After the question is popped and the engagement finalized, most couples realize that planning a wedding can be an immense task. There are a lot of details to remember, numerous people to consult with, and places to visit. Regardless of whether you have a long time to plan a wedding or need to do it more quickly, a thorough wedding checklist can help ensure you work your way through the process in an organized and efficient manner. This checklist uses a 16 month engagement time frame since the average length of an engagement in the United States was 16 months in 2008, according to “The Wedding Report”, a market report that offers statistics on the wedding industry.

16-11 Months Before

• Hire a photographer for your engagement photographs and announce the good news in your local newspaper.
• Throw an engagement party if you want one, but make sure you invite the attendees to your wedding as well.
• Begin a wedding planning notebook by gathering pictures and ideas from wedding magazines or websites.
• Decide on a color scheme and a theme for your wedding. While completely optional, a theme can help tie the elements of the celebration together.
• Ask friends and family members to be a part of your wedding, either as a member of the wedding party or in another role.
• Set a budget for your wedding and decide who will pay for the various components of the celebration.
• Choose the date, time, and location of your wedding
• If you want to use a wedding planner to help you coordinate the event, interview and hire one. The planner often has insight into the process and relationships with different vendors that might save you time and money.
• Select an officiant for your ceremony and if it is a religious ceremony, inquire about any types of counseling or classes that might be required before your nuptials.
• Investigate catering, entertainment, floral, and photography options.

10-8 Months Before

• Order your wedding dress since it is important to allow time for additional fittings and purchase accessories such as the veil, headpiece, gloves, and shoes.
• Hire the photographer and videographer you want to cover your event.
• Sign a contract with a catering service if catering is not provided by your venue.
• Book the band or DJ you want to provide entertainment at your celebration.
• Register for wedding presents at different retailers.
• Create a wedding website or blog to keep guests updated with the latest news.

7-6 Months Before

• Purchase your wedding invitations. Hire a calligrapher if you want to use one. Keep in mind that addressing your cards yourself will take a considerable amount of time so make sure you plan appropriately.
• Select bridesmaids’ dresses, allowing adequate time for fittings.
• Choose the attire for the groom and the groomsmen and organize rentals or other arrangements.
• Send save-the-date announcements or call or e-mail guests to let them know the wedding date.
• Book your wedding night accommodations. Rent a block of hotel rooms for out of town wedding guests, making sure you choose at least two different hotels at different price levels.
• Plan your honeymoon and make sure you apply for passports if necessary and obtain any needed shots.
• Hire a florist and choose the floral arrangements for the ceremony.

5-3 Months Before

• Arrange for the rental of dishes, tables, chairs, and other items if they are not provided by your catering company.
• Organize transportation for the wedding couple as well as the wedding party.
• Reserve a location for the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.
• Choose a baker to create your wedding cake.
• Book an appointment with a hairstylist and a make-up artist for a “trial run” to explore design options for your wedding day.
• Buy your wedding rings.
• Select your stationery for thank-you notes.
• Purchase gifts for the wedding party.
• Select wedding favors if you want to use them.

2 Months Before

• Meet with the photographer, caterer, and baker to finalize arrangements.
• Finalize a playlist with the DJ or band, making sure they are aware of requests for special dances.
• Send your wedding announcement to the local newspaper.
• Mail your wedding invitations, these should go out at least 8 weeks prior to the event.
• Assign seating and create place cards.
• If you need blood tests to be granted a marriage license in your state, have them done now.

The Month of your Wedding

• Apply for your marriage license
• Go for your final gown fitting
• Send out rehearsal dinner invitations
• Create and print your wedding program if you elect to use one.
• Pick out your “going-away” outfit and pack your honeymoon bags.
• Send out as many final vendor payments as possible and place tips into envelopes to be passed out during your event.
• Meet with the photographer and provide him with a list of any “must-have” shots.
• Contact any guests who have failed to RSVP or ask your mother or maid of honor to do so.

The Week of the Wedding

• Distribute some responsibilities among your wedding party such as greeting guests, helping pass out corsages, and other items that will help your wedding day run more smoothly.
• Send a final guest list to your wedding caterers and your wedding venues, most places require a final head count within 72 hours of the event.
• Wear your wedding shoes on a carpeted surface for a few hours to make sure they fit comfortably.
• Distribute gifts to the wedding party and your parents.
• Arrange for a spa day or a manicure/pedicure so you can relax a bit before your wedding.

First on the list of things to consider is whether you are having a formal wedding or more of an informal one. If you are having a formal night time wedding then you definitely do not want to send out an informal invitation. Also if you are having an informal wedding then you would not want to send out a very formal wedding invitation. Try and match the style of your invitation to the style of your wedding.

Considering your personal style and the style of your wedding is also important when you are choosing wedding invitations. You may want to consider using one of your wedding colors for the color of your wedding invitations. Perhaps you are having a wedding in which pink and black are your colors. Carrying the pink and black over to your invitations is a great way to give your guests a hint at what your wedding may be like. While you do not have to match your invitations to your wedding colors, this does look classy.

Keeping in mind the formality of the wedding, the colors and style, and the theme of your wedding can all help you to pick out the invitations that are just right for your wedding. Having a well designed wedding invitation will impress your guests and be a great way to invite them to one of the biggest events in your life.

From 983Wedding.com , you can find various designs of unique wedding invitations. They are all created and designed by their own team of designers, meaning that they can only be found in their website. The modern Chinese wedding invitation designs are very unique in a way that they are suitable for you no matter what the theme of your big day is. They are combining the essence of east and west in order to create a brand new style of unique wedding invitation. You can see plenty of modern Chinese wedding invitation designs from their online product showroom.

Besides modern Chinese wedding invitations , they also have a lot of other creative and unique wedding invitations. If you are trying to search for something really special, you have come to the right place. Your guests will certainly be very surprised when they see your unique wedding invitation card. Unlike some other shops which do not provide options for small quantity orders, it will be totally perfect if you only need 20 pieces of cards from them.