Preliminary 14-Month Timeline

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

Hello!

FI and I sat down a week or so ago and drafted a timeline for our 14-month engagement. After lurking a while, we made some adjustments, and I think we have it nailed down providing that there are no date changes.

We are targeting a mid-late September date.

August 2016

Set Budget
Get the parents “must have” guests
Our guest list

September 2016

Secure Venue
Hire event coordinator

October 2016

Order wedding bands

November 2016

Select officiant (NB’s grandpa)
Select vendors

Photography
Videography
Catering
Flowers
DJ
Hotel
String Quartet
Food truck
Transportation

Take engagement photos

January 2017

Dress shopping
Ask WP
Order wedding dress
Hotel room block
Cake + food tasting
Hair and makeup trials
Order STD’s
Register for gifts (too soon?)

March 2017

Send STD’s
Book honeymoon
Order BM’s dresses
Order invitations

May 2017

Select groomsman attire
Plan rehearsal dinner
Confirm vendors
Hair/makeup confirmation

July 2017

Mail invitations
Write vows
Purchase accessories
Confirm transportation
Bachelorette party (if offered)
Bridal shower (if offered)

August 2017

Apply for marriage license

Early September 2017

Final dress fitting
Shot list to photographer
Review music list with DJ
Final headcount
Finalize seating chart

Two days before

Nails done
Gift bags for hotel guests assembled and delivered to the location

Night before

Rehearsal Dinner
Give WP gifts

Wedding Day Timeline Details

4:00 pm start time

4:30 pm over

5-7 cocktails

7-12 reception

11:00 pm-12:30 am Barrio food truck

Am I missing anything? Does anything look off?

Thank you!

holyguacamole79 · July 2016

Are your ceremony and reception in the same venue? If so, I'd move things up so that cocktails start as soon as the ceremony finishes.

Regarding applying for your wedding license, check your state guidelines for timing.

STARMOON44 · July 2016

I think you're putting the cart before the horse setting a day of timeline before getting a venue. I'd speed the initial part up- around here venues book quickly. If you know when you want to have it at least get through that step this month.

OurWildKingdom · July 2016

holyguacamole79 said:

Are your ceremony and reception in the same venue? If so, I'd move things up so that cocktails start as soon as the ceremony finishes.

Regarding applying for your wedding license, check your state guidelines for timing.

And county guidelines. They may be different from the state.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

holyguacamole79 said:

Are your ceremony and reception in the same venue? If so, I'd move things up so that cocktails start as soon as the ceremony finishes.

Regarding applying for your wedding license, check your state guidelines for timing.

No, they are in two separate locations. It will be a 5-minute shuttle to the reception venue.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

STARMOON44 said:

I think you're putting the cart before the horse setting a day of timeline before getting a venue. I'd speed the initial part up- around here venues book quickly. If you know when you want to have it at least get through that step this month.

We called the venue to check dates that we want, and right now both the reception and the ceremony venues are available. We are currently living out of state and planning the wedding in my hometown, so we are not able to get to the location until next month to visit. I know the location, but we don't want to book until FI has a chance to take a look at it.

STARMOON44 · July 2016

That makes sense! I do think 2 hours is too long for a cocktail hour. I'd be fine with 1.5 but 2 is really pushing it.

Also November looks absurdly busy! I'd move at least some of those decisions to October and December.

Viczaesar · July 2016

2-hour cocktail hour is too long, and your cocktail hour should start as soon as the first guests arrive.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

Viczaesar said:

2-hour cocktail hour is too long, and your cocktail hour should start as soon as the first guests arrive.

So you recommend verbiage like "cocktail hour starting immediately after the ceremony"

charlotte989875 · July 2016

NBSquared2017 said:

Hello!

FI and I sat down a week or so ago and drafted a timeline for our 14-month engagement. After lurking a while, we made some adjustments, and I think we have it nailed down providing that there are no date changes.

We are targeting a mid-late September date.
August 2016
Set Budget
Get the parents “must have” guests
Our guest list

September 2016
Secure Venue
Hire event coordinator

October 2016
Order wedding bands

November 2016
Select officiant (NB’s grandpa)
Select vendors
Photography
Videography
Catering
Flowers
DJ
Hotel
String Quartet
Food truck
Transportation
Take engagement photos

January 2017
Dress shopping
Ask WP
Order wedding dress
Hotel room block
Cake + food tasting
Hair and makeup trials
Order STD’s
Register for gifts (too soon?)

