Destination Wedding Planner

Use this handy guide to keep organized and to ensure that your wedding is the wedding of your dreams.

Destination Wedding Checklist

12 + Months

• Envision your dream wedding. Decide a location for your special day whether it's held on the beach, in a hotel ballroom or in a garden.
• Decide on a budget.
• Pick a date.
• Ask family and friends for wedding recommendations. Decide whether you will use a wedding planner.
• Look for a caterer.

Destination Wedding Planner Use this handy guide to keep organi

9-11 Months

• Book a reception site.
• If you are planning an engagement party, set the date and purchase invitations.
• Decide whether you want your wedding to be big or small. Create a mock wedding guest list. Request lists from parents.
• Choose bridesmaids/groomsmen.
• Begin looking for an officiant.
• Find ceremony site.
• Contact newspapers to announce your engagement.
• Choose a color scheme for your wedding.
• Decide on a caterer and begin creating a menu.
• Shop for your gown.
• Finalize the guest list.
• Begin your search for bands or DJs at the reception.
• Interview and get price lists from florists, photographers and videographers.
• Hire a caterer, sign a contract and send your deposit.
• Find out about tent and lighting rentals if your wedding is outdoors.
• Meet with your officiant to discuss ceremony structure and religious requirements.
• Research different wedding insurance policies.

6-8 Months

• Buy your wedding gown.
• Book a reception band or DJ.
• Register for gifts.
• Locate a baker and choose your wedding cake design.
• Start shopping for bridesmaids dresses and collect necessary measurements from your attendants.
• Choose a florist.
• Set aside blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
• Reserve photographer and videographer.
• Send out save-the-date cards to all guests.
• Book ceremony musicians.
• Begin planning the rehearsal dinner and provide the host with contact information for your attendants and any other guests.
• Order your invitations with plenty of extra envelopes.
• Finalize the menu and service details with your caterer.

4-5 Months

• Decide what kind of formalwear your groom will be wearing.
• Reserve tables, chairs and any other rental equipment you might need.
• Book your honeymoon and make travel reservations.
• Book rehearsal dinner site.
• Decide what the groomsmen will be wearing.
• Compile a packet of hotel reservation and city information for out-of-town guests and mail it out.
• Book hotel room for your wedding night.
• Decide on a floral scheme and choose flowers.
• Finalize your wedding insurance policy.

2-3 Months

• Make sure the groomsmen have all the information they need to buy/rent their wedding attire.
• Sign whatever marriage contract is required by your religion.
• Choose accessories for your attendants.
• Choose specific ceremony and reception decorations.
• Purchase wedding rings.
• Make sure your attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories.
• Make or buy favors.
• Talk to your honor attendant and best man about shower and other party plans.
• Buy any special lingerie your wedding dress requires.
• Make sure your groom has been fitted for his tux.
• Get anything you need for an international honeymoon (passport, birth certificate, visas, vaccinations.)
• Confirm delivery date for your bridesmaid's dresses.
• If you would like to have someone do a special performance or reading, ask them to do you the honor.
• Address and mail invitations.
• Confirm the delivery date for your wedding gown and schedule fittings.
• Arrange for all insurance policies to include you and your future spouse: health, homeowners, auto and life insurance.
• Send wedding bands to be engraved.
• Make sure the groom has all the accessories he needs (shoes, cufflinks, shirt stays, and a pocket square.)
• Provide your bridesmaids with a guest list for your shower.
• Arrange wedding day transportation for you, your wedding party and guests.

6 Weeks

• Order liquor, wine and champagne.
• Begin writing your ceremony program.
• Purchase your bridal accessories (veil, shoes.)
• Write your vows.
• Arrange parking for the reception.
• Confirm reservations for out-of-town guests.
• Arrange for a babysitter for the reception, if needed.
• Submit your wedding announcement to newspapers.
• Research local marriage license requirements.
• Write thank-you notes for gifts received at the bridal shower.
• Buy a guest book and a nice pen.
• Make an appointment to take the veil to your hairstylist and make sure your current hairstyle and veil work well together.
• Buy gifts for all attendants in the wedding.

3-4 Weeks

• Mail out rehearsal dinner invitations.
• Do trial runs of hair and makeup and schedule wedding day beauty appointments.
• Finish and print ceremony programs.
• Get marriage license and make appointments for blood tests, if necessary.
• Create a list of songs for the DJ to play at the reception.
• Have a follow-up meeting with or phone call with the officiant to go over ceremony timing and details.
• Confirm wedding night and hotel reservations.
• Do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name.
• Work out wedding day timing and details and draw up a schedule.
• Make sure you have your garter and "something old, new, borrowed and blue."
• Pick up your gown.
• Plan a party or go out for cocktails to thank your attendants for all their help.
• Confirm headcount, delivery time, and location with cakemaker.
• Call guests who haven't RSVP'd for the wedding and rehearsal dinner.
• If you're having a receiving line, determine the order you want everyone to stand in.
• Give final headcount to the caterer.
• Call location manager and make sure your vendors will have access to the site where they need it.

1-2 Weeks

• Start putting together the seating plan if there's a seated reception meal.
• Finalize seating chart. Buy materials for and make place cards.
• Confirm delivery locations, times, and final arrangement count with florist.
• Make sure your groom picks up his tux and tries it on before the day of the wedding.
• Purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon.
• Shop and pack for the honeymoon.
• Confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors.
• Confirm location, date, and time with photographer and videographer. Give them a list of photos you want them to take of the wedding.
• Make sure your groom gets his final hair cut.
• Give seating chart to caterer, location manager, or host.
• Prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family.
• Plan any additional night-before activities with friends or attendants.
• Fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day.
• Distribute wedding day directions, schedule, and contact list to all parents, attendants, and vendors.
• Designate who will meet, greet, and handle each vendor on the wedding day.
• Put together an overnight bag for your wedding night and designate someone to deliver it to the hotel for you.
• Leave a copy of your honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of an emergency.
• Put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes and give to a designated family or friend to distribute on the wedding day.
• Confirm date, location, time, and play list with band or DJ.
• Get a manicure and pedicure and confirm beauty appointments for your wedding day.
• Designate someone to collect the wedding gifts brought to the party.

Day Before

• Give announcements to your honor attendant to be mailed on the wedding day.
• Pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
• Rehearse the ceremony with the officiant and wedding party.
• Confirm all specific honeymoon travel plans.
• Drop off favors, guest book, and pen at reception site.
• Have a massage.
• Sleep!

Wedding Day

• Confirm with people who you expect to give/lead toasts at the reception.
• Set aside a private moment together to exchange gifts and a sweet congratulatory kiss.
• Take a moment to thank your parents and tell them you love them.
• Have fun!

After the Wedding

• Have someone take your gown and veil to be cleaned.
• Plan a time for you to write thank-you notes.
• Mail gifts to your parents to thank them for their help and support.
• Make sure all vendor bills have been paid.
• Take any personal film to be developed.
• Find out when you can pick up your wedding video.
• Freeze the top layer of your cake for your one year anniversary!