Steve Cie Event Moments

Historically, December 15 through April 15th is the time period that witnesses the greatest number of wedding engagements each year. Significant numbers of engagements are seen on Christmas, New Year and Valentines Days, as well as Easter and the beginning of the Spring season.

Four to eight weeks after the proposal & engagement, time to begin the arduous task of planning your wedding. Indeed it is a daunting, emotional, and trying time for the bride & groom to be. There are literally hundreds of items to address and plan for.
Wedding Planning in an organized fashion is simply a “must do”.
Creating checklists, establishing and maintaining a budget, and managing your time, are all key elements in making your once-in-a-lifetime event a success.

Establish a timeline in which to reasonably allocate the time needed to accomplish the tasks associated with planning a wedding reception. Detail, detail, detail. Crucial to the success of your reception. The Checklist will also assist you in budgeting and managing the time you spend planning, so that your efforts are productive & fruitful.
Here are some suggested Checklist items! This checklist is predicated on a 10 month planning period.

Month 1
1. Start your wedding workout routine now! Eat well, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. You may even want to join a gym or get a personal trainer to give you some motivation.
2. Search for a photographer
3. Search for a caterer.
4. Search for a florist.
5. Search for a Videographer
6. Book your reception venue and/or caterer..

Month 2
1. Get inspired! Browse your favorite wedding dress gallery to get ideas for your
own dress.
2. Search for a DJ & Book the DJ (open dates are usually limited)
3. Start thinking about the music you want played at your reception.
4. Book your photographer.

Month 3

1. Finalize your guest list
2. Set up gift registries.
3. Arrange for the Officiant.
4. Book your florist.
5. Book your Videographer.

Month 4
1. Start Shopping for your gown
2. Choose the members of your wedding party – Maid of Honor, Best Man, Groomsmen, Bridesmaids, Ring Bearer, Flower Girl.
3. Find an affordable hotel near your reception site and reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out of town guests.
4. Search for a wedding cake maker and order your cake.

Month 5

1. Search for a wedding stationer for invitations, plus place cards, menus,
announcements (if you’ll use them) and thank-you stationery (which you may
need to order now).
2. Search for a rentals supplier if you need to rent chairs, chair covers, a tent, etc.
3. Select your wedding dress and place the order.
4. Book your invitations vendor.
5. Discuss rehearsal dinner with the groom’s parents � who will host? Whoever is hosting should begin searching for a venue. You will also need to negotiate who will be invited.

Month 6

1. Select your bridesmaid dresses and flower-girl dress, and have your attendants
place their orders.
2. If your venue requires wedding insurance, start researching now and look to
purchase insurance soon.
3. Search for a vendor to help with your hair, makeup, or any prewedding
pampering.
4. Contact out-of-town guests and notify them about the hotel block and other
discount travel information. Utilize your wedding website to convey this
information.
5. Finalize your order for event rentals.
6. Rehearsal dinner host should finalize venue.

Month 7

1. Check your gift registry. If items on your list have been discontinued, you may want to update the registry.
2. Plan and book your honeymoon, including travel, accommodations, and activities.
3. Choose groom’s attire; will you purchase or rent?
4. Schedule your ceremony rehearsal and alert your attendants, officiant and ceremony musicians / DJ of the date & time.
5. Finalize the text for your invitations and place the order. Also, consider purchasing thank you notes from the same vendor.
6. Book your hair and make-up appointments.

Month 8

1. Book accommodations for your wedding night.
2. Search for a transportation vendor.
3. Choose your bridesmaids accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc)
4. Choose groomsmen and ring bearer’s attire.
5. Discuss and confirm party plans for bachelor & bachelorette parties.
6. Provide guest lists to your maid of honor and best man for your shower or bachelor party.
7. Address your invitations (they should be mailed 6 to 8 weeks before the event, so leave yourself plenty of time if you’re using a calligrapher). If you’ll be sending announcements, address them now as well.

