Your Full Bridal Checklist

I have been hooked on the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty ever since I was a little kid. Heck, what little girl hasn't? And so, ever since the age of five when I got my first crush on the boy next door I have been dreaming about what my wedding would be like. But as I've grown older I've realized all the planning, the stress, and the headaches that goes along with a woman's big day. So here, I have come up with from the help of printed media, a checklist 18 months out from the big day.

Two years before the big day: I know I know some of you are impatient folks and only plan a year's engagement or even less. For those of you, I would of course to suggest to cram. Big time.

Decide on a budget and who is going to pay for what. Parents and in laws are notorious for bickering about who is going to pay for their children's wedding. They want only the best for their child's hopefully only wedding, and so they want to make it a grand, lavish affair.

Think about the big picture You as a bride or the groom have to start looking through bridal magazines, scouting venue's thinking about what your cake will look like and what your bridesmaids would like to wear without them looking like total hyenas.

Hire a wedding consultant if necessary. And yes it is necessary. Yes it is expensive, it could run you upwards of up to 10 grand maybe more. But it is totally worth it, if of course you have the money. Wedding consultants are a stress reliever and they will save you from being one of those bridezillas from hell. Think of J. Lo in The Wedding Planner. The wedding was lavish and lovely, the one at the opening of the movie. Just make sure she's married herself or otherwise you will have a whole new kind of stress to deal with that could be a whole lot worse. I'm kidding of course.

Reserve ceremony and reception sites Two years in advance! Yes. Weddings as you know are hugely popular and nobody wants their ceremony to be held in a trailer park. Right? Watch Redneck weddings on CMT. The bride wants only the best and the most expensive or maybe she just wants a gorgeous view to be the only prerequisite of a fantastic wedding spot. Whatever. Everybody wants almost the same thing for their wedding so reservations are going to go fast. Even if you have a five year engagement book it! And even if you change your mind at the last minute and just want a small, quiet ceremony in your parent's backyard, you will still have your options open.

Mail save the date cards People now a days have to plan everything in advance, because if we don't we become unorganized fools and forget or show up late to appointment and special events. A nice postcard with the date of your wedding printed on the back is ideal, so your intended party can just stick it on their refrigerator so that way when January of the intended year rolls around and they have bought the year's calendar they can jot the date down so they don't forget.

10 months before

Start looking for a caterer, baker, etc.. Good ones are very hard to come by. Trust me on this one. I have worked with several over the past years and I have come to find out the bride is truly grateful not to have to worry about if the tables will be in perfect order or if the wine goblets will be turned out with smudges on them. Ask family and friends who are already married who they used. Word of mouth is usually how only the best caterers and other wedding vendors get business.

Having a church wedding? Visit the prospective church(s) and meet with the pastor. Almost always from the time you shake hands will you as a bride know if the pastor along with the church will be the best one for your big day.

Choose who you want to stand beside you This is very important. Probably more important than the dress. Ok, may not, but choosing your wedding party is a helacious task even the best women fall victim too because no matter who you choose you will almost always have at least one person mad at you that you did not pick them. Remember, you cannot please everybody.

8 months before

Book everyone! The caterers, the florist, the DJ, and especially make sure you have the photographer! Make sure they are within your budget and if they are not, contemplate if any one of your friends who is in this business or knows somebody that is that can give you a discount just by acquaintance.

Choose and order the dress A big thing. And a little scary because you can never tell if you're going to gain or lose weight in 8 months or not. So try and stay on a regular diet and exercise program starting right now.

Begin guest list Don't overdo it. And don't under do it either. If you like lavish and grand by all means invite whoever and their friends. Think carefully and invite only those who mean the most to you.

6 months before

Meet with vendors to plan Weddings take a lot out of you. Maybe you would want to start this process earlier just to organize and make sure everything will be on point.

Order invitations Make sure you have enough and the spelling is correct. Both on the names, the location, and the church.

Hire limos for the wedding party If you're in a big city like Los Angeles, maybe this is a very good idea.

Shop for bridesmaid dresses And if they are available, have the chosen women go with you just to make sure they like the style of dress you pick out for them. Or if they're in another state, just have them email the style that they like in the chosen color. That way, you will have happy people standing beside you looking radiant.

Regstar for gifts Pick your favorite store; just make sure it is affordable for everyone on your guest list. Or better yet, pick charity causes for the guests to donate to, that way the guests who are living paycheck to paycheck will feel like they contributed in some way not only to your wedding, but to the world as a whole.

Order your wedding bands! Do I really need to elaborate on this one?

4 months before

Finalize guest list Invitations are to be sent out.

Schedule rehearsal and said dinner. Choose a new restaurant you want to try or maybe you just want your tried and true stand by. Whatever. Just make sure they have enough seating for your wedding party.

Have groom decide what he and groomsmen will wear For men this is not a big deal. Tuxedoes only come in only the basic colors. They can probably even do this at the last minute. Well not the very last minute, but you get what I mean.

Order the bridesmaid dresses You want to make sure they fit correctly and whatnot. And God forbid what if one of them gains weight! It's easy enough if they've lost it.

2 months and less

Here, I will just run a list of the last minute items.

Mail Invites

Go over details of every aspect of your wedding

Do a trial hair and makeup with intended stylist. After all the makeup has to match the dress and style of the hair.

Buy gifts for members of the wedding party

Order Favors

Send wedding announcement to newspapers (if in NY you probably want to do this maybe a yr in advance) and make it a good picture.

Write vows. Write from the heart. Those are the best of all. Do Not copy Anything!!

Call anyone who has not rsvp'd

Pack for honeymoon

Submit guest list to caterer.

Pick up dress(s)

Have a girl's day at the spa. Get full body wax. And anything else you may need have done.

Is there anything I've left out? I hope not. And I hope your big day will run as smoothly as I hope mine will someday.