Booking a DJ is tough. A DJ can really make or break your wedding. The biggest question you need to ask yourself is what type of music do you want? After you can answer that question then use that information and screen your DJ to make sure they are comfortable with that genre. Also a good question to ask when booking your DJ is whether or not they include lighting with their package. This is also important because the lighting in the room can affect the mood on the dance floor. Check out this article for some more resources on booking a DJ for your wedding. -
Hire the photographer and the videographer.
No need to talk specifics yet, but be sure that the people you hire are open to doing the shots that you want. Photographers and videographer’s usually book about a year out.
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Book the entertainment.
Attend gigs of potential acts to see how they perform in front of audiences, then reserve your favorite. It is important if your booking entertainment to make sure they fit the theme of the wedding. The wrong entertainer can turn a good night bad fast.
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Meet caterers.
If your wedding venue doesn’t offer its own catering service, look for one now and hire the service this month or early next. Catering services all
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Purchase a dress.
You’ll need to schedule time for at least three fittings. Veil shopping can be postponed for another two to three months.
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Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
Pick three hotels at different price points close to the reception venue. C
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Register.
Sign up at a minimum of three retailers. If you have a wedding website from wedding wire you can hook up your online registry so people can see where you registered and be linked directly to your file.
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Launch a wedding website.
Create your personal page through a free provider such as weddingchannel.com. Note the date of the wedding, travel information, and accommodations. Then send the link to invitees.
Seven to Six Months Before
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Select and purchase invitations.
Hire a calligrapher, if desired. Addressing cards is time-consuming, so you need to budget accordingly.
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Start planning a honeymoon.
Make sure that your passports are up-to-date, and schedule doctors’ appointments for any shots you may need. Don’t want to get sick on the wedding day.
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Shop for bridesmaids’ dresses.
Allow at least six months for the dresses to be ordered and sized.
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Meet with the officiant.
Map out the ceremony and confirm that you have all the official documents for the wedding (these vary by county and religion).
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Send save-the-date cards.
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Reserve structural and electrical necessities.
Book portable toilets for outdoor events, extra chairs if you need them, lighting components, and so on.
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Book a florist.
Florists can serve multiple clients on one day, which is why you can wait a little longer to engage one. Plus, at this point, you’ll be firm on what your wedding palette will be. When you sit down to talk with them have an open mind and ask questions. Find out what is in season and what will work with your colors. More often then not there are different ways they can create your bouquet to stay with your design and budget.
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Arrange transportation.
Consider limos, minibuses, trolleys, and town cars. (But know that low-to-the-ground limos can make entries and exits dicey if you’re wearing a fitted gown.)
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Start composing a day-of timeline.
Draw up a schedule of the event and slot in each component (the cake-cutting, the first dance). It’s also good to consider how long you will need to get ready. After you decide that then talk with your venue about getting the onsite bride and groom suites ( if they have them) early enough so that you don’t feel rushed.
Five to Four Months Before
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Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues.
Negotiate the cost and the menu. If you’re planning to host a day-after brunch for guests, book that place as well.
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Check on the wedding invitations.
Ask the stationer for samples of the finished invitations and revise them to suit your needs. A lot of printing presses will try and send you digital samples of the artwork to save money. DON’T do it! If they need to charge you a little extra then pay it. With graphic designing and printing your artwork may not look the same printed as it did on your computer screen.
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Select and order the cake.
Some bakers require a long lead time. Attend several tastings before committing to any baker.
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Send your guest list to the host of your shower.
Provided you, ahem, know about the shower.
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Purchase wedding shoes and start dress fittings.
Bring the shoes along to your first fitting so the tailor can choose the appropriate length for your gown.
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Schedule hair and makeup artists.
Make a few appointments with local experts to try them out. Snap a photo at each so you can compare results. It’s important that you do this far enough out from your wedding so if you have a mishap you have a little bit of time to recover your beautiful hair before the big day.
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Choose your music.
What should be playing when the wedding party is announced? During dinner? To kick off the dancing? Keep a running list of what you want—and do not want—played. This list will help you plan out the flow of the night. Be aware though that if you booked a professional DJ (and we mean professional) then let the DJ come up with a good playlist for you that will fit the style and mood for the event.
