WEDDING WORKBOOK

In this eight-page section, you will find worksheets to help you plan and organize the many important details that will
m a ke u p yo u r we d d i n g , f ro m t h e b u d g et to t h e g u est l i st to t h e m u s i c a n d f l owe rs.

Start with the timeline

below, and set deadlines for yourselves. If you have fewer than six months to plan your wedding, dont panic; just get
sta r te d a s so o n a s p oss i b l e. A n d n eve r a l l ow t h e d eta i l s to ove rs h a d ow t h e j oy of t h e eve n t.

six or more months ahead

Think about the type of wedding you wantformal or informal,
big or smalland the time of year you want it to take place.
Set budget.
Hire wedding coordinator, if desired.
Compile guest list, and organize addresses.
Finalize wedding date.
Reserve ceremony and reception sites.
Choose attendants.

Book officiant.
Book caterer.
Order wedding cake.
Book florist.
Book music for ceremony and reception.
Book photographer and videographer.
Plan and book honeymoon.
Send save-the-date cards, if using.

Order dress and accessories, including veil and shoes.

four to six months ahead

Reserve rental equipment, such as tables, chairs, and tents.
Arrange transportation for the wedding day.
Order stationery, including invitations and thank-you notes;
book calligrapher, if using.

Buy stockings and any special lingerie your

dress requires.
Choose favors.
Book a room for wedding night.

Register for gifts.

Choose gifts for wedding party.

Purchase wedding rings.

Reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.

Purchase or reserve grooms attire.

Sign up for dance lessons.

Choose attendants attire.

two to four months ahead

Discuss details of menu with caterer.

Schedule rehearsal time and rehearsal dinner.

Discuss service with officiant.

Try out makeup and hairstyle.

Choose readings for ceremony.

Mail invitations.

Write your wedding vows, if you choose.

Write thank-you notes as gifts arrive.

Continued on the next page

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weddings

one to two months ahead

Buy guest book.
Have programs printed.
If your state requires blood tests, make appointments.

If you intend to change your name, prepare the

necessary documents.
Send change-of-address information to post office.

Obtain marriage license, and request certified copies.

Contact local newspapers about publishing wedding

announcement.

two weeks ahead

one week ahead

Have final dress fitting with shoes, accessories, and lingerie.

Finalize seating plan.

Begin seating plan, and write place cards.

Assign specific responsibilities, such as handing out corsages

and boutonnieres, to members of your wedding party.

Notify caterer of guest count.

Write toasts for rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
Address announcements.

Pick up dress or have it delivered.

Confirm details with caterer.

Break in wedding shoes at home.

Confirm honeymoon arrangements, and give your itinerary

to a friend or family member in case of emergency.

Designate someone to look after your home while you

are on your honeymoon.

Pack for honeymoon.

Find out where your guests will be staying, if you plan to

deliver welcome notes or gifts to their rooms.

Update caterer with final guest and vendor meal counts.

one day ahead

your wedding day

Confirm transportation arrangements for ceremony

and reception.

Relax, and enjoy yourselves!

Give announcements to an attendant for mailing after

the wedding.
Have manicure and pedicure.
Rehearse ceremony.
Hold rehearsal dinner; give gifts to wedding party. If you
choose, give gifts to parents to thank them for their support.
Prepare tip and payment envelopes for officiant and vendors,
and make arrangements for someone to distribute them.

notes

martha stewart

weddings

BUDGET PLANNER
Before you plan your wedding,

know how much you can spend and what you want to spend it on. As a general guide-

l i n e, a l l o t a p p rox i m a te l y 50 p e rce n t o f yo u r b u d g e t to t h e re ce p t i o n (l o ca t i o n , fo o d , a n d b eve ra g e s). T h e n a l l o t a b o u t

10 percent each to flowers, photography, attire, and music. The final 10 percent goes to stationery, favors, and other details.

Officiants fee
Marriage license

Ceremony decorations

flowers

ceremony and reception

Ceremony location fee

Brides bouquet
Maid of honors and
bridesmaids bouquets

Reception-site fee

Flower girls accessories

Food

Corsages

Cake

Boutonnieres

Bar

Reception centerpieces
and decorations

Rentals
Couples transportation

subtotal

Guests transportation
and parking

subtotal

Brides dress

attire

Tips and coat check

Headpiece and veil

Brides shoes
Lingerie

photography

Photographers fee

Jewelry and accessories

Engagement portrait

Hair and makeup

Wedding album

Grooms tuxedo or suit

Parents albums

Grooms shoes

Additional prints

Grooms accessories

Videography

Brides and grooms rings

subtotal
subtotal

Cocktail-hour music
Reception music
subtotal

stationery

Save-the-date cards
Invitations and envelopes
Programs

Maid of honors gift

gifts, favors, and extras

music

Ceremony music
Bridesmaids gifts
Best mans gift
Groomsmens gifts
Child attendants gifts
Brides parents gifts
Grooms parents gifts
Guest-room gifts

Seating cards, place cards,

and menu cards

Favors

Thank-you notes

Ring pillow

Postage

Guest book

Calligraphy

subtotal

Announcements
subtotal

total

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GUEST- LIST PLANNER

O n ce yo uve

finalized the list fo r yo u r we d d i n g , u se t h i s p l a n n e r to ke e p t ra c k of

per tinent information such as phone numbers, addresses, who has responded, and how
many thank-you notes you owe. Photocopy this page as many times as you need to.

