Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Planning Timeline Template

wedding cartoonOne thing I hear from vendors and fellow wedding enthusiasts, again and again, is that I'm an organized bride.  I suppose its true, I do tend to get a bit neurotic with my lists and spreadsheets.  I'm a lawyer, so staying organized is part of what helps me do my job- it has always come easy for me.  Given that we planned our wedding with an eight-month timeline, and most people I know usually have 18 months to two years, I feel extra good about how J. and I planned it all.  And one of the best tools I had in the process was my timeline.

I absolutely abhorred the timelines I found on various wedding websites, like the Knot (sorry Knot, I love you for other things!)  They have good tools, especially if you don't want to make your own lists.  But frankly, using their timeline made me feel insecure about our wedding.  Sometimes those websites suggest that you do certain things on a different schedule than might be appropriate for you.  And of course, they always suggest things like "have an engagement party" or "start getting your facials 6 months out," neither of which applied to us.  Why should I feel guilty or embarrassed if I decide not to start my facials, um, ever?  Or if I choose my bridesmaids dresses before the date they claim I should?  Nope, that wasn't going to work for me.

So I found a perfect compromise.  I looked at the tasks from various sites and used those lists to make my own timeline.  I even organized my tasks by month.  This helped me stay focused, and avoid feeling overwhelmed, because I knew everything would get done at the right time.  It looked like a lot at first, but once I sorted tasks by month, I felt much better.  I allowed the timeline to be dynamic, so it could evolve with the planning.  And it always made me feel extra-good when I finished a task early!

Because this timeline has served me so well and been shared already with friend-brides, I thought I would post it here for all to use.  Feel free to take what you want and leave what you don't- after all, you should be able to do that for any element of your wedding!  Oh, and, I saved this as a google document so that I could access it from anywhere--I recommend that too.


My Wedding Planning Timeline



By April 30



- Select a venue and date



- Have engagement photos scheduled



- Determine who is in the bridal party



- Finalize budget

By May 30



- Book photographer



- Book band



- Book church



- Hire a day-of coordinator if necessary



- Get our families to give us guest lists



- Register



- Book hotel blocks, suites for getting ready, and room for wedding night



- Choose bridesmaids dresses




- Get save the dates made



- Finalize website




By June 30



- Book florist

- Send save the dates



- Select and order invitations, make inserts with directions and hotel info



- White dress must be ordered at this point



- Determine dress accessories



- Meet with florist again for mock ups



- Book hair trial and day-of




- Order flower girl dress



- Confirm who in bridal party wants their hair done




By July 30



- Select groom's, groomsmen's, and ring bearer's attire


- Find rehearsal dinner venue



- Order and assemble favors



By August 30



- Dance lesson with Dad


- Purchase dress undergarments



- Plan honeymoon basics



- Make aisle runner


- Make signage for card holder



- Prep invitations



- Book school bus



By September 30



- Determine cake



- Choose wedding rings



- First dress fitting



- Complete prep of invitations and have one weighed for postage



- Box up items for church and reception, with photos and descriptions for set-up of relevant items


- Call bridesmaids store and see if can get dresses early



By October 30




- Bachelorette and Bachelor party and showersEdit Post ‹ The One! — WordPress




- Thank you cards for same



- Hair and makeup trial



- Assemble water bottles for OOT bags


- Give bridesmaids their dresses; ask them to keep extra fabric from alterations



- Mail invitations the week of 10/10



- Confirm B. made ring bearer pillow

- Pick up wedding rings


- Design RD invitations



- Early October, submit NYT announcement

- Order NYC visitors guides


- Make base for cake topper and buy 8 yards of ribbon for cake



- Confirm menu



- Order photo for guest book and purchase mat and frame from Michael's



- Create "must play" and "do not play" lists for band (due October 17)



- Confirm songs for dances



By November 30



- Remind men to order tuxedos


- Arrange for snacks for bridal party in suites the day of the wedding



- Buy halloween candy on sale for OOT bags, and put into cello bags



- Make RD invites



- Make framed instructions for guest book and wish book



- Make escort cards and menus for RD




- Choose and ask readers to read



- Buy elderflower soda for toasts

- Finalize "day of the wedding timelines" for bridal party



- Print the menus



- Table numbers



- OOT welcome letters for bags, with crossword puzzles, need printed and assembled



- Unity candle



- Confirm ceremony music


- Assemble favors and box for reception



- Send main vendors all the key information



- Make sure bout's are ready to go



- Wedding license



- Finalize invites for breakfast, for OOT bags



- Programs (must clear with church in advance) need to be printed and assembled

Early December



- Confirm number of rooms booked at hotels, for OOT bags



- Take rings for sizing/inscription

- Put together OOT bags and welcome letters, and box up for Hilton

- Assemble bridal party gifts



- RSVP should be in, so we should determine seating chart



Week of wedding

- Make escort cards with Mom



- Confirm cake topper is packed



- OOT bags need to be delivered to hotels



- Send bridal party schedule and logistics



- J. should get his pre-wedding haircut and manicure; I'm getting mani/pedi



- We need to hit the bank for a bunch of $50's and $20's for tips, and organize for day-of-coordinator



- John needs to pick up his tux (and others'); Sarah pick up dress



- Check weather and buy umbrellas if necessary



- Drop off ribbon at bakery

- Drop materials at florist



- Bring reception items to reception location (table numbers, candles, menus, escort cards, favors, cake topper, guest book stuff, decorations, signs, toasting flutes, cake cutter, bathroom baskets, etc)



- Set aside programs for church, aisle runner, reserved seating signs, and unity candle

GET MARRIED!  :)

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