9-12 Months
- Announce your engagement
- Draft guest list
- Call Arden Hills for a private tour and check availability
- Reserve your wedding date and sign a contract
- Reserve your honeymoon suite at The Villas at Arden Hills
- Visit the Arden Hills preferred vendor list on our website and start researching the best wedding vendors in the Sacramento area
- Invite attendants to be a part of your wedding party
- Choose color scheme
- Set-up your gift registry at Arden Hills
Register for a couple’s massage, a rejuvenating night stay at The Villas, hair and make-up services at Salon Cabochon, limousine ride to the airport and much more. - Shop for wedding gown
- Host your engagement party at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa
- Book accommodations for out-of-town guests.
Fearon DeWeese, Wedding Sales Manager, suggests, “Block a set of rooms at The Villas at Arden Hills, Larksburg Landing or Residence Inn, who offer a negotiated rate for wedding that are being held at Arden Hills.”
(More information can be located on our preferred vendor list.)
Wedding Wellness Tip: It’s time to start your health and fitness regime. Become a member at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa and we’ll create a customized program to help you shed those extra pounds and look great on your big day!
6-9 Months
- Begin designing invitations
- Sign vendor contracts and make deposits
If you choose vendors that are not on our preferred vendor list, please remember to ask for a copy of their liability insurance and present this to your event coordinator at your first appointment - Send out save-the-date cards
“Sending them out 9 months before your wedding if you are getting married on a holiday weekend or have a lot of out-of-town guests and 6-8 months if you are getting married on a summer weekend will allow guests plenty of planning time,” says Wedding Sales Manager Sandra Dominey. - Order wedding gown and choose additional accessories
- Choose bridesmaids attire
- Book honeymoon arrangements
- Mail thank you notes as you receive gifts
- Set up engagement photo session
- Arrange officiant for your ceremony
Wedding Wellness Tip: It’s time to start thinking about your hair and make-up. Look through magazines and on the internet for the latest bridal styles. Still need some help? Make an appointment with the creative team at Salon Cabochon to discuss what hair and make-up look will best compliment you!
3-6 Months
- Arrange wedding day transportation
(More information can be located on our preferred vendor list.) - Finalize guest list
- Order invitations
- Plan your honeymoon
- Secure passports, visas, shots and anything else needed for the honeymoon
- Schedule a pre-wedding day hair and make-up trial run at Salon Cabochon at Arden Hills
- Order your wedding rings
- Call Arden Hills to book your rehearsal dinner at Mangos Restaurant
(More information can be found on our website under “Rehearsal Dinner.”) - Consult with an esthetician from The Spa at Arden Hills for skin treatments, facials or laser hair removal
- Have your maid of honor plan your bridal shower or bachelorette party at Arden Hills
Spend a memorable evening in The Villas at Arden Hills followed by a morning spa party in The Spa. Or, invite your guests to dine on market fresh cuisine during a delightful meal at Mangos Restaurant …the choice is yours! - Your event coordinator at Arden Hills will be calling to set-up a detail appointment 3-4 months prior to your event to go over menu, cake, beverages, time-line of your wedding day, room layout, linens, and any other necessary details
- Attend an Arden Hills group food tasting
Tastings are arranged quarterly and you’ll be receiving a phone call from your event coordinator to personally invite you to attend - Choose groom and groomsmen attire
- Start shopping for bridal party gifts in The Spa Boutique at Arden Hills
Wedding Wellness Tip: It’s not too late to trim down and tone up for your wedding! Schedule a consultation with an Arden Hills nutritionist to take a closer look at your dietary habits. Next, come and workout with a personal trainer. They will provide you with just the right exercise routine to loose unwanted inches.
2 Months
- Address and mail wedding invitations
“We suggest putting the RSVP date 3 weeks to 1 month prior to your wedding day. This will allow you plenty of time to make last minute adjustments to the guest list or seating arrangements,” states expert event detailer Amanda Rinehart. - Schedule your manicure and pedicure at The Spa at Arden Hills Interested in treating your bridal party to manicures and pedicures too? Click here for more information about the variety of services we offer in The Spa.
