Wedding Planning To-Do List & Timeline
12+ Months Before
1. Set a Budget: You won’t always be able to stick to it, but knowing your affordability range will make everything less stressful. Laying out priorities is key
2. Choose Potential Dates: Pick a few possible dates in case your favourite venue or someone important isn’t available.
3. Draft a Guest List: You can always amend it later but it’s useful to have an idea of numbers for the venue and vendors.
4. Venue Research: Don’t limit your search, there are a lot of hidden gems everywhere depending on your preferences and if you love a location just asking might make it possible to have a wedding or elope there.
5. Engagement Party: Not necessary but would have it earlier than the actual wedding so a good time ti decide if you want one.
9-12 Months Before
6. Book Venue: Popular Venues go fast and usually are fully booked years in advance, so it should be the first thing to secure
7. Hire a Planner: If you're using one, now’s the time. Wedding planning is a full-time job, if you have the budget for a planner it would make your life easier but again not necessary. Make sure to delegate the tasks to both of you so the burden is shared and you are both satisfied with your wedding day.
8. Research Vendors: Photographers, caterers, florists, etc.
9. Wedding Party: Choose your bridesmaids, groomsmen, etc.
10. Save the Dates: Send these out, especially if it's a destination wedding. Could be an email or a physical wedding invite. A lot of my clients have created websites to have everything in one place for their guests, from the menu, the locations, hotels and activities.
6-9 Months Before
11. Wedding outfits for the couple and wedding party
12. Meet Vendors: Interview and select vendors. As a photographer, I like to meet people in advance and build a rapport before the wedding day. It makes the experience less stressful for both of us. I can ask all of my questions during our meeting and I won’t feel like a complete stranger intruding on the most intimate moments of your wedding day.
13. Hotel Room Blocks: Arrange accommodations for guests.
14. Create a wedding registry.
15. Wedding Website: Build or update your wedding website.
3-6 Months Before
16. Invitations: Order your wedding invitations if you want to have physical copies
17. Menu Tasting: Schedule tasting with the caterer.
18. Honeymoon Planning
19. Music Playlist: Decide on music for ceremony/reception.Walk in song, drinks before the meal, the first dance song and the party
20. Transportation: For you or guests if they are travelling and might be unfamiliar with the area
1-3 Months Before
21. Finalize RSVPs: Track incoming RSVPs and follow up on missing ones.
22. Seating Chart : From experience, it takes longer than you might think!
23. Final Fittings: Attend the final dress/suit fittings.
24. Obtain your marriage license.
25. Vendor Confirmations.
Week of the Wedding
26. Final Headcount: Give final numbers to caterer/venue.
27. Packing List: Pack for the wedding day and honeymoon.
28. Rehearsal Dinner: Host the rehearsal and dinner.
29. Welcome Bags: Assemble and distribute welcome bags for guests.
30. Day-Of Coordination: Confirm roles and timelines with your wedding party and vendors.