Wedding Invitations

You’re one month away from you wedding day and there are still
some loose ends to tie up. Below are the things you should be sure to take care
of:

• Have your final wedding dress
  fitting.
• Verify that all members of
  the wedding party have had their final fitting.
• Make sure you have all accessories,
  toasting goblets, cake knife, ring pillow, guest book, etc.
• Create a detailed wedding
  schedule for all attendants. List all events participants are expected to
  attend. Include date, time, location and any responsibilities. Give
  attendants the schedule two weeks before the wedding.
• Give musicians final music
  list for the ceremony and reception. Specify any music you do not want
  played. Have the music start 30 minutes before the ceremony.
• Prepare your wedding toasts.
• Pick up o and try on your wedding
  bands.
• Confirm honeymoon
  reservations.

You’re almost there! Next time we will discuss the two week
point. Are you getting excited? 

If any of your wedding invitations have returned, be sure to get the correct address and send them back out. You might want to call ahead so they can be looking out for it. You will be needing a response from them pretty soon.

Here a few more important things to make sure you have covered at this point in your wedding planning.

• Have your first wedding dress fitting.
• Schedule to have formal bridal portrait taken two to four weeks before wedding. Make sure wedding dress and shoes will be ready.
• Make sure members of the wedding party have their fitting.
• Make an appointment with your heaidresser to practice your wedding day hair style. Bring headpiece. Have a makeup consultantation at that time. Schedule hair and makeup appointments for yourself and bridal paraty on the wedding day. Schedule a manicure for the day before wedding.
• Give photographer a list of all the pictures you woudl like taken, including pictures you may want of the tent, flowers, cake, etc.
• Give videopgrapher list of all shots you would like included in the video.
• Purchase gift for fiance, if gifts are being exchanged.
• Choose thank you gifts for parents and any others who helped with wedding.
• Submit wedding announcement and photograph to newspaper. Specify date for publishing.           

Your wedding invitations should be in the mail at this point.  Next we will touch on the one month mark. You are getting very close now!

As your wedding day approaches, there are several more
things you need to be sure you have covered during this time frame:

• Finish addressing your
  wedding invitations and announcements.
• Finalize the ceremony details
  with your officiant.
• Finalize details with
  your caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, videographer, etc.
• Order wedding cake.
• Finalize plans for bridal
  luncheon or any other wedding events.
• Check requirements for
  medical tests and marriage license.
• Schedule appointments to have
  a picture taken for newspaper announcement.
• Ask someone to be responsible
  for the guest book.
• Choose small gifts or
  appreciation for the wedding party.
• Collect the forms necessary
  to change your name (if you are changing you name) on you Social Security
  card, driver’s license, insurance, etc.
• Continue to write thank you
  notes.

Listed below are some of the
most important decisions you will have to make at this point in your wedding
planning:

• Start making final decisions
  and arrangements for the ceremony and reception, including food, music,
  flowers and any rental equipment.
• Sign contracts and place
  deposits with caterer, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians and
  other service providers if you have not already done so.
• Plan rehearsal dinner: time,
  menu and guest list.
• Arrange for wedding day
  transportation for important guests and wedding party.
• Reserve a block of hotel
  rooms for out of town members of the wedding party and guests. IT is nice
  to provide a list of local restaurants and attractions.
• Have both mothers select
  their wedding attire.
• Confirm the delivery date for
  the wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses. Schedule fittings.
• Choose and order formal wear
  for the groom and groomsmen. Remind men to submit their measurements to
  your formal wear provider.
• Finalize your honeymoon
  plans.
• Shop for trousseau and special
  attire for parties, showers and honeymoon.
  

As
mentioned it the previous post, you need to be sure to select and order your
wedding invitations during this time frame. It also would be very advantageous
if you even got your wedding invitations and announcements addressed so they
will be ready to mail when the time comes.

The next 3-6 months will be busy but fun as a lot of
decisions are made during this time:

• Finalize your guest list.
  Write each guest’s name and addresses on an index card and use these to
  track responses.
• Order your wedding
  invitations, reception invitations, response cards and place cards. It is
  also a good idea to order your wedding announcements, thank you notes,
  informals, at home cards, save the date cards and accessories at this time
  as well. You have already been looking at all the choices and probably
  made up your mind, so go ahead and get this out of the way and save on
  shipping and your time by doing it all at once.  Always order extra
  wedding invitations and envelopes to allow for addressing problems and
  surprise guests. It is less expensive to order extras from the start.
• Optional but a good idea -
  send out "Save the Date" cards, especially if your wedding is scheduled
  around or near a holiday, so your guests can reserve your special day on
  their calendar.
• Address your wedding
  invitations and announcements as soon as possible to get them ready.
• Arrange to have someone mail
  your wedding announcements the day of the wedding.
• Order your wedding rings and
  make arrangements for engraving.

Next time we will finish up the 3-6 months planning list.