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Wedding Planning Schedule
What to Do Throughout Your Wedding Plans and When to Do It

Announce your engagement to family and friends.

Arrange for your parents and other members to meet together and get to know each other better before you have to start planning.

Discuss the style of wedding the two of you want. See our "Choosing The Wedding That's Right For You" page for ideas.

Pick your wedding date and time. Have a backup date in case your first date is booked.

Discuss wedding expenses and budget with yourselves and both sets of your parents. Plan a preliminary budge and how the wedding expenses will be shared or divided?

Make rough draft of wedding guests list. (Those you must invite and those you would like to invite if possible. You may wish to ask your parents if there are people they feel it is important that they attend.)

Decide on your colour scheme and theme for your wedding if you're having one.

Book the location for your wedding ceremony, the wedding officiant and the location for your wedding reception. Discuss the pre-marital conditions with your officiant if any.

Order the bridal gown and other attire accessories.

Order the bridesmaids' attire.

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Interview and hire your wedding professionals such as the caterer, baker/cake decorator, florist, stationary provider, photographer, videographer, transportation provider, invitation printers, decorator for the wedding reception and ceremony locations, bar tenders, disc jockey, musicians including organist and/or soloist. Go over all the details with them.

Arrange for your engagement photo to be taken.

Pick out your wedding rings and select the words for the engraving if you wish to have your rings engraved.

Finalize your wedding guests list, allowing for a few extra people.

Select and ask the person you would like to act as the Master of Ceremonies at your wedding.

Order the attire for the Groom and his attendants.

Plan decorations for wedding ceremony and reception.

Reserve your rentals.

Buy your garter, ring pillow, knives & servers, fountain pen and guestbook.

Apply for your marriage licence from the city/town hall.

Plan and upload your wedding website if you're having one. A website can save you money, time and frustrations.

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Register for wedding gift registry. Many businesses offer wedding gift registry. See our list of online wedding gift registry links. We suggest you register together as a couple either in stores or online. It helps if you already know the colour scheme of your home.

Reserve your hotel room for your wedding night.

Make all your honeymoon arrangements and get your passports if needed.

Send out any Save the Date cards.

For the wedding guests that will be traveling a long distance to attend your wedding, send some accommodation information from local hotels, motels or bed and breakfast establishments.

Book the accommodations for your wedding guests, and your wedding party members if required.

Book accommodations for yourself if you need a place to get ready before the wedding.

Arrange for the master of ceremony.

Ask for assistance from your attendants and responsible helpers.

Decide on any readings for the wedding ceremony and make arrangements accordingly.

Address your wedding invitations.

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Mail out wedding invitations 6-8 weeks before your wedding date with a reply deadline of 3-4 weeks before the wedding. Include maps and directions to your places of wedding ceremony and reception. If you have a wedding website include the website address.

Book the hair, makeup, and nail appointments for everyone in your wedding party if needed. Don't forget to also book the trial run appointments for the Bride about two weeks before the wedding.

Choose and make or buy the wedding favours for all your wedding guests.

Check on all your professionals' progress and confirm all the arrangements with each of them.

Select the gifts for your attendants, parents, and for each other.

Pick up your wedding rings and check the sizing and engraved wording.

Select or write any special readings, poems, or vows for your wedding day.

Write your thank you notes for any shower or wedding gifts you have received. Keep up-to-date records.

Get forms for change of address and change of name if needed.

Plan your music for your wedding ceremony and reception with professionals.

Purchase the decorations if you are doing them yourselves.

Check all the final details with all your professionals.

Have the final fittings for all the women in the wedding party including the Bride.

Work on the seating plan if you are using one. Post it on your website if you have one.

Meet with your wedding officiant to finalize the plans for the wedding ceremony.

Make the arrangements for your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Make reservations at the dining location if needed. Notify all people involved of the details.

Make the final plans for your transportation to the location for photo taking, wedding ceremony and reception locations and to your honeymoon night location. Make sure there is enough room for everyone involved.

Place your wedding announcement in your local newspaper.

Apply for your liquor licence if required.

Plan and print the programs for your wedding ceremony.

Keep up with your thank you notes.

Remind everyone that will be making speeches at your wedding reception of their responsibility.

Write any speeches you will be making.

Check-in with all your professionals as needed.

Pick up the wedding gown and store it appropriately.

Put together "Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue" if you are choosing to do this.

