As of yesterday, there are officially 7 months until The Big Day.
Holy c.r.a.p.
As I began to think of all the things on my to-do list yesterday, I would say I started to flip the eff out.
There are so many details to be taken care of - big and small.
And while I feel like I keep chipping away at the list, I'm realizing that, with my growing family, I've got a growing list of friends and family members that I'd like to keep in touch with - and my days off are starting to reflect that.
As much as I'd like to have an intensive wedding-planning cross-it-off-the-list day, I'm realizing that unless I take an unplanned vacation day to do just that.... it's probably not going to happen.
Deep breaths.
So, I stole this checklist from Tess, added things I could think of... and now I think I have a nice, rough checklist of things that need to get done, some sooner than others.
Set a Date-
Book Church -
Book Reception Book Photographer- Book Videographer - there's an email in my inbox I've been ignoring. SOON!
Book DJ for ReceptionAsk BridesmaidsAsk Groomsmen- Create Wedding Website - it's started.... it just needs finished.
Register- Florist
Wedding Dress- Engagement Pictures
- Pick Bridesmaid Dresses - dear God I need to just pick
- Have Bridesmaids Order Dresses - see above
Select Groomsmen Attire- Have Groomsmen Order Tuxes - in progress
- Buy a Veil - in Etsy cart, having a hard time pulling the trigger
- Take Engagement Photos
- Decide on Cake
- Wedding Coordinator
- Save-the-Dates - ordered
Finalize Guest List- and I think we even have all their addresses. WIN!- Cake Knife and Server - um, what?
- Toasting Flutes - we registered for some... should I just buy them?
- Pre-Marital Counseling - had our first meeting with the Priest. OY.
Schedule Pre-Cana Class- April- Schedule Natural Family Planning Class - gosh, but I'd rather have a root canal
- Guest Book - I'm thinking I want something that we can frame and hang on the wall. Etsy?!
Book Hotel Rooms- hahahahahahaFigure Out Parents’ Wardrobes- dads are getting black tuxes we picked out.... I think Mr. RH's mom is on her wardrobe. Check?- Wedding Shoes - I still need to order them
- Wedding Jewelry - I have 2 sets of earrings picked.... just need to try on with dress
- Garter
Book Hair for Bride- Book Hair for Bridesmaids
- Book Makeup Artist - this is HARD.
- Book a Tasting for Reception Venue
- Welcome Bags for Hotel Guests - my guests are scattered, this is going to be a PAIN.
- Bridal Portraits - is this something I should be planning on doing?
- Hair and Makeup Trials
- First Dress Fitting - I need to figure out when this needs to happen. But I need shoes first.
- Second Dress Fitting
- Ceremony Programs
- Order Invitations
- Mail Invitations
Book Rehearsal Dinner Venue- delegated to Mr. RH. I love him.- Rehearsal Dinner Music/Activities - um, crap. We're supposed to have entertainment?
- Buy Rehearsal Dinner Dress
Transportation for Rehearsal Dinner- I'm thinking our own cars. Not fancy!- Bridesmaids Gifts - I'm thinking jewelry and their hair/maybe makeup? Is that not enough?
- Groomsmen Gifts
- Bachelorette Party
Bachelor Party- not my problem- Bridal Shower - I miss my mom.
- Buy Wedding Bands
- Photo Wish-List for Photographer - see pinterest, etc.
- Get Marriage License
- Wedding Favors
- Book Transportation from Wedding to Reception - why are there no nice rental places in this small town?!
- Figure out Transportation from Reception to… not hotel! - UGH.
- Honeymoon - probably not until 2014
- Gift for Groom - need ideas
- Card for Groom on Day-Of - picked out on Etsy.
- Rehearsal Dinner Invites - can't I just text them?
- Music List to DJ
Wedding Night Hotel Room–see also: hotel debacle, not happening.- Order Thank-You Notes
- Say “I Do”
Happy Friday!!
