Wedding Planning Timeline

12+ Months Before

▢ Start a wedding folder or binder.

▢ Decide on your wedding date and time.

▢ Gather inspiration.

▢ Choose a color palette.

▢ Create a budget.

▢ Pick your wedding party.

▢ Create your guest list.

▢ Hire a wedding planner.

▢ Reserve your ceremony and reception venue(s).

▢ Research vendors. Photographer, videographer, band/DJ, florist, caterer, officiant, etc.

▢ Throw an engagement party. Register for gifts beforehand if needed.

12 to 9 Months Before

▢ Hire your vendors. Photographer, videographer, band/DJ, florist, caterer, officiant, etc.

▢ Launch a wedding website.

▢ Hire a rental company. Think about any structural or electrical components you may need, from furniture (tables, chairs, tent) to generators to portable toilets, and more.

▢ Take engagement photos.

▢ Obtain wedding insurance.

▢ Purchase your wedding dress.

▢ Register for gifts.

▢ Think about the menu you’d like to have for your reception.

▢ Decide on the type of entertainment you’d like.

▢ Envision your dream floral decor.

▢ Reserve a hotel block for out-of-town guests.

▢ Draft a wedding day timeline - together we will create a custom timeline your special day!

9 to 6 Months Before

▢ Hire your vendors. Ceremony musicians.

▢ Purchase your invitations.

▢ Start planning your honeymoon.

▢ Order your bridesmaids’ dresses.

▢ Order and send out your save-the-dates. It’s a good idea to send these out 6 months before your wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding or plan to have a lot of out-of-town guests, you can send them 8 months before to be courteous.

6 to 4 Months Before

▢ Attend pre-marriage counseling if needed.

▢ Create your rehearsal dinner guest list.

▢ Book your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner venue(s).

▢ Send the bridal shower guest list to the host of the shower.

▢ Check on the status of your invitations.

▢ Envision your dream wedding cake. Hire a cake designer.

▢ Book your hair and makeup artists. Do a trial run with a few stylists to find the right one for you.

▢ Hire wedding transportation. Think about the wedding party and out-of-town guests.

▢ Purchase wedding accessories. Buy your shoes, undergarments, hair pieces, jewelry, etc.

▢ Have a dress fitting.

▢ Purchase your wedding rings.

▢ Shop for men’s formalwear.

▢ Choose your processional music and decide on your reception playlist.

▢ Renew or get passports if necessary. If you’re planning a destination wedding or honeymooning in another country, don’t overlook this important step!

3 Months Before

▢ Finalize your wedding menu and flower selection.

▢ Order your wedding cake if you haven’t already.

▢ Book childcare for guests’ kids.

▢ Finalize your guest list.

▢ Order additional stationery. Menu cards, programs, escort cards, etc.

▢ Hire a calligrapher.

▢ Attend your wedding or bridal shower(s).

▢ Order favors. Decide whether or not you’d like to give your guests favors.

▢ Meet with the officiant. Finalize readings and decide on anything else that will be presented during the ceremony.

▢ Make a list of who will be giving toasts.

▢ Groom: rent your formalwear.

▢ Finalize your wedding day timeline.

▢ Send the final wedding day timeline to your vendors.

2 Months Before

▢ Check in and confirm details with all of your vendors.

▢ Review your playlist with the bandleader or DJ. Provide a ‘don’t play’ and ‘must play’ list, if any.

▢ Do a hair and makeup trial run. Decide on the style and look you’d like for your big day.

▢ Write your vows.

▢ Take dance lessons. If you’re not comfortable on the dance floor or want to do an elaborate dance with your spouse, it’s a good idea to take dance lessons to be prepared.

▢ Write and send thank you notes for shower gifts and early wedding gifts received.

▢ Purchase gifts for your parents, wedding party, and each other.

▢ Send out your invitations. It’s recommended to send these 8 weeks before your wedding, and have the RSVP cutoff at 3 weeks after the postmark date.

▢ Submit your wedding announcement to the newspaper.

1 Month Before

▢ Check in and confirm details with all of your vendors.

▢ Obtain a marriage license.

▢ Complete photographer questionnaire.

▢ Deliver your ‘must-have’ shot list to the photographer and videographer.

▢ Mail out your rehearsal dinner invitations.

▢ Confirm the bridesmaids are ready and have their dresses.

▢ Email and print directions for transportation drivers.

▢ Plan your reception seating chart.

▢ Purchase/collect your something old, something new, borrowed, and blue.

▢ Purchase your guest book, toasting flutes, cake servers, unity candle, etc.

▢ Plan the welcome baskets.

▢ Purchase alcohol, if needed, and finalize your signature cocktails.

2 Weeks Before

▢ Check RSVPs. Follow up with any guests you haven’t heard from.

▢ Deliver the finalized playlist to the bandleader or DJ.

▢ Bride: Get your hair cut and colored.

▢ Put together a bridal bag.

▢ Enjoy your bachelor and bachelorette parties.

1 Week Before

▢ Check in and confirm details with all of your vendors.

▢ Confirm roles and duties with the wedding party. Give them the wedding day timeline so they know what’s expected.

▢ Delegate any small wedding-day tasks you can to friends and family.

▢ Break in your shoes!

▢ Book a spa appointment. Enjoy a massage and facial to decompress.

▢ Send the final guest list/head count to the caterer and/or venue.

▢ Assemble and distribute your welcome baskets.

▢ Pack for your honeymoon.

▢ Connect with the venue manager. Provide them with any special requests for vendors, i.e. setup spaces needed, cake table, DJ table, etc.

▢ Give the ceremony and reception venue manager(s) a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times. It’s also a good idea to include a contact name and phone number for each vendor.

▢ Video chat with photography to finalize details

▢ Groom: Get your hair cut.

2 to 3 Days Before

▢ Check in and confirm details with all of your vendors.

▢ Get the wedding dress pressed or steamed, if needed.

▢ Groom: Have your final fitting and pick up your formalwear.

▢ Have the Best Man check in with all groomsmen. Confirm they have attended their final fittings and have their formalwear.

▢ Determine the wedding party positions for the ceremony and order for the processional and recessional.

▢ Give the place cards, table cards, menus, favors, etc. to the caterer or reception venue manager.

▢ Call the transportation companies to confirm pickup times and locations.

▢ Deliver the welcome baskets to the hotel concierge with names and delivery instructions.

The Day Before

▢ Give all vendors an emergency number to call on the day of the wedding. Designate someone you trust to handle all questions and concerns.

▢ Write final checks for vendors. Give them to the Best Man along with tip envelopes to be handed out at/after the wedding.

▢ Assign someone to pack up the gifts/belongings after the reception.

▢ Assign someone to take the Bride’s gown to cleaning and to return the Groom’s rentals.

▢ Rehearse the ceremony.

▢ Drop off ceremony accessories at the venue.

▢ Give the marriage license to the officiant.

▢ Get a manicure and pedicure.

▢ Attend your rehearsal dinner.

▢ Present the wedding party with gifts at the rehearsal dinner.

▢ Go to bed early!

The Day Of

▢ Present parents and each other with gifts.

▢ Give the wedding bands to the Best Man and Maid of Honor.

▢ Give the Best Man the officiant’s fee envelope to be presented after the ceremony.

▢ Introduce the reception venue manager to your designated contact person for questions or concerns.

▢ Assign someone you trust to be the photographer’s contact. This person can help the photographer gather necessary people for photos and point out who is who.