Check List to Plan a Wedding

Preplanning

When planning a wedding, there are decisions that need to be made before all others. This is the preplanning stage. During this stage, you must decide on a budget and who will be paying for the different items you will need. You'll also need to work out a preliminary guest list. If your parents are helping to pay for the wedding, they are entitled to invite their own guests. You need this preliminary headcount so you can choose your ceremony and reception locations accordingly.

There are some other major decisions that will need to be made early in the planning process. Chief among them is choosing your wedding vendors. The best vendors book up a year or more in advance, so put these items at the top of your checklist. You will need to sign contracts and make deposits with the ceremony and reception sites. You will need an officiant if one is not provided with the ceremony location and a caterer if one is not provided by the reception venue. In addition, you will need to hire a photographer, videographer, stationer, florist, baker, and a DJ or band.

The attire you choose for you and your bridal party is very important and should also be at the top of your wedding planning checklist. The bride will need to purchase or rent a gown, lingerie, jewelry, veil, and shoes. You must also choose gowns for the women in your bridal party and make sure they send in their measurements to the bridal shop and order their gowns. All of the men will need to order their tuxedos and shoes, too. As with the women, make sure that the men send in their measurements to rent their tuxedos for the wedding.

There are many smaller decisions that need to be added to your checklist as well. These include purchasing wedding favors, gifts for the wedding party and your future spouse, a guest book and pen, and cake knife and server. Each of these items will be important to the overall experience of your wedding.