Did you know in just 5 years the average engagement length has gone from 18 months to 15 months? While the average engagement time has decreased, brides are still allowing plenty of time to plan the big day!
If you're starting to become overwhelmed with the thought of planning your big day, sit down, take a deep breath and look over this 12-month planning guide. You'll see that planning a wedding is simply a matter of getting organized. You can do it!
Order your wedding gown and determine who will make any necessary alterations.
Choose your wedding party.
Decide on a color scheme (consider the reception site).
Meet with potential wedding professionals for your ceremony & reception. Interview local videographers, photographers, florists, DJs & Musicians, caterers, and bakeries. Be sure to get a contract that states wedding date, time, and location for each vendor, as well as the schedule for payments.
Register for wedding gifts at select stores and online outlets. Don't forget to register for shower and engagement party gifts as well!
5-6 Months Before the Wedding
Let your out-of-town guests know the date of your wedding so that they reserve the date and make any necessary travel plans.
Find Save-the-Date cards & magnets at: Carlson Craft
Determine marriage license requirements for the state in which you are getting married. (If in the US, contact the county clerks office; if abroad, the wedding coordinator will have this information.)
3-4 Months Before the Wedding
Finalize the menu with your caterer.
Order wine, champagne, liquor, etc., if not included in the caterers service.
Finalize flowers, including those needed for the reception decorations.
Mail out information about hotels and city attractions to your out-of-town guests so they can make their plans.
Arrange for transportation needs for wedding party and out-of-town guests for the rehearsal and wedding day. Be sure to give the driver the addresses and schedules for all who will need transportation.
2-3 Weeks Before
Get marriage license. Call ahead to make sure you know what is required to bring.
Organize any accessories needed such as ring pillow, flower girl basket, garter, and "something old, new, borrowed, and blue."
Contact guests who haven't sent in RSVPs so that you can give the caterer a final headcount.
Pick up wedding rings and check engraving before leaving the store. Store in a safe place!
Confirm honeymoon hotel, airline reservations, and wedding night reservations, if not leaving until the next day.
1 Week Before
Pack for honeymoon.
Host attendants party and give out gifts along with a thoughtful thank you note to each bridesmaid.
Make final payments to vendors.Put gratuities in envelopes and arrange to have a trusted friend distribute the envelopes on the big day. Order gratuity envelopes here.
1 Day Before
Take a long walk or schedule a massage to reduce stress. Gather your thoughts and mentally prepare yourself!
Greet out-of-town guests.
Make some time for each other to exchange gifts and a congratulatory kiss (or several)!
Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Get in bed at a reasonable hour so that you'll look and feel your best for your wedding.
Wedding Day
Awake early and eat a good breakfast.
Go to beauty appointments.
Arrive at wedding site early enough to dress and to visit with bridesmaids.
Help guests find their way. Use our Wedding This Way Wedding Directional Sign to mark the route to your Wedding and/or Reception. Includes 2 posters, left and right facing, mounting board, and wire stand.
Wedding Table Runner Decorate your reception hall with your love and impeccable taste with our Embracing Hearts Decorative Table Runners. With its saturated, color block design – accented with your names inside two interlocking hearts – this unique table decoration will easily add a pop of stylish flare to your wedding day decor. From ball room extravagance to DIY, backyard settings, every reception will come together beautifully when you complete your tables with these standout accessories!
Wedding Decorations
We love this cute wedding decoration. Perfect white banners with mr. and mrs. punctuated with red hearts will add that little extra special touch to your wedding. reception head table.
Wedding Collection Sets
When purchasing your wedidng supplies, look for complete sets. You can often save 15-20% on a complete set over purchasing the items seperately.
Checkout all the wedding collections at WhereBridesGo.com!
About the Wedding Professionals St. Louis wedding professionals listed on this web site either pay to advertise independently, or receive a free ad when MSW Interactive Designs LLC hosts their website. All wedding professionals in the St. Louis area may also request a free basic listing.
St. Louis Wedding Guide Has Helped brides and grooms plan their St Louis weddings since 2002!
St Louis Wedding and St Louis Reception Guide, StLouisWeddingGuide.com, is a complete wedding and reception planning website for St. Louis brides. StLouisWeddingGuide.com offers Saint Louis Missouri wedding planning resources, a wedding professionals directory, and wedding planning tips unique to the St. Louis Missouri area. If you are planning a St. Louis wedding, a themed wedding or a special event such as a St. Louis MO reception and need the services of local wedding professionals, we hope to be of service to you! Our team serves all of the greater St. Louis area, providing wedding information in St. Louis, St. Charles, O'Fallon, St. Peters and other nearby locations, including Lake Saint Louis. At StLouisWeddingGuide.com we pride ourselves on maintaining the most complete and up-to-date resources for your St. Louis MO area wedding and reception.