30 Day Summer Wedding Checklist

Summer is still one of the most popular times of year to get married. But Summer is already here, so how can you pull off a wedding with such short notice? It can be done with the right plan.

30 DAYS

1. Determine Budget and Guest List
The average wedding in 2016 cost $35,329 with an average of 141 guests, not including the honeymoon. The size of your guest list can impact your budget, so determining both is equally important. It is also something to consider that with less notice, your guests rsvp’s may be lower than average with already scheduled summer plans.

2. Book Your Reception/Ceremony Site and Choose a Date
The popular Saturday nights may already be booked up, but you can luck out and get a great deal on un-booked dates. You can also take advantage of the off peak times such as weekday evenings, Sunday afternoons or Friday nights. Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club is running a special for summer weddings hosted during these off-peak times saving 35% off site fees.

3. Send Invitations
With summer plans already in place and your wedding day fast approaching, getting the word out to your guests is vitally important as well as setting a quick deadline for sending their responses. You will need to provide your venue with a final head count approximately a week and a half before your date.

4. Select Bridal Party Attire
Get shopping! Choose your bridal party and then get working on a color and dress style. Don’t forget to reserve the tuxedos as well.

5. Create a Vendor List
This may be the next most challenging of your tasks outside of finding the venue. You may want to start with your bridal coordinator at your venue for a list of references and vendors that have proven to be valuable and have most likely worked at your venue already. Vendors you will need to nail down are florists, photographer/videographer, bakery and entertainment.

25 DAYS

6. Reserve Your Hair & Make-Up Stylists
Book a trial run and get the details worked out in advance to ensure the day of is as smooth as possible.

7. Contract Your Vendors
After doing your research and finding the availability, get your contracts in place.

20 DAYS

8. Plan the ceremony with your officiant and outline the program.
If you have a minister or rabbi, you can follow along the traditional ceremony outline, add in your reading and song picks and call it a day.

9. Book the Honeymoon
The best deals can usually be found online mid-week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That’s when airfares are typically at their lowest rates. If you don’t have the patience to book through a travel site, call a travel agent. It sounds old-school, but agents can help you get a trip booked with low-hassle and most of them are affordable or even free (many will take a cut from the hotel or airline instead of you).

10. Shop for wedding rings and order them.
If you can’t get the one you want in time, order the ones you love anyway and find a placeholder for the ceremony. Pick up a pair of inexpensive silver or gold bands at a jeweler in town. Or have a little fun with it and find your place holder wedding bands at an antique store or flea market.

11. Plan the rehearsal dinner and invite your bridal party
Most restaurants offer some type of private dining room. Simply call to reserve the back room or several tables. Ask about a large group menu or put in your order ahead of time and let the restaurant do the rest. Your venue may offer special rehearsal dinner menus and reservations which makes it easy and seamless.

15 DAYS

12. Buy your veil, shoes and accessories—and decide on your “something old, new, borrowed and blue.”

13. Get your final guest list count.

14. Work on day-of paper elements including the ceremony program and escort cards.
Print them yourself or take them to a local printer who will be able to get the job done for you on the spot or within a day.

10 DAYS

15. Confirm all final payment amounts, delivery and location times with your vendors.

16. Buy gifts (or favors) for guests, bridal party, parents and each other.
Have gifts wrapped in the store if that’s an option. You’ll save time and the headache of tracking down wrapping supplies last-minute.

17. Prepare your wedding toast or thank-yous to family and friends.

5 DAYS

18. Create a day-of schedule and contact list for parents, bridal party and vendors.

19. Apply for your marriage license together.
Go online to find out what the cost and process is. Typically you’ll have to pay a fee for a marriage license and apply in person at your local county clerk’s office or courthouse.

20. Put final payments and cash tips for vendors in envelopes and give to a friend to distribute.

Now all you have to do is say “I do.” Whatever you do, don’t try to do this planning all on your own. Ask for help from friends, family and even your wedding coordinator at the venue. Your coordinator does this day in and day out, therefore is an invaluable resource to you. Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club can help you with all of your planning needs whether it’s one month or one year out, contact us to schedule your tour today.