Where do I begin??

[*Amy*]

Hey Everyone!
I am getting married in July, and I am just now starting the planning process. It is so overwhelming, that I do not even know where to begin! Where/What did you do first in the planning process? Any advice would be so helpful!!
Amy

[carolinalady67]

Do the big things first. Pick a location, caterer, photographer, DJ, officiant, florist. You have the date already, what about colors and theme? Of course set your budget too.

Find a good check list, there are many of them out there, you may have to make some adjustments to it because most are set up with a year planning schedule. But don't worry, you can plan a beautiful wedding in the time you have.

[Angela]

I agree with Lisa, get all of the big stuff out of the way ASAP. We booked our ceremony site and officiant first, then our reception site. We planned everything about a year and a half in advance, but after we had those two major things planned and deposits put down, we did the rest of the big stuff--DJ, photographer, videographer, limo, etc.

The Knot and Wedding Channel have pretty good checklists with what you should do. Good luck!

[*heather*]

The very first thing you should do is make a mock up guest list so you have some idea of what kind of location you should be looking for. If you have 50 people, your location will be very different than if you have 250.

Also decide on the level of formality you want to have also, since this will determine everything else you book and purchase. After you have these two nailed down, find a location and pick a date (be a little flexible with your date, since many places that you love will already be booked. 7-7-07 is very popular this year).

[sweetiez]

just so you know it may be hard finding stuff for the 777 date now. but im wishing you luck

[Winter_Bride]

The very first thing you should do is make a mock up guest list so you have some idea of what kind of location you should be looking for. If you have 50 people, your location will be very different than if you have 250.

Also decide on the level of formality you want to have also, since this will determine everything else you book and purchase. After you have these two nailed down, find a location and pick a date (be a little flexible with your date, since many places that you love will already be booked. 7-7-07 is very popular this year).

I TOTALLY agree with this! A guest list, AND budget, will help you to decide on a location for ceremony and reception.

[Winter_Bride]

You might need to think outside the box for venues. Not meaning to scare you, July IS popular for weddings, and you might find a lot of places booked.

Some things to consider are having the ceremony and reception in one location, and maybe rather than booking your reception for a hall or hotel, look at different venues (we had ours in an indoor garden). You could hold everything outside, and rent tents. Just some ideas in case venues in your area are booking fast...

[Hughto]

Hi Amy! I have a checklist that may be helpful. You'll have to modify a lot since you are looking at 6 months rather then 12+, but it'll help a bit. Good luck!

12+ months
Meet, call or email important friends and family about the big news
Envision your overall wedding
Draw up wedding budget
Choose several options for the date and time
Develop record keeping system to record payments
Ask close friends and family to be members of the wedding party
Decide on a wedding size and start drawing up the initial guest list
Book ceremony location
Book reception location
Book priest
Make a web page to announce your wedding
Announce engagement in newspapers
Get a calendar to note important activities

9-11 months
Bride: Start envisioning and shopping for the dress
Envision wedding food, start researching and interviewing caterers
Start researching and interviewing photographers and videographers
Envision wedding entertainment, start researching and interviewing DJs
Picture floral décor, start researching and interviewing florists
If you have many out of town guests, research and reserve room blocks
Book caterer
Bride: Order wedding dress and head piece
Determine color scheme
Register for gifts
Book photographer
Book videographer
Book DJ
Book Florist
Send save the dates
Schedule fittings and delivery dates for myself, attendants, flower girls and ring bearer

6-9 months
Decide on menu
Reserve wedding night bridal suite
Book ceremony musicians
Start shopping for invites
Order invites
Start shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses
Start shopping for flower girl dresses
Finalize flower ideas with florist
Start planning honeymoon
Order bridesmaids’ dresses
Start working on songlists for the ceremony
Start working on songlists for the reception

4-6 months before
Attend prewedding counseling
Finalize guest list
Groom: Start shopping for your and the groomsmen’s formalwear.
Start shopping for wedding rings
Give the invites to calligrapher to address
Select date and time for rehearsal dinner
Envision wedding cake, start researching and interviewing cake designers
Start shopping for each others wedding gifts
Purchase shoes and assessories
Begin to break in shoes

3 months before
Order wedding cake
Order party favors
Order wedding rings
Check marriage license requirements
Attend shower
Groom: rent the men’s formalwear
Hire limo/other cars for transportation on wedding day

2 months before
Mail invites, include accommodation choices and a map to assist guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites
Maintain a record of rsvp and all gifts received. Send thank you notes upon receipt of gifts
Determine hairstyle and makeup
Finalize shopping for wedding day accessories such as toasting glasses, ring pillow, guest book, etc.
Check with newspapers for wedding announcement requirements
Write vows if you want them original
Send wedding announcement and photograph to newspapers
Purchase gifts for parents, attendants and each other
Find and meet make up artist for trial run
Make appointment with hairstylists to try out big-day dos
Apply for the marriage license together in the town where you’ll be wed

1 month before
Bride: Have final dress fitting. Bring MOH along to learn how to bustle dress. Have the dress pressed and bring home
Confirm ceremony details with priest
Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
Call the bridesmaids to make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding. (or in process of getting alterations done).
Before the florist places the order, make sure you are happy with all the flowers and arrangements you’ve chosen. Make last minute adjustments.
Make a detailed timeline for wedding party
Make a detailed timeline for service providers
Confirm details with all service providers, including attire and give them timeline
Write, format and make copies of a program for the guests
Plan in room welcome baskets for out of towners

