Ideally, you would want to have at least a year to plan the wedding, but that is not always possible or desired. For the purposes of this guide, I have set up a 12 month wedding timeline that will certainly make it a little bit easier to host your wedding.
12 Months Before Your Wedding Day
- Announce the engagement
- Set your wedding date
- Create a budget
- Hire a Wedding Coordinator (optional)
- Create your guest list
- Start brainstorming ideas and themes
- Reserve your Ceremony spot
- Book an Officiate
- Make reservations for your Reception area
- Book a Photographer and Videographer
- Book Caterer, Florist and Music (Band, DJ, etc.)
- Look for a Wedding gown and Tux, allowing time for alterations and fittings
- Register for gifts
- Select and call the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
- Agree on a date to order bridesmaids’ dresses and groomsmen’s tuxes
- Choose a destination for your Honeymoon
- Apply for passports, if required
6 Months Before Your Wedding Day
- Finalize your guest list
- Decide on the timeline and details of Ceremony and Reception
- Order/make invitations, and thank you notes
- Make airline and hotel reservations for the Honeymoon
- Choose a caterer, a florist and place an order for the wedding cake.
- Book Transportation (Limo, Antique Car, Etc.) for wedding day
- Shop for any Party rentals
3-4 Months Before Your Wedding Day
- Mail out/hand deliver invitations
- Confirm wedding details and contracts with all wedding vendors
- Choose gifts for your attendants
- Set a date and time for the rehearsal dinner
- Help make travel arrangements for any out-of-town guests
- Make final alterations and fittings for the Wedding Gown and Tux
- time with your Photographer for the Bridal Portrait or Engagement shoot
1 Month Before Your Wedding Day
- Apply for the marriage license
- Buy your wedding bands
- Finalize music list and no-play list with band or DJ
- Attend showers
- Make insurance arrangements
1-2 Weeks Before Your Wedding Day
- Schedule the rehearsal a day or two before your wedding day
- Make an appointment with a Beauty Salon for day of wedding
- Send a wedding announcement to the local newspapers (optional)
- Make necessary arrangements for name & address change, if any.
- Discuss final details with the reception Site and the Caterer
- Pack for honeymoon
- Write out all checks needed for wedding day
- Send reminders to the rehearsal dinner attendees about the location & time
- Discuss final details of the ceremony and reception with family and bridal party
Wedding day or day before
- Visit your Beauty Salon for manicure and pedicure
- Host the rehearsal and dinner.
- Make sure the ushers have the final guest list.