Wedding Timeline

[ printable version ]

Planning your kentucky wedding should be one of the highlights of your life. Getting married is a joyous celebration worthy of creative details coupled with the inclusion of family and friends. Even though there is a lot involved, do not get lost in the details. Enjoy this celebration and always remember to keep things in perspective. No one will care, or should care, if you stumble when walking down the aisle, nor will they care if it rains on your wedding day. Unexpected things will happen, but they may become fond memories if you have a sense of humor and remain calm. Relax, don’t sweat the small stuff, and always remember to be the gracious bride.

Listed below is a timeline to help you stay organized as you plan your wedding. Most couples today plan their wedding in 6-9 months. Regardless of the time you have to prepare, this planner will help you along the way.

Have FUN planning with My Kentucky Wedding!

Six to Twelve Months Before the Wedding:

Set your wedding date and time of ceremony.
Determine the formality of the ceremony and reception.
Establish your working budget.
Hire your wedding planner.
Prioritize your desires (wants vs. needs).
Determine the number of invited guests and start compiling addresses.
Begin searching for and then contract your ceremony and reception locations.
Interview Officiants or make arrangements with your Priest, Minister or Rabbi to perform the ceremony.
Find out what marriage preparation is required before the wedding.
Book your Hotel Accommodations for out-of-town guests (most hotels require a 10 room minimum peak night to set up a block).
Select your Maid or Matron of Honor and all bridal attendants.
Shop for and select your wedding dress, veil and headpiece [ENJOY!]
Shop for your bridesmaids’ dresses, select colors, and order gowns.
Develop the design/theme for your wedding based on the dresses and formality of the event.
Begin interviewing and contract your photographer.
Begin interviewing and contract your videographer.
Begin interviewing and contract your florist and/or event designer.
Schedule tastings with caterers and contract for services.
If planning an outdoor wedding, create rain-back up plan and reserve all needed rental items such as tents, chairs, tables, linens, etc.
Schedule cake tastings and contract your baker.
Start planning your honeymoon remembering to include your fiancé.
Begin plans for house or apartment hunting and discuss how finances will be handled after you are married. » Send out Save the Date cards if your wedding falls over a holiday weekend or several out-of-town guests require time to make travel arrangements.

Four to Six Months Before the Wedding

Register with a bridal registry in the town of both families.
Apply for or renew passports, if necessary.
Contract ceremony musicians and entertainment for reception.
Have mothers select their attire being careful not to select identical gowns.
Order formalwear for the gentleman in the wedding party including fathers and grandfathers. » Have engagement session with photographer.
Discuss the rehearsal ceremony time and begin rehearsal dinner arrangements working closely with the hosts of that event.
Finalize your guest list and all addresses.
Order your invitations and keep in mind the extra postage that may be required for the designs you select.
Hire a calligrapher if you want your invitations professionally addressed.
Shop for wedding rings and allow time for engraving, if desired.
Send photo and engagement announcement to your local newspaper.
Start creating your FREE wedding website on MyKentuckyWedding.com.
Contract all wedding related transportation (limos, vans, buses) if needed

Two to Three Months Before the Wedding

Arrange appointments for the bridal party and mothers for hair and make-up on the wedding day.
Arrange your appointment to practice your hair and make-up for the wedding.
Order flower girl dress and ring bearer outfit. Kids grow fast, so don’t order too early as they may not fit in what was originally ordered.
Plan your bridesmaids’ luncheon or event to honor your attendants. Select their gifts.
Make appointment with photographer if you are having a bridal portrait.
Contact your officiant on additional marriage preparation and confirm times of rehearsal. Also meet to discuss readings, songs, and flow of the wedding ceremony.
Create a program/system for recording all your gifts.
Write thank you notes as you receive gifts and mail them immediately.

Four to Six Weeks Before the Wedding

Mail wedding invitations.
One to weeks after mailing wedding invitations send the rehearsal dinner invites.
Schedule the final fitting for your gown and dresses for the attendants.
Gather all of your wedding related items such as toasting flutes, candles, garter, ring pillow, flower girl baskets, cake serving pieces, guest book, etc.
Pick up your wedding rings with your fiancé and keep in a safe place.
Check with your fiancé that the honeymoon arrangements are finalized.
Shop for a wedding gift to give your fiancé.
Create your wedding day timeline to provide to all wedding vendors making sure to inform them of set-up, tear-down and other policies relating to the use of the facility or church.
Create your wedding procession, recession and order attendants will stand or sit during the wedding ceremony. Finalize your music selections.
Get copies of the readings to your readers, so they can properly prepare before the rehearsal.
Purchase gifts of thanks for your parents and honored guests.
If giving party favors at the reception, start ordering & preparing for guests.
Design and print your ceremony program if necessary.
If traveling abroad, make sure to check with government agencies or your travel agent if proof of vaccinations are needed to enter a certain country. Exchange money in the currency of the country you are traveling. Make sure to have emergency information available and see if your medical insurance is honored in the country you are visiting.
Make final arrangements for joining bank accounts, completing insurance policies and any other financial changes.
Arrange in-room welcome baskets for any out-of-town guests and find out how the hotel will distribute as guests check-in. Be mindful of possible fees.

