The Everything Wedding Checklist Book: All you need to remember for a day you'll never forget

THE

EVERYTHING®

Wedding

Checklist

Book

3RD EDITION

All you need to remember for

a day you'll never forget

Holly Lefevre

Copyright © 2011, 2000, 1994 Simon and Schuster All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced

in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions

are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything® Series Book.

Everything® and everything.com® are registered

trademarks of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.

www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-0185-8

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0185-2

eISBN 10: 1-4405-0186-6

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0186-9

Printed in the United States of America.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lefevre, Holly.

The everything wedding checklist / Holly Lefevre. — 3rd ed.

p. cm.

Rev. ed. of: The everything wedding checklist : the gown, the guests,

the groom, and everything else you shouldn't forget / Janet Anastasio

and Michelle Bevilacqua ; with Leah Furman and Elina Furman. 2000.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4405-0185-2 (alk. paper)

1. Weddings — Planning. 2. Wedding etiquette. I. Anastasio,

Janet. Everything wedding checklist. II. Title.

HQ745.A53 2011

395.2'2 — dc22

2010038516

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.

For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.

THE EVERYTHING® WEDDING CHECKLIST BOOK 3rd Edition

Dear Reader,

Congratulations! You are now officially a member of the bride-to-be club. With that comes a whirlwind of excitement and, yes, a little bit of stress. But that is all part of planning a wedding. Luckily for you, you have the resources to help you get organized.

Most brides I talk to think it is really easy to get married; they buy a dress, pick out some flowers, find a church, and think they are pretty much done. Well, the truth is getting married can actually be that easy (in most cases, you only need a groom, a marriage license, someone to marry you, and possibly a witness or two — you don't even need a fancy dress!); it is the planning of a wedding that makes things a little more complicated.

The Everything® Wedding Checklist Book, 3rd Edition is one of the best tools you can use to manage your wedding planning. It will help you stay focused, and before you know it, you'll be enjoying a magical wedding day.

Happy planning!

The EVERYTHING® Series

The Series These handy, accessible books give you all you need to tackle a difficult project, gain a new hobby, or even brush up on something you learned back in school but have since forgotten. You can read from cover to cover or just pick out information from our four useful boxes.

PUBLISHER Karen Cooper

DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND INNOVATION Paula Munier

MANAGING EDITOR, EVERYTHING® SERIES Lisa Laing

COPY CHIEF Casey Ebert

ACQUISITIONS EDITOR Katrina Schroeder

SENIOR DEVELOPMENT EDITOR Brett Palana-Shanahan

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Ross Weisman

EVERYTHING® SERIES COVER DESIGNER Erin Alexander

LAYOUT DESIGNERS Colleen Cunningham, Elisabeth Lariviere, Ashley Vierra, Denise Wallace

Visit the entire Everything® series at www.everything.com

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people whose encouragement, insight, and guidance made this book possible: Amberly Finarelli at Andrea Hurst Literary Management for bringing this project to me; Katrina Schroeder at Adams Media for her guidance and for answering all of my questions; and all the vendors and brides I have worked with, who have taught me so much and inspired me.

Contents

Introduction

General Thoughts

Twelve-Month Wedding Planning Checklist

1. Ready, Set, Plan!

The Ring

The Wedding Date

Announcing Your Engagement

Wedding Planners

2. Getting Down to Business

Let's Talk Money

Working with the Pros

Tipping

3. The Honor of Your Presence

Who's on the Guest List

Making the List

Welcoming Ways

4. The Write Stuff

Save-the-Date Cards

Invitations 101

Get Them in the Mail

Programs, Menus, and Place Cards, Oh My!

5. What's Your Style?

Formally Speaking

To Theme or Not to Theme

Going Green

6. The Perfect Place

The Ceremony Venue

The Reception Venue

7. Support System

The Wedding Team

Parental Involvement

A Little Help from Your Friends

8. All Dressed Up

The Bride's Ensemble

The Bridesmaids' Dress

Dressed to the Nines

What about the Parents?