March 2017
Send STD’s
Book honeymoon
Order BM’s dresses
Order invitations

May 2017
Select groomsman attire
Plan rehearsal dinner
Confirm vendors
Hair/makeup confirmation

July 2017
Mail invitations
Write vows
Purchase accessories
Confirm transportation
Bachelorette party (if offered)
Bridal shower (if offered)

August 2017
Apply for marriage license

Early September 2017
Final dress fitting
Shot list to photographer
Review music list with DJ
Final headcount
Finalize seating chart

Two days before
Nails done
Gift bags for hotel guests assembled and delivered to the location

Night before
Rehearsal Dinner
Give WP gifts

Wedding Day Timeline Details
4:00 pm start time
4:30 pm over
5-7 cocktails
7-12 reception
11:00 pm-12:30 am Barrio food truck

Am I missing anything? Does anything look off?
Thank you!

Just a few things:
1) Hair and makeup trials in January seems really early for a September wedding. You may change your hair style, ideas about what you want, it may take you longer to find your dress which may change what you want for your heart. I'd wait until 6-8 weeks in advance.
2) Ordering rings in October also seems really early. Again, opinions and styles change, stores get new products in so again you may want to wait on that.
3) Be open about when the shower and bachelorette party (if offered) are scheduled. Two months is fine (some people suggest the month before is better) but be flexible with when it should happen. If the host can't have it in July, be prepared to adjust.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

@charlotte989875, the reasoning for lots of early dates is because we are planning the wedding from out of state. We are trying to be light on our wallets by not taking too many trips back home for things, and FI job is demanding, and he can't travel certain times out of the year. I can totally rethink some of the timing, you all make valid points!

The reason for the bands in October is because the jeweler is running a 50% off promo

Trying to save as much as we can in certain places!

ETA: correct spelling

Viczaesar · July 2016

NBSquared2017 said:

Viczaesar said:

2-hour cocktail hour is too long, and your cocktail hour should start as soon as the first guests arrive.

So you recommend verbiage like "cocktail hour starting immediately after the ceremony"

No, I'm saying that if your ceremony ends at 4:30 and the reception location is only a 5 minute shuttle ride away you should start the cocktail hour as soon as people start arriving at the location (e.g. 4:40-4:45, depending on logistics).

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

Viczaesar said:

NBSquared2017 said:

Viczaesar said:

2-hour cocktail hour is too long, and your cocktail hour should start as soon as the first guests arrive.

So you recommend verbiage like "cocktail hour starting immediately after the ceremony"

No, I'm saying that if your ceremony ends at 4:30 and the reception location is only a 5 minute shuttle ride away you should start the cocktail hour as soon as people start arriving at the location (e.g. 4:40-4:45, depending on logistics).

Der. Yes that makes complete sense.

[Deleted User] · July 2016

I followed TK's schedule and checklist. TBH, most lists I made like this ended up not being followed anyways, but that may just be me - I enjoy making lists, but actually following them? Not so much

My hair and makeup trial wasn't until 6 weeks before, and I doubt my stylist would have done it much more in advance. You also may want to purchase your hair accessories before the trial so you can get the full picture.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

Spoonsey said:

I followed TK's schedule and checklist. TBH, most lists I made like this ended up not being followed anyways, but that may just be me - I enjoy making lists, but actually following them? Not so much

My hair and makeup trial wasn't until 6 weeks before, and I doubt my stylist would have done it much more in advance. You also may want to purchase your hair accessories before the trial so you can get the full picture.

Ooooh I never thought about that! That's a great point!!

SP29 · July 2016

I agree about starting the cocktail hour as soon as guests arrive. People may mill about after the ceremony (that is my experience) so 5pm isn't too off, but I think if guests get there at 4:45, they should be able to get a drink. I would talk to your reception venue and see how flexible they are (i.e. will the doors be open at 4:30 and will they start serving when guests arrive, or are they hard and fast about exactly when the reception starts?). Are you doing a receiving line of sorts? This could be done out of the ceremony or into the cocktail hour to also fill that half hour block.

I also agree that 2 hours for cocktails is too long. Our ceremony finished at 4pm. We did a receiving line out of ceremony space at this time, which is when the venue staff did the room change over (ceremony and reception in the same room). Guests did mill about for a bit and chatted, but they were back in the room within 15-20 mins. Dinner was at 6pm. It was too long. You could tell guests were kind of thinking, "Ok... where is dinner??". I also attended a friend's wedding where there was also a 2 hour cocktail "hour", and it was a Friday evening wedding at 5pm. There was not enough appetizers and with dinner after 7pm, we were getting hungry.

Do as many photos as you can before the ceremony. If you give your photographer a list of "must have" photos and someone directing the groups "Ok, this shot is Mom, Bride and brothers", I can assure you that you won't need 2 hours for photos. Depending on how long you book your photographer for, you can also go out again later during the reception when guests are dancing a take a few more photos of you and your FH, if that's what you're looking for.

