The Countdown Calendar

YOUR WEDDING DAY should be exciting, memorable and romantic. But it will only happen if you plan things carefully and allow enough time for everything. The actual date is something for the two of you to decide. However, you will want to consult your parents and other key family members to ensure that the date you want does not conflict with some other family event that cannot be avoided. Once the date has been set, let everybody know as soon as possible so that they can mark it on their calendars.

SETTING THE DATE

There are a number of factors that need to be considered in establishing a date for your wedding:

SEASON: If you are planning a garden wedding, for example, you will have to consider a late spring or summer date.

SIZE AND FORMALITY: The more elaborate the wedding, the more time you will need to prepare. A wedding dress alone can take four to six months to make unless you are borrowing one or getting one off the rack.

AVAILABILITY OF RECEPTION LOCATION: Some locations book up to a year ahead.

WORK SCHEDULES: Both you and your fiancé will need to take time off work for the wedding and the honeymoon. Some employers place restrictions on when you can have vacation.

If you are getting married in six to nine months, you don’t have a lot of time and will therefore have to be more flexible in your desires. Even a small, less formal wedding at home will require at least three months of planning.

You want your marriage to last a lifetime. Take your time planning so that you can enjoy it. If you do it right, you should be left with lots of pleasant memories.

COUNTDOWN CALENDAR

Here are some recommendations about when things should be done. Use this list as a general guideline that you can adapt in any way you choose:

Twelve to 24 Months Before

• Select wedding date and time.

• Make a preliminary budget and determine how costs will be shared.

• Determine size of guest list, degree of formality and theme.

• Determine who will officiate at the ceremony and book him/her for rehearsal and wedding.

• Select caterer and/or reception location.

• Hire a wedding consultant if you plan to use one.

Six to 12 Months Before

• Start compiling guest list.

• Determine colour scheme.

• Select bridal attendants and determine sizes.

• Choose your dress and headpiece. Schedule fittings and delivery date.

• Choose bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories.

• Have fiancé select best man and ushers.

• Select photographer, videographer and entertainment.

• Choose ceremony music.

• Select florist, balloonist and/or ice sculpture.

• Book transportation for wedding day.

• Announce engagement in newspaper.

• Shop for wedding rings.

Four Months Before

• Have mothers co-ordinate and select dresses.

• Register at bridal registries.

• Order invitations and personal stationery.

• Complete guest lists.

• Select men’s attire and reserve right sizes.

• Start planning honeymoon.

• Start planning for trousseau.

• Order wedding cake and groom’s cake if required.

• Order favours (bonbonniere).

Two months before

• Address invitations and announcements. Mail four to six weeks before.

• Finalize details with caterer/reception location, photographer, videographer, florist, DJ/musicians, band.

• Finalize ceremony details with officiant.

• Make rehearsal arrangements.

• Plan rehearsal dinner.

• Plan bridesmaids’ luncheon.

• Make appointments with hairdresser.

• Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests.

• Finalize honeymoon plans.

One Month Before

• Have final fitting for your gown and those of bridal attendants.

• Obtain marriage licence.

• Provide map to ceremony and reception to all guests.

• Have formal portrait taken.

• Purchase gifts for attendants, participants and fiancé.

• Have bridesmaids’ luncheon.

• Keep careful note of gifts received and write thank-you notes as they come in.

• Do inventory of accessories. Examples:

Toasting goblets. Ring pillow. Garter. Candles.

• Select responsible person to oversee guest list and its location.

Two Weeks Before

• Attend to business and legal affairs. Examples: Name change on driver’s licence and credit cards. Make a will.

• Move possessions and gifts to new address. Arrange with Canada Post to have mail forwarded.

• Finish addressing announcements to be mailed on wedding day.

One Week Before

• Contact guests who have not responded.

• Give final count to hotel, banquet hall or caterer.

• Review details and timetables with vendors.

• Give photographer/videographer list of shots you want.

• Give DJ/musicians list of music for ceremony and reception.

• Plan seating arrangements.

• Practice having your hair done to make sure it comes out the way you want.

• Practice your makeup in lighting conditions similar to those on your wedding day.

• Keep writing those thank-you notes.

• Pack for the honeymoon.

• Check that you have marriage licence.

• Check that you have wedding rings and that they fit.

• Check that all wedding attire fits and is picked up.

• Have a rehearsal with all participants reviewing their duties.

• Give officiant’s fee to best man.

• Pick up tickets and traveler’s cheques for honeymoon.

On Your Wedding Day

• Eat something. Otherwise you might feel faint.

• Take a relaxing bath.

• Get your hair and nails done.

• Allow time to prepare makeup.

• Start dressing 1-1/2 hours before ceremony, two hours before if photographs are to be taken.

• Start music 30 minutes before ceremony.

• Seat groom’s parents five minutes before ceremony. Your mother is seated immediately before the processional and the aisle runner is rolled up.

After the Wedding

• Send announcements and wedding picture to newspapers and social media profiles.

• Mail announcements.

• Write and mail thank-you notes.

• Arrange for gown, bouquet and/or cake preservation.