Name(s)

Save-the-date
card sent

Address

Invitation sent
R.S.V.P. received

Telephone number

Thank-you sent

E-mail address
Gift

Number attending

Name(s)

Save-the-date
card sent

Address

Invitation sent
R.S.V.P. received

Telephone number

Thank-you sent

E-mail address
Gift

Number attending

Name(s)

Save-the-date
card sent

Address

Invitation sent
R.S.V.P. received

Telephone number

Thank-you sent

E-mail address
Gift

Number attending

Name(s)

Save-the-date
card sent

Address

Invitation sent
R.S.V.P. received

Telephone number

Thank-you sent

E-mail address
Gift

Number attending

Name(s)

Save-the-date
card sent

Address

Invitation sent
R.S.V.P. received

Telephone number

Thank-you sent

E-mail address
Gift

Number attending

total guests this page

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PHOTOGRAPHY PLANNER
To e n s u re t h a t yo u r p h o to g ra p h e r ca p t u re s a l l

the most important moments o f yo u r

wedding on film, provide him or her with a list of specific events and names of important guests
to photograph. Then designate a close friend or relative to help the photographer locate the

portraits

people on it. Discuss which shots should be in color and which in black and white.

Bride

Bride with parents

Groom

Groom with parents

Bride and groom

Bride and groom with brides parents

Bride, with detail of back of dress

Bride and groom with brides family

Groom with best man

Bride and groom with grooms parents

Groom with groomsmen

Bride and groom with grooms family

Bride with maid of honor

Bride and groom with both sets of parents

Bride with bridesmaids

Ring bearer with flower girl

ceremony

prewedding

Entire wedding party

Bride and attendants getting ready

Bride leaving for ceremony

Groom and attendants getting ready

Groom leaving for ceremony

Mother or maid of honor helping

bride get ready
Reception site being set up

Signs directing guests to wedding

Special guests watching ceremony

Wedding programs

Wedding kiss

Ceremony site, with guests arriving

Bride and groom leading recessional

Ushers escorting special guests to their seats

Guests throwing rice or flower petals

Both sets of parents entering

Signing of wedding certificate

Groom walking down the aisle or awaiting bride

Brides and grooms hands displaying rings

Bridal party at ceremony spot, awaiting bride

Child attendants walking down the aisle

reception

Bride walking down the aisle

Friends signing guest book

Bride dancing with her father

Guests at cocktail hour

Groom dancing with his mother

Reception site, set for dinner

Guests dancing

Seating-cards display

Favors

Centerpieces

Wedding cake

Place settings

Bride and groom cutting the cake

People giving toasts

Bride and groom departing

Bride and groom listening to toasts

Group pictures of guests at each table
Bride and grooms first dance

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weddings

MUSIC PLANNER
F i l l i n t h i s pa g e w i t h

your song choices, a n d g i ve a co py to m u s i c i a n s a n d d e e j ays so t h ey k n ow w h a t to p l ay

a n d w h e n . I ts a g o o d i d ea to m a ke a n o te of s p e c i f i c so n g s yo u d o nt wa n t to h ea r a s we l l . Wi l l yo u r ba n d l ea d e r
a l so a c t a s m a ste r of ce re m o n i es a t t h e re ce p t i o n? I f so, b e s u re to d i sc u ss w h a t yo u wo u l d l i ke h i m o r h e r to s ay.

song

performed by

start time

ceremony

Prelude

Processional

Ceremony

Recessional

song

performed by

Cocktail hour

Couples first dance

Bride & fathers dance
Groom & mothers dance
Guests first dance

reception

Dinner

Dancing

Cake cutting
Other special requests

Last dance
Dont play list

other

song
Announcements,
dedications, and
toasts

martha stewart

weddings

performed by

start time

start time

FLOWER PLANNER
I ts e a s i e r to ta l k w i t h yo u r f l o r i st a n d stay w i t h i n yo u r

budget for flowers i f yo u b e g i n w i t h a

co m p l e te l i st of the arrangements you want. Weve included a list of flowers by season to get you star ted.

description
Brides bouquet
Brides headpiece
Maid of honors bouquet

wedding party

Bridesmaids bouquets
Flower girls headpiece and basket
Grooms boutonniere
Best mans and groomsmens boutonnieres
Ring bearers boutonniere
Mothers corsages
Other special guests corsages
Fathers boutonnieres
Other special guests boutonnieres
Other

description

ceremony

Aisle runner
Pew or chair decorations
Altar or huppa arrangements
Candles and holders
Other

description
Entryway arrangements

reception

Bar decorations
Dining-table centerpieces
Brides and grooms chair decorations
Buffet-table decorations
Cake and cake-table decorations
Powder-room arrangements
Other

flowers by season

year-round
Calla lily
Carnation
Freesia
Gardenia
Lily
Orchid
Ranunculus
Rose
Stephanotis

spring
Cherry blossom
Daffodil
Dogwood
Forsythia
Hellebore
Hyacinth
Lilac

Lily-of-the-valley
Muscari
Peony
Quince
Sweet pea
Tulip
Viburnum

summer
Astilbe
Cosmos
Dahlia
Daisy
Delphinium
Garden rose
Gladiolus
Hollyhock

Ladys mantle
Larkspur
Marigold
Scabiosa
Snapdragon
Violet
Zinnia

fall
Autumn leaves
Chrysanthemum
Dahlia
Hydrangea
Seasonal berries
Sunflower

martha stewart

winter
Amaryllis
Anemone
Evergreen
Forced bulbs
Paper-white
Poinsettia

weddings

RECEPTION SEATING PLANNER

Use this worksheet along with your guest list to decide

who will sit with whom at the recep-

tion. Give it to your calligrapher, or whoever is creating your seating cards, and to your caterer.
If you will assign places at each table, sketch out the shapes and configuration of the tables, and
transfer the names to your drawing. Photocopy this page as many times as you need to.

table no.

table no.

table no.

table no.

table no.

table no.

martha stewart

weddings