The Bride has her practice hairstyle and makeup appointments for the wedding day. Have any appointments for waxing, facials and any other esthetics done.

Confirm all your honeymoon plans, pick up travelers cheques and flight tickets if needed.

Follow up with your wedding guests who have not responded yet. Get your family and friends to help you call them if needed.

Make your seating plan and place cards if needed for the reception.

Write any wedding reception toasts you will be giving.

Men have their appointment for their attire alterations.

Arrange for house sitter and care for any pets while you are away on your honeymoon.

Arrange for someone to take the wedding gown to be cleaned and preserved after the wedding. (Be sure to tell them about any dirty spots on the gown and what made the spot after the wedding so it can be cleaned properly.)

Check-in with, and confirm all the details with all your professionals.

Give your seating plan and final wedding guest count to your caterer. Take in consideration any special dietary needs or allergies of guests that have replied yes.

With liquor licence, buy the liquor and wine for the wedding reception if not provided by reception location.

Assign your attendants and helpers jobs for the wedding day. Include all the details of where and when things should be done. Be specific and write the details down.

Write your wedding day schedule if you're doing one. Give a copy to your professionals, your parents and to all your wedding party. Include the time events are scheduled for and the addresses.

Start packing for your honeymoon.

Make a checklist for the wedding ceremony and the reception of things that need to be done and items that need to be taken to the locations.

Pick up all the men's attire. Check the sizes and make sure nothing is missing and everything is functioning like zippers and buttons.

Wrap the presents for your attendants, your parents, and your partner.

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Arrange for your wedding gown to be cleaned and preserved while you are on your honeymoon. Make sure you tell the person in charge of this task if you have spilled anything on your gown on your wedding day. They can tell the cleaners so it will be taken care of appropriately.

Wrap the wedding cake if you are handing out pre-wrapped cake.

Break in wedding shoes -Wear only around the house with socks, be careful not to scuff shoes.

Plan any meals needed for the wedding party before the wedding on the wedding day.

Have a massage to help keep you relaxed.

Confirm details with professionals.

Wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are usually planned for this day.

Decorate and setup the location of the wedding reception if you are doing it yourself and you have access to the location.

Decorate your place of ceremony at the rehearsal if possible.

Make up your Emergency Anti-Panic Bag.

Finish packing for your honeymoon.

Make a rental list for the person returning rentals and a cleanup list for the person in charge of the reception cleanup.

Take your marriage license to the rehearsal for your wedding officiant.

Bring any money or cheques in envelopes for anyone who needs to be paid before the day of wedding to the rehearsal such as the officiant and/or musicians if they have not already been paid.

Give the gifts to your attendants, your parents and/or to each other at rehearsal party if you wish.

Have manicure done if you don't have enough drying time on wedding day.

Ensure everyone's cell phones are fully charged for wedding day.

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Give extra time for getting ready. Try to be ready for the wedding at least 1 hour earlier than planned. Between make-up, hair, transportation, getting dressed, flowers, traffic, visiting, someone forgetting something, photographers and videographers, you may loose more time than you think. You're better off circling the block for awhile, than being late for the wedding ceremony.

Have flowers delivered to need places, this includes bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages.

Give your wedding rings to the appropriate persons, Maid of Honor, Best Man or the person in charge of the ring pillow.

Give your Best Man sealed envelopes with payment for any professionals that have not been paid already.

Finish packing for your honeymoon. Pack your luggage, honeymoon tickets, and passports. Have everything taken to the hotel or wedding reception location so you don't have to go back home for them.

Take the marriage licence to the wedding ceremony if it wasn't taken to the rehearsal.

Decorate the cars if needed.

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Decorate and setup the place of your wedding ceremony and reception if it was not done yet. If your location has more than one wedding going on in the same day, you may have to decorate and setup at the last minute. Make sure if you have to do this you have arranged for enough help to get the job done on time. You may need to arrange for someone to take decorations down at the place of ceremony immediately after the wedding.

Give your gifts to your parents if it wasn't done at the rehearsal party. Have someone delivery the present to your spouse-to-be when he or she is getting ready for the wedding if you haven't already given it to them.

Get lots of sleep and don't forget to eat and drink enough water. You don't want to pass out. Take care of yourself so you can be at your best.

Move your engagement ring to your right hand.

Have everyone dressed and ready at least 1 1/2 hours before the wedding for the photographer to take pictures.

Have a wonderful day and cherish every moment.