Staying organized when planning your first hiring tier.Wedding is all about deadlines. Just as every wedding is different, every couple’s planning schedule will be different too. In some parts of the country, couples can begin to plan their weddings 18 months to two years ahead of time. Other parts of the country won’t allow you to reserve space for your wedding and earlier than nine months in advance.
When planning your wedding, consider hiring your wedding vendors based upon a hierarchy of which vendors can do the least amount of wedding in one day. For example, your photographer most likely can only do one wedding in a day, so they should be among the first vendors you hire. Then move on to vendors who can do more than one event in a day. The following is a suggested order for planning your wedding:
PRE-HIRING ACTIVITIES
1. Complete guest list including addresses and phone numbers
2. Decide type of wedding to determine color scheme
3. Finalize budget
4. Choose your wedding party
FIRST HIRING TIER
1. Hire a wedding planner
2. Determine ceremony site
3. Determine reception site
4. Reserve hotel rooms for out of town guests
5. Select photographer
6. Select videographer
7. Select reception band/musician/DJ
8. Select ceremony musician
9. Shop for and order wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses
10. Select hair and make up artist and schedule trial run when your headpiece arrives
SECOND HIRING TIER
1. Select florist
2. Select linen company
3. Send out save-the-date and reservation forms (done at least six months prior to the wedding)
4. Select pastry chef
5. Select grooms and groomsmen attire
6. Order invitations
7. Select calligrapher
8. Confirm wedding rehearsal time
9. Meet with caterer
10. Attend menu tasting
11. Plan honeymoon
12. Arrange wedding day transportation
THIRD HIRING TIER
1. Select wedding favors
2. Send invitations to calligrapher
3. Mail invitations
4. Enroll at bridal registries
5. Plan rehearsal dinner, bridesmaids luncheon, golf outings and any other weekend parties.
ORGANIZATION
• Make a list of songs you would like played at your reception
• Purchase bridal party accessories
• Meet with florist and make final floral selections
• Make final linen selection
• Schedule final fittings
• Select ceremony music
• Discuss ceremony with officiate, choose reading for ceremony and arrange for your rehersal
• Apply for marriage license
• Contact floral and gown preservationists
• Write thank you notes for gifts as they come
• Design transportation insert for out of town guests
• Give ceremony musicians music requests
• Give photographer checklist for photos
• Give reception musitians music requests and introduction list
• Choose gifts for wedding party
• Breake in shoes
• Follow up on guests who did not respond
• Give final head counts catering manager, florist, pastry chef, linen company
• Set seating arrangements
• Write place cards
• Pay balances before the wedding
OTHER DETAILS
• If you are planning on having a facial, do it at least a month prior to the wedding. You don’t want estra breakouts on the wedding day.
• Do not tan too much prior to the wedding.
• Plan to relax the last few days prior to the wedding.
• Get lots of sleep and drink plenty of water.
• Don’t forget to eat something on the wedding day.