Planning a wedding can feel like a monumental task, with countless details to coordinate and decisions to make. Whether you’re newly engaged or deep into the planning process, having a clear timeline can make all the difference. This comprehensive wedding planning checklist is designed to guide you every step of the way, from setting your budget to selecting your vendors, ensuring nothing is overlooked. With priorities broken down by months, you’ll be able to focus on what matters most at each stage of your journey, making the planning process smoother and more enjoyable!
12+ Months Before the Wedding (Priority 1)
- Budget & Financial: Determine who will be contributing to the wedding budget. Set a wedding budget and update it on your Budget Tracker as needed.
- Guest Management: Compile an invitee list using a Guest Tracker. Add names to gauge the number of guests. Finalize the list and add addresses as needed, utilizing an A list and B list if necessary.
9-12 Months Before the Wedding (Priority 2)
- Attire: Select the couple’s wedding attire, and choose attire, shoes, and accessories for flower children, ring bearers, and other VIPs.
- Bar & Beverage: Determine who will provide your bar service, the length of service, and draft a beverage menu.
- Catering: Discuss catering preferences, including cuisine, service style, and allergies.
- Ceremony: Research religious requirements for pre-marital counseling.
- Couple’s Checklist: Choose wedding party attendants, start your wedding gift registry, and make accommodations for out-of-town guests. Create a list of traditions or customs to incorporate.
- Entertainment: Book ceremony and reception entertainment, including an emcee.
- Florals: Meet with florists to discuss designs, request quotes, and book a florist.
- Guest Management: Collect guest list addresses.
- Honeymoon: Book your honeymoon travel and confirm your itinerary.
- Officiant: Book the officiant.
- Photography/Videography: Book your photographer and/or videographer.
- Rentals & Décor: Discuss venue layout and rental needs.
- Stationery: Review stationery timelines, create a wedding website, and order Save the Dates.
- Transportation: Determine the couple’s and guests’ transportation preferences.
- Venues: Book your ceremony and reception venue.
6-8 Months Before the Wedding (Priority 3)
- Attire: Select attire for attendants.
- Bakery: Book your wedding cake/desserts and schedule tastings.
- Beauty: Book hair and makeup artists.
- Catering: Finalize your menu and service details.
- Couple’s Checklist: Inform the Wedding Party of responsibilities, determine plans for auxiliary events like welcome dinners or farewell brunches, and send out thank you notes for engagement gifts.
- Guest Management: Add travel and destination information to your wedding website, and send out Save the Dates.
- Honeymoon: Obtain passports and visas, and reserve accommodations and transportation.
- Photography/Videography: Schedule an engagement photo session, if desired.
- Rehearsal Dinner: Establish a guest list and book the venue.
- Rentals & Décor: Reserve equipment rentals for the wedding date.
- Stationery: Decide on the wording and design for wedding invitations, and select designs for day-of stationery and signage.
- Transportation: Book guest transportation and include information on your wedding website.
4-5 Months Before the Wedding (Priority 4)
- Attire: Schedule fittings and alterations, and select accessories.
- Beauty: Have a trial session with your hairstylist and makeup artist.
- Catering: Design place settings and determine additional rental needs.
- Ceremony: Discuss general ceremony preferences and review marriage license requirements.
- Couple’s Checklist: Select favors and begin dance lessons.
- Guest Management: Add additional rooms to your hotel block if needed.
- Stationery: Send all final addresses to your stationer.
2-3 Months Before the Wedding (Priority 5)
- Attire: Purchase auxiliary wedding attire.
- Bakery: Purchase or rent cake toppers, stands, and serving items.
- Ceremony: Begin writing your marriage vows.
- Couple’s Checklist: Decide who will give speeches or toasts at the reception, consider traditional elements like Something Old, Something New, and arrange for child care.
- Guest Management: Track RSVPs and send out wedding invitations.
- Honeymoon: Book activities for the honeymoon.
- Officiant: Discuss ceremony preferences with your officiant.
- Rehearsal Dinner: Send out rehearsal dinner invitations.
- Rings: Pick up wedding bands and confirm insurance coverage.
- Stationery: Visit the post office to send out wedding invitations.
6-8 Weeks Before the Wedding (Priority 6)
- Ceremony: Complete your Order of Ceremony document.
- Couple’s Checklist: Submit the Final Stages and Detail Tracker.
- Venues: Have a final walk-through of the venue.
5-6 Weeks Before the Wedding
- Ceremony: Prepare the marriage license application and paperwork.
- Couple’s Checklist: Purchase gifts for the wedding party and VIPs, and submit the Change of Order (Wedding Day Surprises) file. Set details for the ceremony rehearsal.
- Entertainment: Finalize the ceremony and reception song lists.
- Florals: Finalize the floral order and decide on the disposition of centerpieces.
- Guest Management: Arrange for welcome baskets or gifts for out-of-town guests.
- Honeymoon: Reconfirm all honeymoon plans and make arrangements for home/pet care.
- Photography/Videography: Create a shot list for group and family photos.
- Rehearsal Dinner: Finalize the dinner and drink menu.
- Stationery: Finalize and print reception stationery.
3-4 Weeks Before the Wedding
- Couple’s Checklist: Complete the Wedding Weekend Itinerary.
- Attire: Purchase items like a ring bearer pillow or flower girl basket.
- Bakery: Adjust your cake order based on the final head count.
- Bar & Beverage: Designate someone to handle the beverages if providing your own.
- Beauty: Schedule beauty appointments.
- Budget & Financial: Submit final payments to vendors.
- Ceremony: Obtain a marriage license.
- Couple’s Checklist: Purchase a guest book, card box, and day-of décor items.
- Guest Management: Follow up with guests who have not responded to the RSVP deadline.
- Rentals & Décor: Update your layout and finalize the equipment order.
- Transportation: Confirm guest transportation details with providers.
2-3 Weeks Before the Wedding
- Couple’s Checklist: Cross-check and pack all décor items against your Decor Instructions.
- Stationery: Finalize the reception seating chart.
2 Weeks Before the Wedding
- Catering: Send final head count information to the caterer.
- Guest Management: Finalize the reception seating plan.
- Rehearsal Dinner: Confirm the guest count and finalize details with the venue.
Week of the Wedding
- Attire: Gather and steam/press all wedding day items.
- Budget & Financial: Prepare vendor balance payments and gratuities.
- Couple’s Checklist: Pack a wedding day emergency kit and overnight bag.
- Guest Management: Deliver welcome baskets to out-of-town guests.
- Honeymoon: Arrange for someone to pick up your wedding attire and other items.
- Rings: Clean your engagement ring.
- Stationery: Pick up and organize reception stationery.
After the Wedding
- Wedding Attire: Make plans for cleaning or preserving your wedding attire.
- Thank-You Notes: Continue sending thank-you notes for gifts received.
- Vendor Reviews: Review your vendors online and send thank-you notes.
- Name Change: Prepare and submit name change documents if applicable.
As you work through this wedding planning checklist, remember that the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. While planning a wedding involves a lot of moving parts, it’s also a time to celebrate your love and the new life you’re building together. Stay organized, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a day that’s not only beautiful but uniquely yours. Happy planning!
All Images Taken by Cristina Pruitt Photography
