Bride & Groom's Central FL Wedding Planning Checklist

    10-12 Months Before

  • Introduce both families and officially announce your engagement.
  • Find out who pays for what and start a budget.
  • Create a guest list and manage it with our easy-to-use tool.
  • Compare calendars and select a tentative date.
  • Choose your wedding party.
  • Create a wedding website to share your engagement.
  • Consider whitening your teeth for your engagement parties and photographs.
  • Conduct interviews and hire a wedding planner in Central Florida (if needed).
  • Decide if you want premarital counseling.
  • Start looking at photos of wedding dresses for inspiration.
  • Send your engagement photo to the local paper.
  • Begin thinking about where you want to honeymoon.
  • Visit the Palms Island Resort to book your Central Florida reception and ceremony site.
  • Create a save-the-date guest list.

    • 6-9 Months Before

  • Alert out-of-town guests of wedding date and/or send a FREE save-the-date email.
  • Find a bridal salon and begin trying on wedding dresses and veils. Bring stockings, heels, a strapless bra, and a hair clip to each appointment.
  • Get in shape for your wedding gown by starting an exercise routine.
  • Get ideas for honeymoon locations and research pricing.
  • Start looking at floral designs and interview florists for style and cost.
  • Meet with our Banquet Coordinator to go over you menu selections.
  • Interview wedding photographers and videographers.
  • Get ideas for music and interview bands/DJs.
  • Finalize flower and décor ideas, and select a florist. Include specifics of each floral arrangement in your contract.
  • Order your gown and wedding veil.
  • Shop for and select the perfect bridesmaid dress.
  • Book your honeymoon!
  • Finalize contracts with your wedding photographer and videographer.
  • Book your DJ/band.
  • Purchase wedding dress accessories, including shoes, lingerie, purse, and gloves.
  • Choose your officiant and discuss ceremony ideas.
  • Start thinking about your gift registry options.
  • Reserve rooms for out-of-town guests with our Banquet Coordinator.

    • 4-5 Months Before

  • Start thinking about cultural traditions for your wedding.
  • View wedding invitation styles and research proper wording.
  • Look at photos to get ideas for wedding cake designs, and meet with bakers.
  • Shop for wedding rings.
  • Look for the groom's tux and decide what groomsmen will wear.
  • Confirm your bridesmaids ordered their gowns and decide on accessories.
  • Have your mother and future mother-in-law coordinate and select their dresses.
  • Compare pricing, place your wedding invitation order, and book your calligrapher.
  • Purchase your wedding rings and send for engraving if applicable.
  • Check with our Banquet Coordinator for wedding favors.
  • Confirm dates for bridal showers and bachelorette parties in our Banquet Room.
  • Make sure you've started your registries before bridal shower invitations are sent.
  • Choose your baker and finalize wedding cake.
  • Book your rehearsal dinner location in our Banquet Room.
  • Get ideas for wedding hair and makeup.
  • Notify any family or friends whom you would like to give readings, sing solos, serve as guest book attendant, etc.
  • Interview and hire any additional management staff and babysitters if needed.
  • Give your guest list to shower hostesses and check that your registry has enough items. Update wedding website.
  • Consider getting wedding insurance.

    • 2-3 Months Before

  • Finalize guest list and submit invitations to calligrapher.
  • Book makeup artist and hairstylist.
  • Confirm your wedding favors with our Banquet Coordinator.
  • Candles, baskets, ring pillow. it's time to start browsing and purchase wedding accessories through our Banquet Coordinator!
  • Consider signing up for dance classes.
  • Finalize menu.
  • Find gifts for each other, your attendants, your shower hostess, and your parents.
  • Confirm tuxes have been ordered for groom/groomsmen.
  • Prep for your honeymoon - do you have everything you need?
  • Choose your getaway! Finalize wedding transportation.
  • Look into joint bank accounts, insurance, and merging your money.
  • Select your music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, and review with musicians, singers.
  • Check that there are enough options left on your registry, and update your wedding website.
  • Finalize rehearsal dinner plans and order rehearsal invitations, menus, table numbers, escort cards, and any other stationery accessories.
  • Mail invitations eight weeks before your wedding day.

