup stylist for wedding day
☐See live example of what flowers will be in the bridal bouquet and make any changes
☐Confirm booking with deejay. Give deejay the wedding playlist and specific songs to be played for first dances, bouquet toss, etc.
One week before
☐Make wedding day itinerary and print copies for friends or family members
A couple days before
☐Have manicure and pedicure
Wedding day
☐Put honeymoon bags in hotel room
☐Eat, drink, and be married!
After honeymoon
☐Open presents, keeping a list of who gave what. KEEP RECEIPTS. If you didn’t get a receipt for a gift but you really want to return it for the money back, try finding the product online and taking it back to the store and explaining that it was a gift without a receipt.
☐Send thank you cards
Things to consider (not included in checklist)
☐Ring ceremony: Book officiate, ceremony space, and assign someone(s) responsible for carrying the rings
☐Wedding party attendants (bridesmaids/groomsmen): Ask friends/family members to be in the wedding party.
☐Party favors for reception guests: purchase/order at least one month before the wedding
☐Garter toss: purchase garter toss and give deejay what song you would like to be played
☐Seating charts and escort cards: hire graphic designer at least one month before wedding and give them the seating chart and table numbers.