The Only Wedding Planning Checklist You Need

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Let’s start Wedding Planning!

Nothing makes us happier than to wish you the best on your upcoming wedding. To help you, we’ve assembled a complete wedding planning checklist for you to use as you prepare for your big day!

Wedding Planning Checklist

14-24 Months Before The Wedding

  • It’s time to start assembling design inspiration. Spend time on social media like Instagram and Pinterest, browse through bridal magazines, and collect ideas.
  • Begin to work on a guest list for the ceremony and reception. We recommend using a spreadsheet to keep things organized.
  • Identify your budget. Come up with a realistic financial plan for the wedding, keeping in mind any family contributions.
  • Wedding planning tip: the sooner your book your wedding location, photographic location, and reception venue, the better you will be. Start working on this right away.
  • The professionals that will make your wedding special book up to a year in advance. Now is the time to hire a photographer, DJ, wedding limo, or wedding party bus service.

9-12 Months Before

  • Hire any additional wedding professionals that you will need for your special day. Consider hair and makeup professionals to style the bridal party.
  • Work with your venue to plan your celebration meal, drink selections, etc. 
  • Schedule a time with your wedding gown designer so you can meet and look at the latest styles and select a piece that works perfectly for you.
  • Research and suggest hotel options for out of town guests.
  • Use one of the many platforms available to you to create a wedding website. You can use your custom website as a way to communicate with your guests in one place.
  • Work with a wedding invitation professional to select, purchase, and organize your invitations. Many couples hire a calligrapher or writer to address the cards.
  • If you are planning on honeymooning outside of the US, take the time now to apply for your passport.

6 – 9 Months Before

  • Now is the time to begin honeymoon planning. 
  • Start planning your honeymoon. Select a location and explore the options you have available to you.
  • Now is a great time to work with your bridal gown designer on your bridesmaid’s gowns.
  • Begin working on assembling all of the documents you will need to make your wedding official. Keep careful track of each document and organize them in a folder for easy access.
  • Meet with the person who will officiate your wedding to get to know them and work out the ceremony’s details.
  • Send out save-the-dates cards.
  • Check-in with your wedding transportation company and verify all of the details around your wedding limo or wedding party bus.
  • Many brides and grooms like to create a wedding day schedule and plan to help keep people and things organized. Now would be an excellent time to work on that.

4 – 6 Months Before

  • Select and book the venue or restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.
  • It’s also time to pick and reserve the venue or restaurant for the day-after brunch.
  • Finalize your wedding invitations and prepare to have them mailed.
  • Begin working with a wedding cake professional. Collect cake ideas from social media and magazines and interview different wedding cake pros.
  • Work with your wedding gown stylist to organize a fitting.
  • Meet with your entertainment and select the music that is most important to you for the different parts of your reception.

3 Months Before

  • Purchase your rings!
  • Work with your florist and finalize all of the details related to your flowers.
  • Now is a great time to select the friends and family who will be giving toasts during the reception. Ask each person individually if they would take the honor of giving a toast.
  • If your ceremony will have readings, finalize them, and communicate your choices with the wedding officiant. 
  • Check-in on your wedding gown and schedule a second fitting.
  • If you are going to have printed programs for your wedding, it’s an excellent time to organize them and have them printed.
  • Communicate your event schedule with each of your wedding vendors.

2 Months Before

  • Check-in with all of your wedding vendors to ensure everyone is set with the schedule and the event.
  • Have a creative session with your photographer to discuss the specific shots you are looking for and brainstorm ideas for the photos taken at the wedding.
  • With eight weeks to go until your ceremony, now is the right time to send out the invitations. 

4 Weeks Before

  • Update your guest-list spreadsheet with RSVP information.
  • Work with your town to apply for and acquire a marriage license.
  • Send out the rehearsal-dinner invitations.
  • Now is the time for your last gown fitting, though you might want to schedule a fitting for the week of the wedding.
  • Pay your wedding professionals and vendors.
  • Confirm the times of every upcoming event, from your hair and makeup to the reception’s seating time, to what time the limo will pick you up.
  • If you are assigning seating at the reception, now is an excellent time to finalize and organize place cards.
  • Select and purchase thank you gifts for members of the wedding party.
  • Finalize your vows.

Week of the Wedding

  • Communicate with all vendors and confirm arrival times and other details.
  • Work with a close friend who can be your “assistant” on your wedding day. They can handle tasks for you on your behalf and keep things organized while you are busy.
  • Send your wedding part a timeline of events.
  • Collect your dress or suit.
  • Confirm everything with your photographer.
  • If you have any remaining payments to your vendors, have those checks ready.
  • Wedding planning tip: Get cash for tips for all your vendors. Assign tipping to your assistant.
  • Get a manicure; your hands will be photographed; let’s make sure they look perfect. 
  • Walk around in your wedding shoes, carefully, to break them in.
  • Make the final preparations for your honeymoon.

We hope that your love blooms brighter, and your companionship grows sweeter with each passing year. We extend our most sincere congratulations on your wedding.

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