12 MONTHS
Make sure the engagement ring fits
The engagement ring should fit perfectly. All Steven Singer rings have a one-time free sizing. So come into the Other Corner of 8th and Walnut in Philly, call or text 215-627-3242 to get fitted and sized by a real expert jeweler.
Pick your wedding party
It's time to pick your wedding party and ask them in a special way. We can help you with that too! Beautiful bridesmaid jewelry to let them know you can't tie the knot without them.
Set a budget
Weddings are expensive and it's important to start laying out a budget. Do research on vendors to get an idea of how much things are going to cost. Don't forget to budget for weddings bands. On average, wedding bands make up about 6% of the wedding budget.
Find a venue
Wedding venues book up quick so this should be the first big thing to check off the list. This is just the most important day of your lives so this decision should be made together.
Make your guest list
Create a list of who is going to be invited to the wedding. Get the parents lists as well so there are no surprises later. It's best to keep this list organized in some sort of excel or Google Doc to make it easy to manage and share.
Engagement photos
Getting engagement photos done is a great way to show off that gorgeous ring and of course the love for one another. They can be used on your wedding website and on your save the dates. It's helpful to give the photographer photo inspirations of the desired look and feel you want to achieve.
9 MONTHS
Order save the dates
Order and send out your save the dates so that your guests can hold that day to celebrate you. Use an engagement photo or be creative when it comes to these. No pressure though... they will only be displayed on everyone's fridge for the next 9 months.
Create a wedding registry
Creating a wedding registry is definitely fun! This is the time to pick out everything you want to start your lives together. And people actually buy it for you. It's like Christmas but better! You get all the fun of opening gifts, but from a list of things you actually asked for.
Book your vendors
It's time to lock in your wedding vendors. Florist, music, photographer, videographer and all the other vendors that will make your day absolutely perfect.
Plan your honeymoon
Most people say the honeymoon is the best part of the wedding, so don't wait on booking this. It is just one more thing to look forward to: a romantic escape for the two of you to celebrate getting married.
Wedding attire
What do you dream of wearing for the big day? Start scheduling wedding dress and suit appointments and let your bridal party know what you want them to wear. Some designers take 6-8 months to get in, and don't forget to leave a little time for alterations.
Choose an officiant
It’s time to decide who is going to have the honor of pronouncing you married and to agree on the type of wedding ceremony. This is also a good time to ask anyone else you would like to have involved in the ceremony, like someone singing a song or reciting a prayer.
6 MONTHS
Book hair and makeup
Now’s the time to lock down hair and make up for the bride, the mothers of the happy couple, and anyone else in the bridal party. Hot Tip: Make sure you have pictures to show your hair and makeup artists so that they know exactly what look you want to achieve for your wedding day.
Food tasting
Time to schedule your food tastings! Don't wait until the last minute and go with a budget in mind. Sometimes when you’ve already signed a contract, the food tasting is included. but if you're still shopping for food vendors, be prepared to pay for the tastings.
Order your wedding cake
Some venues will provide the wedding cake, but if not you’ll need to order your cake and other desserts 3-6 months prior. This is another good time to share pictures, wedding colors, theme and estimated guest count!
Set up transportation
How is everyone getting to the ceremony, reception, and back? Start mapping out the day of and what type of transportation is needed for your wedding party and guests. Just a reminder to leave room in the budget for tipping. Most transportation companies do not include tips in the price.
Order your wedding bands
The MOST important appointment - your wedding bands! Steven Singer Jewelers has one of the largest selections of men's and women's wedding bands and specializes in custom rings. If we don’t have the band to match your engagement ring, we can make it for you!
Hotel blocks
Block out some rooms at hotels near your venue for your guests. People will appreciate the recommendations on where to stay and it’ll help keep everyone together. Plus, most hotels will give a discounted group rate for weddings!
4 MONTHS
Order invitations
You should send out your invitations about 6-8 weeks before your wedding day. For destination weddings, it is suggested to send your invitations out 3 months ahead of time.
Reserve any rental items
This is the time to reserve any rental items such as photo booths, decorative furniture, tents, and everything else in between.
Book your rehearsal dinner
Lock in where you're going to have your rehearsal dinner and get your rehearsal dinner invites ready to send with your invitations.
6 WEEKS
Marriage license
This is a little tricky because you have to find the sweet spot to get your license. Check your states laws early so that you know what to expect. You definitely don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your marriage license. A marriage license typically expires between 30 and 90 days after it's issued so make sure you get it within 30 days before your wedding.
Wedding programs
If you are doing wedding programs, get them printed. This is just one more thing you can check off your list.
Seating chart
Arrange and confirm where everyone is going to be sitting and nail down the seating chart.
Final fittings
Make sure to schedule your final dress and/or tux fitting. You want to look your very best and your attire should fit you perfectly. Don't forget to bring your accessories to see how everything looks together.
Bachelor / bachelorette parties!
Rally up your closest friends to have your last hurrah before saying "I do". Whether it's a destination or local night out, this is your time to put on your party pants and have a blast.
Old, new, borrowed, and blue
We all know the saying about wearing something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue on your wedding day. Hot Tip: Diamond and sapphire jewelry makes a perfect wedding day gift that can help you check something new and blue off your list!
1 WEEK
Finalize music list
It’s time to submit your music list to your DJ or Band. Create a list of must play songs, and a list of songs they shouldn’t play. You should also give them timeline for the day and all the important songs, like the once for your first dance!
Schedule your mani-pedi
Don’t forget to book mani-pedis for you and anyone else you want to join! Your nails need to look perfect because your guests (and photographer!) are going to want to check out your new bling.
Prepare your vendor payments
Line up all your vendor payments and tips for the day of. Hot Tip: Make it someone you trust’s job to handle paying your vendors. That way you don’t have to worry about this or get pulled away during your wedding.
Free ring cleaning
Come on in or contact us for your free ring cleaning. We will make your Steven Singer Jewelers engagement ring look brand new, just like your gorgeous wedding band. Picture perfect! This process typically takes about an hour.
Finalize all vendor details
Talk to all your vendors and confirm the times and details for your big day. Hot Tip: Create a vendor contact list, day of timeline, and emergency contact list to give to your wedding coordinator, just in case they need anything the day of.
Pack your bags for your honeymoon!
If you're leaving the day after your wedding, make sure to pack your bags for your honeymoon ahead of time. Then you can sit back and relax because you did it! You're ready to get married! Use your honeymoon as an escape to celebrate, just the two of you.
On average couples spend $1,900 on wedding bands. Considering the national average of a wedding is $30,000, that’s about 6% of the total wedding budget spent on wedding bands. However, that is just an average. When it comes to how much you should spend on wedding rings, it’s ultimately you and your significant other’s decision.
When it comes to planning a wedding, there’s no right or wrong way of doing things. For our diamond buyer Fitz and his wife Lindsay, they decided to spend less on their wedding and focus more on their family. Being married for two years, they are proud to say they cheaped out on their wedding. Spending less than $1000 for the entire day, they still were able to have the wedding of their dreams.
Andrea has been with Steven Singer Jewelers for 7 years. She is a part of the marketing team and is the social media manager. She never thought she would have this much fun working and absolutely loves her job!
