Wedding Timeline, Wedding Rentals, Linen Rentals

Invitations/Announcement
Order your wedding invitations, announcements and other stationery about three months in advance. Address both inner and outer envelopes by hand. Now is a convenient time to select "thank you" notes, as well.
Mail your invitations about a month before the wedding date. Allow about two weeks for replies. At that time, give your caterer the final number of reception guests you're expecting.
The day after the ceremony, mail wedding announcements to those not invited to the events.

Caterers/Photographers/Florists/Musicians
Select your caterer, photographer, florist and musicians at least three months in advance of the wedding. At that time, supply your caterer an estimated number of guests from the list you have compiled. In general, count on about 75 percent of the number of people you plan to invite. Since your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, choose a professional wedding photographer. If you are planning to have music at your wedding and/or reception, also finalize these plans at least three months in advance.

Displaying Gifts
Wedding gifts generally are displayed in the bride's home beginning six weeks to a month before the ceremony. It is not considered proper to attach name cards to the gifts. To make an artistic display, group china items together with silver, and show crystal and linen items in separate groupings. Duplicates should not be displayed. Contact your rental center for 6-foot or 8-foot banquet tables. Add rental table risers to create an elegant display.

Transportation/Accommodations
The bride's family is responsible for arranging the wedding party's transportation to and from the church, and for arranging accommodations for bridesmaids and out-of-town guests.
Out-of-town guests generally pay for their own accommodations.

Guests are expected to provide their own transportation to and from the church and to the reception.

If desired and possible, it's tradition for the bride to pay for bridesmaids' hotel rooms.

Rehearsal Dinner
The wedding rehearsal is most often held the afternoon or evening on the day before the wedding. It is customary for the groom's parents to host and pay for the rehearsal dinner for the entire bridal party.

The Reception
Contact your wedding rental professional as early as possible to discuss your options for reception decorating, furnishing and equipment needs. At that time, provide a good estimate of the number of guests attending. Generally, you can expect about 75 percent of the number of people invited. Two weeks before the reception contact your rental professional to provide a final guest count.
If you are planning to have music at your reception, finalize these plans at least three months in advance.

First Things First
You've just said "yes" to marriage! To feel serenity and joy on your wedding day, begin planning these important details right away! Planning a wedding is a complicated process. You'll have myriad decisions to make and an infinite number of details to arrange. As soon as you're officially engaged and the wedding date confirmed, begin the planning process to avoid last-minute frustrations and even disasters. Discover here how to handle some of these traditional, "first-things-first" details. These are general timelines; therefore, popular sites or professionals may be reserved earlier.

Clergy
Before you publicly announce a specific wedding date, reserve the church or other location for the date and time you will be married, and make all the necessary arrangements with the clergy or other official who will perform the ceremony.

Also before announcing your wedding date, confirm the availability of your reception site. Reservations for some popular reception locations must be made a year or more in advance.

Bridesmaids/Groomsmen
Select the bridesmaids. Then, select the dresses they will wear and the bride's wedding dress. When you have made these decisions, you'll find that many details will be much easier to plan and others will simply fall into place. Traditionally, bridesmaids pay for their own dresses. Select the groomsmen and make arrangements to rent tuxedos at this time, as well.

Gift Registration
You'll have fun with this step, and you'll find it will have positive, practical results. To begin your planning details on an upbeat note, register for the gifts you really need or want as you begin life in your new home.

Contact department, jewelry and specialty stores to choose and register silver, china, crystal and other gifts you desire. By registering, you are making gift buying much more easy and convenient for your friends and guests. Be sure everyone knows where you are registered.

Guest List
Begin compiling your guest list. Be sure to obtain a guest list from the groom's mother. She will depend on you to suggest the size of her list.

It's helpful to keep your list on file cards in alphabetical order. Mark each card according to whether you will invite the guest to the wedding and reception "®" or the ceremony only "©".
Mark those you prefer to receive a wedding announcement only, and no invitation to either event, with an "A".

Wedding Rentals
Contact your wedding rental professional six months before the wedding date, if you can. Arrange a meeting to discuss ideas for your wedding and reception. You might choose from dozens of colors and styles in table linens, chair covers, candelabra, center pieces, china, glassware and flatware, serving pieces - some brides even choose tents, tables, chairs, lighting, bars and dance floors. Discover how your rental professional can assist you throughout the wedding and reception planning process.

Many larger rental centers offer complete planning services, which can make your other tasks go much smoother. The wedding-rental center could be a one-stop-shop for many of your needs for parties and showers, the rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, and even the invitations.

Wedding Timelines