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!
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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!
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!