Your Wedding Planning Timeline

The question is popped, the ring is on, stars are in your eyes… but now what? With so many tasks to take care of and details to arrange, planning a wedding can seem overwhelming. But, if you give yourself enough time to plan and sort the tasks month by month with a wedding-planning checklist and wedding timeline, the job becomes more fun and less stressful.

By breaking down the year month by month, you are taking on the planning process in bite-size pieces and it will be far less overwhelming. By doing this you can enjoy each step much better.

The Ultimate Wedding Checklist

The ideal engagement length, in terms of planning, is 12 to 14 months, according to most of the brides I have delt with. With a year or more to plan, brides will usually be able to book their venue of choice. That’s not to say you can’t get your dream venue with less time; it just gets a little trickier, and of course, the more popular venues book up quickly and 18-24 months in advance.

In another blog post I lay out 10 things you need to know before you get started.

  • Engaged!

    At time of engagement

    • Tell your parents the happy news, if they do not already know.
    • Buy or make a wedding organizer. Think about whether you will want to have it as a keepsake later on; if so, this may influence your decision about what kind of organizer to have. At a bare minimum, you should have an organized way to keep track of appointments/payments/etc., and a system for keeping track of invitations, gifts, and thank-you notes.
    • Write to your close friends and relatives to let them know, unless you plan to have an engagement party.

  • Wedding -12m

    9-12 months before

    • Have an engagement photos taken.
    • Decide on style of wedding.
    • Decide on date of wedding.
    • Decide and reserve location for ceremony.
    • Reserve officiant.
    • Set a tentative budget.
    • Decide how expenses will be shared.
    • Decide on guest list.
    • Announce engagement.
    • Select and invite your attendants.
    • Book a wedding coordinator.
    • Select engagement ring with fiancé if he has not done so.
    • Shop for wedding rings.
    • Reserve reception location as soon as you have set the date.
    • Select and book caterer.
    • Select and book photographer.
    • Start compiling names and addresses for guest list.
    • Decide on your color scheme.
    • Start shopping for your wedding dress and headpiece.
    • Discuss where you will live after the wedding.

    Wedding -12m

  • Wedding -9m

    6 to 9 months before

    • Select and register your gift preferences in the towns of both families.
    • Select florist.
    • Select balloonist.
    • Select and book videographer.
    • Select and reserve rental equipment for ceremony and reception.
    • Select and book reception entertainment.
    • Order bridal gown. Order bridesmaids’ dresses.
    • Select bakery for wedding cake.
    • Select a travel agent and start planning your honeymoon.

  • Wedding -6m

    3 to 6 months before

    • Complete your guest list and compile in alphabetical order.
    • Select and order invitations and announcements.
    • Start health and fitness program.
    • Check on wedding dress.
    • Select and reserve formalwear for men.
    • Select and order mother’s attire.
    • Experiment with hair style.
    • Discuss service with officiant.
    • Order favors.
    • Discuss rehearsal dinner with your fiancé.
    • Shop for lingerie and honeymoon clothes.
    • Check state requirement for blood tests.
    • Order wedding rings.

    Wedding -6m

  • Wedding -2m

    2 months before

    • Address invitations and add correct postage. Check one with Post Office.
    • Send invitations six weeks before the wedding.
    • Confirm all contracts and services with the professionals hired.
    • Plan and book rehearsal dinner.
    • Finalize honeymoon plans.
    • Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests.
    • Purchase attendants’ gifts.
    • Choose person to attend your guest book. Plan its placement.
    • Make reservations for the wedding night hotel.
    • Make appointment with your hair stylist on the wedding day.
    • Write thank-you notes as you receive gifts.
    • Send your announcement to newspapers.

  • Wedding -1m

    1 month before

    • Get blood test and marriage license.
    • Have wedding dress final fitting.
    • Have bridal portrait done.
    • Complete shopping for your trousseau.
    • Purchase your accessories such as garter, candles, toasting goblets, ring pillow, etc.
    • Have wedding and engagement rings taken to jeweler for engraving and cleaning.
    • Maintain records on gifts received, and send thank you notes out immediately.
    • Meet with photographer and give him/her a list of shots you would like taken.
    • Meet with the entertainers and give them a list of music you would like played.
    • Assign responsibilities for: Rental returns, clean up, guest transportation, pick up of any last minute items.

    Wedding -1m

  • Wedding -2w

    2 weeks before

    • Pick up wedding rings and make sure they fit properly.
    • Continue writing thank-you notes for gifts.
    • Final confirmation of all services.
    • Address your announcements to mail on the wedding day.
    • Attend to business and legal details.
    • Get necessary forms for name change.
    • Give a change of address card to the post office.

  • Wedding -1w

    1 week before

    • Contact any guests who have not responded.
    • Provide caterer with total guest count.
    • Provide wedding party and guests a map and timetable for rehearsal, ceremony and reception.
    • Plan seating arrangements.
    • Pick up marriage license.
    • Determine what to do with floral arrangements after reception.
    • Pack for honeymoon.
    • Purchase traveler’s checks.
    • Give the bridesmaids’ party.
    • Remind attendants of rehearsal and dinner details.

    Wedding -1w

  • IT’S HERE!

    Wedding Day

    • Eat! Otherwise you may faint!
    • Allow time for hair appointment/nails.
    • Take a long relaxing bath.
    • If pictures are to be taken before ceremony, be dressed and at site one hour prior to hour of wedding.
    • Be sure florist knows to have flowers at site 1+ Hours prior to ceremony hour.
    • 45 minutes before ceremony ushers are in place.
    • 30 minutes before ceremony music begins.
    • 5 minutes before ceremony groom’s parents are seated.
    • Mother of bride seated just prior to processional
    • Aisle runner is rolled out.
    • Clergy, groom and best man take their place.
    • Processional begins.
    • Ceremony.
    • Recessional.
    • Pictures and signing of wedding certificate. Best man and Maid of Honor sign as witnesses.
    • Reception.
    • Say good-bye’s and thank you’s to parents.

  • alone and off to honeymoon destination.

    FINALLY

    alone and off to honeymoon destination.

  • After

    After The Wedding

    • Send thank-you notes as soon as possible after the wedding.
    • Have bridal gown cleaned and preserved.
    • Change your name on ID and important documents.
    • Change of address cards.