Hi again,

As a change of pace, rather than reviewing anniversary, bridal and baby shopping ideas, I thought I'd include a Savvy Wedding Planning Checklist for our Gallery of Love www.galleryoflove.net/anniversary.php
brides. A special thanks goes out to bride-to-be Farrah G. of Detroit MI who so kindly took the time to email me last week with her compliments about the marriage certificate that we personalized and framed for her. She even gave us a delightful recommendation on The Knot http://www.theknot.com/ (Detroit) message boards.

If you're anything like me - a list maker - half the sense of accomplishment comes in that magic moment of "checking things off the list." So, I suggest printing out this guide as a handy way of tracking your wedding planning progress. Most of all remember to have fun with it! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to plan one of life's most joyful milestones!

EASY WEDDING PLANNER ORGANIZER The following Wedding Planning Checklist itemizes everything you need to do or consider when planning your wedding, and the best timing for completing each task. This checklist assumes that you have nine months or more to plan your wedding. If your wedding is less than nine months, just start from the beginning of the list and try to catch up as quickly as you can! And remember to keep breathing...don't pressure yourself too much; try to enjoy your wedding planning as much as possible!

NINE MONTHS AND EARLIER
_____Announce your engagement.
_____Select a date for your wedding.
_____Hire a professional wedding consultant.
_____Determine the type of wedding you want: location, formality, time
of day, number of guests, etc.
_____Determine budget and how expenses will be shared.
_____Develop a record-keeping system for payments made.
_____Consolidate all guest lists: bride's, groom's, bride's family, groom's family, and organize as follows:
1) those who must be invited 2) those who should be invited 3) those who would be nice to invite
_____Decide if you want to include children among guests.
_____Select and reserve ceremony site.
_____Select and reserve your officiant.
_____Select and reserve reception site.
_____Select and order your bridal gown and headpiece.
_____Determine your color scheme.
_____Send engagement notice with a photograph to your local newspaper.
_____Buy a calendar and note all important activities: showers, luncheons, parties, get-togethers, etc.
_____If ceremony or reception is at home, arrange for home or garden improvements as needed.
_____Order passport, visa or birth certificate, if needed for your honeymoon or marriage license.
_____Select and book photographer.
_____Select maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids and ushers (approx. one usher per 50 guests).

SIX TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
_____Select flower girl and ring bearer.
_____Select and book reception musicians or DJ.
_____Schedule fittings and delivery dates for yourself, attendants, flower girl and ring bearer.
_____Select and book videographer.
_____Select and book florist.

FOUR TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING
_____Start shopping for each other's wedding gifts.
_____Reserve rental items needed for ceremony & reception.
_____Finalize guest list.
_____Select and order wedding invitations, announcements and other stationery such as thank-you notes, wedding programs, and seating cards.
_____Address invitations or hire a calligrapher.
_____Set date, time and location for your rehearsal dinner.
_____Arrange accommodations for out-of- town guests.
_____Start planning your honeymoon.
_____Select and book all miscellaneous services, i.e. gift attendant, valet parking, etc.
_____Register for gifts.
_____Purchase shoes & accessories.
_____Begin to break-in your shoes.

TWO TO FOUR MONTHS BEFORE WEDDING
_____Select bakery and order wedding cake.
_____Order party favors.
_____Select and order room decorations.
_____Purchase honeymoon attire & luggage.
_____Select and book transportation for wedding day.
_____Check blood test and marriage license requirements.
_____Shop for wedding rings and engrave them.
_____Consider having your teeth cleaned or bleached.
_____Consider writing a will and/or prenuptial agreement.
_____Plan activities for your out-of-town guests both before and after the wedding.
_____Purchase gifts for wedding attendants.

SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE WEDDING
_____Mail invitations. Include accommodation choices and a map to assist guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites.
_____Maintain a record of RSVPs and all gifts received. Send thank-you notes upon receipt of gifts.
_____Determine hair style and makeup.
_____Schedule to have your hair, makeup and nails done the day of the wedding.
_____Finalize shopping for wedding day accessories such as toasting glasses, ring pillow, guest book, etc.
_____Set up an area or a table in your home to display gifts as you receive them.
_____Check with your local newspapers for wedding announcement requirements.
_____Have your formal wedding portrait taken.
_____Send wedding announcement & photograph to your local newspapers.
_____Change name & address on drivers license, social security card, insurance policies, subscriptions, bank accounts, memberships, etc.
_____Select and reserve wedding attire for groom, ushers, father of the bride and ring bearer.
_____Select a guest book attendant. Decide where and when to have guests sign in.
_____Mail invitations to rehearsal dinner.
_____Get blood test and health certificate.
_____Obtain marriage license.
_____Plan a luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids. Give them their gifts at that time or at the rehearsal dinner.
_____Find "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a six pence (or shiny penny) for your shoe."
_____Finalize your menu, beverage and alcohol order.

TWO TO SIX WEEKS BEFORE WEDDING
_____Confirm ceremony details with your officiant.
_____Arrange final fitting of bridesmaids' dresses.
_____Have final fitting of your gown and headpiece.
_____Finalize rehearsal dinner plans; arrange seating and write names on place cards, if desired.
_____Make final floral selections.
_____Make a detailed timeline for your wedding party.
_____Make a detailed timeline for your service providers.
_____Confirm details with all service providers, including attire. Give them a copy of your wedding timeline.
_____Start packing for your honeymoon.
_____Finalize addressing and stamping announcements.
_____Decide if you want to form a receiving line. If so, determine when and where to form the line.
_____Contact guests who haven't responded.
_____Pick up rings and check for fit.
_____Meet with photographer and confirm special photos you want.
_____Meet with videographer and confirm special events or people you want videotaped.
_____Meet with musicians and confirm music to be played during special events such as first dance.
_____Continue writing thank-you notes as gifts arrive.
_____Remind bridesmaids and ushers of when and where to pick up their wedding attire.
_____Purchase the lipstick, nail polish and any other accessories you want your bridesmaids to wear.
_____Determine ceremony seating for special guests. Give a list to the ushers.
_____Plan reception room layout and seating with your reception site manager or caterer. Write names on place cards for arranged seating.

THE LAST WEEK
_____Pick up wedding attire and make sure everything fits.
_____Do final guest count and notify your caterer or reception site manager.
_____Gather everything you will need for the rehearsal and wedding day as listed in the Wedding Party _____Responsibility Cards.
_____Arrange for someone to drive the getaway car.
_____Review the schedule of events and last minute arrangements with your service providers.
______Confirm all honeymoon reservations and accommodations. Pick up tickets and travelers checks.
_____Finish packing your suitcases for the honeymoon.
_____Familiarize yourself with guests' names. It will help during the receiving line and reception.
_____Have the Post Office hold your mail while you are away on your honeymoon.

THE REHEARSAL DAY
_____Review list of things to bring to the rehearsal as listed in the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards.
_____Put suitcases in getaway car.
_____Give your bridesmaids the lipstick, nail polish and accessories you want them to wear for the wedding.
_____Give best man the officiant's fee and any other checks for service providers. Instruct him to deliver these checks the day of the wedding.
_____Arrange for someone to bring accessories such as flower basket, ring pillow, guest book & pen, toasting glasses, cake cutting knife and napkins to the ceremony and reception.
_____Arrange for someone to mail announcements the day after the wedding.
_____Arrange for someone to return rental items such as tuxedos, slip and cake pillars after the wedding.
_____Provide each member of your wedding party with a detailed schedule of events for the wedding day.
_____Review ceremony seating with ushers.

THE WEDDING DAY
_____Review list of things to bring to the ceremony as listed in the Wedding Party Responsibility Cards.
_____Give the groom's ring to the maid of honor. Give the bride's ring to the best man.
_____Simply follow your detailed schedule of events.
_____Relax and enjoy your wedding!

Source: weddingsolutions.com http://www.weddingsolutions.com/index.cfm