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9-16 Months Research! Visit the Today's Bride Show to research venues, caterers, photographers, florists, and cakeries. E-mail us to request Something New Entertainment VIP tickets, and attend FREE! Come with comfortable shoes and your calendar, prepared to make decisions and to schedule future appointments. Budget! Determine how much you have to spend, based on your families contributions and your own, and use a budget calculator to roughly distribute funds to various categories, adjusting to your own priorities. Over 80% of guests polled in a survey list entertainment as the component they remember most, followed by the food and the bride's gown. Style it up! Consider the style of your event - religious or secular, indoor or outdoor, evening or daytime, casual or formal - as well as colors or themes. Celebrate! Throw an engagement party. Remember that engagement party invitees should receive an invite to the wedding itself, as well. Something New Entertainment offers special discounts to couples who book both their engagement party and wedding entertainment with us! Name your court! Choose your attendants as soon as you can, because once you've got the ring, all your friends will be waiting and wondering if they'll be selected. Hire help! Hire a wedding planner or day-of coordinator, if desired. Something New Entertainment also provides day-of coordination services to Something New Brides for a nominal fee. Stake your claim! Book your officiant and ceremony site, as well as your reception venue. Now you have a solid date! Consider booking time for rehearsal in your ceremony space at this time, too, if possible. Wish your list! Talk to your fiance and family about the guest "wish" list. Remember: unfortunately your venue and your budget may not accommodate every name on your wish list. Create a spreadsheet or set up an online database tool to use throughout the planning process to keep track of contact info, RSVPs, seating, gifts, thank you notes, etc. 8 months Choose a visionary! Book your photographer (and videographer). Spend time considering the style of photography that suits you and your fiance's style best. Traditional, edgy, artistic, photojournalistic, or a combination of some of these? Check out our links page for a few great photographers to start with, or hit Today's Bride and the Knot. Begin considering a list of important "must have" shots, and make sure your photographer is on the same page. Chow down! If your reception location doesn't include a catering package, start scheduling tastings and choose who will prepare your wedding feast. Dress up! Choose your dream gown. Don't forget to schedule at least two fittings. You may choose to purchase accessories like your headpiece, jewelry, shoes, and lingerie now or wait a couple of months. Hostess! Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for your out-of-town guests including close-by accommodations in a range of price-points. Register! Choose your top two to six retailers and then go to town with that scan gun! Go World Wide (Web, that is)! Set up a wedding web page with information for your guests such as date, ceremony and reception times and locations, information about travel, registry information, etc. Today's Bride offers a great free tool in partnership with WeddingWire, as does the Knot, WeddingChannel, Martha Stewart Weddings, etc. Don't forget to spred the word! 6-7 months Glam your girls! Shop for bridesmaids' dresses. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the dresses to be shipped and fitted - at least four to six months. Green the house! Now that you have a space and a better-defined palette and style, choose a florist that shares your vision. Invite them! Select wording and purchase your invitations (and Save-the-Dates) - don't forget to order extra envelopes (you'll need them!). Hire a calligrapher or start addressing early; the process is time-consuming and may take longer than you anticipate. Make it official! Consult with your officiant to ensure that you have all the necessary documentation for your ceremony according to your location and religion. Move it! Choose your transportation. Limousines, antique cars, town cars, party buses, trolleys, begged, borrowed, or rented - the sky is the limit! Plan ahead! Start mapping out a rough time line for the day before and the day of your wedding/rehearsal dinner, nails/spa, wake up time, limo pickup, hair and makeup, ceremony start time, hair and makeup, photos, reception start/end, etc. Book rehearsal space! Book your rehearsal dinner venue and menu (and rehearsal, if you haven't already), as well as venues and menus for any other large pre- or post-wedding parties - bachelor/bachelorette parties, day after wedding brunch, etc. Rent it! If you need chairs, portable toilets, tents, or electrical components for an outdoor event or maybe special linens, chair covers, china, or lighting, now is the time to secure them. Arrange for delivery, too, preferably with the rental company, but if not, then with family and friends. Save it! Send your Save-the-Dates to your A-list invitees. 4-5 months Get a makeover (or several)! If you don't have a favorite - schedule trial runs with several local hair and makeup artists so you can choose the one who will make you look your wedding day best. Remember to take along your headpiece, as this will greatly affect your hairstyle. Get showered! If your bridesmaids or other family members are hosting a shower for you, help them with the guest list. Satisfy your sweet tooth! Compare designs by several area bakers and choose a handful who suit your style to visit for tastings. Expect to put at least 50% of the cake cost down to secure your date. Support yourself! Choose appropriate lingerie for your wedding day - something that will make you feel sexy & supported. 3 months Get in good favor! Order your supplies for favors and out-of-town guest baskets; get to assembling, if necessary. Print it! Menus, place cards, escort cards, programs, table numbers, etc. DIY or have it done professionally now so you won't have to worry about it later. Ring your belle (and beau)! Pick out your rings and arrange for sizing and engraving, if needed. Throw a well seasoned affair! Make final decisions on seasonal items to be used in your food and decor. Choosing in-season (and/or local) fruit, vegetables, and flowers will not only cut down on costs, but it will enable you to host a "greener" event with fresher and more flavorful produce. Toast your friends! Determine what special readings you would like included in your wedding ceremony - and which special people in your life you will honor by asking to deliver these readings, a toast, or a blessing at your reception.