9. Showered with Gifts

Home Sweet Home

The Trousseau

New Ways to Register

10. Party Time!

Showering the Bride

Goodbye Single Life

The Party Begins… The Party Continues

11. Ready for My Close-Up

Your Best Shot

Caught on Film

Bridal Beauty and Grooming

12. I Now Pronounce You…

Walking Down the Aisle

I Do! I Do!

The Wedding License

Get Me to the Church on Time

13. The Party of Your Life

The Perfect Party

Please Be Seated

Thank You for Coming

14. Entertain Us!

Here Comes the Bride

Cocktails, Anyone?

Let's Dance

15. Flowers, Décor, and a Whole Lot More

Flower Power

Mood Lighting

Borrowed Style

16. Eat, Drink, and Be Married

Grilling the Caterer

Let's Eat

Stocking the Bar

Sweet Stuff

17. Places, Please

Let's Practice

Eat and Drink … Before You Marry

Tokens of Appreciation

18. Countdown to the Wedding Day!

Tying Up Loose Ends

Making a List and Checking It Twice

Packing for the Big Day

19. The Trip of a Lifetime

Decisions! Decisions!

Making the Trip

Pack Your Bags!

20. Beyond the Wedding

The Name Game

Thank You

Oh, the Memories

Introduction

Congratulations on your engagement. Share the good news, break open the bubbly, and bask in the glow of being a bride-to-be, because you will soon be jumping headfirst into the exciting task of planning your wedding. Make no mistake, there'll be a lot to remember and a lot to do, and at times it may seem overwhelming, but don't fret. The Everything® Wedding Checklist Book, 3rd Edition is here to guide you through your planning.

When should you start looking for your wedding gown? How do you come up with a guest list? What are you supposed to do at the reception? What should you pack for the honeymoon? Yes, planning a wedding is filled with questions, but with this book you won't need to worry about where to find the answers. Within these pages, you'll find the answers you need, and a convenient place to stay on task and to keep track of names, appointments, and other pertinent information.

Whether it's picking a reception site, finding a photographer, choosing flowers, or any of the other million items on your checklist, this book can tell you when, where, and how to do them. The year-long planning calendar will put you on the right track and the subsequent checklists for each section will help you stay there. In addition, each chapter contains insights and advice on every aspect of your wedding, from hiring a wedding planner to seating the guests at the wedding to leaving on your honeymoon.

As unromantic as it may sound, sticking to a schedule and staying on task is the best and only way to ensure the planning goes smoothly. Brides tend to procrastinate in the early months, thinking that a year is so far away. One year or eighteen months, or whatever your engagement time frame is, will fly by. So, don't wait. Besides, wouldn't you rather be free to enjoy basking in the glow of your position as a bride-to-be instead of being bogged down by tasks that could have been done months ago? Starting early will give you breathing room, and allow you to take your time and make wise choices.

In short, if you need to be informed about it or reminded to do it in order to plan your ultimate wedding, this book won't let you down.

General Thoughts

While you are planning your fabulous wedding, there are a few policies you should adopt to ensure that everything goes smoothly. These are relatively simple tips and strategies that can have a big impact on your wedding planning. Every bride can benefit from heeding the following advice:

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. There will be plenty to do as your wedding grows near; don't make things worse by leaving everything to the last minute.

Stick to your budget. If you have a well-thought-out budget, life will be a whole lot easier. You won't end up in the poor-house after your wedding, and you won't waste time pursuing options that you can't afford.

Get everything in writing. Every aspect of every purchase or service agreement should be in writing, so if things don't work out to your satisfaction, you will have the proper recourse. Another way to keep from being a victim is to get references from every place you're considering doing business with.

Twelve-Month Wedding Planning Checklist

After the dust settles from the whirlwind of excitement and celebrations with family and friends, there are some things you'll have to do to get married. Depending upon the type and size wedding, you may have lots to do. In any event, the following schedule should give you a general idea of what has to be done, and when you should do it.

