Bridal Timeline

After helping brides plan for their weddings, we here at The Winfield Inn would like to share the following timeline. Planning times goes fast and if you are having your wedding during the traditional busy bridal season, vendors and equipment need to be booked in a timely fashion.
Please use this timeline and any other you find in magazines or online. Planning ahead makes the big day go so much more smoothly and thus, more enjoyable for you and your fiance.

9-12 Months before The Big Day
Create your guest list
Start discussing who will marry you
Announce your engagement in newspaper
Discuss the theme, color, style, and formality of the evening
Establish a budget
Select your photographer and DJ
Shop! Start looking at yours and your bridesmaid's dresses
Look into bakeries, videographers, florists, and ceremony musicians
Attend local bridal shows to get ideas
Pick up a couple bridal magazines and book mark pictures that you like.

6-9 Months
Collect addresses for invitations, save the dates, and thank you cards
Send out 'Save the Date' cards (if you are planning to do so)
Select attendants for the wedding
Research Honeymoon destinations and information
Register at your favorite stores
Choose your cake baker, florist, videographer, and ceremony musicians
Get your wedding dress and bridesmaid's dresses
Design invitations and discuss wording
Set the date for the Tasting at the Winfield Inn (dates go fast), confirm your menu.

4-6 Months
Shop for your wedding rings!
Finalize invitations and order
Choose men's attire
Finalize the guest list and get all the addresses
Finalize colors for wedding
Finalize honeymoon details
Start thinking about what kind of alcohol or other beverages you would like served.

2-4 Months
Prepare maps of venue for guests and organize room blocks
Finalize wedding rings
Buy all wedding accessories such as the sign-in book, cake topper, and table numbers
Make sure you are adding to your registry
Mail invitations: remember to put RSVP date 4-6 weeks prior to wedding
Plan the Rehearsal Dinner
Finalize all details concerning the cake and flowers
Make the song list for the DJ
Start a preliminary timeline of the weekend.

6-8 Weeks
Make sure your layout appointment is set at The Winfield Inn
Do bridal portraits
Start putting together attendant gifts
Set up appointments for hair, make-up, nails
Reserve car or shuttle services.

4-6 Weeks
Have your layout appointment with the Wedding Manager
Confirm the final headcount with the manager to avoid rush delivery fees (especially if it has changed since layout appointment)
Buy grooms/brides gifts
Schedule a final fitting
Purchase special outfits for the weekend (rehearsal dinner, get-away outfit, day of outfit)
Purchase or borrow all weddings accessories like your ring pillow, champagne flutes, garter belt, candles, something old, new, borrowed or blue.
Confirm all delivery times. Your manager will also be doing this.
Organize seating chart and assigned seating as necessary
Make sure all attendants have ordered their attire and have all accessories
Make sure to send the alcohol contract, ceremony order and entertainment contract to manager.

Two Weeks Before
Make your after wedding arrangements: who is bringing home your gifts, cake topper, dress, flowers, décor, etc.
Make sure guest accommodations are confirmed
If doing accommodations gifts, put together and set delivery times
Get your marriage license
Review your checklists
Send out wedding weekend timeline to all attendants
Send out itinerary to any family who is coming in from out of town so they know what to pack
If getting hair highlighted and cut, do this now
Make sure to send out a big thank you to everyone in your wedding just in case you forget to at your wedding.
Make sure the toasters know they are doing a toast!

One Week Before
Finalize seating arrangements and send to manager
Double check any honeymoon arrangements
Start packing for your honeymoon
Finish place cards
Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
Wrap all presents
Delegate responsibilities for the wedding day
Print out directions to give to your wedding party so they can help others with directions
Do any beauty appointment like spray tan, teeth whitening, etc.

Two Days Before
Mani/Pedi
Massage
Put together all tips and delegate bridesmaid, parent, or coordinator to pass them out at the wedding.

One Day Before
RELAX AND ENJOY
GIVE ALL WRITTEN DETAILS TO THE MANAGER WHEN YOU ARRIVE
The Big Day
HAVE FUN, EAT WELL, DRINK WATER AND GET READY FOR THE BEST DAY EVER!

{Décor Tips for Outdoor Venues}
If using candles, use tall containers so the wind doesn't blow out the candles (this includes votives around centerpieces)
Do not use tall, top-heavy centerpieces. The wind will easily knock them down! Consider using stones or marbles to weigh down taller arrangements.
Cakes do not do well in warm weather. Consider using fondant icing or having your cake vendor deliver 30 min-1 hour before cake cutting.
When doing assigned seating, do not use tented place cards for each seat as they will likely blow away. Consider using a creative method at the entrance for guests to find their names, such as incorporating them into your centerpieces or attaching them to their favor at their seat.