The big question has been asked, the champagne has been popped, and the happy tears have been wiped away! Now it’s time to start planning!!

Organizing a wedding can quickly become overwhelming – who knew there were so many details involved?! The good news is planning the big day doesn’t actually have to  be so stressful if you divide the tasks on a month-by-month basis with a wedding-planning checklist and timeline!

To help get you started on devising the wedding of your dreams, I’ve created the ultimate checklist to help guide you through the planning process that way you’re able to enjoy each step, stress less, have fun, and – more importantly – revel in this special time together!

Please note: pick and choose from this list as you’d like! Your wedding, your way! This is just to give you an idea of things you may want to include!

12 Months

Choose a date

Talk budget

Decide wedding style

Make a guest list

Explore ceremony & reception venue options

Start assembling a dream team of wedding pros

Choose wedding party

Create wedding website

Begin researching wedding dress and veil styles

Create wedding style mood boards on Pinterest – share them with your vendors!

11-10  Months

Hire Photographer and/or Videographer

Hire Coordinator

Reserve ceremony & reception venues

Start wedding dress, veil, accessories, undergarments shopping

Browse Save the Date designs and choose

Book officiant

9-8 Months

Find hotels at different price points for out-of-town guests

Send Save the Dates (for weddings with many out of town guests, otherwise this can wait until 6-7 months out)

Select wedding party attire

Browse wedding invitation designs

Refine guest list

Create gift registry

Begin planning honeymoon

Choose cake style & schedule tasting

7-6 Months

Reserve rentals                                                                        

Book transportation to and from venues

Research wedding day hair and makeup styles

Meet with officiant to discuss run down of ceremony

Personalize & order wedding invitation sample

Purchase wedding bands

Order wedding invitation suite

Order thank you cards

Hire ceremony/reception musicians and enter

5-4  Months

Order wedding cake

Meet with florist

Schedule dress fittings

Book honeymoon flights & hotels

Book room for wedding night

Prepare a playlist for DJ/band

Finalize guest list

Compile rehearsal dinner guest list

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Order rehearsal dinner invitations

3 Months

Hair and makeup trial

Book a photo booth rental

Finalize readers and readings

Finalize honeymoon plans and ensure all documents are in order

Plan reception seating

Purchase toasting flutes, serving pieces, guestbook, flower basket and ring bearer pillow

Finalize reception menu with caterer

Order menu cards

2 Months

Mail Wedding invitations

Begin writing vows

Finalize fittings for wedding party and parents

Review ceremony details with officiant

Finalize seating arrangements

Buy wedding party gifts

Purchase guest favors

Create wedding day timelines and send to vendors and wedding party

Decide on “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”

Book spa and beauty treatments

Lay out content for wedding programs

1 Month

Final wedding attire fitting

Apply for marriage license

Call vendors to confirm date, time & location

Confirm honeymoon reservations

Pick up wedding rings

Order wedding programs

Write thank you notes as gifts come in

2 Weeks

Begin breaking in wedding shoes

Pick up marriage license

Make arrangements for the caring of pets & plants while on honeymoon

Follow up with guests who have not RSVP’d

Give final guest count to caterer

Send playlists to DJ/band/ceremony musicians

Get haircut & freshen up color

Update registries

Send directions to wedding day transportation driver

Delegate someone to return tuxes, rentals & tend to wedding dress

1 Week

Prepare wedding day emergency kit

Give photographer & videographer your image & video requests

Give readers their scripts

Prepare final payments to vendors & cash tips for service personnel

Lay out wedding clothes & gather all accessories

Day Before

Treat yourself to a mani/pedi & massage

Attend wedding rehearsal

Have fun at rehearsal dinner

Thank everyone around you

Get to bed at a decent hour

Hydrate!

Wedding Day

Eat a good breakfast

Stay off feet as much as possible

Allow plenty of time to get ready

Drink more water

Take attire out of bags to hang and have steamed

Lay out all items you want to be photographed (rings, invitations, etc.)

Exchange notes with partner

Relax and soak up every moment!

Beyond The Wedding

Ensure all rentals have been returned

Get wedding attire to cleaners

Send out thank you cards no later than 3 weeks after wedding day

This may seem like an overwhelming list of things to check off before your wedding – not every one of these items will apply to your day! Do things the way YOU want to! Ask for help when you need it or feel overwhelmed. Hire a team of vendors you trust is a huge help too! We want to see your vision come to life and want to see you and your boo happy with everything! And don’t forget to take certain days off from wedding planning and enjoy this time with your partner! It truly is such a momentous and joyful time!

Happy planning!