TEN TO TWELVE MONTHS

illustration Select an engagement ring

illustration Insure the ring

illustration Announce the engagement

illustration Set the date

illustration Attend your engagement party

illustration Hire a wedding planner

illustration Draft a preliminary guest list

illustration Draft a budget

illustration Begin a bridal registry

illustration Determine the style and formality

illustration Research a ceremony venue

illustration Research a reception venue

illustration Begin researching, interviewing, and hiring vendors

illustration Set up a wedding website

EIGHT TO TEN MONTHS

illustration Select the wedding party

illustration Select a ceremony venue

illustration Select a reception venue

illustration Shop for your gown

illustration Book a caterer (if necessary)

illustration Book entertainment

illustration Book a photographer

illustration Book a videographer

illustration Order Save-the-Date cards

SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS

illustration Order your wedding gown

illustration Book the florist

illustration Book a hairstylist

illustration Book a makeup artist

illustration Order the wedding cake

illustration Hire an officiant

illustration Secure rentals

illustration Organize travel accommodations for guests

illustration Organize accommodations for wedding night (and night before)

illustration Schedule an engagement photo session (after hiring photographer)

illustration Research wedding invitations

illustration Research honeymoon destinations and check travel advisories

illustration Finalize remaining vendor commitments

illustration Book parking attendants

illustration Order bridesmaids' dresses

illustration Research other stationery needs (menu cards, place cards, ceremony programs)

FOUR TO SIX MONTHS

illustration Mail Save-the-Date cards

Select formalwear for the groom and men

illustration Have mothers shop for attire

illustration Plan the rehearsal dinner

illustration Plan the prewedding and postwedding parties

illustration Finalize the guest list

illustration Order the wedding invitations and announcements

illustration Order invitations for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding parties

illustration Hire a calligrapher for invitations and place cards

illustration Book the honeymoon

illustration Get your passports (if necessary)

TWO TO FOUR MONTHS

illustration Select wedding day transportation

illustration Shop for wedding bands

illustration Research marriage license requirements

illustration Research and select a seamstress for alterations

illustration Select the wedding favors

illustration Determine a reception menu

illustration Finalize cake flavors and design

illustration Shop for bridal accessories (lingerie, jewelry, headpiece/veil, etc.)

illustration Shop for bridesmaids' accessories (jewelry, shoes, purses)

illustration Develop a preliminary itinerary for the wedding day

illustration Verify the gown delivery date

illustration Address and assemble invitations

illustration Have the invitations weighed at post office, buy postage for the invitations and response envelopes

illustration Confirm delivery dates for wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses

ONE TO TWO MONTHS

illustration Mail the invitations (six to eight weeks)

illustration Shop for thank-you gifts (attendants, parents, etc.)

illustration Prepare a shot list for the videographer and photographer

illustration Make arrangements for preserving the bridal bouquet

illustration Make arrangements for preserving your bridal gown

illustration Have a wedding day hair and makeup preview

illustration Finalize rehearsal dinner plans

illustration Send rehearsal dinner invitations

illustration Finalize the ceremony details

illustration Finalize the reception details

illustration Finalize musical selections with entertainment

illustration Attend dress fittings/alterations

illustration Prepare the wedding announcement for the newspaper

illustration Attend wedding showers

illustration Purchase wedding accessories (guestbook/pen, ring pillow, etc.)

illustration Schedule final beauty/grooming appointments

ONE MONTH

illustration Get a marriage license

illustration Finalize the itinerary with vendors and ceremony/reception locations

illustration Begin a seating plan for the reception

illustration Pick up the wedding bands

illustration Schedule the final gown fittings and confirm a pickup date

illustration Write thank-you notes (for any wedding gifts already received)

illustration Break in your wedding shoes

illustration Begin finalizing the wedding day itinerary

TWO WEEKS

illustration Give the final guest count to the caterer/reception location

illustration Call guests who have not responded

illustration Confirm the rehearsal dinner guest count