Your Ultimate Wedding Planning Timeline
There are so many moving pieces when planning a wedding that it can be difficult to prioritize what needs to be done first. It’s easy to miss a step or execute tasks in the wrong order.
Knowing not just what tasks need to be completed, but also when to complete them, will help you stay sane while wedding planning. To give you a helping hand, here is an easy-to-follow wedding timeline.
Over One Year Ahead
After basking in a few weeks of newly-engaged bliss, start tackling the initial wedding planning tasks over a year in advance:
Announce your engagement
Choose a wedding date and time
Determine your budget and decide who will pay for what
Book a photographer and schedule engagement photos
Create a guest list
Research potential wedding venues
Settle on your wedding style, color palette, and inspiration
Find the perfect wedding venue!
Get Started Free10-12 Months Before
Now that you have done the initial legwork, it’s time to get the ball rolling and make some major decisions:
Invite bridesmaids and groomsmen to be in your bridal party
Register for gifts or a honeymoon fund
Purchase wedding dress and veil
Book ceremony and reception venues
Create a wedding website
Research and book your florist
Collect guest list addresses
Mail the save the dates
8-10 Months Before
Now that you’ve settled all of the foundational elements of your wedding, it’s time to drill down on some finer points:
Reserve a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
Choose everyone’s bridesmaid dresses and confirm they all have ordered everything
Create general wedding schedule outline
Hire your caterer
Hire your videographer
Determine your lighting and equipment rental needs and then make reservations
Book your honeymoon
Schedule an on-site design meeting to visualize everything
6-8 Months Before
You are halfway there! Congratulations if you’ve made it this far. It’s time to continue making some of the last major decisions for your big day:
Decide on wedding cake style and flavor
Book hair and makeup artists for the bride
Meet with your officiant and plan your ceremony
Choose everyone’s groomsmen attire and confirm all have ordered
Book transportation
Purchase wedding rings
Order photo booth, if desired
Order wedding invitations, programs, and stationery
Book ceremony and reception entertainment
Book rehearsal dinner venue and make menu selections
4-6 Months Before
Now that you’ve gotten all of the major decisions completed, you can begin working on some of the details that will help make your big day work logistically:
Order alcohol and book bartenders for the event
Finalize menu and service details
Purchase bridal party gifts
Determine reception audio needs and make reservations for appropriate equipment
Research marriage license
Confirm ceremony rehearsal time and location
Decide where you will be getting ready for the wedding
Order welcome baskets for guests coming from out-of-town
Find the perfect wedding venue for your budget!
Search Venues3 Months Before
You’re only three months away from the big day! It might just be starting to feel real. Three months out you should be in the weeds on the details, including planning your looks for the wedding weekend:
Create music playlist for ceremony and reception
Request speeches for those that you would like to make a toast
Consider your Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
Shop for a rehearsal dinner outfit
Schedule hair and makeup trial session
Begin taking dance lessons for your first dance, if desired
Purchase ring pillow or an alternative for taking your rings down the aisle
Select favors and determine where they will be placed at reception
2 Months Before
It’s time to mail out the invitations and start solidifying all of the more last-minute essentials:
Mail wedding invitations
Schedule haircut and color 2 week prior to wedding
Solidify the exit plan for bride and groom - sparklers, confetti, etc.
Finalize floral arrangements
Begin writing personal vows, if desired
Purchase a garter, if desired
Designate greeters to welcome guests
Determine your alternative option for inclimate weather, if needed
1 Month Before
It’s only one month until all of your hard work pays off. Feeling any heart palpitations yet?:
Track all RSVPs as they arrive
Confirm all of your payments to vendors
Finalize the shot list with photographer and videographer
Establish a seating plan
Pick up your wedding rings
Attend the final dress fitting
Follow up with guests who have not responded to RSVP
Obtain your marriage license
2 Weeks Before
The final few weeks are what help make all of the magic happen. Perform a few last checks to ensure that you’ve dotted all of your i’s and crossed all of your t’s:
Give your caterer a final head count for reception
Adjust the cake order for the appropriate headcount
Update your final layout based on final head count
Prepare the wedding toasts and thank you speeches
Steam your wedding dress
Pack your wedding night and honeymoon suitcases
Assemble wedding favors
Make sure musicians/DJ's have playlists
Provide any readers "scripts" for readings
Arrange for someone to transport gifts & cards after wedding
The Day Before
It’s finally the day before you say “I do.” While you should try to relax as much as possible before the big day, you still have a few more tasks to accomplish:
Deliver welcome baskets to hotels where your guests are staying or have them delivered
Confirm that the groomsmen picked up their formal wear
Get your manicure/pedicure
Attend the ceremony rehearsal and dinner
Give presents to bridesmaids and groomsmen
Get a great night’s sleep! You’re getting married tomorrow!
How Do I Stay Organized?
Staying aware of your wedding planning timeline is essential for keeping yourself (and your wedding) organized. Want a quick and easy way to track all of the wedding planning tasks you need done and in what order? Download our free wedding workbook!
