12 to 18 Months Before The Wedding

1. Announce your engagement.
2. Work out a budget.
3. Make a preliminary guest list.
4. Determine whom you want to have in your wedding party. Make the calls and get their acceptance.
5. Select and book a caterer, a location for the ceremony, and a reception location.
6. Interview and hire all your wedding vendors and officiant.
7. Select your wedding gown, accessories and associated events clothing.
8. Mail “Save-the-Date” cards to your “A” list guests.

6 To 12 Months Before The Wedding

1. Confirm with the members of your wedding party.
2. Order invitations, announcements, programs and any other printed materials.
3. Complete your wedding registries.
4. Create a wedding chart/schedule for your wedding day.
5. Order rentals (e.g., tents, photo booths, lighting, etc)
6. Go for any required testing per state law deadlines.

1. Make up your final guest list. Begin to address invitations.
2. Order your wedding bands and make arrangements for engraving.
3. Go for a wedding gown fitting.
4. Select the wedding clothing for the groom and the members of your bridal party and parents.
5. Bride and groom select gifts for each other and for your groomsmen, bridesmaids, ushers, flower girl, ring bearer and parents.
6. Prepare programs for the wedding and assign someone to distribute them.
7. Meet with the caterer to set the menu. Order a wedding cake if the caterer doesn’t supply it.
8. Arrange your rehearsal and notify those who will participate.
9. Send your event schedule to the vendors and participating guests.

2 Months Before the Wedding

1. Get the marriage license.
2. Make an appointment for your hair, makeup and nails for as close to the wedding day as possible.
3. Meet or speak with your caterer to confirm the menu.
4. Meet with the florist to discuss requirements and place the order.
5. Review your needs with your DJ, photographer and videographer.
6. Mail the invitations.
7. Review documentation and make changes as needed. (ex. insurance, lease, health care).
8. Put guest baskets together and assign someone the task of distributing them.
9. Go for a wedding gown fitting and arrange for your final fitting.

1 Month Before the Wedding

 

1. Reconfirm all the reservations and accommodations.
2. Check again on clothing and fitting for yourself and attendants.
3. Throw wedding shower and parties.
4. Do the seating plan for the reception.
5. Mail your rehearsal dinner invitations.
6. Write your wedding vows, if you’re doing your own.
7. Send all master of ceremonies information to your DJ or Band and review it with them.
8. Pay off all balances according to your vendors’ contracts.

Weeks Before the Wedding

1. Hold your rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.
2. Pick up your wedding bands.
3. Give your caterer the final headcount.
4. Write out the table cards.
5. Put the tips in envelopes and give it to whoever you put in charge of making the payments.
6. Arrange with the appointed guests to bring all items to the wedding venue and to return them.
7. Design a “Day of the Wedding” schedule.
8. Pick up your wedding gown.

Wedding Planning Checklist

Day of the Wedding

What is the wedding day timeline?

Timelines can be different for each wedding.

However, I’m often asked “what is the standard order and times for all of the events during a wedding day?”

With that said, I put together a sample of a basic wedding timeline and would like to share it with you below.

 

Every wedding is unique and special in its own way. With that said, I will refrain from adding times to these steps and simply list them in a suggested order.

1. Bride’s hair and makeup
2. Bridesmaids hair and makeup
3. Photographer arrives and begins taking photos (often during hair and makeup time as well).
4. Put on your veil
5. Pre-Ceremony Photos
6. First Look
7. Groom and Groomsmen arrive
8. Bride and Bridesmaids arrive
9. Ceremony
10. Receiving line
11. Photos of couple, family and bridal party during cocktail hour

Wedding Reception

 

1. Grand Entrance
2. Cake Cutting
3. Toasts
4. Blessing
5. Dinner
6. Couples’ First Dance (also common right after the grand entrance)
7. Parents Dances
8. Wedding Party Dance
9. All Couples Dance
10. Open Dance Floor
11. Add bouquet toss, garter toss and other reception events if selected.

Wedding Planning Checklist