Brainstorm! Attend your first scheduled meeting with your lead DJ/MC from Something New Entertainment. We'll talk about your schedule of events and music preferences, as well as what steps we can take to coordinate with your other vendors to make your event run smoothly. Have a girl's night out! Traditionally, your maid of honor is the one to plan the bachelorette party, but don't be too shy to ask her about it! If she's too busy, one of your other bridesmaids will likely e happy to oblige. Make sure you get some fun time with your girls to relax before the wedding gets too close. Mail those invites! Send out your invitations. Make sure to have them weighed carefully to avoid returned mail! Plan your vision! Meet with your photographer (and videographer) to talk about your "must have" shots, and perhaps to visit specific locations together to discuss opportunities you hadn't considered.
Be seated! Assign seating charts (if necessary), at least for the head tables and family tales. Use sticky flags or an online seating chart (like WeddingWire's) so you can move guests around easily until you get the perfect fit. Call them! Telephone guests who have not yet responded (RSVP'd) to ask if they plan on attending. Don't be shy - they know you need a head count! They probably just forgot, but be prepared to graciously accept "no's." Confirm it! Double-check appointment times for hair, nails, makeup, and/or spa treatments, as well as set-up or arrival times for each of your vendors. Make sure that vendors will have access to your ceremony site and/or reception hall at the appropriate time! Cut and/or color! If you need to cut or color your hair prior to your nuptials, do it with plenty of time to correct any unforeseen mistake. Direct! Make sure your chauffeurs, shuttle drivers, and out-of-town guests know where they're going! Print and e-mail directions for the hired drivers and guests to give them plenty of time to plan their route. Fit it (part 3)! Visit your seamstress for a final fitting. Hopefully, your dress will e the perfect size! If not, schedule another fitting as soon as possible after the remaining minor alterations are complete. Gift it! Purchase gifts for your family members and attendants to be presented at the rehearsal dinner. Invite them (again!) If you haven't already done so, send out rehearsal dinner invitations to your bridal party, immediate family, minister or officiant, and out-of-town guests. License it! Apply for your marriage license. This might take several days, If you're planning on changing your name, order a few extra certified copies for the BMV, Social Security Office, your banks and creditors, etc. Pay for it! Begin sending out final payments to your vendors.
1 week Count it! Send the final count/list to your caterer and any other vendors who need a head count. Delegate! Make lists of small tasks that family and friends can help you with on the day of your wedding: someone to hand out tips and any remaining payments to vendors, to bustle your dress, to ensure your party shoes arrive at the reception venue, etc. Distribute! Make arrangements for rented items, welcome baskets, decorations, and favors to get where they belong on time. Make a list! Write a check list of "must have" shots for your photographer (and videographer). Pack it up! Pack your suitcase for your honeymoon! Pick it up! If you haven't already done so, claim your gorgeous gown! Schedule it! Draw up a time line for your entire wedding party and distribute it. Include each member's contact information, as well as contact information for all your vendors, in case of questions or problems. Wrap it up! Put any remaining vendor payments and tips in labeled envelopes and distribute them to a bridal party member in charge of delivering them to the appropriate vendor representatives. Hydrate and exfoliate! Don't forget to drink plenty of water and to keep your skin clean and moisturized to ensure clear skin and smooth lips.
Rehearse! Get ready to walk through your wedding ceremony and attend the rehearsal dinner. Remember to drink in moderation to avoid the slumps tomorrow morning. Relax! Don't stress out! Remember that you've got lots of people who love you around you and lots of help. your wedding day |
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