Easy 12 Month wedding planning guide

Wedding planning steps	Objective	Time frame	Hints & Tips
Wedding planning step 1	Introduce parents	Month one	If the parents have not met, as a couple take your parents out for dinner and engage in conversations that will allow them to get to know one another.
Wedding planning step 2	Announce engagement	Month one	Parents of the Groom traditionally host an engagement party, However either or both sets of parents may host an engagement party.
Wedding planning step 3	Determine a realistic budget	Month two	Determining your budget in advance, this will help you decide the style and size of your wedding. It maybe helpful to discuss the possibility of cost sharing with parents.
Wedding planning step 4	Decide whether or not to hire a wedding consultant/planner	Month two	This is time to decide whether or not to hire a wedding consultant/planner. If you decide to go it alone get your self a nice big binder book to keep your notes, budget, contacts and appointments.
Wedding planning step 5	Choose a wedding date	Month two	Choose a date that is convenient for as many people as possible with out inconveniencing regular holiday celebrations. For example your guests my not want to attend a wedding held on Christmas and depending on the ceremony location a Sunday ceremony may be difficult for the officiate.
Wedding planning step 6	Choose the location of the ceremony	Month three	Reserve the location of the ceremony, to be sure the location will be available for the date of your choosing. Be sure to inquire about booking any and all appointments with the ceremony officiate.
Wedding planning step 7	Choose the location of the reception	Month three	Inquire about the possibility of renting a banquet hall from your local motel establishment and ask about package deals for the hall and rooms. You maybe able to workout a deal for your out of town quests.
Wedding planning step 8	Make an appointment with the officiate	Month three	Meet with the officiate about marriage license requirements, ceremony structure and be sure to ask about any restrictions and/or requirements that may be relevant to you. The officiate may have a few daunting tasks for you as well . Keep all additional appointments and obtain all documentation as requested.
Wedding planning step 9	Choose/Write your vows	Month four	Write or choose vows that are appropriate for your faith and personal situation. Speak with your officiate for advice on appropriate vows.
Wedding planning step 10	Assemble a wedding party	Month four	Choose and contact the individuals you would like to be in your wedding party to be sure they are available. Give them plenty of time to book time off work and to be sure they don't make other planes in the meantime.
Wedding planning step 11	Create an approximant guest list	Month four	Determine the approximant number of guests you are going to invite to your wedding. When determining numbers, keep in mind that individuals you invite may have partners and/or children. Decide now whether or not to invite children.
Wedding planning step 12	Choose a wedding theme	Month five	Consider your budget and choose a wedding theme that is a agreeable to both the bride and groom.
Wedding planning step 13	Choose a Bridle gown	Month five	Choose and order the bridle gown and bridesmaid gowns. Shop around and be sure the gowns fit with the theme of the wedding.
Wedding planning step 14	Plan your honeymoon	Month five	Decide on location and duration of your honeymoon and make necessary reservations and travel arrangements.
Wedding planning step 15	Choose and book a caterer	Month six	Remember to sample the food before committing to a deposit and be sure you choose a reputable caterer.
Wedding planning step 16	Choose and order a cake	Month six	Shop around and find a cake that suites your taste and budget. Explore the idea of renting a artificial cake.
Wedding planning step 17	Choose and book a florist	Month seven	Work with a florist and decide on a flower style that will work with your ceremony and reception thyme.
Wedding planning step 18	Choose and book a photographer	Month seven	Be sure your take your time when choosing your photographer. Choose carefully and recruit a few volunteers to take video footage as well.
Wedding planning step 19	Choose and order the wedding bands	Month seven	Choose the wedding bands and remember to shop around. It is especially important that the bride and groom choose the rings on their own to insure the bands reflect who they are.
Wedding planning step 20	Choose the grooms tuxedo	Month eight	Choose and order the grooms tuxedo/suite and groomsmen tuxedos/suites. This is also a good time to have final alterations/fitting done on the wedding gown and bridesmaid gowns.
Wedding planning step 21	Set up a gift registry	Month eight	Be sure your friends and family know about your gift registry. Keep it realistic and choose only things that you know your quests can afford.
Wedding planning step 22	Invite your guests	Month eight	Make a final decision on who you would like to attend your wedding. Contact your guests/send out invitations. Find a smooth way to ad the gift registry information into the invitations. Send accommodation information to all out of town guests.
Wedding planning step 23	Choose ceremony and reception music	Month nine	Choose the ceremony music and book the DJ/Band for the reception. Remember it is nice to choose songs for the guest to enjoy, however it is your night so choose romantic dance songs you both agree on.
Wedding planning step 24	plan your rehearsal and dinner	Month nine	Reserve rehearsal time at the ceremony location and reserve the dinner location. Contract all members of the wedding party and parents directly and inform them of the time date and location of the rehearsal and dinner.
Wedding planning step 25	Announce the wedding	Month nine	Announce your wedding in the local newspaper. This will give distant relatives and old friends notice about your wedding.
Wedding planning step 26	Choose wedding party gifts	Month ten	When choosing gifts try to think of the individuals in your wedding party and attempt to choose tasteful and appropriate gifts.
Wedding planning step 27	Have your rehearsal	Month ten	Have your wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Discus and delegate reasonable responsibilities to the wedding party.
Wedding planning step 28	Take a final guest head count	Month eleven	Take a final guest head count and if possible contact any guest who has yet to return a response. Try to arrange with your caterer a deadline in advance so you can accurately determine the amount of plates you need to pay for.
Wedding planning step 29	Make a seating plan and thank you notes	Month eleven	Arrange your seating plan for the reception and work on thank you notes. Working on the thank you notes directly after arranging the seating plan will reduce the post wedding workload.
Wedding planning step 30	Finalize arrangements with all venders	Month twelve	Verify date, time, location and payment with venders such as the caterer, dj, limo, photographer, hairstylists, reception hall, officiate and so on. Thank all volunteers in person if possible for their contributions.
Wedding planning step 31	Hair cuts and other appointments	Month twelve	Send the groom and groomsmen to get their pre wedding haircuts and make hair and makeup appointments for the bride and bridesmaids. Bride and bridesmaid appointments for hair and makeup are usually made for first thing on the day of the wedding.
Wedding planning step 32	Get plenty of sleep	Month twelve	The day of the wedding will be a long one so be sure everyone involved knows to get plenty of rest the night before.