Groom’s Calendar

The groom may not have as many wedding tasks as the bride, but his duties are important. The following is a six-month span (minimum amount of time necessary) to plan a formal wedding:

Six Months Before:

• Order bride’s engagement, wedding rings.
• Start making your guest list.
• Make an appointment with your Marriage Officiant.
• Discuss wedding expenses with fiancée and all parents should you decide to share costs.
• Determine how many ushers you will require (approx. one for every 50 guests) together with your fiancée.
• Finalize honeymoon plans with your fiancée and reserve necessary transportation and accommodations.
• Ensure passports are updated, arrange for visas (if necessary) and check on any immunizations needed should your travel take you to a foreign country.

Three Months Before:

• Complete your guest list and discuss with your fiancée.
• Discuss wedding attire with your fiancée and make necessary arrangement to secure all men’s formal wear.
• Decide who will be your best man and ushers and proceed to invite them.
• Inform best man and ushers about their formal wear.
• Complete honeymoon plans and buy tickets.

One Month Before:

• Decide with your fiancée what the bouquet and going-away and mothers’ corsage will be.
• Determine with fiancée boutonnieres for men in wedding party.
• Pick up rings and check if engraving is correct.
• Arrange accommodations for relatives, friends and ushers from out of town.
• Purchase gift for your bride and attendants.
• Be sure all documents are in order. (Legal, medical & religious)
• Order gloves, ties and ascots for ushers.
• Make certain they have all ordered their own attire.

Two Weeks Before:

• Set a time with your fiancée to get the marriage license.
• If you are giving the bachelor dinner, be sure arrangements are in place.
• Ensure that you have prepared the transportation from the reception to the airport with your best man.
• Double-check your honeymoon reservations.

One Week Before:

• Give gifts to your attendants at the bachelor party.
• Prompt your best man and ushers of the rehearsal time and place, filling them in on the rehearsal dinner.
• Let the head usher know about any special seating arrangements.
• Place the Marriage Officiant’s or judge’s fee in a sealed envelope and give it to the best man.
• Have your going-away attire ready for after the reception.
• Be packed for your honeymoon.
• Prepare to move possessions to new home.