wedding planning checklist
Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming experience, filled with countless decisions and endless details to consider. I understand just how stressful it can be to create the perfect day that reflects your love and personalities. However, amidst the chaos, it's important to remember that wedding planning can also be an enjoyable journey if you approach it with the right mindset. When armed with knowledge, organization, and a clear vision, wedding planning becomes an opportunity to bring your dreams to life. From researching vendors to tasting delicious cakes and exploring stunning venues, there are moments of excitement and joy sprinkled throughout the process. So, take a deep breath, trust in your ability to make the right choices, and embrace the fun and creativity that comes with orchestrating your special day.
Here is a loose guideline for planning your wedding day! Please keep in mind every wedding is different and the only people who can make the right decisions for your wedding day is you and your partner. This checklist starts a year before your wedding date, but the earlier the better in my opinion, especially if you are having a large wedding or a destination wedding. Have Fun!
10-12 months before
1. Decide your wedding priorities.
When it comes to deciding our wedding priorities, many brides tend to focus on their attire as the top concern. However, according to a recent wedding survey, a staggering 78% of brides admitted that, in hindsight, they would have invested more time and money on entertainment. Therefore, it is crucial for couples to assess their values and determine what holds the utmost importance to create the perfect wedding experience for themselves and their guests.
2. Choose your color theme and style.
Make sure to pick something that will suit you as a couple! Some people may worry about a wedding being “timeless” but when it comes down to it, all that matters is how you feel right now about your style and colors.
3. Create a wedding binder.
You can find tons of options on etsy or you can DIY one yourself like here!
4. Determine your budget.
Most couples start by underestimating their wedding budgets. Make sure to leave wiggle room and to determine what can be cut if needed.
5. Assemble your team.
The average couple spends $1,000 – $2,500 on a wedding planner for their big day. But if you’re on a budget, friends and family work too!
6. Select your wedding party.
Newlywed statistics show that most bridal parties include roughly 10 people. Although, it is becoming a trend to have no wedding party at all!
7. Start the guest list.
You can count on about 83% of your guest list actually showing up at your wedding. (depending on location to your guests!)
8. Pick a date.
If you want to avoid getting married on the most popular wedding day of the year, choose any date other than the Saturday of Columbus day weekend. April and October are the most popular months of the year and most venues and vendors will charge more for those months.
9. Reserve your venues.
According to wedding cost statistics, hosting both the ceremony and the reception at the same location will save you an average of $11,600. Sometimes picking a more expensive wedding venue can actually save you money with add-ons they may have included! (and a gorgeous background may mean less decorations to make up for an empty space)
10. Book an officiant.
Aside from any religious requirements you have for your ceremony, having a family member or friend get ordained to perform a wedding legally is actually quite simple.
11. Research choices for florists, caterers, bands, and photographers.
There are more than 300,000 wedding vendors operating in the United States which means you have plenty of options to choose from! Click here to inquire with us about our wedding photography and videography and ask about our preferred vendors
12. Throw an engagement party.
Engagements statistics say that roughly 50% of couples invite friends and family to celebrate them when they first get engaged. Of those 50%, half of couples include their loved ones in the actual proposal and the other half host a party about a month afterwards.
13. Purchase engagement ring insurance.
The best jewelry insurance is one that can be bundled with your home insurance or a specialized engagement ring insurance that covers all risks (like floods and mysterious disappearances).
14. Consider wedding insurance.
Investing in wedding insurance is a proactive way to safeguard your cherished memories. By covering property damage, guest injuries, and the costs resulting from a canceled or postponed wedding, you can focus on creating beautiful moments instead of worrying about unplanned obstacles.
8-10 months before
1. Finalize your florists, caterers, bands, and photographers.
Ask us today for our recommended vendors. It is always best to try to get these vendors sooner than later- you don’t want to be searching for someone last minute who may not be the most qualified.
2. Set up meetings with each group and put down deposits.
Make sure you call or video chat with every vendor, do your research and make sure they are reliable! Plan your payment plans as best you can so you don’t end up paying everything at once.
3. Buy a wedding dress.
Surprisingly, 68% of today’s brides spend $1,000 or less on their wedding dress!
4. Reserve hotel rooms.
If you have guests coming from out of town, make sure they have somewhere to go after your amazing party!
5. Create a registry.
The average wedding registry has 125 items and totals around $4,853.
6. Make your wedding website.
Due to increasing popularity among DIY brides, Squarespace and Wix have expanded their wedding website template selections and features.
7. Ensure your passports are up to date if you’re planning an international honeymoon.
If you’re unable to renew one now and you’re a U.S. citizen, you have some options when it comes to renewing in a hurry.
8. Take your engagement photos.
These are great to do early for when you want to send out your save the dates!