- Buy your wedding shoes and practice walking in them
It’s also important to break in your shoes before your wedding to avoid blisters. - Create a list of photos you’d like taken for the photographer
- Update wedding registry at Arden Hills
- Choose and order wedding favors
- Pick out your music list for your reception
- Schedule your wedding day hair and make-up appointment at Salon Cabochon
Wedding Wellness Tip: Has all of this wedding planning left you and your groom feeling stressed? Schedule a couples’ massage in our award-winning day spa, The Spa at Arden Hills. Surrounded by elegant palms and the soothing sounds of waterfalls, you’ll retreat from all of your cares and concerns.
1 Month
- Make any final appointments with your vendors
- Start writing/selecting your vows
- Go for your final dress fitting
“I encourage all of my brides to take their accessories, including their shoes, with them to the final dress fitting. It’s important to make sure that all of your accessories compliment each other. You don’t have much time left to make changes!” says expert event detailer Alicia Grigsby. - Make an appointment for your marriage license
- Arrange final fitting for bridesmaids
- Pick up rings
If you did any engraving, make sure to check that it is correct. - Confirm honeymoon reservations
- Schedule your final appointment with your event coordinator
Final headcount and payment will be due 2 weeks prior to your event.
Wedding Wellness Tip: Schedule a facial in The Spa at Arden Hills to ensure fresh, clear skin on your wedding day. We highly suggest not scheduling any facials less then 2 weeks before your wedding day. 3-4 weeks before your wedding day is recommended.
2-3 Weeks
- Contact guests who haven’t responded to the invitation
- Arrange for a house/pet/child sitter for honeymoon
- Give your music list to your DJ
- Finalize seating plans and create place cards for reception
Place cards are only needed if you are doing assigned seating or a sit down meal. - Write your speech for the rehearsal dinner
- Pick up your marriage license
- Attend your final appointment with your event coordinator
Please bring all your vendor information, final headcount, meal selections, and final payment to this appointment.
Wedding Wellness Tip: It’s time to get your locks in to tip-top shape before the big day! Nobody likes a bride with split ends. Book your appointment for a Kerastase treatment at Salon Cabochon. Kerastase treatments fortify the internal structure of the hair from roots to ends while adding shine and silkiness to the surface of the hair. The treatments help to control fine, frizzy, flyaway hair as well as coarse, curly and rebellious hair.
1 Week
- Pack for your honeymoon
- Pick up your dress
- Confirm all details with vendors
- Give ceremony readers their scripts
- Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
Remind your rehearsal dinner attendants of times and have wedding party gifts ready to distribute. - Prepare tip/payment envelopes for vendors
Arrange for someone to hand these to the appropriate vendors the day of your wedding so that you don’t have to worry about it.
Wedding Wellness Tip: Time to take away any last minute tension and stress. Treat yourself to the Living Well I Health Enhancement Package at Arden Hills. Stretch and relax in your choice of yoga or Pilates and then revitalize with a therapeutic massage. You can complete your package with a steam or by relaxing in the Jacuzzi.
1 Day
- Check into The Villas at Arden Hills
We suggest staying the night before your wedding so the day of you can relax and have everything at one location. - Go to your manicure and pedicure appointment in The Spa at Arden Hills
- Ask a trusted friend or parent to bring your marriage license to the ceremony
- Go to the wedding rehearsal followed by the rehearsal dinner at Mangos Restaurant
Our rehearsals are held on Thursday evening and Friday during the day, depending on availability. - Bring all reception items to the event detailer
She will need: favors, toasting flutes, place cards, cake knife and cutter, sign in book and any other items that will be included in the reception. - Pack everything you will need for your ceremony and reception including emergency items (for dress)
Wedding Wellness Tip: Are your eyes feeling a bit swollen? Unfortunately the stress of planning your wedding and lack of sleep can cause your eyes to puff up. It’s important to drink at least six eight-ounce glasses of water every day. When your body is dehydrated it starts to store water as a natural defense, causing your eyes to swell. If you don’t usually drink very much water make sure to increase your water intake a least one week before your wedding to cut down on swelling.
Your Wedding Day
- Get your hair and make-up done at Salon Cabochon
- Put your dress and accessories on
We suggest allowing 3 hours to dress and take pictures so you don’t feel rushed. - Organize your honeymoon luggage
Make sure to bring your luggage with you if you are leaving straight from The Villas or reception. - Eat small meals throughout the day
- Be prepared with tissues
- Reapply lipstick and check teeth before you walk down the aisle
- Remember it’s your day and smile!
Wellness Wedding Tip: Give yourself 30 minutes before the ceremony to relax! This is a very special day, so take a moment to enjoy it.
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