The 12 Month Countdown

Congratulations on your engagement! It's a time where your will, wit, organizational skills, and humor will be put to the test. Weddings take a lot of planning and you will likely spend over 100 hours on the phone, visiting with vendors, planning, and chasing after details. To help you get off to a good start, we've put together a complete outline of the things you'll need to do for your wedding and the approximate timeline for getting those things done!

Six to Twelve Months Before Your Wedding

  ____ Call Russian American Wedding for great ideas... and some details
  ____ Select a Wedding Date and Time (and possibly a backup date)
  ____ Plan an engagement party with family and friends
  ____ Talk with a bridal consultant or wedding coordinator
  ____ Agree on a preliminary budget
  ____ Decide who will pay for what and how expenses will be shared
  ____ Call your church or synagogue for an appointment with the Efficient
  ____ Consider and ask friends and family to serve as wedding attendants
  ____ Start a "planning system" and system of organization
  ____ Start your wedding guest list
  ____ Start thinking about ideas/themes for your reception and catering plans
  ____ Determine what type of entertainment you want to have for your reception
  ____ Decide the type of wedding you would like to have (size, formality, and setting)
  ____ Think about your color schemes
  ____ Explore pre-marital counseling
  ____ Start health and fitness plan if you're not already in one!
  ____ Select your reception location
  ____ Select your professional photographer
  ____ Select your videographer
  ____ Select professional caterer (if necessary)

  ____ Select Master of Ceremony
  ____ Select Musician or Disc Jockey
  ____ Select your florist
  ____ Shop together for your wedding rings
  ____ Select wedding dress and headpiece, and set a date for fittings and delivery
  ____ Select your bridesmaids' dresses and accessories
  ____ It's time to choose a honeymoon and location 

Four Months Prior To The Wedding

  ____ OK, now it's time to spend some REAL time with Wedding Planner at

           Russian American Wedding, details, details...
  ____ Check the requirements for marriage license
  ____ Select and discuss your color schemes with the florist/decorator of choice
  ____ Again consider pre-marital counseling
  ____ Reserve your wedding day rental equipment
  ____ Decide upon a gift registry and select your gift choices
  ____ Order your invitations and related stationery needs
  ____ Start shopping for the men's’ wedding attire
  ____ Reserve your wedding day transportation
  ____ Research and select readings for ceremony
  ____ Make music selections for ceremony and reception
  ____ Select your baker, then choose your cake, and groom’s cake
  ____ Help both mothers coordinate and find their wedding day clothing
  ____ Review your contracts with all of your vendors and service providers (DETAILS!!)

Two Months Before Your Wedding

  ____ Well, at this point you could meet with Wedding Planner at

           Russian American Wedding again
  ____ Have engagement portraits taken
  ____ Place your engagement announcement in the newspaper
  ____ Mail out invitations and announcements
  ____ Decide on the men's’ wedding attire
  ____ Arrange and plan your rehearsal dinner
  ____ Purchase your wedding day accessories
  ____ Arrange attendants' parties
  ____ Prepare accommodations for out-of-town attendants and guests
  ____ Consider a hairdresser and/or makeup artist and book appointments
  ____ Finalize all honeymoon plans

One Month Left!

  ____ Final wedding dress fitting
  ____ Final fitting for your wedding attendants
  ____ Obtain marriage license
  ____ Have your attendants' parties
  ____ Purchase your going-away outfit
  ____ Create a calendar of events for the wedding day.
  ____ Make sure your accessories are in order (rings, pillow, garter, etc.)

Two Weeks Remaining!

  ____ Finalize arrangements with the entertainer(s)
  ____ Provide a list of music you would like played (or not played)
  ____ Finalize music during special events such as first dance, dance with dad, etc.
  ____ Pick up your wedding rings and make sure that the engravings are correct
  ____ Make sure they fit!
  ____ Contact the guests who have not responded to your invitations.

One Week To GO!

  ____ If you can, take the week, or part of the week off from work!
  ____ Make sure your marriage license is in order
  ____ Prepare seating arrangements, if necessary
  ____ Purchase travelers checks, confirm honeymoon reservations
  ____ Pack your baggage for your honeymoon
  ____ Have your wedding ceremony rehearsal
  ____ Instruct your wedding party on what they will be doing on the day of the wedding
  ____ Have your rehearsal dinner
  ____ Make sure all wedding attire fits properly
  ____ Give the best man the amounts your vendors are to be paid on the day of the  

          wedding
  ____ Inform your caterer of the total guest count
  ____ Confirm out-of-town guests have transportation and sleeping accommodations
  ____ Check with your florist and/or balloonist to make sure they will arrive when

          scheduled.

Your Wedding Day

  ____ Your primary goal today is to get married! Have fun! Forget about everything
  ____ Relax, enjoy yourself, and remain calm!
  ____ Allow at least two hours for dressing
  ____ Allow plenty of time to apply your makeup and style your hair
  ____ If professionals are doing your hair and/or makeup, determine the time they need
  ____ If photographs are to be taken before the ceremony, allow plenty of time for that!
  ____ Remember to bring the rings and marriage license
  ____ Seat guests as they arrive
  ____ The groom’s parents should be seated about 5 minutes before start time
  ____ Mother of the bride is normally seated last
  ____ Take a deep breath, don't worry, be HAPPY and SMILE!