    • 1-2 Months Before

  • Have your first bridal gown fitting. Remember to bring stockings, shoes, the appropriate bra, hair accessories, jewelry, a camera, and your mom or best friend.
  • Finalize ceremony readings and songs, and review with performers.
  • Meet with your officiant to finalize the ceremony, including attendant formations.
  • Begin writing your vows if applicable.
  • Begin writing thank-you notes for bridal showers and early wedding gifts, and update your registry at the same time.
  • Research where to get your marriage license.
  • Prepare a photo and video shot list, naming important family members and guests.
  • Schedule the bridesmaids' luncheon with our Banquet Coordinator and buy attendant gifts if you haven't already.
  • Begin whitening your teeth for your wedding day.
  • Consider liability insurance for your reception location.

    • 3-4 Weeks Before

  • Finalize your jewelry, which may include something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.
  • Prepare a must-have shot list for your wedding photographer and videographer.
  • Finalize your "must play" and "don't play" music lists and review with musicians.
  • Practice your first dance wearing your bridal shoes.
  • Design and order your wedding program.
  • Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements, and give loved ones your itinerary in case of emergency.
  • Call guests who haven't RSVP'd.
  • Pick up your wedding rings.
  • Get your marriage license, typically no earlier than 30 days before the wedding.
  • Research how to change your name.
  • Mail your rehearsal-dinner invitations.
  • Meet with your stylist to discuss and test makeup and hair for your bridal style.

    • 1-2 Weeks Before

  • Have your final wedding gown fitting.
  • Finalize your wedding-day schedule (including receiving-line order) and share with attendants, parents, and all vendors.
  • Confirm all of your beauty appointments.
  • Confirm pick-up times, schedules, and addresses with your wedding-day transportation.
  • Pick up your wedding dress and make sure all of your accessories are together.
  • Pick up the groom's outfit, make sure it fits, and gather all of his accessories together.
  • Finalize your vows for the ceremony.
  • Get your hair colored and trimmed (don't wait until two days before the ceremony).
  • Confirm final headcount for your Sanford, FL wedding reception with our Banquet Coordinator.
  • Give final attendance numbers to vendors and confirm final date/time for deliverables and pick-ups after wedding.
  • Pack for your wedding night and honeymoon.
  • Create a "wedding box" to gather your ceremony accessories (marriage license, candles, ring pillow, basket, guest book) and assign someone to transport.
  • Prepare a "reception box" for accessories such as guest books, cameras, toasting goblets, cake toppers, etc., and assign someone to transport.
  • Prepare all of your wedding favors for transportation to your Central Florida reception and assign someone to move them if you did not purchase our Palms Perfect Package.
  • Finalize your seating arrangements (making sure you involve both sets of parents) and submit to our Banquet Coordinator.
  • Confirm dates/times/locations for all photo and video sessions the day of the wedding.
  • Confirm dates/times/locations with all vendors.

    • The Day Before

  • Prepare a list of payment envelopes - including tips - earmarking who is responsible for distributing to vendors.
  • Hand out assignment lists and checklists to ensure everyone knows their tasks, including person responsible for transporting gifts.
  • Hand out ceremony box to appropriate person.
  • Hand out reception box to appropriate person.
  • Hand out favor box to appropriate person.
  • Assign someone to mail your announcement cards.
  • Gather together your wedding dress, accessories, and bridal emergency kit.
  • Get a manicure, pedicure, and massage.
  • Rehearse ceremony with officiant and wedding party.

    • The Wedding Day

  • Don't forget to eat breakfast and drink plenty of fluids!
  • Take a lavender bath - it's very relaxing.
  • Be sure to wear a button-down shirt for your hair and makeup appointments.

    • After The Wedding

  • Get your wedding dress cleaned and preserved.
  • Preserve your bouquet.
  • Write and mail your thank-you notes.
  • Complete your name-change kit.
  • Check into your store's bridal registry completion program.
  • Meet with photographer and videographer to finalize albums/video.

If you would like additional wedding planning assistance, find a wedding planner in Central Florida.

The Palms Island Resort and Marina . 530 N. Palmetto Avenue . Sanford, FL 32771 . Phone: 407.323.1910


FOR RESERVATIONS
1.800.290.1910 or
407.323.1910

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