| Groom's 12 Month Checklist |
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10 TO 12 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Discuss the style of the wedding and the budget with your fiancée and ALL parents. |
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Participate with your fiancée in interviewing wedding consultants, advisors and coordinators. |
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Speak with all your friends - pick their brains - learn who knows what and who knows who. |
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Take your fiancée to every wedding show you can find - ask questions - learn from the professionals. |
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With your fiancée speak to your clergy - speak with other family members' clergy - ask questions. |
| 7 TO 9 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Select all of your attendants together including your best man, groomsmen and ushers. |
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Together, begin compiling your guest list. |
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Go with fiancée to register with not less than three well known Bridal Registries for gifts (make sure you go along to avoid later surprises). |
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Begin looking at honeymoon options with your fiancée - visit a travel agency or professional specializing in leisure travel - if you plan to leave the country check on your passports. |
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By the end of Month 9 choose clergy (actually you may just want to accept your future bride's choice). |
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By the end of Month 8 decide on a menu. |
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By the end of Month 7 schedule engagement photo session (this is NOT just for your fiancée - you should be included in these photos) |
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By the end of Month 7 select and order male attendants apparel. |
| 4 TO 6 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Start shopping for wedding rings. |
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Finalize honeymoon plans with fiancée and book with travel agent. |
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Make sure you get your family's guest list and go over it with your fiancée. |
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Begin looking for a new place to live and start considering furnishings. |
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By end of Month 5 shop and order the men's formal wear. |
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Book wedding transportation - limousines, horse-drawn carriages, hot air balloons, boat, etc.... |
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By the end of Month 4 have the rehearsal dinner plans in place (make sure you coordinate this with your fiancée). |
| 2 TO 3 MONTHS PRIOR |
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Order the wedding rings!! (If you are having these custom-made go back to 4 TO 6 MONTHS PRIOR and start again). |
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Finish guest list with your fiancée. |
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Shop for a wedding present for your bride. |
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Shop for any additional clothes you will need for the wedding events and the honeymoon (how about luggage??). |
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Shop for the groomsmen's keepsake. |
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STOP by the end on Month 3 get some serious business out of the way (if you don't do it now you may end up procrastinating into eternity.) Consider your will, life insurance, physical checkup, etc. |
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Reserve a block of rooms for your out-of-town guests (make sure you handle this for your fiancée). |
| 4 TO 8 WEEKS PRIOR |
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Check finances and make final arrangements for payment on the items you (and you family) are responsible for. |
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Confirm that all fittings (clothes) are completed by groomsmen and father. |
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By week 4 PICK UP WEDDING RINGS. |
| 2 TO 3 WEEKS PRIOR |
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Get marriage license with fiancée. |
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Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and (if leaving the country go to the bank and exchange at least $100 into foreign currency). |
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Confirm all transportation for all events (including reconfirming the honeymoon at the end of week 2). |
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Arrange to move your belongings and your bride's belongings to your new residence. |
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Make appointment to get hair cut (a manicure probably wouldn't hurt either). Try to set the appointment for about 5 days before the wedding. |
| 1 WEEK PRIOR |
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First of all - remember that gift to your bride that you went shopping for during Month 2 or 3?? - Now is the time - give your bride the gift (and make a big deal out of it - this is important). |
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Second of all - remember those gifts to your groomsmen that you went shopping for during Month 2 or 3?? - Plans to give these out during the rehearsal dinner. |
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Third of all - reconfirm the rehearsal dinner plans with everyone. |
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Give the best man (at the rehearsal dinner) an envelope with the clergy's fee (he'll pass it on after the ceremony). |
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Sit down and go over a wedding day schedule with your fiancée. |
| At least 5 days prior get those little annoying chores out of the way: |
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Make sure wedding clothes are ready and then remind wedding party men to pick up their tuxedos. |
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Shine shoes. |
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Arrange now for going away clothes to be taken to the reception location. |
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Start packing early for your honeymoon (you will be surprised at how little time you have left as the week goes on). |
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Put marriage license and rings where you can easily find them. |
| THE WEDDING DAY |
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DON'T FORGET THE RINGS AND THE LICENSE!!!!!!! |
