Your Essential Wedding Planning Checklist

Your Wedding Planning Timeline

Planning your wedding requires a detailed and clear timeline that makes the process much more manageable. To help you stay on track, we've broken down the key tasks into a month-by-month checklist. From booking your venue to finalizing your guest list, this timeline will guide you every step of the way.

10 – 12 Months To Go …

• Start a wedding binder or folder. If writing things down isn’t your cup of tea, check out wedding planning apps you can download to keep all your details and ideas in one place!
• Consider your wedding date. Ask yourself, “What is more important—my dream venue or a specific date?” Choose your venue based on the answer.
• Work out your budget and establish your top priorities—where to save and where to splurge.
• Pick your wedding party—now your bridesmaids can help with the rest of the planning!
• Compile your preliminary guest list (you’ll need that number when you start reaching out to your vendors!)
• Find a venue for your ceremony and reception and RESERVE YOUR DATE!
• Say yes to your dress (or tuxedo!) and begin assembling the perfect accessories.
• Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Consider hiring a wedding planner.
• Start researching your list of wedding professionals. We’d start with:  
  • Caterer
  • Photographer / Videographer
  • Officiant

6 – 9 Months to Go …

• Continue researching, meeting with and booking your all-star wedding professional team.
  • Arrangements with your florist.
  • Tasting and choosing your wedding cake and desserts with your cake designer.
  • Arrange DJ/entertainment for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.
  • Rental company—consider any structural or electrical components you may need, furniture (tables, chairs, tents, linens), generators and more.
  • Arrange any necessary transportation (limo for moving the bridal party from the ceremony to the reception, shuttle for hotel guests, getaway vehicle, etc.).
• Pin down details for your bridesmaids’ and flower girl’s dresses.
• Arrange hotel room blocks for your out-of-town guests and book your own suite for the wedding night.
• Send out Save-the-Dates—it’s a good idea to send them 6 months before your wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding or have many out-of-town guests, consider sending them an invitation 8 months in advance to be courteous.
• Start planning your honeymoon—save some energy from your wedding planning to arrange a wonderful trip for you and your new spouse!

4 – 6 Months to Go …

• Create your Rehearsal Dinner guest list.
• Book your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner venue(s)—if you’re including entertainment or specialty details like a groom’s cake, now’s the time to lock in these elements.
• Order wedding favors for your guests.
• Shop for and reserve your groomsmen’s attire.
• Concentrate on finalizing:
  • Guest list. Get everyone’s mailing address.
  • Invitation wording. Confirm invitation text and colors. Consider additional stationery (ceremony programs, menu cards, place cards, thank-you cards, etc.).
  • Menu, beverage and catering details.
  • Day-of timeline (ceremony and reception).
• Shop for your rings.
• Continue with honeymoon plans—don’t forget important documents like flight information and passports!

3 Months to Go … 

• Finalize ceremony and reception music playlists.
• Finalize wedding rentals (tents, lighting, chairs, tables, linens)
• Order your wedding cake!
• Finalize your flower selection.
• Review details with your officiant.
  
  

2 Months to Go …

• Send out those invitations—it’s recommended to send out 8 weeks in advance, with an RSVP deadline of 3 weeks.
• Check in and confirm details with all wedding professionals, including any payments and deadlines.
• Meet with your photographer—it’s a good idea to meet at your venue, so you can discuss photo opportunities.
• Write your vows.
• Research marriage license requirements and name-change paperwork.
• Get your dress fitted.
• Give your wedding party a budget—make sure they’ve ordered all necessary attire.
• Do a hair + makeup trial and book your stylist—don’t forget a beauty and fitness regimen to be camera-ready for the big day!

6 – 8 Weeks to Go …

• Let your vendors know the final guest count and send the completed wedding-day timeline.
• Obtain a marriage license and complete name-change documents.
• If you’re the traditional type, do you have something old, new, borrowed & blue?
• Purchase a guest book, toasting flutes, a cake server, a unity candle and all that good stuff.
• Finalize and confirm any last details with wedding professionals.
• Buy gifts for your wedding party.
• Do a final walk-through at your venue. Include your planner and caterer!
  
  

3 – 5 Weeks to Go …

• Have your final dress fitting. Bring your shoes and accessories for the full impact!
• Organize details for rehearsal time and location with your wedding party.
• Hunt down those who haven’t RSVP’d yet and confirm if they’re coming.
• Mail out your Rehearsal Dinner invitations.
• Arrange the reception seating chart.
• Discuss setup and teardown details for your reception. Delegate tasks!

1 – 2 Weeks to Go …

• Finish making final payments to wedding professionals, including the officiant.
• Give your caterer/venue a final headcount.
• Confirm arrival times and finalize wedding timeline with wedding professionals and wedding party—make sure your MOH has a copy too.
• Put together a Bridal Emergency Kit, just in case! *fingers crossed*
• Get your hair cut and colored.
• Book a Spa Day—enjoy a mimosa, massage and facial to decompress!
• Start packing for your honeymoon.
• Make sure your wedding dress is steamed or pressed.
• Check in with the wedding party and make sure everyone is aware of the expectations for the big day (duties, required photos, wedding-day timeline).
• Make sure all vendors, including the venue and officiant, have a day-of contact.

The Day Before …

• Write final checks for wedding professionals—don’t forget to separate tip envelopes and label them. Let your planner or wedding party handle the distribution.
• Get a mani + pedi
• Make sure all wedding-day items are packed/laid out and ready to go.
• Assign someone to pack up gifts/belongings after reception—don’t forget the top tier of your cake!
• Give a marriage license to the officiant.
• Rehearse the ceremony.
• Attend your Rehearsal Dinner—you can present gifts to your bridal party at this time.
• Go to bed early and enjoy some much-needed beauty sleep!