Question from Pam:

The wedding date for my daughter is 9/9/2009. Send any and all advice you want and can to start to prepare. Thank you.

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Pam.  Since you have only 7 months left before the wedding, the most important things to be done first are to book the ceremony and reception sites, clergy, caterer, florist, music, photographer, and videographer.  These places and people get booked up quickly, so this need to be done immediately.  Usually this is done 9 to 12 months, or earlier before a wedding.  Check out these wedding planning books.

The tasks that are usually completed 6 to 9 months before the wedding are to order the wedding gown and accessories (bridal shoes, headpiece, wedding night lingerie, wedding handbags, etc.), order bridesmaids dresses, and men’s attire.  The wedding colour scheme and decor should be decided so planning of decorations can start.  The guest list should be finalized, invitations ordered, and save-the-date cards sent to out-of-town guests.  The bride should register at the bridal registries by the sixth month.

Anything not confirmed with the caterers, musicians, ceremony or reception sites, rental of tables, chairs, tents, fountains, arches, etc., should be completed by the sixth month.  A system to track guest invitation responses, gifts received, and thank you notes sent is needed.  The bride should help the mother of the bride and groom choose their dresses so it fits the decor/wedding colours chosen.

Some other things to be done by the sixth month are for the engaged couple to start dance lessons if needed, and start beauty treatments like teeth whitening, facials, brow shaping, etc.

The more complex and larger the wedding, the longer the details take to plan.  If you are planning a smaller wedding, it will be easier.  I have received many a sad story from brides who did not get their wedding gown in time for the wedding, or have things not turn out the way they wanted because everything took so much longer than they thought it would.  I suggest that the planning process steadily move forward every week, or there will be more stress before the wedding.  Many a bride and groom have shared how exhausted they were by time the wedding came that they barely remember it.  Good planning will alleviate this problem.

All the bridal magazines have a wedding planning checklist, and there are many on-line that are available to you if you “google” it.  If you have any other questions, feel free to email me again.

Angela Fiebelkorn, The Wedding Expert