9. Buy your wedding shoes and do a dress fitting.
The first wedding dress fitting will be your longest but it will only take about an hour. The second and third fittings will be shorter but wedding stylists stress that they are important! Wedding dresses are taking longer and longer to arrive- sometimes taking up to 8 months.
6-8 months before
1. Choose wedding invitations.
Expect to pay a total of about $3.20 for each wedding invitation.
2. Plan your honeymoon.
Luxury honeymooners (which account for 15% of the market) spend an average of $9,954 and vacation for 11 days.
3. Shop for bridesmaid dresses.
63% of today’s bridesmaids wear dresses that don’t match. If you’re worried about prices, some people will simply give their bridesmaids a pinterest board and tell them to find any dress they feel comfortable in that matches. This way, people can shop within their budget and find a dress they can re-wear.
4. Meet with the officiant to go over the ceremony and paperwork.
Marriage laws vary by state, so be sure to do a little research on the required documents ahead of time.
5. Mail your save-the-dates.
Save the date fridge magnets are very popular!
6. Make rental reservations for any lighting, portable toilets, set-up equipment, etc.
Couples typically spend between $425 – $1,000 on wedding rental reservations of all kinds. The more your venue has, the less you are spending on these things.
7. Book your florist.
The average cost of wedding flowers vary greatly but they typically make up 10% of wedding budgets.
8. Draft your wedding planning timeline.
We are more than happy to help you with what a wedding timeline typically looks like! It’s best to pick a ceremony time (usually around 2-4pm) and work around that.
4-6 Months Before
1. Book your rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues.
In addition to sharing a meal with friends and family, couples use the rehearsal dinner to host informal toasts and play ice breaker games so people can get to know each other before the big day.
2. Approve your wedding invitations.
Popular wedding invitation trends include fun details like wax seals and customized stamps as well as full photo cards.
3. Select and order your cake/dessert.
Wedding cakes have changed a lot over the last 100 years, with some people even choosing to do donuts or cupcakes instead.
4. Schedule hair and makeup artists.
Unless you have someone you trust, always try to do 1-2 trials with people so you can see what level of service they will provide.
5. Select your wedding playlist.
Make sure to make a more refined list of “must play” and “Do NOT Play”. And make sure the DJ has a detailed reception timeline- they are the MC of the evening and must be up to speed.
6. Begin your wedding diagramming.
Seating chart time! Make sure you think about any family/friends drama and have a few empty chairs for vendors to eat at during your wedding.
3 months before
1. Purchase or assemble any extra ceremony decor (chair bows, chuppah, etc.).
Some amazing DIYs I have discovered this year have been: hand-painted candles, embroidered table numbers, and handmade arches.
2. Finalize your menu.
If you need cheap wedding reception food and drink ideas, make your reception BYOB or reach out to food trucks.
3. Select your flowers.
Consider what colors and types of blooms go well with your wedding design. And remember that you can always match wedding flowers to your venue, limit them to just centerpieces, or display bridesmaids bouquets in vases after the ceremony.
4. Order favors.
Unique wedding favor ideas include mini homemade jars of apple butter, personalized match sets, and champagne bottles. Although, people say wedding favors may be a waste as guests tend to toss them after the wedding day. Consider getting your close family members a gift instead.
5. Ask guests to make toasts.
It all starts with a story that’s just long enough ago you can laugh at it now!
6. Finalize readings.
Wedding readings can be but don’t have to be religious- they can be poetry or meaningful quotes.
7. Buy undergarments and schedule a second dress fitting, if needed.
The lingerie you wear underneath your dress can make or break your look (and comfort).
8. Finalize the ceremony and reception schedule.
Usually your wedding planner will handle these details but if you’re going solo, make sure someone else knows everything front and back so you can relax on your wedding day. I have encountered too many people who ended up working on their wedding day because they hadn’t vocalized their vision
9. Print wedding programs, menu cards, and/or place cards.
Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your wedding programs! Newspapers or playbills can be fun ways to spice it up.
10. Purchase the rings.
Couples usually spend 3 and a half months searching for their dream wedding rings.
11. Send your event schedule to your vendors.
Make sure you read up on how to effectively communicate with wedding vendors if you haven’t done so already!
12. Choose a wedding hashtag (preferably before any bachelor/bachelorette parties or showers).
Use a wedding hashtag generator or check out these best wedding hashtag examples. This can help organize all the photos your friends and family may be posting - but definitely isn’t necessary.
2 months away
1. Touch base with all your vendors.
Experts say the best way to work with wedding vendors is to trust them. But you should also follow up, just in case!
2. Choose your something old, new, borrowed, and blue.
This popular wedding tradition started in 1883 and used to include a silver sixpence in her shoe!
3. Meet with your photographer.
Come prepared with sample images as well as a list of wedding photos or moments they absolutely must capture. They will request you come up with a list of all the combinations of family/friends photos you will want. (Ex. Bride, Groom, Bride’s Mom, Bride’s Dad)
4. Review your playlist with the band or DJ.
The perfect wedding reception playlist is one that includes a mix of today’s hits, is primarily made up of fast-paced songs, and doesn’t allow for any silence. Pick some songs you and your friends can sing along to!
