I can't believe that I am already in the middle point of the semester! Unfortunately for me, that means I am living in sweat pants (which isn't the bad part) and spending almost every waking minute at the library studying for my exams. I have one exam behind me, one tomorrow afternoon and one more Friday morning. I can hardly wait for Friday to arrive when I can finally relax and spend time with the love of my life.
For those of you who know me really well will agree when I say that I am the type A personality girl - I am the one who has a checklist, who has everything (well almost everything) planned out and organized. It is an awesome personality trait and a terrible one all at the same time. I am not nearly as planned out as I used to be, but my closet is still color coordinated as is my planner. I just can't help it. Lucky for me, Jeff deals very well with my organizational craziness and really helps me when I stress out when it seems like my list is growing instead of shrinking.
Last night, after spending the morning taking an exam and the remainder of my day studying Constitutional Law, I decided to spend some time browsing the web for wedding inspiration. My roommate even joined in the fun and I stumbled across an amazing blog that has inspired me to get my wedding planning more organized. This blogging bride found a checklist and every once in awhile will update her readers about her planning progress. I got the list below from her site...
So here it goes... here is my wedding to-do list with the progress... or lack of progress...
10 - 12 months before the wedding: July - September 2010
• Announce your engagement to family and friends - CHECK
• Arrange for both families to meet if they haven't already done so - CHECK
• Have an engagement party (optional) - QUESTIONABLE - NOT SURE IF THIS IS REALLY OUR STYLE
• Set the wedding style and size of the wedding (bride magazines are great for ideas) - IN PROGRESS
• Set your wedding budget - CHECK
• Start creating your guest list - CHECK (We have started this - it isn't finalized yet...What a job this is!!)
• Set the wedding day and time - CHECK (Although we are still confirming the start time of the ceremony with the priest... long story there...)
• Decide on whether to have a religious or non-religious ceremony - CHECK
• Choose and book your wedding officiant - CHECK
• Choose your maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen - CHECK
• Choose and book your ceremony and reception locations - CHECK
• Purchase wedding insurance (optional) - IS THIS SOMETHING I SHOULD BE DOING??
• Meet with caterers and taste samples - CHECK (I mean, not really. But we already booked the venue and the 'big meeting' is scheduled for the end of January...)
• Meet with florists and decide on real or silk flowers - NEED TO DO
• Meet with and audition DJs or bands - CHECK
• Meet with photographers and look over their portfolios - CHECK
• Meet with videographers (if you're having one) and look over their portfolios - N/A (we decided that a videographer really isn't necessary)
• Create a wedding website - WORK IN PROGRESS
**2 items are past due... eek!**
7 - 9 months before the wedding: October - December 2010
• Bride: shop for and order your wedding dress - CHECK!!!!!!! :-)
• Bride: shop for and order/purchase bridal accessories: veil , shoes , jewelry - NEED TO DO
• Bride: (with your bridal party) shop for and order bridesmaids dresses - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Book the florist (be sure to sign a contract) - NEED TO DO
• Book the caterer (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Book DJ or band (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Book the photographer (be sure to sign a contract) - CHECK
• Book the videographer (if you're having one) - N/A
• Start planning your honeymoon - IN PROGRESS (I think we have found the place we want to go... I still need to get a passport...)
• Finalize the guest list - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Start making wedding favors if you're making your own - NEED TO DO
• Meet with bakers and sample wedding cakes - NEED TO DO
• Start looking at wedding invitations - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Start thinking about the wording of your wedding invitations - NEED TO DO
• Start planning the rehearsal dinner - NEED TO DO
4 - 6 months before the wedding: January - March 2011
• Join a bridal registry - NEED TO DO
• Book the baker for your wedding cake - NEED TO DO • Order your wedding invitations - NEED TO DO
• Book a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests - NEED TO DO • Contact out-of-town guests about the wedding (prior to sending out invitations) - NEED TO DO • Finalize dinner menu with caterer - NEED TO DO
• Purchase wedding guest favors - NEED TO DO
• Book the limousine or other wedding day transportation - NEED TO DO
• Book the rehearsal dinner site - NEED TO DO • Book a calligrapher (if you're using one) - IS THIS SOMETHING I NEED TO DO??