Two to Three Weeks Before the Wedding

Double check the hotel pick-up by requesting the arrivals list from your room block.
This will show you who still needs to make reservations before the block drops. » Finalize the details for the rehearsal making sure all participants know the start time of the rehearsal.
Finalize any remaining rehearsal dinner items with the host of that evening. » Obtain your marriage license with your fiancé.
Contact all guests who have not responded to your invitation, so you can have accurate numbers for your wedding vendors.
Write your wedding vows, if this is part of your ceremony.
Shop for any honeymoon attire. » Finalize your song list and special dances with your DJ or Band Leader
Finalize your photo list with your photographer and any poses you want taken before the ceremony and ones for after.
Pay any remaining balances due to your wedding vendors for their services.
Send wedding announcement to your local paper to have printed on the weekend of your wedding.

One Week Before the Wedding

Give your final guest count to your caterer or hotel representative. Take any wedding related items to them which are needed for the reception such as place cards, guest book, wedding favors, toasting flutes, etc. Also, provide them a list of all wedding vendors and their contact numbers, delivery times, and any vendor requests such as table for the DJ or space for the florist. Make sure to include food for your wedding vendors at the reception. They need to be included in your final numbers.
Deliver welcome baskets to the hotel for distribution to guests
Print place cards, if necessary.
Create your seating chart, if necessary. Inform wedding party and immediate family or special guests if you are providing reserved seats for them and their spouses at the reception. Always keep spouses together even if one is not in the wedding party.
Give all your wedding vendors the final timeline of the event and any necessary information they will need to be prepared for your wedding.
Pack for the honeymoon.
Arrange for someone to return any rented items after the wedding. » Notify post office to hold your mail while on honeymoon.
One last check that you have everything for your wedding gown including the veil, headpiece, shoes, jewelry, undergarments, garter, etc.
Make arrangements for gathering and transporting gifts from the reception.
Make arrangements for food and drinks in your bridal suite at the ceremony location.
Make sure your fiancé has made arrangements with the groomsmen and fathers to pick up their formalwear, and when it needs to be returned, to eliminate any late fees.
Make sure wedding gratuities and any payments given to vendors the night of the wedding are sealed in a labeled envelope and the responsible party hands them out as needed.
Write a personal thank you note for the officiant or clergy including a cash gratuity for performing the ceremony. This is separate from the church or facility rental fee. It is a gesture of thanks. (Groom covers the cash gratuity).
Prepare your Emergency Kit including items such as; bobby pins, sewing kit, safety pins, scissors, matches, TIDE on the Go whitening pen, buttons, tape, etc.

The Rehearsal Day

Gather items needed at the rehearsal.
Enjoy a pedicure and manicure.
Ready the suitcases for the honeymoon including your passport and any necessary documents.
Bring the marriage license to the rehearsal to give the officiant or clergy.
Give the wedding rings to the best man.
Remind all wedding party attendants and family members of the times and locations for the wedding day. Ask them to please be prompt.
Enjoy the day with your family and friends. The planning is over and the FUN begins.
Get a good night sleep.

The Wedding Day

Enjoy a nice hearty breakfast.
Get your hair styled and make-up applied.
Make sure the groom checks into the hotel earlier in the day and puts your suitcases in the room or at the bell desk.
Make plans for lunch if having an evening wedding.
Arrive, on-time, at the ceremony location and for pictures.
Dress in your gown, remembering to soak up all the excitement surrounding you.
Be the gracious bride by relaxing, and remember to smile and laugh often – YOU DESERVE IT!

After the Wedding

Write thank you notes to everyone who helped and was involved in your wedding.
Have your gown cleaned and preserved.
Have your bouquet freeze-dried, if desired.
Write thank you notes immediately for all gifts received at the wedding upon your return from the honeymoon.
Arrange to have flowers delivered to your parents while on your honeymoon as another way to say thank you and I love you.
Enjoy being someone’s wife and have a long, healthy and happy marriage!