Two weeks and counting
Call guest who have not yet returned their invite response cards
Deliver a must take photo list to the photographer, including who should be in formal portraits.
Pick up rings and check fit
Remind attendants when and where to pick up their attire
Draw up and deliver to DJ a list of special song requests and any sons you definitely want or don’t want played
Determine ceremony seating for special guests
Plan reception room layout and seating with reception site manager
If needed, give videographer a must shoot lists
Bride: get one last prewedding trim and hair color
Start packing for honeymoon

1 week before
Give reception site a final guest head count, include vendors (also ask how man extra plates the caterer will prepare, the actual plate count).
Supply the reception site manager with a list of requests from the other vendors
Do the reception seating chart and write out place cards
Call professionals to confirm all arrangements and confirm a wedding-day home or mobile number for each.
Officiant ceremony site contact: _____________________
Cermony Musicians: _____________________
Recetion site: _____________________
Florist: _____________________
Photographer: _____________________
Videographer: _____________________
Baker: _____________________
Transportation: _____________________
Give the ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers
Groom: Get hair trimmed
Attend bachelor/ bachelorette parties

2-3 days before
Bride: If dress still needs to be pressed or steamed, do this now
Groom: Go in for final fitting and pick up formalwear
Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen go for fittings and pick up outfits
Touch base with the ceremony and reception sites one more time
In prep for the rehearsal, determine the order of bridesmaids and groomsmen in the processional and recessional
If reception site will be arranging place cards, table cards, or menu cards, hand them off
Reconfirm that the florist received the correct flower order and knows where and when the flowers should be delivered. Should the personal flowers go to the ceremony site or home?
Call transportation to reconfirm locations and pickup times
Get manicure and pedicure
Put welcome baskets in out of town guests rooms

Day before
Make sure all wedding professionals have emergency phone number to call on day of wedding
Write checks
Meet wedding party, ceremony readers, family, and officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse the ceremony
Bring unity candle, aisle runner or other ceremony assessories to the site, so you don’t have to think about them on wedding morning
Give your marriage license to the officiant
Attend rehearsal dinner
Present attendants their gifts during dinner
Get a good nights sleep

Day of
Present parents with a gift
Give the best man and MOH your wedding rings
Give the best man the officiants fee envelope, to be handed off after the ceremony
Hook up your reception site manager and your wedding consultant or MOH so they can deal with any questions or problems during the party
Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographers contact
Remember to enjoy selves at reception
Arrange for attendants to take dress to the dry cleaners and tux to the rental shop the Monday after the wedding

Post wedding
If you were pleased with wedding vendors, send thank you cards
When back from honeymoon, call the attendants to thank one more time
Keep a gift log and send out those thank you notes as soon as possible
Celebrate one month anniversary in style

[Winter_Bride]

:clap: Katie!!

[nikkiscott]

Good thing I read the posts before I posted cause I was going to post a checklist like the one above. great minds think alike.

[soulmates]

Like Amber said you might have a lot of trouble finding places for the date you want.
Having a good idea of how many people you are inviting is a must before you can book anything.
Book the church/ceremony venue, the reception hall and photographer ASAP.

[*alissa*]

Wow, you ladies are on it! :) Look at all the great advice! I totally agree with it all.
I planned my wedding in 5 months....so I think you will be okay.
After getting the big stuff out of the way (venues, etc) start dress shopping. You will need to find and buy one soon to ensure you will have it and have time for alterations.

[PurpleFlower]

once you get one started the others just kind of follow and it doesn't seem as overwhelming!! Start with how big you want the wedding to be, then start picking colors, Sites for ceremony and reception (if you want a reception), then move onto the photog, dj, caterer(this could be already choosen for you if your reception site contracts with anyone). Like I said take it one step at a time then it will just fall into place!

[km]

:computer:

I would say first: buy your dress, this will set the style of wedding you will want. Country, Elaborate, etc.
:wavey:

[*alissa*]

:computer:

I would say first: buy your dress, this will set the style of wedding you will want. Country, Elaborate, etc.
:wavey:

Good point.....

Also, I used the online planner from the wedding channel ALOT. It really helped keep me on track with reminders and such...you can store your guest list there......etc.
The Knot has a good one too,, I just found the wedding channel to be easier for me...
There is also ezwedddingplanner.com and weddingsolutions.com
All are decent planners that will help you keep on top of what needs to be done, what has already been done, your budget, etc......

[*Amy*]

Thanks so much for all of your advice. I'm sure the date I've picked is very popular, but I'm also not going to be too picky on the venue. Actually, in the townhomes I live in there is a really nice facility we can use for free. This would be great for the reception if I have to use it (I'll try to find some pictures to post of it), but I'd still have to find somewhere for the ceremony. I was hoping to have both in the same place, but I guess I'll just see what seems to work out. Also, I do not want to have to pay and arm and leg for a place to have this wedding. Do you think it will be cheaper to find a place where we can have both the ceremony and the reception? Or do you think using the free facility and my townhomes and renting a place for the ceremony will be a better way to go?
Thanks again!!

[*alissa*]

It just depends on what you can find.....
Alot of churches only charge a nominal fee for the use of it for a ceremony...at least here.
Ours was free.....
So it really just depends. If you can find a cheap or free place to have the ceremony, than it would probably be cheaper to have the reception at your free facility.

[*heather*]

Why not have the ceremony somewhere outside, but within your townhomes complex? You could totally have them in the same place, even in the same room if you have people to help you set it up and rearrange it from ceremony to reception...

[SueMartin]

Why not have the ceremony somewhere outside, but within your townhomes complex? You could totally have them in the same place, even in the same room if you have people to help you set it up and rearrange it from ceremony to reception...

thats a really good idea.. saves on travelling costs and that can be a big expense.