It is now time to begin Planning your Wedding. Use this Timeline as a Personal Checklist to help simplify your planning process and keep you organized. Before you even begin your master checklist of “to do’s” you must finalize your guest count. Without it, you cannot even begin setting a budget or choosing your ceremony and reception locations. You need to know your maximum amount of potential guests before you get started, so get going… make sure you get lists from every side of the family. This checklist is a great reference for getting started, no two weddings are the same, so use what you need and add what is not here so you don’t miss anything
9-12 months out:
- Set date and time for wedding
- Select bridal party
- Create preliminary guest list
- Hire a professional bridal consultant o Set a realistic budget
- Select ceremony site
- Select reception site
- Select a caterer
- Select reception music & entertainment
- Select photographer
- Order wedding gown
6-9 months out:
- Determine design of wedding ceremony and reception
- Select Florist and flowers
- Order your wedding cake o Select ceremony musician(s)
- Send Save the dates
- Begin planning the honeymoon
- Take bridesmaids out and shop for dresses and attire
- Select transportation services o Make hotel reservations for out of town guest
- Book bridal suite for wedding night
- Create a wedding website with all wedding information
- Hire specialty lighting company
3-6 months out:
- Order invitations and start reviewing all other stationary needs
- Create a tentative timeline for the wedding day
- Select tuxes and attire for men
- Have mothers select their attire
- Make alteration appointments for bridal gown and attire
- Make wedding day appointments for hair and make up
- Select the rehearsal dinner location
- Do your gift registry
- Determine decoration & rental needs and book them
- Select attire for bridal trousseau and shoes dress fittings
2-3 months out:
- Have trials for hair and make -up (don’t forget your veil)
- Order wedding rings and other jewelry o Discuss ceremony details with your officiant
- Start working on wedding programs
- Mail invitations at least 8 weeks out
- Select bridal party gifts
- Finalize event details with reception location/caterer
- Order favors o Plan Bachelor and Bachelorette parties
4-6 weeks out:
- Confirm details with all vendors o Get hair colored and cut
- Make gift bags for out of town guests
- Create a final day of wedding timeline
- Make sure you have all wedding accessories (toasting flutes, ring bearer pillow, cake cutter, guest registry book, garter, candles, etc.)
- Schedule manicure and pedicure appointments
- Plan lunch for the day of the wedding for guys and girls
2-3 weeks out:
- Print wedding programs and all other stationary
- Send information to wedding party about wedding day details
- Compile a list of final payments for all vendors
- Shop for honeymoon
- Obtain marriage license
- Select reception music details with entertainment
- Make sure clothing and accessories for the bridal party are in order for both men and women
- Give final count to event facility or caterer for reception
- Finalize plans and counts for rehearsal dinner
The week of the wedding:
- Pack for wedding day needs o Pack for the honeymoon
- Meet with your wedding planner to discuss final plans
If you don’t have a wedding planner:
- Confirm final details with all vendors along with any changes, and obtain emergency contacts for each for the day of
- Obtain final payments for vendors and plan how to distribute them
- Get manicures and pedicures
- Make arrangements for transporting gifts and miscellaneous items from the reception
- If you are planning to preserve your gown and flowers, make arrangements ahead of time