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The
Wedding Planning Checklist
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Bride
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Groom
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12 Months Before:
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Announce your engagement.
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Arrange for both sets of parents to meet.
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Select a wedding date and call
to see if it is available.
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Determine what type of wedding
you want formality, time of day, number of guests, indoor,
outdoor, destination, etc.
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Discuss and decide on your budget with
everyone contributing to the event. Use our helpful budget worksheet.
(LINK)
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Start researching ceremony and reception
sites. Use the internet and bridal magazines to help narrow your
search. Go online to look for wedding
packages.
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Start thinking about your gown
style and do some shopping.
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Interview wedding planners, if you plan to
have one.
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Select and book your officiant.
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Choose your wedding party and ask them to be
a part of your wedding.
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Buy
a folder or some organization tool to keep all your wedding planning
items in. Include a calendar for important event dates and deadlines.
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Execute the catering contract and
send deposit to your sales representative.
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Select Save-the-Date cards to
send to out of town guests.
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Begin work on the guest list to get a rough
head count.
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6 - 9 Months Before
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Enroll in a bridal-gift-registry.
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Shop for your wedding gown and order it.
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Shop for bridesmaid''s dresses and
order them.
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Hire a wedding planner if you
plan to use one.
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Finalize the guest list and
request lists from parents and grandparents. Finalize total count to
determine size of wedding.
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Select a florist and send a
deposit to reserve their services.
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Select ceremony and reception
site(s) and send deposits to reserve them.
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Determine your color scheme.
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Begin working on a menu or choose
from the package options offered by your reception site.
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Start laying out an outline of
how you want your event to happen.
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Meet with your officiant to
discuss the ceremony structure and any religious or cultural customs
you want to include.
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Interview and get price lists
from photographers/videographers. Sign agreement to reserve their
services for your date.
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Choose a design for your wedding
cake and send a deposit to the baker of your choice.
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Negotiate a room block rate with
your sales representative and contract your rooms.
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Audition/Interview bands and/or
DJ and book them.
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Audition/Interview Ceremony
musicians and book one.
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Pick invitations and start
working on wording.
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Send Save-the-Date cards.
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4 - 6 months before:
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Order wedding invitations, envelopes,
thank-you cards, etc.
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Order your wedding gown.
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Finalize your cake details with
your baker.
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Finalize menu and service details with your
sales representative.
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Grooms decide on formal wear and
order it.
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Compile hotel information and
other items and send out to guests who will be taking advantage of your
negotiated hotel rate.
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Discuss and decide on floral
arrangements with your sales representative.
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Finalize your wedding insurance
policy if you have one.
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Book any other wedding events
such as bridal luncheons, farewell brunches, golf or spa days.
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Reserve any extra equipment
(tables, chairs, A/V, etc.) that you may need for the ceremony or
reception.
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Plan and book your honeymoon.
TIP: Plan to leave for your honeymoon a day after your wedding. You
won''t be so tired and can fully enjoy your wedding and your
travel without having to rush from one to the next.
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Book rehearsal dinner site.
Consider the beautiful Glass Menagerie for your rehearsal dinner.
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Grooms decide on groomsmen attire
and have them order them.
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Arrange your honeymoon suite for
night of wedding. (All Woodlands Resort Wedding Packages include the
Bride and Groom's Room)
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Send out "save-the-date" cards.
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Bride
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Groom
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2-4 Months Before:
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Call County Clerk's Office for
Marriage License requirements.
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Get a blood test, if needed for a
license.
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Decide on special decorations for
the ceremony such as an religious or cultural customs.
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Make honeymoon reservations. Compile all the
necessary travel documents (passports, visas, etc.) Remember to make
your reservations in your maiden name as you will not have any of your
new identification in time for your honeymoon.
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Meet with the caterer or banquet manager to
finalize menus, service style, wine lists, etc.
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Finalize the wedding cake and grooms cake
with your sales representative.
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Select approved ceremony and reception music.
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Grooms give groomsmen all the
details they need to receive their wedding attire
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Buy thank you gifts for the attendants,
parents, grandparents and any other special people in your wedding
party.
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Brides buy accessories (shoes,
jewelry, tiara, veil, etc.) to go with your dress.
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Shop for and purchase wedding
rings.
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Schedule portrait session if you
are getting a bridal portrait done.
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Brides talk to your attendants to
see if they have ordered their dresses and confirm arrival date.
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Brides get all lingerie that is
necessary for your dress before first fittings.
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Brides confirm arrival date of
dress and schedule first fitting.
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Talk to people you would like to
do special performances or readings during the ceremony or reception.
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Talk to your best man and
maid/matron of honor about showers and other parties.
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Grooms get fitted for your tux or
other formal wear.
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Send out invitations at the two
month mark.
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Grooms choose and buy and
accessories you will need for your tux such as cuff links, shoes, etc.
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Brides provide guest list to
bridesmaids for shower.
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Arrange and reserve wedding day
transportation for you, your husband and your wedding party and guests
if needed.
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Arrange the rehearsal dinner.
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Take care of yourself by eating
well and exercising so you look and feel great on your wedding day.
Don''t forget to spend one on one time, not doing wedding
planning, with your future husband.
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Bride
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Groom
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4-8 Weeks Before:
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Design and print ceremony
programs if you are having one.
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Begin working on vows if you are
writing your own.
