How to Help Plan a Big Wedding

Big weddings require several months of planning.

Weddings require a tremendous amount of planning. Brides may enlist the help of friends and family to assist them with the myriad tasks required before their wedding day. If you are asked to help plan a wedding, create a checklist that will ensure a beautiful wedding day.

Things You'll Need

• Notebook
• Calendar

Instructions

Six to 12 Months Before the Wedding

1. Maintain a notebook throughout the process that keeps track of all to-do lists, brochures and details. Keep a calendar handy to jot down important dates for appointments.

2. Recommend the bride and groom settle on a date that works well for everyone.

3. Work with the bride and groom to determine how much money is available to plan the wedding.

4. Help create the guest list, which will determine an accurate head count and inform the size of venues needed. Send "Save the Date" cards, so guests will reserve the date on their calendars.

5. Help determine the location for the wedding and reception. It is not uncommon for the wedding to take place at a church and the reception to be held at a hotel, inn or a popular event locale. It's also not uncommon for the wedding ceremony to take place at the same hotel or locale where the reception is held. If the wedding ceremony will take place at a church, make an appointment with the officiant.

6. Interview wedding photographers and videographers. The best photographers are booked far in advance, so choose one as soon as possible. When you book the date for the wedding day, make an appointment for the bridal portrait.

7. Go with the bride to shop for a wedding dress. Wedding dresses are an investment of both time and money; finding one that fits the bride's personality, budget and style of wedding may take several excursions. Once you find the right dress, it can take several months for the order to be fulfilled, and then several fittings may be required.

8. Select a florist. Like popular photographers, good florists book early and are available for a number of weddings a week.

9. Choose a bakery for the cake; this is also a good time to look for a caterer, if the reception site does not offering catering services. Certain catering companies make beautiful wedding cakes, negating the need to find separate sources for food and dessert. Remember to sample an array of the chef's cakes to find a favorite flavor.

10. Arrange any transportation needed to bring the bridal party and family from the wedding to the reception, or to multiple venues.

11. Order the wedding invitations selected by the bride and groom.

Two Months Before the Wedding

1. Help plan the wedding ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

2. Attend the final gown fitting with the bride, giving the seamstress plenty of time to make any unanticipated alterations to the dress.

3. Mail the wedding invitations.

4. Check in with all wedding services including the wedding venue, reception location, caterers, bakery, florist and musicians.

5. Book the hair salon or stylist for the wedding day, and remember to book enough stylists for the wedding party, the bride's family and the groom's family.

One Month Before the Wedding

1. Remind the bride and groom to choose the wedding bands.

2. Remind the bride to consult with her stylists and complete a dry run for the wedding hairstyle and makeup.

3. Choose presents for the attendants.

4. Set up an appointment for the bride and groom to apply for the wedding license.

Within Two Weeks of the Wedding

1. Submit the wedding announcement to the local newspapers.

2. Assign tasks to friends and family to help with the last-minute needs, such as picking up guest books, wrapping attendant gifts or moving personal items and furniture to a new home.

3. Confirm arrangements with all wedding services and answer final questions.

References

• The Knot: Planning
• How to Plan a Wedding: How to Plan a Wedding
• Wedding Manor: Checklist and Timeline

Resources

• Wedding Channel: Home
• David's Bridal: Home
• FTD: Weddings