Rusty Rail Wedding Checklist
ONCE YOU'RE ENGAGED...
- Announce your engagement!
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Create your wedding budget
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Decide on a location and season
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Select a wedding date
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Book the venue and meet with the wedding coordinator
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Create a rough guest list
12 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Hire your photographer and schedule your engagement photoshoot
- Choose your wedding colors and/or theme
- Solidify your wedding party
- Create your wedding #hashtag
11 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Work with the wedding coordinator to create a room block for any out-of-town guests that will need accommodations
- Provide the Rusty Rail with a list of all guests staying in our 3rd Suites the night of the weddin
- Meet with and book your officiant
- Find and book your florist
10 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Start your gift registries
- Book your DJ or band
- Create your wedding website
9 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Say yes to the dress!
- Choose bridesmaids dresses
- Buy / rent menswear for the groom, groomsmen, and father
- Finalize your guest list and begin collecting addresses
8 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Create and send save the dates
- Meet with bakeries to taste different desserts. Don’t forget to order!
- Book your videographer
- Start planning your honeymoon
7 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Book your ceremony musicians
- Order your event rentals
- Book your rehearsal dinner
- Book salon appointments for you and your bridesmaids. Make sure to schedule for your hair trials and for the day of the wedding!
- Find a makeup artist. Set up an appointment for a makeup trial.
6 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Set up your food tasting with the Rusty Rail and finalize your menu
- Find and order your wedding invitations and RSVP cards to include in the invitations
*NOTE: RSVP date should be 6 weeks before the day of the wedding - Don’t forget to buy stamps!
- Make a transportation plan and book your transportation
- Book your honeymoon! (flights and hotel)
5 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Buy under-the-dress essentials
- Buy bride and bridesmaids accessories and shoes
- Decide on gifts for the wedding party and parents
- Decide on a bridal shower outfit
- Update your registry
- Make a list of ceremony and reception
- Extras and buy them
4 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Finalize your wedding day timeline with the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Begin assembling and addressing your invitations
- Order your wedding rings!
3 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Mail out invitations
- Schedule your wedding dress fitting appointments
- Order your wedding favors
- Find / order attire for your ring bearer and flower girl(s)
- Find / buy yourself “something blue!”
- Send vendor details sheet to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
2 MONTHS BEFORE...
- Have your bridal shower
- Finish bridal shower thank-yous!
- Finalize your ceremony outline and order ceremony programs
- Finalize your seating chart for the reception and start working on escort cards for the tables
- Write your vows
- Finalize ceremony readings
- Finalize the bar selections
- Complete / send ceremony line up to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
6 WEEKS BEFORE...
- Schedule a follow-up phone call / meeting with the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations
- Make nail and spa appointments
- Confirm florals
- Buy / make a “day of emergency kit”
4 WEEKS BEFORE...
- Get your marriage license!
- Call guests who have not RSVP’d
- Prepare your toasts!
- Pick up your wedding dress!
3 WEEKS BEFORE...
- Give your final guest count and seating chart to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Give a sheet with all guests first and last names with meal choices and table numbers to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Give all final food choices to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Confirm final details with all your vendors
WEEK OF THE WEDDING...
- Confirm details with your wedding party
- Pay final vendor bills. Don’t forget to tip!
- Pack for your honeymoon!
- Drop off all decor at the Rusty Rail
- Hand all final details to the Rusty Rail wedding coordinator
- Get married!!!
AFTER THE WEDDING...
- Review your vendor teams online
- Store your dress and veil
- Send thank-you notes / cards
- Change your last name!
- Send in your pictures to the Rusty Rail
