Timeline Preparing Your Various Paperwork

Paperwork

12-18 Months
Begin to compile a list of friends, family, and vendor contact details.
Determine guest List - consult with both families.
Determine how much to spend.
Plan your wedding budget.
Write and prepare engagement announcement for the newspaper. (Publish when appropriate)

6-12 Months
Arrange for pickup and/or delivery of announcements.
Choose the wording for your pre-event invitations.
Divide list into guests receiving invitations to the ceremony and reception, and ones receiving invitations to the ceremony only.
Determine design, wording, stock, font and paper stock for your invitations.
Finalize Guest list. Compare with Fiancees list.
Order personal Stationery, thank you notes, etc.
Place print order for your wedding announcements & invitations and envelopes.
Review and approve proofs of your wedding announcements.

3 Months
Address Invitations.
Determine method of addressing announcements.
(calligraphy or labels)
Personal Stationery and thank you notes should be ready.
Review your beauty budget.

2 Months
Keep wedding and shower gift records.
Mail invitations (6-8 weeks prior to wedding)
Review Newspaper wedding announcement guidelines and comply.
Send thank you cards for gifts as they arrive.

1 Month
Create or order place cards for the reception if required.
Acquire all forms and submit name-change form to legally change your name
Driver's License or State ID card
Passport
Social Security
State and Federal Tax Boards

Send change-of-address/cancellation/renewal notices to...
Animal minders, vets, etc.
Banks
Cable company
Computer company/supplier/service co
Credit card companies
Department stores
Doctors, dentists, accountants& other professionals
Electrical appliance service agents, electricians, etc.
Friends, relatives, associates!
Government dept's / tax etc.
Home maintenance, gardeners, windows, etc.
Insurance companies
Laborer, plumbers, service men, painters, etc.
Magazine subscriptions
Motor vehicle - garages, mechanics, service, etc.
Music clubs, garden clubs, societies, groups etc.
Non profit organizations you may donate to
Religious organizations and personal associations
Schools, and all associated clubs, groups, tutors and organizations your children belong to.
Utilities and phone companies
Your internet provider

Notify Mortgage Company or landlord of name change for mortgage, rent and lease purposes.
Write and prepare wedding announcement for the newspaper.


It would be wise to be careful sending cancellations to services such as phone power, cards etc. if you need them until the wedding day. Many though allow you to specify when the new change is to take affect so you can send them now. Some may choose to send forms after the wedding day to be safe, but fill them out now ready to send, as you won't have time later.

For couples with older children it would be advisable to give a copy of this list to your siblings as they may have correspondence with ones you may be unaware of.

2 Weeks
All response cards should be in (follow up on all response cards not yet received)
Update your wills.

1 Week
File change-of-address form with post office.
Put marriage license in safe place until wedding day.

After The Wedding
Make sure all thank you notes have been sent.
If you haven't already, as listed above, send change-of-address notices to all credit card companies, your internet provider, all magazine subscriptions, have utilities and phone shut-off at old address, arrange for utilities and phone hook-up at new address, notify cable company of change of address.


VIEW & PRINT OUR MASTER WEDDING TIMELINE/CHECKLIST

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