• Groom: start looking at tuxedos or other formal wear - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Book the honeymoon - NEED TO DO
• Book a hotel room for the wedding night - NEED TO DO • Book a photo session for engagement announcement in local newspapers - NEED TO DO • Start thinking about wedding ceremony decorations - NEED TO DO • Bride: buy bridal lingerie in time for first dress fitting - NEED TO DO
2 - 3 months before the wedding: April - May 2011
• Give the photographer a list of "important shots" you want included - NEED TO DO • Purchase your wedding rings - NEED TO DO
• Purchase maid of honor gift, bridesmaids gifts , best man gift , groomsmen gifts - NEED TO DO (I have some ideas in mind... just nothing finalized yet...) • Purchase the groom's gift or the bride's gift , whichever applies - NEED TO DO • Groom: finalize tuxedo /formal attire and pass on rental/purchase details to groomsmen - NEED TO DO • Run engagement announcement in local newspapers - NEED TO DO
• Bride: schedule your dress fittings - NEED TO DO • Bride: make sure your bridal party has purchased their accessories - NEED TO DO • Bride: book your hair and makeup appointments - NEED TO DO • Bride: if you're changing your name complete the proper documents - NEED TO DO • If your state requires it, have blood tests done - NEED TO DO • Bride: talk to your maid of honor about a bridal shower - NEED TO DO • Address and send out wedding invitations (invitations should be mailed at 2-month mark) - NEED TO DO • Groom: purchase your accessories including shoes, cuff links, handkerchiefs, etc. - NEED TO DO • Start writing wedding vows, especially if writing your own - N/A
• Decide on whether to light a unity candle or honor past loved ones during the ceremony - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Start working on wedding program - NEED TO DO
4-8 weeks before: May- June 2011
• Mail invitations out eight weeks prior to the wedding date and send accommodation info to your out-of-town guests - NEED TO DO
• Fill out a change of address form at the post office, if necessary - NEED TO DO
• Pick up your marriage license- NEED TO DO
• Have ceremony programs printed - NEED TO DO
• Purchase a guest book and other wedding accessories including toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, etc. - NEED TO DO
• Keep your wedding website updated with directions and event details - NEED TO DO
• Choose your hair and make-up stylists and schedule a trial for both; also book appointments to have your hair, make-up and nails done on the day of the wedding - NEED TO DO
• Review insurance information with your fiancé to see if any updates need to be made prior to the wedding (car, home, medical, etc.) - NEED TO DO
• Plan a bridal luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids - NEED TO DO
2-4 weeks before: June 2011
• Create a seating chart for the reception and make place cards - NEED TO DO
• Contact your caterer with a final guest count - NEED TO DO
• Print out a timeline of events for your wedding party and vendors - include contact information and cell phone numbers - NEED TO DO (Love this one!)
• Meet with your photographer and florist to finalize details - NEED TO DO
• Finalize your ceremony and reception music and song list for your wedding band or DJ - NEED TO DO
• Confirm lodging reservations for out-of-town guests - NEED TO DO
• Place a wedding announcement in your local newspaper - NEED TO DO
• Pick up wedding bands and make sure the fit is good - NEED TO DO
• Schedule a final dress fitting - NEED TO DO
• Write rehearsal dinner toasts - NEED TO DO
1 week before: (July 3-9)
• Write out final checks for your minister, organist, DJ or musicians, etc. and organize in envelopes for one of your attendants to distribute at the wedding - NEED TO DO
• Pick up your wedding gown - NEED TO DO
• Confirm limo or other transportation reservations - NEED TO DO
• Pack for your honeymoon and confirm travel arrangements - NEED TO DO
• Have your local post office hold your mail, if necessary, while you are away on your honeymoon - NEED TO DO
A few issues...
1. Save the Dates... where do these fit in? When should I order them? I'm thinking sometime soon... eek!
2. I have a few things that are over due... but I guess I shouldn't be too concerned because they are things that are not that large... and I have a few things done ahead of schedule...
3. Am I forgetting anything??
Plan of attack... Yes, I have to gather my thoughts and get a plan together to bring it all together...
- This upcoming weekend, Jeff and I are having a "wedding planning weekend." That means we are going to spend the weekend checking out this to-do list, gathering our thoughts, ideas, etc and make some wedding decisions and get some things accomplished. We have so many fun things planned for the weekend that I am almost afraid it might fly by too fast... Regardless, any time I get to spend with him, no matter how short, or how fast it goes by, is time well spent and time that I enjoy every minute of.
Check back after the weekend to see how our successful our weekend of planning is... :)
<3 M & J
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