I agree that booking your venue and vendors early is the way to go- but I understand you are trying to do things when you're "in town". We also planned from OOT. I would suggest narrowing down your vendors in the mean time to about 3, then when you're in town you can have appointments set for them and hopefully decide and sign a contract while you're still there.

I think it's fine to buy your rings early. I suppose it depends on if you know what you want. DH and I both knew what we wanted already, so it was an easy thing to tick off the list and spread out the costs.

I would be a bit flexible on the dates for ordering your dress and BM dresses, but fine to start looking.

LadyCatherineDB · July 2016

If it's important to you to have your grandfather officiate, you might want to confirm the date works for him before you book the venue. Also, if you plan on doing any sort of marriage prep class, you should consider completing it before you apply for your marriage license. Some states and counties give a discount on the marriage license if the couple presents the marriage prep course certificate during the marriage license certificate.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

Knottie1456707943 said:

If it's important to you to have your grandfather officiate, you might want to confirm the date works for him before you book the venue. Also, if you plan on doing any sort of marriage prep class, you should consider completing it before you apply for your marriage license. Some states and counties give a discount on the marriage license if the couple presents the marriage prep course certificate during the marriage license certificate.

Thanks for your input! Grandpa is all aboard no matter what date!

lyndausvi · July 2016

As a guest and as a person who has worked a lot of weddings, 2 hour cocktail hour is too long. even 1.5 hours is pushing it. After about an 45-60 minutes in they are ready for the next step (i.e dinner).

I had my wedding OOT also. I was living in the islands and didn't have the benefit of decent stores and stuff. I got engaged around this time and got married in early Sept.

I only went back to the states twice. DH only once. First time was in October (with DH) where I bought my wedding dress, pretty much picked out my BM's dresses, had the food tasting and signed the contracts for flowers and photography.

The next time I went was at the first of June. That time was my one and only dress fitting, shower, met with the venue to go over things, met with the baker (came with my package), met with the rental company to pick out the plates and such (had to rent everything), finalized things with the florist and picked the caterer for the RD. I'm sure there were more.

Since I was from OOT I narrowed my vendor choices from looking online and getting references from the venue/coordinator before I got to town. I was basically able to pop in, sign and leave in a few days. My trips back were very efficient.

Everything else I did online. I didn't really follow a timeline per se. Just when I had time or found something I liked I booked/ordered things.

Definitely find out about your license. NJ requires you apply for your license at least 72 full hours before. So that meant we had to apply on Tuesday to get a license for a Saturday wedding.

NBSquared2017 · July 2016

lyndausvi said:

As a guest and as a person who has worked a lot of weddings, 2 hour cocktail hour is too long. even 1.5 hours is pushing it. After about an 45-60 minutes in they are ready for the next step (i.e dinner).

I had my wedding OOT also. I was living in the islands and didn't have the benefit of decent stores and stuff. I got engaged around this time and got married in early Sept.

I only went back to the states twice. DH only once. First time was in October (with DH) where I bought my wedding dress, pretty much picked out my BM's dresses, had the food tasting and signed the contracts for flowers and photography.

The next time I went was at the first of June. That time was my one and only dress fitting, shower, met with the venue to go over things, met with the baker (came with my package), met with the rental company to pick out the plates and such (had to rent everything), finalized things with the florist and picked the caterer for the RD. I'm sure there were more.

Since I was from OOT I narrowed my vendor choices from looking online and getting references from the venue/coordinator before I got to town. I was basically able to pop in, sign and leave in a few days. My trips back were very efficient.

Everything else I did online. I didn't really follow a timeline per se. Just when I had time or found something I liked I booked/ordered things.

Definitely find out about your license. NJ requires you apply for your license at least 72 full hours before. So that meant we had to apply on Tuesday to get a license for a Saturday wedding.

Thank you! We will be getting married in NE Ohio, but I will totally check into that. Silly of me to not think of checking the states timelines. Newley engaged brain I suppose!

sabrinamarie819 · July 2016

i have about the same amount of time as you left (our date is Sept 15 2017), but i planned alot of things early. i.e., i already purchased my dress and veil 2 weeks ago, booked our ceremony/reception venue (same building, 2 floors) back in dec 2015, purchased our cake and cupcakes last week, and my wedding band is on layaway right now. i booked alot in advance because i don't want to risk prices going up, or unavailability, etc.

cocktail hour should only been and hour at the most because yes people get hangry (lol, yes!), and if kids are invited they'll get antsy.

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