3 Month Check In!

This three month check in is a liiiiittle late, but it's okay because it means I get to cross more things off my list. We've been having trouble making decisions about a DJ, flowers, centerpieces, etc and have finally begun to make some progress! The following to do list is for months two and three so I'm not too upset that it's still pretty long. 

To Do:

• Have engagement photos taken (soon!!!)
• Book your DJ and ceremony musicians: Sign the ceremony music contract and pay your deposit.
• Finalize the reception menu and service details with the caterer.
• Choose and reserve all tables, chairs, and any other wedding rentals you'll need for the reception (unless the caterer or site is taking care of it).
• Book the rehearsal dinner site and finalize menu plans.
• Book a hotel room for your wedding night. 
• Book your honeymoon flights (if not using frequent flyer miles) and make all your other honeymoon travel reservations.
• Start addressing wedding invitations or drop them off with the calligrapher (you'll need to send them out at the three-month mark). (ish)
• Grooms: Give all of the groomsmen the info they need to buy and/or reserve their attire.
• Brides: Choose your bridesmaids' accessories (shoes, jewelry) and either buy or pass along purchasing information.
• Brides: Put together a wedding beauty plan and make appointments at a nearby spa (massages, facials, etc). If you're considering whitening your teeth, this is the time to do it!
• Shop for and purchase wedding bands. 
• Brides: Double-check that all your attendants have bought their dresses and accessories.
• Gather all important documents that you'll need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations, etc).
• Grooms: If you are renting a tux, visit the formalwear shop to get measured.
• Talk to your maid of honor and best man about any pre-wedding party plans (such as the bridal shower, bachelorette party, and bachelor party).
• Brides: Make sure you have all the under-the dress essentials and any special lingerie in time for your first wedding dress fitting.
• Finalize and confirm any special ceremony songs or ceremony readings with your VIPs (very important extras).
• Brides: Confirm delivery date for your wedding dress and schedule your dress fittings. 
• Talk to people you'd want to do special performances or readings as part of the ceremony.
• If you are handling the bridesmaid dress order, confirm the delivery date.
• Send out your wedding bands to be engraved (to ensure they'll be back in time for the wedding).
• Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, auto, homeowner's, and life insurance.
• Schedule any extra photography sessions you want. Popular options: a formal portrait session for your wedding announcement; a day-after session in your wedding clothes; a rock the dress session before or after the wedding; or even a boudoir photography session.
• Grooms: Choose and buy any accessories you will need (shoes, shirt stays, cuff links, pocket squares).
• Order enough liquor, wine and/or champagne to stock the reception bar (if it's not included in the catering contract).
• Arrange wedding day transportation for you, your wedding party, and guests (as needed).
• At three months out, send your wedding invitations (be sure to add extra postage for overseas guests)

In Progress:

• Start taking better care of yourself. Get in wedding day shape by eating right, joining a gym, and/or even hiring a personal trainer. Holiday parties. Enough said. 
• Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of what you expect of them -- especially your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Provide a list of duties to the maid of honor and a list of to-dos to the best man. This is a moving target so I think it'll always be in progress
• Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Look for rehearsal dinner sites in your area and provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests. E and I picked a rehearsal dinner site but it was vetoed. It's not up to E's mom to decide.
• Print and assemble wedding invitations Almost done! We need to print the direction cards and order tissue paper to go inside
• Hash out your wedding flower proposal. Decide on your floral style, choose the right wedding flowers, and negotiate prices with florist. Once you're certain the contract outlines everything you agreed upon, sign it. We're working on picking out floral styles but don't know how many flowers we're going to need or where we should order them from yet.
• Grooms: Decide on your groomsmen's formalwear. Let the guys know and ask them to get fitted for their tuxes (if need be). The tux we like is purchase only so we're waiting to see what the rental version will look like. It should be in by mid february!
• Pick out or design a ketubah or other marriage contract required by your religion. We have a design we like but still need to make steps towards purchasing it. 
• Buy or rent ceremony decor and reception decorations that aren't included in your flower proposal (huppah, aisle runner, program basket). Just placed our first order for Mason jars and started making kissing balls!
• Decide whether you want to give out wedding favors. Shop for wedding favors online or consider making your own wedding favors. Allow extra time for custom-made favors (i.e., chocolates in a preprinted box). We've decided on a candy bar and will be collecting the candy up until the wedding. Jars are all purchased but we still need scoops!

Done!

