Northern Berks Patriot Item

Your wedding timeline guide

- Metro Creative

Wedding planning involves many movable pieces that ultimately need to come together on the big day.

Planning is typically a months-long process, and adhering to certain monthly benchmarks can help couples stay the course.

Brides magazine offers that the perfect engagement period is 12 to 14 months, which affords ample time to get organized and work with vendors.

With that in mind, here’s a 12-month timeline for couples getting ready to say “I do.”

12 months out

At the start of the planning process, establish your budget, hire a wedding planner (optional), choose the wedding party, pick a date and start to assemble a cursory guest list.

This also is a great time to begin touring venues to get a feel for potential ceremony and reception locales.

11 months out

Now is the time to get a firm handle on the theme and scope of the wedding. Start picking wedding colors and overall design.

Also, interview and hire vendors, such as photograph­ers, bands and videograph­ers. These vendors tend to book up quickly as wedding season draws near, so it’s never too early to book them.

10 months out

This is a good time to start shopping for a wedding gown because it might take some trial and error to find the perfect dress.

You also can start shopping for wedding party attire at this time. Check with formalwear vendors to see how long it will take for the gowns to arrive in the shop for alteration­s.

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to book the wedding venue.

8 months out

Reception halls may have their own schedules, but you should think about setting your menu at this time, including deciding if you will host a seated dinner, a buffet or something else.

Eight months out also is a good time to finalize the guest list and send savethe-date cards. This also is a good time to visit stores to create registry gift lists.

6 months out

Meet with potential florists and other vendors, like transporta­tion companies and hotels, to secure these arrangemen­ts.

Your place of worship also may require certain classes or preparator­y meetings, so be sure to inquire about these.

Meet with a makeup and hair stylist and book a trial. Choose attire for groomsmen and give them a deadline for fittings and orders.

If you will not be getting married in a place of worship, hire an officiant at this time.

4 months out

Grooms traditiona­lly arrange the honeymoon, so this is a fine time to get those travel plans in order.

If you need passports, you should secure them as early as possible, and no later than four months prior to the wedding to ensure processing times.

Book cake tastings and order the cake if it is not part of the venue food and beverage package.

If you haven’t already done so, the bride should have an initial gown fitting, and wedding invitation­s should be ordered at this time.

2 months out

Secure your wedding license and buy wedding party gifts.

Address and mail the wedding invitation­s.

Undergo a second gown fitting and work with the seamstress for the final fitting date just before the wedding.

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