Horner Novelty - The Party Planner's Paradise

Announce engagement. Use formal printed announcements and/or the newspaper
Select the wedding date and time
Choose size and style of your wedding: formal, informal, special theme
Set a preliminary budget
Schedule a meeting with both sets of parents to openly discuss wedding expectations, costs and responsibilities
Hire a wedding consultant, if you plan to use one
Buy a wedding planner or a notebook to stay organized and record decisions
Invite attendants to be in your wedding
Reserve the ceremony location
Choose the officiant for the ceremony
Reserve the reception site. Find out what services are included or available
Interview caterers, florists, photographers, videographers, musicians, etc. Be sure to taste food options, see the work of florists, photographers and videographers. Listen to or watch recordings of musicians. Ask for references and discuss deposit requirements and the cancellation policy. Hire as soon as possible
Create a preliminary guest list, including addresses. Ask all parents to do the same. Include the relationship (friend, uncle) - this helps if the list needs to be shortened
Begin planning the wedding ceremony and reception
Write out directions and/or create a map to include on a separate card with the invitation
Shop for your wedding gown and accessories. Order your dress at least 6-8 months in advance
Choose and order attire and accessories for bridesmaids
Start planning the honeymoon. If you are leaving the country, make sure your passport is up to date and verify any visa requirements
Register for wedding gifts. Develop a system for recording gifts as they arrive and for recording when you wrote the thank you note

Finalize the guest list. Use a software program or written list to track responses
Order the wedding and reception invitations, response cards, place cards, announcements, thank you notes, informals, save-the-date cards and accessories.
Always order extra invitations and envelopes to allow for addressing mistakes and surprise guests. It’s less expensive to order extras from the start
Send out Save-the-Date Cards
Address invitations and announcements as soon as possible
Start making final decisions and arrangements for the ceremony and reception, including food, music, flowers and rental equipment
Sign contracts and place deposits with caterer, photographer, videographer, florist, musicians and other service providers, if you have not already done so
Plan the rehearsal dinner: location, time, menu and guest list
Arrange for wedding-day transportation for important guests and the wedding party
Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town members of the wedding party and guests
Order wedding rings and make arrangements for engraving
Have both mothers select their wedding attire
Confirm the delivery date for the wedding gown and bridesmaids’ dresses. Schedule fittings
Choose and order formal wear for the groomsmen. Consult with the formal-wear provider regarding when the groomsmen should get fitted
Finalize the honeymoon plans
Shop for trousseau and special attire for parties, showers and the honeymoon
Write thank you notes as you receive gifts. If you are using preprinted thank you notes to immediately acknowledge that a gift was received, be sure to send a hand written thank you on your informal notes within two months after the wedding

Finish addressing invitations and announcements
Finalize the ceremony details with officiant
Finalize details with the caterer, florist, musicians, photographer, etc.
Order the wedding cake
Finalize plans for a bridal luncheon or any other pre-wedding events
Check requirements for medical tests and marriage license
Schedule an appointment to have a picture taken for the newspaper announcement
Ask someone to be responsible for the guest book
Choose small gifts of appreciation for the wedding party
Collect the forms necessary to change your name (if you are changing your name) on your Social Security card, driver's license, insurance, etc.
Continue to write thank you notes

Mail the invitations (six weeks is customary, eight is becoming increasingly common). At times, guests might mail their response card without filling in their name. To avoid confusion, assign each guest a number. Write this number very small on the back of their response. An incomplete response card can now be matched to a guest
Use a software program or written list with each guest's name and address to track responses
Order wedding programs and reception accessories such as napkins, cake boxes, etc.
Make final menu decisions
Set the rehearsal time and verify with all participants
Have your first wedding dress fitting
Schedule to have a formal bridal portrait taken two to four weeks before wedding. Make sure the wedding dress and shoes will be ready
Make sure members of the wedding party have their fitting
Make an appointment with your hairdresser to practice your wedding-day hairstyle. Bring your headpiece. Have a makeup consultation at the same time.
Schedule hair and makeup appointments for yourself, and the bridal party, on the wedding day. Schedule a manicure for the day before wedding
Give the photographer a list of all pictures you want taken
Give videographer a list of all shots you want included in the video
Purchase a gift for your fiancé, if you’re exchanging gifts
Choose thank you gifts for parents and any others who helped with the wedding
Submit the wedding announcement and photograph to the newspaper. Specify date for publishing
Continue to write thank you notes

Have your final wedding dress fitting
Verify that all members of the wedding party have had their final fitting
Get blood test and obtain your marriage license
Make sure you have all accessories, toasting glasses, cake knife, ring pillow, guest book, etc.
Start creating a detailed wedding schedule for all attendants. List all events that the participants are expected to attend. Include date, time, location and any responsibilities. Give attendants the schedule two weeks before the wedding
Give musicians the final music list for the ceremony and reception. Specify any music you do not want played. Have the music start 30 minutes before the ceremony
Prepare your wedding toasts
Pick up and try on your wedding rings
Confirm your honeymoon reservations

Confirm final details with all wedding professionals hired
Confirm wedding night hotel reservations
Give the caterer your guest count
Finalize the reception seating chart
Submit names for place cards to calligrapher or prepare yourself
Give the wedding-day schedule to all attendants
Pick up your wedding dress
Have your bridal portrait taken
Break in your wedding shoes
Fill out a change-of-address form at the post office, if necessary
Arrange for someone to collect gifts brought to the ceremony and bring them to your home

Verify final details with all service providers. Inform them of any changes
Finalize the guest count and make any necessary changes to seating chart
Confirm transportation for the wedding party
Confirm that the photographer understands your specific requests
Confirm that the videographer understands your specific requests
Verify that all bridal party attire is picked up and fits
Confirm that all attendants know when to arrive at the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding ceremony. Confirm that all attendants have a copy of the wedding schedule you created
Pack for your honeymoon
Stop mail and newspapers during your honeymoon
Pay bills that will be due while you are away
Continue to write thank you notes, if possible
Pick up your marriage license

Be sure that both of you eat something
Try to relax and enjoy the day. If anything goes differently than planned, chances are that you are the only ones who will notice