Planning your wedding is easy – if you stick to a schedule. Here is the second in a two-part series on making your big day the grandest occasion of your lives together. Be sure to check out the first part of our series.

The Knot, an online wedding guide, provides a useful schedule for newly engaged lovebirds with recommendations for set time periods:

Two Weeks

• Get shot lists to your photographer.
• Get your song list to the DJ.
• Bride: Get your final haircut (and color).

One Week

• Get guest head count to caterer and reception organizer.
• Develop reception seating chart.
• Do place and table cards.
• Double check with vendors and confirm arrangements.
• Provide ceremony and reception managers with a schedule of vendor deliveries and setup times.
• Groom: Get your haircut.
• Attend bachelor or bachelorette parties.

Two to Three Days

• Bride: Get the gown pressed or steamed (if need be).
• Groom: Get your final fitting and pick up formalwear.
• Groom: Have best man and groomsmen do the same.
• Decide wedding-party positions.
• Give caterer or reception manager everything that’s needed for the tables (place cards, menus).
• Check with vendors one more time.
• Check again arrangements for limousine or car rentals.

Day Before

• Give wedding professionals your emergency telephone number.
• Write checks or pay final balances (or discuss finances) to providers.

Night Before

• Rehearse the ceremony.
• Give your marriage license to the minister.
• Attend rehearsal dinner.
• Give guests their gifts at the rehearsal dinner.

The Big Day

• Give gifts to parents and to each other.
• Give the wedding rings to the best man and the maid of honor.

Post Wedding

• Make sure someone is assigned to return any rentals.
• Plan in advance to have someone take the bride’s gown and the groom’s tuxedo for cleaning and return it to the rental shop.
• Send thank-you notes to guests who brought gifts and vendors.

Begin planning the best day by contacting our Julianne Cuomo, Director of Celebrations, at 352-402-4376. This is your day for the two of you to shine.