Groom Calendar Countdown - Weddings & Honeymoons

Groom's Planning Guide

Depending on the size of your wedding, the longer advance time you give yourself to work on your wedding plans, the better it will turn out

Groom's Calendar Countdown

Depending on the size of your wedding, the longer advance time you give yourself to work on your wedding plans, the better it will turn out. As soon as you have completed your preliminary budget, set your time lines to correspond to each item. Remember to delegate items to people who can carry them out. Also, remember to give them deadlines and follow up for their results. Give yourself plenty of time to work on your to-do list.

Several of the items also appear on the Bride's Countdown list that is in her Planning Guide on the Main Menu because the items concern both of you.

ONE YEAR TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
(not necessarily in order)

• Choose an engagement ring and perhaps wedding band[s].

• Arrange a social get-together to meet the prospective in-laws.

• If you're placing an announcement in the newspaper, have your picture taken with your fiancée.

• Attend your engagement party.

• Make an appointment with the clergyman, rabbi or officiant and confirm the date, time and place of your wedding and your rehearsal. Discuss pre-wedding counselling and ask for their guidelines for dress, photography, videography, music, flowers and any other matters of concern.

• Work with your fiancée in planning and budgeting your wedding.

• Accompany your fiancée, if she needs your help, when she is meeting with suppliers.

• Choose your reception venue.

• Choose your Best Man. He is the person who will assist you and see that everything runs smoothly .

• Confirm members of your wedding party - Best Man, Groomsmen and if you are having one, the Ring Bearer.

• Help your fiancée to select bridal gift registry locations. Let your mother, Best Man and Groomsmen know what you need. Select a travel agency registry so that guests can assist in paying for your honeymoon.

• Prepare your guest list. If you are inviting people from out of town and know they will be staying in a hotel or motel, you and your fiancée or either of your parents will need to make an arrangement with local hotels or inns, which will send out information packages including room rates, city maps, transportation schedules, brochures, restaurants and sightseeing tour information.

• Assist your parents with any wedding responsibilities they have assumed.

• Prepare a To-Do List for your best man, groomsmen and ring bearer.

• If someone gives you a wedding present, give it to your bride and she will send a thank-you note.

SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

• Take part in deciding upon the wedding reception menu.

• Complete your guest list. Be careful about the spelling of their names.

• Confirm your photographer and videographer.

• When your fiancée's mother has bought her dress for the wedding, she will let your mother know the color and style [they don't want to be in the same color].

• Once you've selected your wedding attire, advise your Best Man on how you want him and the groomsmen to be dressed.

• Develop a list of friends who will assist in decorating the ceremony location or the reception venue, if you aren't hiring professionals.

• Make a list of friends who will have cars available on your wedding day.

• Start looking into honeymoon destinations. Be in touch with travel agents and go to local travel shows. The earlier you look for deals the better.

• If you are flying out the day after your wedding to a destination, book a hotel close to the airport.

• If you are having a printed wedding program, work with your fiancée on the format and wording.

• Start to discuss where you want to live after your married with your fiancée

• You and your fiancée may want to open a joint bank account for your wedding expenses. Arrange to have your cheques sent to you with your monthly statements. This will help you to keep a better cash flow and provide proof if you need to make any claims against suppliers.

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