Every woman wants the perfect wedding, but many are unaware of just how much work truly goes into making that day a special event. We’ve all searched on Pinterest for wedding ideas before. While gorgeous pictures might give you a good idea of things you would like, it’s going to take a lot more preparation if you want to pull off perfection.
Given that the average engagement in the U.S. lasts 16 months, we’ll assume you have at least that much time to get everything ready. This checklist will get you from making a guest list to enjoying your honeymoon somewhere like Princess Bayside without missing a thing!
Getting Started
The first step in planning is to create a wedding folder or binder. This is where online sites and magazines will come in handy. You will want to draw inspiration on everything from the food that will be served to the floral decorations.
Fill your binder with everything that catches your eye, you’ll narrow down your selections later on. This is also a good time to figure out what your budget will be. While getting married in the Disney castle wearing Belle’s dress would be amazing, it’s important to know the limitations of your funds.
Next, you want to pick your wedding party and fill out the guest list. Relying on the help of your friends or a wedding planner is up to you. Either way, you and your planning group should start researching photographers, florists, etc.
Oh, and book your officiant now!
Getting Started: Step 2
Around eight months before the wedding is when you should hire everyone else, everything from entertainment to caterers. Also, book hotel rooms for any out of town guests now since it is far enough in advance.
Basically, you will fall back on that binder to pick out exactly what you want and start setting things in motion, including purchasing your wedding dress.
Getting Closer
Six months before the wedding you should send out the invitations, arrange transportation you might need, and meet with the officiant to double check the paperwork. This is also where things get really fun! Set aside time to research for bridesmaid dresses found here and shop for the ones you like. Also, spend some time with your S/O to plan an amazing honeymoon.
4 To 5 Months Away
This is when you should figure out what music you want played, where you will get your hair and makeup done, and order the cake. You will also want to choose what food will be served. That’s a lot of planning, but make sure to take the time to get your dress properly fitted and find the perfect shoes.
3 Months Before
Finally, a simple month! All you have to do is buy the rings, finalize the events of the evening, and send that finalized plan to the vendors.
You can also think about any extras that you might want for your guests. Think small entertainment, something that’s not going to need long-term planning. For example, you could rent WiFi hotspot to keep your guests entertained during downtime. Something like that is cheap, easy to arrange, and can do a lot for your guests.
2 Months To Go
Okay, this month is even simpler. Relax, enjoy your bachelorette party, and meet with the professionals you hired at your leisure.
The Final Month
Back to work! Ready? You need to:
- Get your marriage license
- Stock the bar
- Send out final payments
- Confirm times for hair and makeup
- Assign seating
- Buy the bridesmaid’s gifts
- Write your vows
- Delegate wedding day tasks
- Set aside vendor checks
- Manicure, pedicure, the works
- Break in those shoes
- Assemble any welcome baskets
- Pack for your honeymoon
It’s a lot of work, but if you’ve followed this list then you are well on your way to making your special day one you will remember forever.
Author Bio:
Zachary Whatule
Zachary Whatule is a super-connector with ManageBacklinks.io who helps businesses with building their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. Zachary frequently writes about the latest advancements in the SaaS world and digital marketing.
