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Bride’s guide to getting married

SPECIAL TO THE DAILY
Special to the Daily
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– Select a date; come up with several back-up dates too.

– Buy a wedding planner or date book, sign up for a wedding planning Web site.

– Announce engagement in local newspapers.



– Arrange for families to meet, if they haven’t already.

– Consult with fiancee and all parents about the wedding budget, style, colors, location, etc.



– Select your attendants, check availability.

– Decide on wedding location, reserve venue site.

– Choose and book officiant.

– Begin shopping for dress, veil and accessories.

– Agree on number of guests, begin compiling guest lists.

– Talk about honeymoon plans and make reservations.

– Book wedding consultant.

– Book florist, decide on flower arrangements, bouquets, etc.

– Book caterer, decide on menu choices..

– Book photographer.

– Book musicians.

– Choose attendants and groom’s outfits, set deadline to order them, notify attendants.

– Discuss details for rehearsal dinner with fiance and future in-laws.

– Book limousines or other getaway vehicle.

– Reserve rental equippment; tent, tables, chairs, music, dance floor etc.

– Register for gifts.

– Pick and order wedding cake.

– Choose and purchase wedding bands.

– Choose wedding guest favors.

– Choose gifts for attendants.

– Block rooms for wedding guests.

– Reserve rooms for wedding party.

– Shop for getaway/honeymoon outfits.

– Come up with songs for reception.

– Put together music list for reception.

– Decide on and order wedding invitiations, programs, thank you-notes etc.

– Book calligrapher, if necessary.

– Check on state’s requirements for marriage license

– Make appointments for blood tests, if required.

– Finalize menu with caterer.

– Decide and purchase center pieces, decorations etc.

– Discuss ceremony order etc. with officiant.

– Choose readings for ceremony.

– Begin composing vows, if you decide to write your own.

– Make appointments for premarital counseling, if desired.

– Make arrangements for prenuptial agreement, if desired.

– Schedule rehearsal time and dinner, notify your attendants.

– Make appointments for trial runs for hair and makeup.

– Finalize your guest list.

– Address and send wedding invitations.

– Buy wedding gown, accessories and underwear; have first fitting.

– Plan your respective attendants’ parties.

– Buy guest book.

– Have wedding programs printed.

– Settle on hairstylists, make-up artists; make appointments.

– Schedule dance classes and practice a graceful waltz.

– Keep track of RSVP cards as they arrive.

– Write thank-you notes as gifts arrive.

– Try out any new beauty/hair routines now; test for allergies.

– Have final dress fitting.

– Final check with caterer give final reception guest number, go over decorations etc.

– Final check with florist.

– Final check with photographer.

– Final check with musicians, submit your playlists.

– Get marriage license.

– Plan seating arrangements with caterer/consultant.

– Write toasts for rehearsal dinner/wedding reception.

– Break in wedding shoes, practice walking.

– Check with attendants on lodging and other arrangements, go over rehearsal and wedding day obligations, make lists of duties, communicate them.

– Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.

– Confirm your honeymoon reservations.

– Plan your honeymoon wardrobe, as well as your getaway outfit.

– Schedule manicures, pedicures and tanning salon, if necessary.

– Purchase travelers’ checks make final honeymoon preparations.

– Check in with wedding consultants, make final round of vendor checks.

– Keep up with thank you-notes as gifts arrive.

– Final check-in with attendants, tie up any loose ends.

– Pick up dress or have it delivered; have a dress rehearsal and make sure someone close learns the ins and outs of your bustle and other tricky features, if necessary.

– Make appointments for facials, teeth bleachings and any other beauty treatments/haircuts etc.

– Finalize seating charts.

– Have manicures, pedicures, tan or have spray-on tan applied.

– Make sure the wedding bands are accounted for and in the right hands..

– Write checks for tips, assemble tip envelope portfolio, give to the tips person.

– Assemble emergency kit (aspirin, safety pins, whiteout, wet wipes, powder, band-aids etc.), give to kit person.

– Distribute attendants’ gifts along with personal thank-you notes.

– Rehearse ceremony, procession and recession, make sure everyone knows their roles.

– Enjoy rehearsal dinner, give toasts.

– Have a massage in the morning or take a walk with your attendants, relax and set aside time for reflection.

– If necessary, supervise delivery of flowers, food, rentals etc.

– Take ample time to get ready with hair, makeup and other appointments.

– Eat a light snack two hours before ceremony, remember to stay hydrated.

– Get married and have the time of your life, delegate wedding day schedule to an attendant, who will make sure you are on time and in the right place.

– Mail thank-you notes to your parents and parents-in-law; send gifts, if desired.

– Mail all thank-you notes for gifts received so far.

– Have dress, suit professionally cleaned and stored.

– Store, distribute or donate leftover decorations.

– Begin paperwork to change name, if desired.

– Open joint bank account, deposit gift checks.

– Check on availability of photos from your wedding for guests, notify attendants.

– Keep up with thank-you notes.

– Post a final thank-you to everyone on your Web site.

– Contact vendors with any complaints or compliments.

– Forward bills that will not be paid by you, if necessary.

– Make sure all bills are paid.

– Begin scrapbooks for photos, cards and other mementos.

… settle into new life as a happily married couple, you made it!


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