Here Comes the Guide

The ultimate blueprints to navigating wedding planning:

  • Envision your wedding and draw up a budget.
  • Assemble your “planning team.” Consider hiring a wedding consultant.
  • Pick a wedding date and time. Select several options, then check with your venues, officiant and important guests before finalizing.
  • Start planning the guest list.
  • Look for and book ceremony sites and reception sites.
  • Ask friends and relatives to be in the wedding party.
  • Look for wedding gown. Show your consultant at Charlotte’s pictures and ideas you may have to help find the dress of your dreams. Book a separate appointment to find your bridesmaid attire.
  • Envision reception food.
  • Decide what type of entertainment you want. A pianist for the cocktail hour, strolling violinists, a DJ or band?
  • Think about your floral décor.
  • Plan a shopping day at Charlotte’s for bridesmaids. Dresses take six months or more to come in.
  • Research and book your wedding professionals. Interview vendors: photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ, and florist.
  • Research a wedding insurance policy to protect your deposits.
  • Research and reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.
  •  Register for gifts.
  • Contact rental companies if you need to rent anything for the ceremony or reception, such as chairs, tables and a tent.
  • Book ceremony musicians.
  • Start planning honeymoon.
  • Send save-the-date cards. This is a particularly good idea if you’re marrying during a tourist or holiday season or having a destination wedding.
  • Attend pre-wedding counseling, if required.
  • Shop for and order invitations and wedding rings.
  • Groom and bride should pick out the men’s attire.
  • Renew or get passports, if necessary.
  • Envision your wedding cake and research, interview and book a cake designer.
  • Order wedding cake.
  • Hire wedding day transport: limousines, other cars. Look into transportation sooner if you’re considering renting streetcars or over-the-top travel.
  • Mail your invitations.
  • Write your vows.
  • Purchase gifts for parents, attendants and each other.
  • Book your stylist and try out wedding day hairstyles.
  • Book a makeup artist and go for a trial run.
  • Apply for a marriage license and check with the local bureau in the town where you’ll wed.
  • Check that all men have sent in their measurements for tuxedos.
  • Bride: Have final gown fitting. Bring your maid of honor along to learn how to bustle your dress.
  • Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding.
  • Make last-minute adjustments with vendors.
  • Create a wedding program to hand out to guests.
  • Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
  • Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a response.
  • Deliver must-have shot lists to your photographer and videographer. Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken.
  • Deliver final song list to your DJ or bandleader. Include special song requests and songs you don’t want played, so your dance is perfect.
  • Bride: Get your last pre-wedding haircut and color.
  • Give reception site/caterer final guest head count. Include vendors, such as the photographer or band members, who will expect a meal. Ask how many extra plates the caterer will prepare.
  • Supply location manager with a list of vendor requests such as a table for DJ or setup space needed for a florist.
  • Plan reception seating chart. 
  • Call all wedding vendors and confirm arrangements.
  • Give ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers.
  • Groom: Get your hair trimmed.
  • Groom: Pick up your formal wear and have necessary alterations done. 
  • Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen pick up their wedding attire
  • Determine final wedding party positions during the ceremony and the order of the party in the processional and recessional.
  • Hand off place cards, table cards, menus, disposable cameras, favors and any other items for setting the tables to the caterer and/or reception site manager.
  • Reconfirm final details with all vendors and discuss any necessary last-minute substitutions.
  • Call the limousine or car rental company for pickup times and locations.
  • Arrange for guests without cars to be picked up from the airport or train station. Ask friends, attendants or relatives to help.
  • Deliver welcome baskets to the hotel concierge; include names and delivery instructions.
  • Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding, so you can troubleshoot problems.
  • Write checks and/or talk to wedding hosts about any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.
  • Rehearsal ceremony. Meet with wedding party, ceremony readers, immediate family and your officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out the details.
  • Bring unity candle, aisle runner, yarmulkes or other ceremony accessories to the site. 
  • Give your marriage license to your officiant.
  • Attend rehearsal dinner.
  • Present attendants with gifts at the rehearsal dinner. You’ll want to do this especially if the gifts are accessories to be worn during the wedding.
  • Present parents and each other with gifts.
  • Give wedding bands to the best man and maid of honor to hold during the ceremony.
  • Give best man the fee envelope to given to the officiant.
  • Introduce your reception site manager to your consultant or maid of honor for questions or problems during the reception.
  • Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographer’s contact so he/she knows who’s who.
  • Be sure to take time to reflect on this day with just the two of you.
  • Prearrange for someone to return any rentals.
  • Return tuxedo rentals.
  • Sit back, relax and enjoy your honeymoon.