Wedding Planning Checklist for a Beach Theme Wedding

      Here is a wedding planning count down checklist. This is a general checklist and it will help with your planning of your beach theme wedding, but you will want to flesh it out a bit by adding the extra items pertinent to a beach or destination wedding. You will get the extra needed information from purchasing one of the wedding planners that I mentioned in my last article about  wedding planning where they mention added things you need to know about planning a beach theme wedding.  You can add these items to your planning checklist so that you will not forget important things to do.  You’ll definitely want to include what to do about the marriage license if you will be having an out of the country wedding. This will make planning a beach theme or destination wedding so much easier!  So then, here is the basic wedding planning checklist.

 9-12 months before the wedding:
   Announce your engagement to friends and family.
   Pick your wedding date.( If you will be having your wedding at your local beach, make sure of all the rules and reserve and if you want a out of country destination wedding , check and reserve before setting your wedding date in stone.)
      Arrange for parents to get together and meet each other if they haven’t already.
   Discuss what your budget will be and who’ll be contributing what to the event.
   Interview wedding planners if you’re using one. (Or use one of my recommendations from my previous post on wedding planning like Amazing Wedding planning- great for info on destination and beach theme weddings.)
   Meet with the officiant.
   Work on the guest list to get a rough head count.
   Visit reception sites and reserve one. (This will be hard to do if this will be an out of the country destination wedding. You might want to actually go visit the island of choice and take care of some of these things at this time, then the rest can be done from home.)
   Begin shopping for your wedding gown. If you want to drop a few pounds this would be the time to start.
   For an out of country destination wedding this is the time to start checking into the details of your marriage license.

 6-9 months before the wedding:
   Choose the members of your wedding party.
   Select a caterer. (This might be included in your destination site, so check)
   Enroll in a bridal registry.
   Order your wedding gown.
   Shop for bridesmaids dresses.
   Pick a photographer and videographer.
   Hire a florist (or look into do-it-yourself flower arranging DVDs on my site and practice also wholesale flowers)
   Start thinking about where you’d like to go for your honeymoon.
   Send out save-the-date cards, especially if your wedding is on a holiday weekend. (check my post on wedding invitations for some great beach theme wedding invitations and save the dates.)

4-6 months before the wedding:
   Order wedding stationary (place cards, thank you cards, etc.).
   Shop for the perfect wedding cake. (this could be tricky if you want a special wedding cake and you will be having a beach theme or especially an out of country destination wedding, so check out Amazing Wedding Planning for help with this)
   Hire your wedding-day transportation (carriage, limousine, etc.)
   Book your favorite hair stylist and makeup artist. (special planning for a destination wedding)
   Check on hotels for any out-of-town guests.
   Finalize the guest list.
   Get definite plans for your honeymoon, make airline and hotel arrangements.
   Plan the rehearsal dinner. (Special planning for a out of country destination wedding)
      Compile a list of all your wedding vendors, their phone numbers, the details and keep a list with you at all times for reference.(I would make two lists and give one to someone else like mother or maid of honor-someone who can help with the details if needed and so that if you were to loose your list, there will be another one handy.)

 2-4 months before the wedding:
   Purchase the marriage license from your cities county clerk.( I already commented on this earlier, you’ll need to plan this much earlier for an out of country wedding, making sure that it will all be legal)
   Order tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen.
   Meet with the caterer to go over menus, wine selections, etc. (or for a destination wedding, you’ll need to communicate by email)
   Order the wedding cake.
   Select wedding ceremony and reception music.
   If you plan on writing your own vows start writing them now.

 4-8 weeks before the wedding:
   Mail wedding invitations 6 to 8 weeks ahead of your wedding date.( probably more time needed to give guests extra time to plan or make special note of it in your save the dates)
   Do a hair and make up run through with your wedding veil on.

2-4 weeks before the wedding:
   Work on the seating arrangements for the reception.
   Confirm details with the photographer, florist, and other vendors.
   Have your final wedding dress fitting.
   Write your rehearsal-dinner toast.
   Purchase gifts for the wedding attendants.
  
 1 week before the wedding:
   Place any amounts due on the wedding day in envelopes for easy distribution.
   Give the caterer a final head count.
   Find a trustworthy person to take the cake knife, toasting glasses, etc. to the reception.
   Get final beauty treatments (manicure, facial, massage, waxing, brow shaping, etc.).
   Pack for the honeymoon.
 

 The day before the wedding:
   Get something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in the shoe(a penny will do).                       
    

 The day of the wedding:
   Relax and remain calm.
   Remember to eat something. You may be so busy with things that you forget or just not get the time once you are in the midst of your reception.
   Allow yourself at least two hours to get dressed.
   Enjoy your dream beach theme or destination wedding.

      So as you can see, this is a general checklist and there are many extra things to be considered for a beach theme or destination wedding, especially if it will be out of the country. May you have many wonderful experiences on planning your dream beach wedding.

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