Month 9
1. Book your transportation vendor.
2. Finalize the menu and service details
3. Design and create favors. Search for favors vendor.
4. Schedule gown fitting appointments.
5. Purchase your wedding bands.
6. Ask your readers to be part of your ceremony. Begin a search for reading s and discuss with your officiant.
7. Mail out wedding invitations.
8. For an international honeymoon, begin to get your papers in order (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc.).
9. If you are handling bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.

Month 10

1. Confirm number of bouquets, boutonieres, centerpieces with your florist.
2. Purchase a guest book and a few nice pens.
3. Purchase or make gifts for your bridal party and close family. Don’t forget ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, and readers
4. Track gifts received from guests and send thank-you notes
5. Check on your hotel room blocks to ensure important guests have made their travel arrangements.
6. Order alcohol (wine, champagne, liquor) if they are not included in the catering contract. Discuss with your caterer to determine how it will be transported to the wedding.
7. Design your ceremony programs and print them. Create menu cards for the reception
8. Research local marriage license requirements. Schedule a blood test appointment if one is required in your state. Don’t forget to check when the license expires and if there is a waiting period.
9. Write your vows if you choose to personalize them. Send a copy to your officiant
10. Alert your wedding party to the rehearsal. The rehearsal-dinner host should send rehearsal dinner invitations.
11. Determine your ceremony music selections and send the list to your ceremony musicians
12. If you have guests attending from out of town who are parents, help them by locating baby sitting options for them.
13. Shop for all additional accessories like undergarments, jewelry, headpiece, bridal purse, etc.
14. Pick up wedding rings and check the inscriptions before you leave the store.
15. If you have a DJ, work on a list of ‘must-play’ and ‘do-not play’ songs. Be sure you also send them selections for your introductions, first dance, cake cutting, father/daughter dance, anniversary dance, and last dance.
16. Create a wedding day schedule. Send the information to your wedding party members and vendors.
17. At your final wedding gown fitting, bring a friend to learn how the bustle will be tied.
18. Obtain a marriage license. Follow your state’s guidelines concerning how soon you can apply, and how long the license is valid for.
19. Call guests who have not yet RSVP’d for the wedding and rehearsal dinner to get a final head count
20. Pick up your gown. Before leaving the shop, try it on to make sure there are no additional alterations to be made.
21. Give final head count to the caterer. Confirm set-up instructions and menu items.
22. Verify with your reception venue to make sure your vendors will have access to the site when they need it.
23. Confirm head count, delivery time, and location with your wedding cake vendor.
24. If you’re having a receiving line, determine the order everyone will stand in.
25. Determine any wedding day assignments for members of the wedding party and make sure they’re aware of their duties.
26. Create your seating chart. Make place cards or give typed names to your calligrapher
27. Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangements with your florist. Make a list of who will get bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres, and recruit someone to oversee this on the wedding day.
28. Confirm the rehearsal details and wedding day schedule with your officiant.
29. Pick up the tuxedo/suit and try it on at the shop. See if there are any additional alterations to be made.
30. Prepare your toasts and thanks to friends and family.
31. Give the seating chart to your caterer, reception venue manager, and wedding coordinator.
32. Send your transportation vendor the schedule, addresses, and contact phone numbers for the wedding day.
33. Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors. Mail your payment checks or make arrangements for the wedding day.
34. Shop and pack for the honeymoon.
35. Confirm location, date, and time with your photographer. Create your ‘must-take’ photo list.
36. Confirm location, date, and time with your videographer.
37. Confirm your wedding day beauty appointments
38. Confirm all honeymoon travel plans. Give someone a copy of your itinerary and contact in case of emergency. Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc.).
39. Drop off favors, placecards, guest book, pens, cake knife, toasting flutes, and all other reception items at the reception venue.
40. Rehearse the ceremony with your officiant and wedding party.
41. Give wedding announcements to your maid of honor to be mailed on the wedding day.
42. Enjoy your wedding day! Take a moment to step back and enjoy a quiet moment with your new spouse..

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