Know Your {Timeline}

Congrats, you’re engaged!

...Now what?

Figuring out the timeline leading up to your wedding is the key to a successful and seamless event. There is so much to plan and numerous small details to figure out to make your big day perfect, but where do you even start? (This is of course where we recommend working with an experienced Wedding Planner and/or studio like Finery.) Just to give you an idea of what needs to happen, here is a typical timeline after the proposal...

10 to 12 Months Before the Wedding

- Decide on your budget

- Start your guest list

- Reserve your date, venues, and officiate

- Start meeting with bands/DJs, florists, caterers, and photographers

- If you plan to have an Engagement Party it should be held within 2 to 4 months of the proposal

- Hire your wedding planner

8 to 9 Months Before the Wedding

- Hire your band/DJ, florist, caterer, and photographer

- Purchase your dress and start looking at bridesmaid’s dresses

- Register for gifts

- Set the dates for the rest of your parties (teas, showers, bachelorette, etc.)

- Order Save-the-Dates

6 to 7 Months Before the Wedding

- Block off hotel rooms for out of town guests

- Select bridesmaid’s dresses

- Send out Save-the-Dates

- Order wedding invitations and wedding cake

- Send a guest list to the host(s) of your bridal shower, tea, and/or bachelorette 

4 to 5 Months Before the Wedding

- Schedule your hair and make-up artist

- Your Bridal Shower should happen around this time

- Start writing up your timeline for the wedding weekend

- Get together with your band or DJ with song selections

2 to 3 Months Before the Wedding

- Have the bachelorette party

- Finalize all orders (flowers, favors, programs, etc.)

- Send out invitations

4 to 6 Weeks Before the Wedding

- Send the newspaper your wedding announcement

- Review all orders with vendors

- Touch base with band/DJ and the photographer

- Send out rehearsal dinner invitations

- Begin the list of RSVPs

Week of the Wedding

- Have a list of tasks that can be given out to those wishing to help

- Double check with all the vendors on pick up/drop off/arrival times

- Send your final head count or guest list to the caterer

- Have your Bridal Luncheon
- Oh and...get married!

Photo Credits:
Aisle with Ribbon
Floral Arrangement
Pen & Planner

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The {Wedding} Planner

Remember that cheesy movie with Jennifer Lopez and her huge Mary Poppins purse with everything you could ever need? Now think about all of the events leading up to your big day, not to mention the wedding itself... You have to admit, things will go so much smoother if you hire a wedding planner.

Here are the {Top 5} reasons we believe hiring a wedding planner is a must.

1. Your wedding planner is not related to you. Bringing someone onto your team who is not your mother, sister, or even your best friend from 6^th grade can keep the waters calm.

2. She has done this before. How many events has your planner coordinated? Plenty. She will know what typically works and what doesn’t, how to stay within budget, and various other important things.

3. She has the timeline down to a T. She knows when each party should be, when to send out the Save-the-Dates, when every toast, dance, and cake cutting should take place….the list goes on and on.

4. You’re hiring someone to do the large AND small stuff. The time leading up to your wedding is already foreign enough without including the myriad of customs that take place. By having a wedding planner, you know that everything is taken care of and no stone will go unturned.

5. You have a professional opinion. Remember a few years back when that hot pink bridesmaid’s dress craze happened. You’re hiring someone to guide you away from…that. A professional can help you see past the fad and guide you back to your dream wedding.

Links

All Photos from Finery 

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