12 Month Wedding Checklist

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

99 -- 12 Months Before12 Months Before

• Select a wedding date.

• Formally announce your engagement by introducing both families.

• Set a preliminary budget.

• Reserve Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa for the ceremony and

reception and send a deposit.

• Interview and select a Professional Wedding Coordinator.

• Take your engagement photo and submit it to the local newspaper.

• Decide whom you would like in your wedding party and ask each person to

participate.

• Purchase bridal magazines and start a “Wedding File.” Collect tear sheets of

dresses, flowers, etc.

• Purchase a notebook to store your wedding information.

• Research, if applicable, premarital counseling and sign up for the appropriate

classes.

• Create a save-the-date guest list. Alphabetize your list and include each guest’s

street address, city, state and zip code. (Be sure to use the proper salutation:

Ms., Miss, Mrs., Mr., Mr. & Mrs. or Dr.)

________________________________________________________

8 Months Before8 Months Before

• Schedule appointments at bridal salons and begin shopping for a dress. Don’t

forget to bring a pair of stockings, a strapless bra, shoes and a hair clip to each

appointment.

• Set a preliminary guest list. Be sure to get your parents’ guest list.

• Order save-the-date cards, if applicable. The information on the cards should

include: Hyatt Regency’s address and rate (with directions and phone numbers),

your wedding date, time and location.

• Determine your wedding theme, style and color scheme.

• Interview and select a band and/or DJ.

• Interview and select a videographer.

• Interview and select a photographer.

• Begin registering for wedding gifts.

• Begin a health/fitness routine.

________________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

7 Months Before7 Months Before

• Place your final order for your wedding gown, veil, shoes and other accessories.

• Begin shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses.

• Interview and select a florist (see our Preferred Partners).

• Meet with Hyatt’s preferred cake designers, sample cake flavors and select your

cake.

• Interview and select an officiant (a priest, minister, pastor, rabbi or judge).

• Submit your save-the-date announcements to a calligrapher for addressing.

• Review ideas for your honeymoon. Go to Hyatt.com for information and

reservations on great worldwide resort destinations.

________________________________________________________

6 Months Before6 Months Before

• Begin shopping for invitations.

• Review invitation options.

• Create a “B” invitation guest list.

• Mail your save-the-date cards to out-of-town guests.

• Place your final order for bridesmaids’ gowns and any accessories.

• Have the groom’s mother and your mother coordinate and select their dresses.

• Talk to your Hyatt Catering Manager about specialty rental items you might want

to use and get samples of each, including table linens, glassware and charger

plates.

• Finalize your gift registry.

________________________________________________________

5 Months Before5 Months Before

• Finalize the overall budget.

• Select floral arrangements for the ceremony, reception and bridal party.

• Finalize your décor ideas and design schematic.

• Mail any outstanding deposits to vendors.

• Begin shopping for party favors for the wedding, if applicable.

• Shop for your wedding rings.

• Begin shopping for the groom’s wedding attire.

• Select the groom’s attendants’ attire. Send out tuxedo measurement forms to all

groomsmen.

• Finalize dates for showers and bachelor or bachelorette parties.

________________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

4 Months Before4 Months Before

• Finalize all the information for the wedding invitations and order them.

• Notify any family or friends that you would like to participate in your wedding as

an escort, card table attendant, gift attendant or photo liaison for the bride or

groom’s family.

• Submit menu and beverage selections to your Hyatt Regency Catering Manager.

• Begin music selections for the ceremony. You will need a processional song for

the groom, parents and attendants, a bridal song and a recessional song.

• Select a responsible person to handle the guest book and determine its location.

• Scout and reserve rehearsal dinner locations available at the Hyatt. (see

Rehearsal section on the CD)

• Complete your registry. (You can request that the stores send gift cards and not

the actual gifts until after the wedding.)

• Place your final order for party favors.

• Schedule tests for makeup and hair. Have you considered Pacific Waters Spa

and Salon at the Hyatt?

