Bride Calendar Countdown page 3 - Weddings & Honeymoons

bride's calendar countdown (continued)

Two-Three Months before the Wedding

1. Mail your invitations.

2. Start writing thank-you notes for any engagement or shower gifts you have received.

3. If you are planning to announce your wedding in the newspapers, obtain guideless and deadlines by calling the lifestyle, society or classified desks of the newspaper.

4. Confirm the date and plan your luncheon for the Maid of Honor, Bridesmaids and Flower Girl.

5. Follow up on any hotel or motel bookings for out-of-town guests.

6. Follow up on the arrangements for men renting tuxedos in the wedding party to be measured at the rental shop.

7. Confirm the selection of music for the ceremony, reception and first dance.

8. Re-confirm your rehearsal date and time with the clergy, rabbi or officiant.

9. Re-confirm the location and time of your rehearsal dinner.

10. Prepare and mark boxes of items required for the rehearsal, wedding and reception.

11. Book an appointment with your hair stylist. If you are going to have your hair cut or shaped, make sure you don't do it the day before your wedding. Give yourself time so that if a hair cut or style isn't right for your headpiece and veil, you have time to make changes.

12. Book an appointment with your makeup artist, who usually will give you a free makeup session in advance to make sure the look is what you want on your wedding day.

13. If you want to have a formal bridal portrait before your wedding, make a booking with your photographer three to four weeks before your wedding. If you are having the photograph taken for a newspaper announcement, you may want to send a wedding photo of the two of you taken on your wedding day.

14. Start working on your vows.

15. Buy wedding gifts for each other.

16. Start planning the timetable for your ceremony and keep it in the right place in your binder. List every little detail of everything that is happening at the ceremony minute by minute. Make sure your Groom, Maid of Honor and Best Man have copies as well.

17. Start developing your seating plan from the RSVPs that you have received. Write out place cards where they are needed - the Bride's table or both of your parent's table . . . etc.

18. Start developing the timetable for your reception, including the receiving line.

19. Keep updating your printed program (if you are having one).

20. Shop for your wedding cake.

21. Confirm the payment procedure with all the services you are using for your wedding. Keep a record of what you are paying for, what your family is paying for, what the Groom=s side is paying for and what others are paying for. Have cheques prepared and/or cash put aside in the proper envelopes. If you are paying by cheque, some vendors may ask that the cheques be certified.

How rigid are these timetables?

Not very. You can get married in two days if you feel like it. But if you want a more substantial ceremony and family event, you'll need some time. These lists cover almost everything you have to think about - but a small ceremony can be much simpler.

You're not alone in all this

While wedding planning can seem daunting (and even lead to family arguments), you don't have to go it alone. Even without a wedding coordinator, you'll get lots of help from the caterer, the banquet hall and the church or other officiant at your wedding.

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