• Get organized! Start a notebook/file folder to house all your wedding-planning paperwork in one place, browse our Wedding Planning Basics area
• Begin envisioning your wedding style and wedding colors -- formal, eggplant-and-gold hotel reception? Or a modern, black-and-white loft?
• Colorful, tented, backyard barbecue celebration? Or exotic, orange-and-yellow beach wedding?
• Decide on a wedding budget and hash out who's contributing to the wedding. 
• Make sure to appraise and insure your engagement ring.
• Let friends and family know you're engaged. Send them a just-engaged video Ecard and submit an engagement announcement to the local newspaper.
• Choose a wedding date and time, and finalize after okaying with important guests (parents, siblings, and grandparents), ceremony and/or reception location, and ceremony officiant.
• Brides: It's never too early to begin thinking about your wedding dress. Start by figuring out what wedding dress style will look best on you.
• Interview wedding caterers look online for wedding caterers in your area and ask recently married friends for recommendations.
• Scout out reception sites in your area until you find the perfect reception location.
• Look for a ceremony officiant in your area (if you don't already have one in mind) and/or a premarital counselor who suits your style and spirit. Interview prospective officiants and start prewedding counseling if it's right for you.
• Book your reception site as soon as you see something you love that's available on your date. Before you sign the reception contract, make sure it includes everything you discussed.
• Begin working on a preliminary online wedding guest list and decide approximately how many people you want to invite. Request "wish lists" from both sets of parents, then compile.
• Put together your bridal party. Choose your bridesmaids, pick your groomsmen, and decide on your flower girl and ring bearer. Also consider giving a part to those very important friends and family outside of the bridal party (ceremony readers, guest book attendants, candle lighters).
• Find a ceremony site (if one hasn't already been determined by your choice of officiant or reception site).
• Decide on a caterer. Hash out a rough price per head and start planning your reception menu.
• Choose your wedding colors (if you haven't already), taking into account the existing decor of your ceremony and reception spaces.
• Brides: Start your wedding dress search. Begin by looking at pictures of wedding dresses online and in magazines.
• Sign your catering contract and send in a deposit. 
• Start investigating any family wedding customs or cultural traditions you might want to incorporate into your ceremony or reception.
• Finalize your wedding guest list. 
• Envision your wedding flowers and set up appointments with wedding florists in the area to discuss options.
• If you've chosen an outdoor ceremony or reception site, then research tent and lighting rental places in your area.
• Start looking for and auditioning local reception bands or DJs.
• Envision your wedding invitations. Look at invite photos and decide who will make your wedding
• invitations. 
• Brides: Once you've found photos of wedding dresses you like, make appointments and head out to bridal salons to try them on.
• Set up appointments with various florists to discuss options.
• Decide on your officiant and set up a meeting to plan the wedding ceremony and talk about any religious requirements (such as premarital counseling).
• Research, interview, and get price lists from several wedding photographers in your area and local videographers. Before you start, read up on wedding photo and video basics.
• Start a wedding registry at one or more of your favorite stores. Even if you start with just a few pieces, you can always add more items later. 
• Brides: Narrow down your gown choices and make a final decision.
• Reserve your wedding photographer and videographer. Decide on the packages you want, sign the photography contract, and send in your deposits.
• Choose your florist and send a deposit to reserve their services.
• Brides: Start thinking about what you want your bridesmaid dresses to look like. Search bridesmaid dress photos and make sure to get input from your girls.
• Begin looking for local cake bakers to make your wedding cake. Your caterer is a great source for leads.
• Think about how you might want to wear your hair. Browse wedding hairstyle photos, and start researching hairstylists and makeup artists in your area.
• If you plan to use frequent-flyer miles to travel to your honeymoon destination, book your flight now.
• Start researching ceremony musicians in your area and listening to demos. Also start forming an idea of what style of ceremony music you want, and any specific songs you’re looking for.
• Book your reception band or DJ, sign the reception music contract, and send a deposit.
• Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
• Brides: Decide on the bridesmaid dresses. 
• Fill out your wedding registry, and don't forget to include some choices appropriate for your upcoming bridal shower.
• Book your cake baker, choose a wedding cake design you love, and send a deposit once you've signed the wedding cake contract.
• Order and send save-the-dates out to all your guests (if you haven't already). 
• Brides: Collect necessary measurements from bridesmaids, or ask that everyone gets measured by a tailor or dress store (specifically if you have out-of-town bridesmaids). Then ask everyone to order their dresses.
• Brides: Order your wedding dress and double check your wedding dress contract before you sign to make sure it contains all the correct information.
• Start working on your invitation wording and design.
• Finalize your invitation wording. 
• Start looking through reception centerpiece photos. Figure out what flowers you like and which ones will be in season on your wedding day.
• Order your wedding invitations and wedding announcements (don't forget plenty of extra envelopes)
• Research and purchase wedding insurance (if necessary).
• Grooms: Decide what type of formalwear (tux, suit, casual button-down and slacks) you'll wear and look through formalwear photos to get an idea of what you want.
• Grooms: Start planning your groomsmen's attire. Tuxes or suits?
• Grooms: Start looking to buy or rent your tux, suit, or other formal attire.
• Make sure your out-of-town guests know all the details. Add hotel reservation and city information to your wedding website and/or compile hard copies and mail out.
• If you haven't registered for wedding gifts yet, be sure to do so.
• Brides: Provide a guest list to your bridesmaids for the bridal shower.

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