________________________________________________________

3 1/2½ Months Before3 1/2½ Months Before

• Complete your wedding invitation list and submit it to a calligrapher.

• Meet with the stationer and select and order menus, table numbers, escort cards,

personalized matches, hand towels, napkins and any other accessories.

• Finalize the date, time and place of the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Make a guest list for the rehearsal dinner.

• Attend your first appointment with the wedding officiant to review details for the

ceremony.

• Select the traditions you would like to include in your reception; for example, the

bride and groom’s first dance, the formal cake cutting, the first toasts or the

father-daughter or mother-son dance.

• Hire a dance instructor and schedule your first appointment, if needed.

• Purchase two pairs of control top, sandal-foot stockings, a properly fitted bra,

undergarments and shoes. (We recommend shoes with square toes and a half

size larger than your normal shoes. Extra pads are also a good idea.)

• Select special readings and begin writing personalized vows, if applicable.

• Make all your appointments for makeup, hair, nails, a massage at Pacific Waters

Spa and Salon.

________________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

3 Months Before3 Months Before

• Set up an appointment to see a sample of your flower centerpieces.

• If you have special music requests for the ceremony or reception, purchase

sheet music.

• Begin writing thank-you notes as wedding gifts arrive.

• Purchase hostess gifts and cards for your showers. Have them gift wrapped

and write thank-you notes.

• Purchase plenty of stamps and several pens that match your stationery for thank-

you notes.

• Purchase a guest book, sign-in pen, cake knife and lifter, and champagne flutes.

• Purchase disposable cameras for the reception, if necessary.

• Finalize the date and time of the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and postwedding

brunch.

• Prepare your passports and get vaccinations for the honeymoon, if applicable.

• Check with county requirements for marriage licenses.

• Purchase your wedding weekend outfits, including something for the rehearsal

dinner and post wedding brunch and other outfits for your honeymoon.

• Fifty-percent (50%) deposit due to Hyatt Regency.

________________________________________________________

2 1/2 Months Before2 1/2 Months Before

• Purchase gifts for each other and thank-you gifts for your wedding party

attendants and your parents.

• Order rehearsal dinner invitations.

• Finalize your selection of wedding music. You’ll need a processional, bridal

song and recessional.

• Finalize any ceremony readings or songs to be performed by guest(s).

________________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

2 Months Before2 Months Before

• Mail wedding invitations to all your guests.

• Schedule your first fitting for your wedding gown and your groom’s tuxedo or suit.

• Remember to bring your stockings, shoes, bra, hair accessories, jewelry, camera

and best friend.

• Prepare an out-of-town guest information letter.

• Begin composing the wedding weekend schedule information.

• Finalize your selections for cocktail hour and reception songs. Review them with

your band or DJ.

• Get a doctor’s physical exam.

________________________________________________________

1 1/2 Months Before1 1/2 Months Before

• Submit the wedding program information to a stationer.

• Finalize all details with your Hyatt Catering Manager, florist and musicians.

• Finalize all transportation, including any special plans for your family and bridal

party.

• Finalize out-of-town transportation, if applicable.

• Finalize pertinent information for inclusion in a Wedding Weekend Newsletter for

out-of-town guests and bridal party members. Include restaurant

recommendations, a photo schedule for your family and bridal party, detailed

driving directions, the weather forecast, etc.

• Finalize your schedule for the wedding day with your wedding venue contact,

band emcee and wedding coordinator, if applicable.

• Finalize the wedding ceremony processional and recessional information with

your wedding coordinator or wedding venue contact.

• Prepare a photo and a video shot list, naming important family and guests.

Include each person’s relationship to you. Assign a member from both the bride

and groom’s families to act as liaison with the photographer and videographer.

• Pick up the wedding rings, making sure they are sized and engraved.

• Finalize your jewelry selection, including something old, something new,

something borrowed and something blue.

