It seems that wedding planning involves lots of checklists. This can be a good or a bad thing. For me, it's a good thing.
I'm a total type-A personality (it's actually pretty bad. MJ isn't allowed to do the dishes or the laundry because I want both to be done a certain way, and I think it's better that I just stay on top of these chores myself instead of getting frustrated with MJ does it "wrong," which just means that he didn't do things the way that I want them done. I told you.) Accountants generally feel at home with checklists and crossing of to-dos for a major project. So I'm right at home. The problem that I have is that I'm finding that my time is growing smaller and I haven't been checking off any of my to-dos. :(
Right after MJ and a I were engaged my MOH bought me this book: The Knot's Book of Wedding Lists. (She loves doing lists too but she's just not as neurotic as I am. :) ) Right away I started going through the chapters on reception and ceremony sites. I started checking things off and making notes in the book and emailing our site coordinators and asking them questions that were in the book. I was a lot of help!
Then when I started my wedding planner (the crazy binder that I carry around with me and look at almost daily, it's chocked full of magazine tear-outs, etc.) there were more checklists about my planning timeline. When I first started with my timeline checklist there were items that I knew I was behind in but I thought I would get them done quickly so I wouldn't fall behind. However, now that I'm revisiting my timeline checklist I'm faced with the realization that I am behind. :(
Here is my wedding timeline checklist and what I've accomplished and what I'm waiting for:
9 - 12 months before:
- Announce Engagement - umm...I think the important folks know via word of mouth
- Determine Wedding Style - Classic, elegant
- Set the Date - Done! May 29, 2010
- Determine your budget - $25,000 - $30,000 (MJ and I are paying for it ourselves)
- Create the inital guest list - Around 90 or so...
- Research & reserve ceremony site - Booked the Carmel Mission
- Research & reserve ceremony officiant - Booked Bishop Garcia
- Research & reserve reception site - Booked the La Playa Hotel
- Select your wedding party attendants - half way there, I still have one friend to ask...
- Shop for and order our wedding gown - haven't started yet, yikes!
- Choose your colors - Champagne, pink & chocolate
- Select bridal party dresses, shoes & accessories
- Apply for or renew passports/visas as needed - MJ needs to renew his, I have mine!
- Research & select the essentials:
- Florist
- Photographer - Jen Slot Photography
- DJ/band for reception
- Baker - La Playa Hotel
- Caterer - La Playa Hotel
- Finalize guest list
- Select, print or order your invitations and other stationary - I won these!
- Mail Save the date cards
- Select/purchase/reserve attire for groom, attendants, etc.
- Plan rehearsal dinner
- Meet with essential people
- Florist
- Photographer
- DJ/band
- Baker
- Caterer
- Officiant
- Shop for and order rings
- Plan the honeymoon - Going to France & Italy, but nothing is booked yet...
- Arrange hotel and/or lodging accomodations for wedding night and out-of-town guests
- Book transportaiton for wedding day
- Register for gifts - Done! Registered through Macys and Crate & Barrel
- Obtain a marriage license
- Assemble and address the invitations
- Buy undergarments and shoes for your dress fitting
- Purchase gifts for the wedding party and others as appropriate
- Send out wedding newsletter for out of town guests
- Attend showers, bachelorette party, etc. Don't forget hostess gifts!!
- Finalize menu items with caterer
- Order/make favors
- Finalize music for reception and ceremony
- Schedule appointments or dress fittings
- Schedule appointments for nails, hair, makeup, etc.
- Mail invitiations
- Select readings for the ceremony
- Meet with officiant
- Purchase gift for the groom/bride
- Create, print and assemble your wedding programs
- Pick up wedding rings and make sure they are properly insured
- Send out invitations for the rehearsal dinner
- Start preparing a seating chart for the reception
- Purchase accessories such as guest book, ring bearer pillow, toasting glasses, etc.
- Make sure to all transportation details are coordinated and finalized
- Finalize details with all of your service providers
- Attend a test run for hair and makeup
- Contact guests who haven't responded
- Confirm ceremony details with officiant
- Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
- Finalize head count with caterer and figure our table layout and seating
- Complete menu cards, place cards, escort cards, table numbers, etc.
- Arrange final fittings for wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses
- Confirm honeymoon plans, tickets, reservations
- Provide attendants with list of duties
- Pack for wedding night
- Pack for honeymoon - Don't forget your passport!!
- Pick up and properly store bride/groom attire
- Deliver favors, decorations and guest book to ceremony and reception locations
- Provide each member of your wedding party with a detailed schedule of events for wedding day
- Review ceremony seating with ushers
- Hand out payments to select vendors
3 comments:
A friend of mine bought me this book too. I do love it and refer to it frequently!
ok i feel alittle overwhelmed reading that list, and im just the MOH...you know I help with whatever you need help with :) as i am a planner and yes im not that neurotic as you are... :)
I was going over my lists this past weekend too, but I found that I made them so long ago (6 months), that I'd already done some of the stuff on my list for this month, and there were other things I had already cut out that I could cross off. I say don't stress too much yet, but try to get as much done ahead of time as you can. Wouldn't it be nice to be done with everything a month in advance....we can all hope anyway! ;)
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