Tips, Tools & Advice
Whether you're planning an intimate wedding for two or researching destination weddings, Beverly's free Wedding Tips will help. Get wedding tips on everything from packing to the honeymoon, and you can even download and print them easily.
Countdown to Your Wedding Day
By Beverly Clark
THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL WEDDING away is to plan early. To help you get off to a good start, wer've put together a checklist that covers all bases of your destination event, including when to order the wedding invitations, book a photographer and schedule the wedding dress fitting.
A Year to Six Months Before the Wedding
- Decide on a budget.
- Determine the style (formal, informal), size (wedding party, guests), and setting (church,garden, beach) for the ceremony.
- Target a wedding date.
- Select a destination - check the internet or contact a travel agent.
- Create a file for contracts, notes of conversations, and other wedding-related information.
- Research the marriage license requirements of your destination. If possible, request an application ahead of time from the foreign consulate, chamber of commerce, or tourism department.
- Call or send for information on wedding sites; wedding-package details from hotels, chapels, consulates, and tourism departments; and consultants who can assist in legal matters and coordinate the ceremony site, officiant, flowers, music, and other details.
- Evaluate wedding packages and select a wedding service or consultant who can assist you with long-distance arrangements.
- Choose a maid of honor, best man, and other attendants.
- Develop an invitation list, then send a save-the-date note.
- Select wedding attire.
- Sign up with a bridal registry and select gifts.
Four to Six Months Before
- Negotiate and finalize ceremony and reception details with your wedding service providers, independent consultant, or onsite coordinator, communicating any items that will personalize your wedding.
- Make sure to collect signed contracts that confirm the arrangements.
- Finalize your guest list.
- Order wedding invitations, announcements, and thank-you cards.
- Negotiate and arrange air, hotel, and ground transportation for the wedding party. Make additional arrangements for the honeymoon.
- Confirm your arrangements with the photographer and videographer.
- Buy wedding rings and have them engraved.
Two to Four Months Before
- Obtain necessary legal documents, including passports and/or visas if traveling to a foreign destination.
- Get any necessary inoculations.
- Choose gifts for the maid of honor, best man, and other attendants.
- Address and mail invitations.
- Begin composing your vows (if you want to write your own).
One to Two Months Before
- Have your final dress and headpiece fittings.
- Have a formal wedding portrait taken.
- Send a wedding announcement and picture to your hometown newspapers.
- Shop for your travel wardrobe.
- Consult with a professional shipper if you are shipping your wedding dress.
Two Weeks Before
- Contact necessary offices for name change forms (driver's license, social security, etc.).
- Confirm travel and wedding arrangements.
One Week Before
- Review final details with the hotel, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians, and others involved in the wedding.
- Arrange to meet with your officiant before the ceremony.
- Make sure everyone's wedding attire is in order.
- Plan guest seating if needed.
Upon Arrival
- Visit with your consultant and/or officiant.
- Apply for the marriage license.
The Wedding Day
- Focus on the important things--each other--and try to stay flexible about everything else.
- Have Fun!