• Schedule a final test makeup and hair session with your stylists. Bring your veil.

• Begin whitening your teeth for your wedding day.

• Make arrangements for bridesmaids’ luncheon.

• Attend to business and legal details. Get the necessary forms to change names

on your social security card, driver’s license, insurance and medical plans, and

bank accounts.

_____________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

1 Month Before1 Month Before

• Schedule your second bridal gown fitting.

• Mail your rehearsal dinner invitations.

• Schedule a final meeting with your officiant to discuss the ceremony.

• Confirm your final appointment with your makeup artist and hair

stylist.

• Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception.

• Practice your “First Dance” with your “First Dance” music -- wearing

your bridal shoes.

• Appoint a friend or family member to gather the gifts at the end of the

reception for delivery to the proper location.

________________________________________________________

3 Weeks Before3 Weeks Before

• Send final confirmation for all your honeymoon reservations.

• Finalize the wedding day timeline with your Wedding Coordinator.

• Mail your wedding day schedules. Make sure each wedding day

participant is aware of the day’s activities and their role.

• Mail your Wedding Weekend Newsletter to out-of-town guests.

• Finalize your seating arrangements (making sure you involve both

parents).

• Submit an alphabetized guest list with table assignments to a

calligrapher, if applicable.

• Purchase and print rehearsal dinner seating cards if needed and have

them calligraphed.

• Place your final order for hotel gift baskets with Surf City Grocers.

• Prepare and pack for your honeymoon and wedding weekend.

________________________________________________________

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

2 Weeks Before2 Weeks Before

• Send final payment to all vendors.

• Submit your final numbers to your florist and your Hyatt Catering Manager.

• Send the final guest count to your caterer or wedding venue coordinator.

• Prepare a toast for your wedding reception.

• Finalize the vows you have written for the ceremony.

• Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests.

• Provide Surf City Grocers with a list of guests and their hotel and arrival dates for

gift basket delivery.

• Pack all of your items for your wedding weekend, including outfits for

the rehearsal dinner, wedding day and post-wedding brunch.

• Get your hair colored and trimmed. (Don’t wait until two days before

the wedding!)

________________________________________________________

1 Week Before1 Week Before

• Make sure to have at least one person assist you with your errands the

last week prior to your wedding.

• Confirm the whereabouts of your guest book and pen, cake knife and

lifter, champagne flutes, etc. and put them together in one box or bag

marked “cake table.”

• Confirm the whereabouts of your marriage license and wedding rings

and put them in a box or a bag marked “ceremony.” For a Jewish

wedding, add the ketubah, the kiddush cups, the kosher wine, the

tallis and yarmulkes. Add a unity candle and Bible for a

• Christian/Catholic wedding.

• Pick up your bridal gown and veil and make sure all of your

accessories are together. Also make sure the wedding dress is covered

with a protective bag and stuffed with tissue to preserve its shape.

• Pick up the bridal party outfits and bring them to the bridal dressing

room on the day before the wedding, if possible.

• Pick up the groom’s outfit and make sure all of his accessories are

together.

• Groom to get a haircut.

• Confirm all appointment times for hair, makeup, nails, massages,

eyebrows, waxing, etc.

• Get a facial. (Don’t wait until two days before the wedding!)

• Write any final thank-you notes to bridal party members or parents.

• Attend the bachelor and bachelorette parties.

• Pack your wedding night and day-after clothes.

“12 Month Wedding 12 Month Wedding Checklist”

On the Wedding DayOn the Wedding Day

• Eat a well-balanced breakfast. You have a big day ahead of you, and

some brides have been known to faint because they forget to eat.

• Drink lots of water and refrain from caffeine and alcohol.

• Take a lavender bath -- it’s very relaxing.

• Remember to wear a button-down shirt for your hair and makeup

• appointments.

Fillable Printable 12 Month Wedding Checklist

Fillable Printable 12 Month Wedding Checklist