Use this wedding planner timeline to help you organize all of the details for your wedding day without missing anything. This wedding timeline should help you accomplish things in the order required to ensure a smooth wedding, reception, and honeymoon.
Wedding Planning Timeline: 12-24 Months Before the Wedding
• Set a wedding date
• Decide on a budget, and review it with all parties involved
• Shop around for a reception location and reserve it
• Choose the perfect place for your wedding ceremony, and reserve it
• At this point, you should be able to decide if you will require a wedding planning professional
Wedding Planning Timeline: 9-12 Months Before the Wedding
• Select who will be in your wedding party
• Select your wedding officiant
• Save the date wedding cards
• Decide on wedding colors
• Shop for and purchase wedding dress and accessories
• Shop for and choose bridal party dresses and accessories
• Create your guest list
• Get references on photographers, videographer’s, disc jockey’s, caterers, musicians, and florist – check references and then choose the right professional for your taste and style – don’t forget to reserve them for your special day
Wedding Planning Timeline: 6-9 Months Before the Wedding
• Select floral arrangements for wedding reception tables, bouquets, centerpieces, displays, corsage’s, etc.
• Reserve the appropriate wedding day transportation
• Decide on a honeymoon location and make your reservations (don’t forget to get your passports if need be)
• Reserve accommodations for out of town wedding guests
• Register for wedding gifts
Wedding Planning Timeline: 4-6 Months Before the Wedding
• Select tuxedos for groom, groomsmen and fathers of the bride and groom
• Select wedding cake if it was not included with the reception package
• Shop for and purchase wedding rings
• Choose wedding invitations verses and put on order
• Select favor ribbons, napkins, or anything else that will require printing and put on order
• Advise supervisor or boss at work of upcoming nuptials and schedule vacation time accordingly (this should be done according to workplace vacation policy)
Wedding Planner Timeline: 2-4 Months Before the Wedding
• Shop for and purchase reception accessories such as wedding favors, flutes for toasting, garter, guest books, and of course, something-old-something-new-something-borrowed-something-blue
• Write invitations and mail (2 months in advance)
• Purchase gifts for wedding attendants
• Write wedding vows or select pre-written wedding vows
• Make bar or beverage arrangements for reception
1 Month Before the Wedding
• Final fitting for all wedding attire
• Confirm reservations for all professionals and facilities reserved
• Make hair, makeup, and manicure appointments
• Prepare and obtain if necessary all legal documents and apply for marriage license
1 Week Before the Wedding
• Confirm RSVP count with caterer
• Begin packing for wedding day and honeymoon
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Distribute wedding attendant gifts
• Lay out wedding attire
• Go to bed early, tomorrow’s a BIG DAY!
