1 month before
Date: ______________________
Apply for a marriage license. Check with the local bureau in the town where you’ll wed. The process can take up to six days, but it’s good to give yourself some leeway. If you are changing your name, order several copies.
Bride: Have final gown fitting. Bring your maid of honor along to learn how to bustle your dress. Have the dress pressed and bring it home. For peace of mind, you may want to schedule a fitting the week of your wedding. You can always cancel the appointment if you try on the dress then and it fits perfectly.
Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding.
Purchase bridesmaids’ gifts. You’ll present them at the rehearsal dinner.
Make last-minute adjustments with vendors.
Confirm times for hair and makeup and all vendors.
Stock the bar. Now that you have a firm headcount you can order accordingly.
Create a wedding program to hand out to guests.
Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.
Enter RSVPs into your guest-list database. Phone people who have not yet responded.
Mail the rehearsal dinner invitations.
Send out as many final payments as you can.
E-mail and print directions for drivers of transport vehicles. This gives the chauffeurs ample time to navigate a route.
Assign seating. Draw out table shapes on a layout of the room to help plan place settings. Write the names of female guests on pink sticky notes and the names of male guests on blue sticky notes so you can move people about without resketching the entire setting.