5. Send out invitations.
You can use eco-friendly options like email or plantable invitations.
6. Enjoy a bachelorette party.
If your party is in Vegas, Chicago, or Atlantic City, you’re in for a crazy time since these three cities are proven to be the wildest bachelorette party spots in the U.S. Nashville and New Orleans have also popped up as popular destinations!
7. Double check that your wedding party has all their outfits ready to go.
And make sure you have your getting ready outfits ordered in the right sizes if you choose to participate in this fun new tradition. Personally I love the idea of thrifting old wedding dresses and all wearing them out to the club! Great way to get some free drinks ;)
one month away
1. Follow up on RSVPs.
Most people don’t feel comfortable turning you down for your big day, so be sure to double check, get a rough headcount, and consider adding more of your B list invites if needed.
2. Get your marriage license.
Regardless of what state you’re in, you’ll want to have these marriage license basics with you when you do: birth certificates, photo ID cards, social security numbers, and proof of citizenship. Some people like to sign them at the wedding although that can add extra stress if you forget it/ lose it!
3. Send your photographer, readers, and speakers any last minute updates or requests.
Collaborate with and approve their final lists or text ahead of time with free collaborative programs like Google Docs, Dropbox, or Evernote.
4. Invite guests to your rehearsal dinner.
Proper rehearsal dinner etiquette says to include anyone who is part of the ceremony and any other VIPs, totaling around 10 to 25 guests.
5. Complete your final dress fitting.
If your dress has bustling or anything else you’ll need help with, grab your Maid of Honor or whoever plans to help you with it and bring them to the final dress fitting so the seamstress can show them how to properly do everything. Take pictures so you remember and can show anyone who can help!
6. Order alcohol if you plan to serve it.
Experts say that your venue can dictate what and how much wedding alcohol you offer your guests. Having a lavish affair in a banquet hall? Stick to wine and champagne as your primary items. DIY backyard celebration? You can probably get away with an open bar.
7. Send out final payments.
Martha Stewart warns you should never put your wedding payments on a credit card. Instead, opt for cash or debit transactions to avoid going into debt. Although some credit cards have rewards now so if you feel comfortable with paying it off, it might be a nice way to get an extra $500-$750.
8. Finalize your assigned seating and put your seating chart display or table markers together.
Make sure not to seat anyone alone with strangers.
9. Write your vows.
Personalize your vows with favorite memories, religious traditions, and your favorite music, poems, or quotes. Don’t leave it to the last night!
10. Make sure you have a plan in place for venue set up and takedown.
Ask your wedding planner and venue coordinator about this.
Week of the Wedding
1. Confirm vendor arrival times again.
Whether or not you opted for a wedding planner, you’ll want to have a wedding day-of coordinator take a look at your vendor schedule to make sure everything works out.
2. Delegate small day-of tasks.
Don’t worry Type A’s – there are plenty of ways to delegate wedding tasks without losing control. Just make sure to have everything you need written out for someone to see.
3. Send your timeline to your wedding party.
As a wedding party member, their responsibilities include arriving on time, being dressed properly, and assisting you with day-of celebration related activities.
4. Pick up the dress.
Common wedding dress pick up questions include when to pick it up and who should go get it. Brides on this forum recommend checking with the store to see if they have strict rules for when you should grab the garment. And it doesn’t matter who picks it up, just make sure the tailors steam it for you and that there aren’t any major fit issues!
5. Check in one last time with your photographer and videographer.
And introduce them to their day-of point person, whose job it is to make sure they’re following the shot list and keep things moving on schedule.
6. Set aside tip envelopes for vendors.
Properly thank your wedding vendors with handwritten notes, a generous cash tip, and a glowing review of their services online.
7. Send a finalized guest list to the caterer and all venues.
Finalize your wedding guest list by taking stock of how many people you originally invited, if your guest count is more or less than you anticipated, and review which couples may or may not be together anymore (so you can adjust the seating chart accordingly) before you send it out.
8. Pack your honeymoon luggage and overnight bag for the night of the wedding.
Expert honeymoon packing tips say to double check for climate changes at your destination, don’t forget your bathing suit, bring technology adapters if you’re traveling out of the country, and make sure your plants and/or animals are taken care of while you’re away! Make sure someone is in charge of tidying up your getting ready suite so that you don’t lose any of your things!
9. Get a manicure and/or pedicure.
The best wedding nails are the ones that fit you the best in all different kinds of lighting, which is why experimentation is highly encouraged.
10. Share your relevant planning documents with the day-of coordinator.
Then, once you’ve handed over the reigns, it’s time to get excited and focus on your wedding day!