Congratulations -- you
finally got up the nerve to
ask that special lady in
your life the big question.
Now it's time to start doing
some heavy wedding planning.
Hopefully you'll find this
handy little checklist of
your most essential to-dos
helpful!
12 Months Before
· Figure out
with your fiancée where
you're going to have your
ceremony and reception.
Church, a lovely garden,
destination wedding? The
best spots and locations
fill up fast, especially for
the summer and fall months,
so decide your wedding size
and start looking.
· Organize
your boys. After you ask
your best man to do the
honors, make up your
groomsman list. For crowd
control, you'll want at
least one usher per 50
guests. If your family is
particularly unruly, you may
want more.
· Get what
you want. Believe it or
not, people start buying
you gifts immediately and
registering may be the only
way to keep your friends'
and relatives' questionable
tastes in check! Besides,
you can
register for everything
from practical household
gifts to a new TV.
9 Months Before
· Meet and
greet suitable officiants.
· Book the
music. You can choose a band
or DJ. Be sure to get
references and/or hear their
music beforehand. Now would
not be the time for "Let's
Get Krunked" as your
anthem. Once you've made a
choice, run it by your bride
before you sign on the
dotted line.
· Take the
time to figure out who your
real friends are. Decide and
start drawing up your guest
list. This is something
you'll probably want to get
your parents in on, too.
6 Months Before
· Plan your
honeymoon. Are you going
to go to Hawaii? The
Bahamas? If you're leaving
the country, now would be a
good time to check or find
your passport -- or start
the paperwork to get them if
you and your fiancée don't
have them already. Don't
forget to check for any
shots or visas you might
need.
· Who's
driving? Make arrangements
for transportation to the
ceremony and reception.
Think limousine or a classic
Rolls Royce. (The bus is not
an option, unless you have a
large wedding party and you
want to transport everyone
with one vehicle.) Think
about where you're going
after the reception --
airport? hotel? -- and make
plans for getting there.
Tradition dictates that your
best man drives you, but you
may have other plans in
mind!
3 Months Before
· Get ready
for the freeloaders. Your
out-of-town guests need a
place to stay, so unless
you've got a couple dozen
spare bedrooms, decide on a
hotel and reserve a block of
rooms. Let them know this in
your invitations so there's
no issue with costs.
· By this
time, the guest list should
be finalized -- i.e., it has
bridal, groom, and parental
approval. Time to send out
the invitations.
·
Get dressed. So what
will it be? Tails and top
hat or traditional tuxedo
with dinner jacket? Decide
and buy (or plan to rent),
then pick out your
groomsmen's attire.
· Give a
jeweler the finger. After he
measures it, let your
fiancée do the same and then
order your wedding rings.
Decide on inscriptions.
· Be a man.
If you're going to tie the
knot, you may have to get
your blood tested. State law
in some states (maybe even
yours). So visit your doctor
and roll up your sleeve.
6 to 8 Weeks Before
· Get a
sparkling smile. Cut down on
coffee and try a whitening
toothpaste. Want to really
shine? Consider a
professional bleaching with
a dentist or use an
over-the-counter whitening
system.
· Don't be
cheap. This is one of the
most important moments in
your life, so put some real
thought into the matter and
then buy your bride a
wedding gift. Make it
personal, make it memorable,
and make sure it's legal in
all 50 states.
· Don't be
cheap, part 2. Search high
and low for the perfect
groomsmen gifts. These guys
are going to put out some
serious cash for D-Day to
make sure you look and feel
your best. Make sure you get
them something decent to
show for it. Rule of thumb -
if you wouldn't want it for
yourself - don't get it!
· Pick up
your wedding rings and put
them in a safe place. Check
the engraving very
carefully, while you're in
the store.
2 Weeks Before
· Do
something really romantic
with your wife-to-be. But
before you do, pick up your
marriage license.
· Don't do
anything stupid, but have a
really good time. It's your
bachelor party and last
chance to go crazy without
the ball and chain legally
attached. But really, keep
it clean! You know your
girl will ask!
1 Week Before
· Get ready
to relax. Double-check the
honeymoon reservations,
start packing your bags, and
pick up travelers' checks.
· Make final
payments. Put your
officiant's fee in an
envelope and give it to your
best man for post-vow
delivery.
· Say
something. You're expected
to speak to the crowd at
your wedding reception.
Sound sensitive and
intelligent, start coming up
with that impromptu toast to
her family now.
· Rally the
troops. Give your groomsmen
the rehearsal dinner
schedule and make sure
everybody's got their gear
pressed and ready. Haircuts
are definitely in order.
Day Before
· Make her
cry. Write a sweet little "I
love you" note (or other
touching trick) and leave it
somewhere she'll find it on
wedding morning,
particularly if you won't be
seeing her before the
ceremony. Trust me, she'll
love you even more for it.
