Planning a wedding requires some organization skills. This wedding planning checklist will help you stay on the right track and make sure you don’t forget anything.
Start planning a year in advance
Ideally, you should start planning your wedding a year in advance. This will give you enough time to choose a date and to start looking at venues. Think about your guest list, ask yourself how much you can afford to spend on your wedding and tell your immediate relatives. This is a good time to plan your engagement party if you want to have one and to start looking for a wedding officiant.
Start Looking For Vendors Eight Months Prior To The Wedding
You should be finalizing your guest list eight months before your wedding. This is a good time to start looking at dresses and to pick a theme for your wedding if you want one. Contact different vendors such as florists, caterers, bands or DJs to find out about their prices and compare your options. You should also look for a photographer and book travel accommodations and hotel rooms if you have guests who will be coming from far away. You can also start your wedding registry and create a wedding website or a page on social media to communicate with your guests.
Plan Your Honeymoon Six Months In Advance
You should start planning your honeymoon six months before your wedding. If you haven’t found your dress yet, schedule appointments in different bridal stores. You should also look at dresses for your bridesmaids. Get your invitations printed and mail some save the date cards to your guests. You can start thinking about details such as how your venue will be decorated and how you want the ceremony and reception to take place.
Put A Program Together Four Months Before The Wedding
It is time to plan out your big day in details and to create a program. Book transportation between the ceremony and the reception venue and contact your vendors to go over the details. You should put together a playlist for the reception and choose a wedding cake. Look for a hair and makeup artist if you want one.
Plan The Ceremony Three Months In Advance
You should have a good idea of how the wedding ceremony will take place. Figure out what will be read during the ceremony, which tracks will be played and who will give toasts during the reception. Create your programs and menus and print them out. Order some favors for your guests, send schedules and programs to your vendors and look into buying your wedding rings.
Meet With Your Vendors Two Months Before Your Wedding
You should meet with all your vendors to go over the reception with them. You might have to pay deposits for their services. Mail your invitations and plan a bachelor and bachelorette party. Find shoes to go with your wedding dress and start breaking them in. If you want to have an announcement in local newspapers, it is time to contact these publications. Schedule a fitting for your wedding dress.
Finalize The Details A Month In Advance
You will start receiving RSVPs from your guests and should keep track of who is coming. Contact the venue and your vendors to confirm how many guests will be attending. Have a rehearsal dinner with close friends and family and apply for your marriage license. Do some research on how to change your name once you will be married. Write your wedding vows, finish paying your vendors and go over seating arrangements.
Last Minute Planning
Delegate some tasks to your relatives and close friends. Schedule a day and time to go pick up your dress and check with your vendors if some details have changed. Make sure you get some time to relax the day before your wedding, for instance by booking a spa appointment.
You might have to make a few changes to this checklist depending on how you want to plan your wedding. Use this wedding planning checklist to keep track of what you have done so far and to plan what needs to be done next!