As the groom, your wedding is your special day too. To make it as successful and memorable as possible, you have several important tasks. The following checklist should ensure that you, as the groom-to-be, are well prepared and able to enjoy your wedding day to the full: Twelve to Ten Months Prior to the Wedding [...]

As the groom, your wedding is your special day too. To make it as successful and memorable as possible, you have several important tasks. The following checklist should ensure that you, as the groom-to-be, are well prepared and able to enjoy your wedding day to the full:

Twelve to Ten Months Prior to the Wedding
 Speak honestly and openly to her father or parents about marrying their daughter
 Buy her engagement ring
 Propose to her
 Announce your engagement to your nearest and dearest
 Decide on what kind of wedding ceremony you want
 Discuss with both sets of parents who will be able to make a financial contribution and of how much so that there are no surprises
 Go with your fiancé to various ceremony and reception venues to decide together on these important aspects
 Approach the friends and family members that you would like to have as your best man and groomsmen

Nine Months Prior to the Wedding
 Start to attend pre-marriage classes together, if appropriate
 Visit the official that will be presiding over the wedding and talk about any issues or concerns with him or her
 Sit together with your fiancé and compile your guest list, based on the thoughts and feelings of both of you
 Visit a travel agent with your fiancé and start narrowing down your list of potential honeymoon destinations (if you want it to be a surprise, do not tell her which you have settled upon)
 Accompany your fiancé to choose wedding gifts for your gift registry

Six Months Prior to the Wedding
 Start making all of the honeymoon bookings (transport, accommodation, etc…)
 Organise your passports, if you are leaving the country on honeymoon

Three Months Prior to the Wedding
 Decide on the family and friends that you would definitely like to invite and present this list to your fiancé
 Starting enquiring regarding the legal requirements of a wedding licence, if necessary in your country
 Start organising the transport for the wedding day. Tell your groomsmen or best man about these arrangements so that they can take over the responsibility
 Choose your wedding attire as well as the clothing for your entourage, father, and your fiancé’s father. Everyone should arrange their own fitting
 Make sure that you have your birth certificate, if this is required for a marriage licence in your area

Two Months Prior to the Wedding
 Get gifts for your groomsmen, best man and bride
 Collect the wedding rings from the jeweller
 Book accommodation for out-of-town guests
 Assist your partner with the final plans for the rehearsal dinner
 Organise your VISAS, if necessary for your honeymoon (remember that your bride-to-be will likely be changing her surname after the wedding and allow for this on legal documentation)

Two to Three Weeks Prior to the Wedding
 Go together to get your marriage licence
 Finalise the transport to and from the ceremony and reception venues
 Confirm all of the honeymoon plans (including accommodation, activities and transport)
 Have a meeting with your attendants and make sure that they are all aware of times and places (including those for the rehearsal dinner)
 Help your partner to compile seating plans for the reception

One Week Prior to the Wedding
 Reconfirm all of the necessary times, dates and places with your groomsmen, ring bearer, best man and father
 Finalise any outstanding payments that will be due on or before the big day by putting that money aside or writing out the cheques
 Start packing your honeymoon bags
 Buy traveller’s cheques or exchange your local money for the correct currency if you will be leaving the country
 Explain the reception seating to your groomsmen so that they can help your wedding guests to find their tables

The Day Before the Wedding
 Finish packing for the honeymoon
 Get an early night!

Photo Credit: Wedding Inspirations