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Write thank you notes for wedding
gifts you have already received.
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Submit your wedding announcement
to newspapers if you are doing so.
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Buy a guest book and pen and any
other items you want at your reception/ceremony, such as a unity candle.
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Send rehearsal dinner invitations.
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Work on a music list (must play and must not
play) for the DJ/Band.
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Finalize music selections for the
ceremony.
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Pick up wedding rings. Check
inscriptions to see if they are correct.
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Make sure your homeowners policy
covers your rings and gifts.
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Wrap all gifts for wedding party
and write a special note to each one of them.
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Have a final meeting with the
officiant to go over the details of your ceremony.
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Confirm wedding night
accommodations and transportation.
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Confirm honeymoon reservations
and transportation.
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Start packing for your honeymoon
and wedding weekend. It's easy to forget things when you pack
last minute. Use our handy Honeymoon Packing Checklist. LINK to list.
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Pack a wedding day Emergency Kit.
LINK to list.
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Do paperwork for official
documents if you are changing your name.
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Work out wedding day timing and
details. Give lists of assignments to wedding party.
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Brides make sure you have a
garter and something old, something new, something borrowed,
and something blue.
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Get final pre-wedding haircuts
and color.
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Call guests who have not
RSVP''d so that you can get a final head count.
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Determine receiving line order if
you plan on having one.
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Break in your wedding day shoes.
Encourage your wedding party to do so as well.
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Confirm all event details with
your sales representative.
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Brides pick up gown and
veil/headpiece.
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Make sure your wedding party
knows all the information regarding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner
and any other wedding events.
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Do a hair and makeup run-through (with
headpiece). TIP: Book your bridal portrait on the same day.
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Book your favorite beauty pros
for the big day.
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Make insurance policy changes
you'll need post-wedding.
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Bride
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Groom
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1-2 Weeks Before:
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Finalize Vows.
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Touch base with your officiant
and give them all the wedding day details such as time and location.
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Purchase travelers checks for
honeymoon.
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Confirm all payment amounts with
all vendors.
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Confirm all wedding day details
with photographer/videographer and give them a must shoot list.
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Prepare any toasts or speeches.
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Confirm all transportation for
bridal party and guests.
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Distribute wedding day
directions, schedule and contact lists to all parents, attendants and
vendors.
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Put together an overnight bag for
the night of your wedding and arrange for someone to get it to the
hotel.
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Copy your honeymoon itinerary and
leave it with someone in case of an emergency.
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Put final payments and tips in
marked envelopes and give to a designated person to distribute to
vendors on wedding day.
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Confirm all details with ceremony
musician and DJ/Band.
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Designate someone to collect
gifts and deliver them to your house that are brought to the wedding.
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Get your engagement ring cleaned
so it will shine next to your new wedding band.
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Do the seating for the reception and any
other events that require seating arrangement. Buy place cards and
print them.
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Confirm wedding day details and
delivery times with cake maker.
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Grooms pick up tuxedo and try it
on. (Do not wait for day of wedding!)
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Bride
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Groom
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1 Week Before:
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Give your final headcount and
payment to your sales representative.
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Get marriage license and check to
see how long it is valid.
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Have a date night with your soon
to be husband.
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Get a manicure or pedicure. The
Spa at The Woodlands Resort can accommodate all your needs.
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Appoint
a punctual pal to transport the cake knife, toasting glasses or other
heirlooms to and from the wedding site.
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Finish packing for the honeymoon. (Ask
someone to bring your luggage to the reception if you're leaving from
there).
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Reconfirm flights and hotel
reservation for the honeymoon.
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Bride
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Groom
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The Day Before:
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Greet your out-of-town guests.
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Attend your rehearsal and
rehearsal dinner. Have fun!
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Give announcements to your honor
attendant or family member to be mailed on your wedding day.
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Pull together all wedding day
items (dress, veil/headpiece, jewelry, hose, shoes, etc.) in one
location.
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Drop off favors, guest book and
pen and other items with your sales representative. Confirm any last
minute details.
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Schedule time for beauty - a manicure
touch-up or a massage- before the rehearsal dinner. Call to book appointments.
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Get some sleep! Make sure to set
an alarm if you need to and arrange for a back up.
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Bride
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Groom
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Your Wedding Day:
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Confirm last minute details with
wedding party, vendors and your sales representative.
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Relax and enjoy your special day!
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Arrange for someone to get your
bags and any other items from the ceremony/reception site to your home.
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Arrange for someone to wrap up
and freeze the top layer of your cake to enjoy on your one year
anniversary.
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Arrange for someone to get at
least one each of your favors, napkins and any other items you may want
to have a memento of.
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Bride
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Groom
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Day After &
Beyond:
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Arrange
for someone to pick up your items from the hotel and deliver them to
your home.
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Take gown
and veil to be cleaned. Make sure the cleaner is experienced in
storing/preserving gowns.
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Arrange
for someone to return Groom''s/Groomsmen''s tux(s).
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Within two
months, write all thank you notes for your wonderful gifts.
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Find out
when you can expect your final wedding video.
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Find out
when you can expect your wedding photos to be ready. Choose photos for
wedding album. If wedding pictures are available to view and purchase
online, notify family and friends of site and access information.
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Take
bridal bouquet and other wedding mementos to be preserved.
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Live
happily ever after!
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