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11 Classy Comments:
I'm in the same almost panic attack too. I don't have a dress yet and realize I need to kick it into high gear!!! For the welcome bags, maybe hand them out at the rehearsal dinner if they will all be there? What are you doing about makeup? I'm nervous about that and the hair.
Crystal @EatDrinkClev
So many of these things are optional and if they do not happen you will not beat yourself later for them & no one will think twice about them.
A lot of times your reception venue can provide your cake knife and server and toasting flutes. Only if you want special designs, engraved ones, etc would you have to buy...I would check with them.
I would definitely find a wedding coordinator. It is so nice to have someone else on the big day stepping in and keeping the stress away from you.
The welcome bags are not a necessity and I would not sweat them. If you really want to do something go to etsy & order some custom water bottle labels and place bottled water and a bag of trail mix or something on those lines. Check with hotel(s) first and see if they will even put in the room or hand them to guest upon check-in.
Bridal portraits are a personal decision. If you want pictures of just you in your dress with hair and make-up done prior to the Big Day then go for it but not everyone wants to mess with this and will have the photographer just do some shots individually on the day of the wedding.
Rehearsal Dinner Music/Activities again is personal decision. We chose not to do anything but have dinner and talk and our guest were fine with it.
Book Transportation from Wedding to Reception in a small town would be perfectly acceptable to use own vehicles
The most important one is to say "I Do"
Enjoy these next months, take deep breaths when needed and only do what you and Mr. RH feel is necessary to make the day YOUR DAY.
Enjoy this time. It will go by so fast!
Regarding a guest book....We did a photo mat. I purchased the frame (with mat) at Michaels with a 50% off coupon. I did this for our rehearsal dinner, and wish we had done a similar frame for our reception. I've also seen people create photo books and use those as guest books. It was another idea I wish I'd had before our wedding. Instead, we have a gigantic book that someone gave us - the cover is metal. I often referred to it as our bulletproof guest book....and it's boxed up in the garage.
Enjoy the last few months of planning! The time goes by so fast and before you know it the big day will be here and everything will work out perfectly. Good luck with everything!
Some of those things are just one shopping spree on etsy away ! It sounds like so much fun ! I think paying for hair and makeup would be an awesome bridesmaid gift btw !:)
Don't worry too much about the NFP classes - just make sure you get a good teacher. We teach through the Couple to Couple League which also offers virtual classes if that's easier for your schedule.
And go for the veil on Etsy! If it doesn't work, you can always sell that one and get another, right? You can also find lovely (and cheap!) veils at VeilShop.com - that's where I got mine and I loved it.
I'm a new blog follower of yours... also a photographer... also in Indiana... I'd be happy to talk to you about engagement and/or bridal pics! My photo blog is connected to my main blog. Good luck with everything!!
Okay...you're list is stressing ME out!! Your wedding is a week before mine, and let me tell you, you've got TONS more things marked off your to-do list than I do.
Breathe!!! It will all get done :).
I ordered our Cake Knife and Server from Pottery Barn and then washed it in the dish washer and it was destroyed. Good times. I think paying for your bridesmaids hair/make up/nails etc is a great gift. Thats what I did. I had them pick 2 of the 3 and then made a little coupon type thing and tied it to a nice bottle of champagne. Pre-pinterest so I'm sure you could find some really cute ideas. Good luck.
I'm catholic and love the list you came up with. I am however hoping to skip over NFP if possible. I'm a nurse and have my opinions on this matter, so I'm curious about what you think about the class. I'm hoping when A and I do get engaged my priest will just overlook this point. Oy
groom gift: my hubs gave engraved louisville slugger baseball bats to his men. I though it was a cool idea, but then again that was 11 years ago...
also, get everyone in your party the bride & groom freakers USA beer covers. They are my fav & help untrash the photos: http://www.freakerusa.com/collections/all/products/clyde#.US_bdRlG47A
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