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| 12+ Months Before The Wedding: |
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Announce your engagement to family and friends. |
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If both sets of parents haven't met yet, this is the time to plan their first get together. |
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Decide on a date for the wedding. |
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Choose who you want to be in the wedding party. |
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Plan your wedding budget. Who will be contributing to it (e.g. the couple, one set or both sets of parents)? |
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Shop around for ceremony sites. Meet with potential officiants. |
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Visit reception sites. Is the caterer provided? If not, begin searching for a caterer now. |
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Want to use a wedding planner? Begin searching for one now. |
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| 9-12 Months Before The Wedding: |
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Make final decision on a location for the ceremony. Book the date. |
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Make final decision on location for the reception (including the caterer). Book the date. |
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Go wedding dress shopping! |
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Begin looking at bridesmaid dresses. |
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Meet with wedding planner, if you are using one. |
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Go shopping for wedding rings. |
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Book a florist for all your bouquets and floral arrangements. |
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Book the photographer and/or videographer. |
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How will you all travel on your wedding day? Consider different rental options. |
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Start thinking about your guest list. |
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| 6-9 Months Before The Wedding: |
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Discuss menu with reception hall or caterer. |
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Book car rental for wedding day. |
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Book music for the wedding day (ie. for ceremony and reception). |
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Buy wedding rings. Store safely. |
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Do the bridal registry. |
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Have undergarments and wedding shoes ready for your first wedding dress fitting. |
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Modify your guest list. Be ready to give reception hall/caterer your final number. |
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Mail "save-the-date cards" to guests that live out of town. |
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Plan your wedding favours. Will you buy them or make them? |
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| 2-4 Months Before The Wedding: |
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Complete your marriage license application if you haven't done so already (depends on where you live so it is best to start this earlier). |
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Complete and mail out your wedding invitations. |
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Get your travel papers ready for the honeymoon (depends on where you're going for the honeymoon. Check with your travel agent or government agency.) |
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Visit your doctor and get immunization shots. This will depend on where you are going for your honeymoon. If you are going somewhere exotic, you may want to get immunized. |
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Make final decision on menu items for the reception. Don't forget guests with specific health related diets. |
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Make final decision on your music for the wedding day. |
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Start making your own wedding favours or make final decision and order them. |
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Book your hair and makeup artist. Decide where hair and makeup will take place on your wedding day (ie. at the salon or at someone's home?) |
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Book times for your wedding dress fitting, if you haven't already done so. Remember to bring your undergarments and proper heels for the fitting. |
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Start planning the finer details of your wedding day (eg. schedule of events for the wedding day, the receiving line, what happens at the ceremony, etc.). |
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Begin writing your thank you cards for any wedding gifts that you have received. |
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Prepare thank you gifts for your wedding party. |
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| 4-8 Weeks Before The Wedding: |
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Tie up any loose paper work that still needs to be done (eg. marriage license, travel documents, name change arrangements, passports, etc.) |
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Create list of photos that must be taken on the wedding day. Give this to your photographer. Give a copy to a trusted friend to assist the photographer. |
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Finish up the seating plan now that RSVP cards are being returned. |
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Make final decision on how you want your hair and makeup to look on the wedding day. |
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Now is the time to tell the officiant if you are planning any special readings at the ceremony, or if you have any other special requests (e.g. dad will only walk you half way down the aisle). |
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Confirm rehearsal date with officiant and wedding party. |
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Ensure time is confirmed for your final dress fitting. Remember to bring the proper undergarments and your wedding shoes. |
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Let wedding party know that there will be a rehearsal dinner one week before the wedding. |
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Finalize and confirm your honeymoon plans with the travel agency. Start thinking about what you'll be bringing to the honeymoon! |
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Fine tune your wedding day itinerary (ie. how is the time line for events on your wedding day?). |
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| 2-3 Weeks Before The Wedding: |
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Complete your seating plan. Politely call guests who have not returned their RSVPs and see if they are still coming to the wedding. |
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Have your final dress fitting, with proper undergarments and wedding shoes. Take your wedding dress home and hang it in a cool dry place, avoiding sunlight. |
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Finalize and confirm details with all wedding services (ie. the ceremony, reception, caterer, florist, etc.). |
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Remind wedding party of the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. Start thinking about any special words you'd like to say at the dinner. |
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Start packing for your honeymoon(eg. go buy that bathing suit if you haven't already done so!). |
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| 1 Week Before The Wedding: |
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Who are you paying on the day of the wedding (e.g. hair stylist, makeup artist, reception, officiant?) Have your cheques ready. Place them into envelopes and have someone you trust hold them. |
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Finish packing for the honeymoon. |
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Go to your rehearsal. Enjoy this time with your wedding party. Make any last minute changes as needed. |
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For emergency purposes, leave your honeymoon itinerary with a family member or friend. |
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Enjoy your rehearsal dinner. You deserve it! |
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| The Day Before YOUR Wedding: |
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Check in with your wedding party to make sure they are all clear on what is happening tomorrow! Specifically, any last minute changes that have been made. |
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Make sure you have everything you need, for the next day, packed and ready to go. |
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Fret no more!! Now it's time for you to relax. No matter what, tomorrow will be a beautiful day because you will be marrying the one you love. And that's really all that counts. |
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Try and spend some time with your fiancé. Cuddle, hug, and appreciate every minute of what has happened so far. |
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| YOUR WEDDING DAY: |
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BREATHE. |
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RELAX. Loosen those shoulders. It will be a great day, no matter what. |
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ENJOY. After all the time you've spent preparing for this day, you owe it to yourself to enjoy every waking moment of your wedding. Laugh off any hiccups or mishaps that may happen. They are bound to happen, so why let them bother you? |
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SHARE THIS DAY WITH YOUR HUSBAND. Now, that is truly the key. |
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