Nine months before your Wedding Day

• Place your engagement announcement in the local newspapers.
  
• Select your wedding gown, shoes and accessories.
  
• Select bridal party's attire.
  
• Shop for wedding rings.
  
• Determine your guest list.
  
• Reserve your reception location.
  
• Develop a reasonable budget to spend for your wedding.
  
  
• Choose your maid-of-honor, best-man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, ring bearers, and flower girl.
  
  
• Interview officiant, caterer, baker, florist, photographer, musicians,  videographer, and limousine services.
  

Six months before your Wedding Day 

• Choose your officiant.
  
• Choose your wedding theme and colors.
  
• Choose your travel agent.
  
• Choose your wedding invitation and thank-you notes
  
  
• Be sure to obtain a written contract from each wedding service professional listed below:
  
  
  • Choose your caterer. 
    
  • Choose your baker.
    
  • Choose your florist.
    
  • Choose your photographer.
    
  • Choose your musician.
    
  • Choose your videographer.
    
  • Choose your limousine.
  
  
• Send out a "Save the Date" notice to your guest

Four months before your Wedding Day

• Register at local bridal-gift registries.
  
• Plan rehearsal dinner and reserve location.
  
• Check with town or  city hall about marriage license requirements.
  
  
• Assist Mother of Bride and Mother of Groom in choosing their wedding attire.
  
  
• Have a meeting with the officiant to choose readings, ceremony, candles, lighting, vows, and any other pieces of the service.
  
  
• Arrange hotel accommodations for out-of-town guests. Ask for group discount and/or special packages.

Three months before your Wedding Day 

• Prepare directions for hotel, wedding location and wedding reception carefully. Make sure your directions are clearly defined and very easy to follow.
  
  
• Begin addressing your wedding invitations because they get sent out six to eight weeks before your wedding day.
  
  
• Give the caterers an estimate as to how many guest you expect based on the number of invitations you sent out.
  
  
• Shop for gifts to give your bridesmaids and groomsmen.
  
• Select your travel outfit.
  
  
• Check with your travel agent to make sure all honeymoon reservations are in place.
  
  
• Make an appointment with your photographer for formal studio portraits.
  
  
• Make an appointment with your hairdresser, makeup artist, manicurist, and massage therapist.

Two months before your Wedding Day

• Mail your invitations.
  
• Have your wedding portrait taken.
  
• Finalize music selection.
  
• Plan your rehearsal dinner, and brunch.
  
  
• Send wedding portrait and wedding announcement to local newspapers.
  
  
• Finalize honeymoon plans and make sure if necessary your passport is up-to-date.
  
  
• Gather together all necessary paper work for your marriage license, final divorce decree, court papers if needed, birth certificate, blood tests (depending on state), photo ID, and money for license.

One month before your Wedding Day

• Get your wedding license.
  
• Check with the caterer and give them an updated number of guest.
  
• Have a final gown fitting for yourself and bridesmaids.
  
• Purchase a special book to record all your wedding gifts in as they arive
  
• Write thank you notes as gifts arrive and mail
  
• Design seating plan for your reception and write placement cards.
  
• Check with florist to confirm date and time of flower deliveries.
  
  
• Check with your limousine service about date, time and number of people traveling in car
  
  
• Check with your photographer, videographer about formal shots you want and do not want of the bridal party, and be specific.

Two weeks before your Wedding Day

• Continue writing those thank you notes.
  
• Pick  up your wedding rings.
  
• Start packing for your honeymoon.

One week before your Wedding Day

• Conduct final check-in's with officiant, caterer, baker, florist, photographer, musician, videographer, and limousine service.
  
  
• Designate a friend or family member to arrange for all wedding  gifts that may be brought to your reception to be delivered to your home or a safe location.
  
  
• Wrap your bridal attendant's gifts and have them ready to bring to rehearsal dinner.
  
  
• Purchase  travelers checks.
  
• Inform caterer with final number of guests.
  
• Confirm honeymoon and hotel accommodations.
  
• Confirm all hotel accommodations for out-of-town guest
  
  
• Make sure all checks have been paid to your wedding officiant, caterer, baker, florist, photographer, musician,  videographer, and limousine service, etc

The day before your Wedding

• Breath deeply and relax.
  
• Go for your schedule appointment with you massage therapist.
  
• Get a good night sleep.
  
• Relax and enjoy a manicure, and pedicure.
  
  
• Enjoy  your rehearsal dinner and don't forget to bring the gifts for
  your attendants.

Your "Wedding Day"

• Allow plenty of time for hairstyling, makeup, and dressing.
  
• Allow ample time for photography.
  
  
• Remember to thank your parents and other supporttive family members and friends for their help as you planned this special day
  
  
• Remember, this is your special day! Take a deep breath and enjoy it! Savor every moment!

Reverend Alan L. Joplin
Post Office Box 10356
Phoenix, Arizona 85016-4043
Phone: 602.218.0886



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