Your Wedding Checklist: essential wedding tasks month by month   
  
Easy Wedding Checklist   
Start your wedding planning with an easy-to-use wedding checklist that will keep you organized and on top of things! I suggest you print out these wedding checklists and put them in your wedding notebook for easy reference.

Your Wedding Checklist: 10 to 12 months before your wedding

____Read The First Ten Steps for a Newly Engaged Couple

____Tell your parents, important family members, and close friends the good news!

____Arrange for your families to meet, if they haven't done so already

____Announce your engagement – either in the newspaper, on a wedding website with an email sent out to all your friends, or in the most traditional way, with mailed engagement announcements

____Have an engagement party, if you'd like

____Envision the theme and tone of your wedding: Formal or casual? Day or evening? Religious or secular?

____Set your budget, read Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

____Decide who's paying for the wedding, or who's going to contribute (SEE our guide to: Wedding: Who pays for what ?)

____Start your guest list

____Select date and time (have backup dates in mind, in case a key element is unavailable)

____Select and reserve your ceremony and reception sites

____Hire a wedding consultant, if you're using one

____Choose and book officiant

____Choose bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers

____Meet with florists, caterers, and musicians.

____Arrange for a tasting with your caterer

Your Wedding Checklist: 8 to 10 months before your wedding

____Shop for and order your dress and accessories, including veil, gloves and shoes
____Sign a contract with your caterer

____Book florist and choose arrangements

____Book your musicians and/or DJ for both ceremony and reception

____Select and confirm your photographer (and your videographer, if you're using one.)

____Look into wedding insurance and decide if it's a good option for you

____Plan your honeymoon

____Shop for and order your bridesmaid dresses

____If you're making your own favors, start doing so now.

____Meet with wedding cake designers or bakers and arrange for a tasting (Yum!)

Your Wedding Checklist: Four to six months before your wedding

____Send save-the-date announcements or call out of town guests to let them know the final date, time, and location of the wedding.

____If you're purchasing favors, do so now

____Start planning your rehearsal dinner. Give the host(s) your guest list

____Examine your beauty regimen. Read Five months to perfect wedding day beauty

____If your caterer isn't doing it for you, reserve any rental equipment you'll need, including dishes, tables, chairs, linens, tents

____Register for gifts

____Select your wedding cake designer, and order your wedding cake

____Arrange transportation

____Order stationery

____Select a calligrapher, if you're using one

____Select what the groom and groomsmen will be wearing, and arrange to purchase or rent

____Purchase your wedding rings

____Book wedding night accommodations and accommodations for out-of-town guests

____Buy gifts for your wedding party, parents, and each other

____If you're changing into "going away outfits" before you leave the reception, purchase those now

Your Wedding Checklist: Two to three months before your wedding

____Give a list of "important shots" to your wedding photographer

____Discuss your menu with your caterer

____Meet with your officiant to discuss the service

____Write your vows

____Attend any wedding showers

____Mail your wedding invitations

____Think about your hair and makeup – If you're doing your own, try out hairstyles, purchase any extra makeup, think about having a "makeover party" with your girlfriends.

____Book your hairstylist and/or makeup artist, if you're using them. Meet with each of them to experiment with styles and colors

____Schedule your wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

____If your state requires it, make blood test appointments

____If you're going to change your name, complete those documents

____Send wedding announcements to local newspapers

Your Wedding Checklist: The month of your wedding

It's finally here! There's just a few more things to do to make sure everything's perfect

____Apply for your marriage license.

____Have your final gown fitting. It's helpful to have a bridesmaid with you to learn how to bustle your train and fasten any tricky buttons (and help you go to the bathroom, if you've got a big dress!)

____Check with your bridesmaids and groomsmen to make sure they've gotten their attire, confirm arrival times, and answer any last minute questions

____Contact your vendors (caterer, officiant, cake baker, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, transportation, hotels) to confirm arrival and delivery times.

____Write and print your wedding program

____Create welcome baskets for out-of-town guests

____Send change-of-address information to post office

____Write thank you notes as you receive gifts

____Ask your mother or maid of honor to contact any guests who have not RSVP'd

____Read Top Tips for Perfect Wedding Day Beauty

Your Wedding Checklist: One to two weeks ahead

____Arrange seating plan, and write place cards

____Give your final head count to your caterer, and confirm any last minute details

____Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and reception

____Try on your wedding shoes, and wear them on carpeted surfaces around the house

____Arrange for a plant waterer/pet sitter/babysitter while you are on your honeymoon

____Pick up your dress

____Attend your bachelor/bachelorette parties, if you're having them

____Send your travel plans and contact information to a family member and your house sitter (in case of emergency)

____Finalize seating chart

Your Wedding Checklist: The day before your wedding

____Do something to relax and enjoy the company of your out-of-town friends

____Assign responsibilities to your wedding party (handing out corsages and boutonnieres, greeting and seating guests, checking on vendors)

____Confirm transportation

____Have a manicure and pedicure

____Give your wedding party gifts

____Rehearse ceremony

____Hold rehearsal dinner

Your Wedding Checklist: Day of the Wedding

____Give gifts to your parents

____Enjoy your wedding!

For free printable check sheets and other helpful tips check our Help Tips page on eBay.