The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist

Before your engagement…

• Make sure you are ready to get married! Take the quiz now.

After you are engaged…

• Take engagement pictures.
• Send out engagement announcements; announce your wedding in the newspaper if you’d like.
• Have your engagement party.

12 months before your wedding day…

• Pick a date and time for your wedding.
• Buy a planner with a calendar, to-do list, and place to put all your ideas, coupons, etc.
• Begin to discuss your wedding budget with your fiance and family. Look at the average costs of some wedding vendors to get an idea of your budget.
• Research local wedding vendors and write down their contact information.
• Start looking for sales and deals for wedding dresses & other wedding-related items.
• Make sure you don’t start off on the wrong foot by making these common wedding planning mistakes.

11 months before your wedding day…

• Start interviewing wedding planners if you are going to hire one.
• Begin a guest list draft.
• Enlist your groom to help. If he’s not interested, read these tips for getting the groom involved.
• Pick out your wedding colors.
• Begin looking at ceremony & reception sites.

10 months before your wedding day…

• Finalize your wedding budget with your groom and your families. Need tips for saving money? Read about money-smart wedding planning.
• Decide on your wedding party. Need help deciding who should be included?
• Sit down with your family to work on the guestlist.
• Choose a wedding planner.
• Decide on a wedding theme if you are going to have one. (Ideas: Romance, Going Green, Winter Wonderland)
• Meet with different wedding vendors to discuss pricing options, etc. Read about little known ways to receive wedding discounts!

9 months before your wedding day…

• Decide on your ceremony & reception sites and reserve them for your wedding day.
• Decide on a wedding officiant, a florist, and caterer.
• Decide on a DJ or musician. Read about how to choose a DJ that is right for you!
• Create a wedding website so your guests can find all the information they need in one place.
• Decide on what style wedding dress you want to wear. Not sure? Read about wedding dress styles or take the quiz: Which style wedding dress flatters your figure?

8 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your honeymoon and have your groom reserve the hotel rooms, etc. Having trouble deciding where to go? Take the quiz: Where should I go on my honeymoon?
• Finalize your guestlist
• Go with your bridesmaids to look at their dresses and get ideas
• Meet with wedding cake designers and go to tastings
• Decide on and hire a photographer. Read about what to look for in a photographer!
• Decide on and hire a videographer. Read about why you should hire a videographer!
• Rent any equipment like chairs and tables that you may need

7 months before your wedding day…

• Order save-the-date cards or magnets
• Get all your guests’ addresses
• Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
• Decide on a baker and order your wedding cake. Need help deciding what kind? Take our quiz: What type of wedding cake fits your personality? 
• Think about what your groom and groomsmen will wear. Suits or Tuxes?
• Shop around for invitations and work on the invitation wording

6 months before your wedding day…

• Make a final selection for a wedding dress
• Choose your veil and accessories to match your dress
• Decide what your parents will wear
• Finalize your honeymoon details
• Request off work if you need to
• Send out save the date cards
• Purchase or rent groom’s and groomsmen’s suits or tuxes
• Finalize the menu with the caterer
• Register! All your wedding registry questions are answered here.

5 months before your wedding day…

• Order or make your wedding favors. Here are some unique ideas.
• Reserve hotel rooms and make accomodations for out-of-town guests
• Start thinking about your make-up and hair
• Order your wedding invitations
• Create a wedding day timeline
• Make your wedding night plans & reservations
• Begin thinking about the rehearsal dinner

4 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your rehearsal dinner; decide on a location, menu, etc.
• Reserve a car, limo, or your desired wedding transportation
• Think about your wedding music (first dance song, father/daughter dance song, etc.)
• Book a hair dresser and make-up artist
• Help your maid of honor make a bridal shower guestlist
• Shop for your wedding bands

3 months before your wedding day…

• Have your wedding shower
• Make sure your dress is tailored
• Finalize your wedding music
• Address the envelopes for your invitations
• Buy your wedding rings
• Have the maid of honor and best man make sure the wedding party has purchased their outfits and accessories
• Designate people to give toasts at the reception
• Make sure you have started an exercise routine and diet if you need to lose a few inches before getting into your dress! Here are some tips to tighten your tummy before your wedding day.

2 months before your wedding day…

• Buy your wedding party their gifts. Check out some cool wedding party gift ideas.
• Write your wedding vows if you so desire. Read about the secret to writing great vows!
• Send your wedding invitation 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• Start making a final guestlist as you begin to hear back from guests
• Fill out any documents needed to change your name
• If you are going to have your rings engraved, do so
• Fill out any documents needed to change your insurance information after married
• Create and print wedding programs
• Buy lingerie or undergarments before final dress fitting
• Send thank you notes for gifts received at your shower

1 month before your wedding day…

• Work on your seating chart
• Make or buy placeholder cards
• Get anything you need before your honeymoon (passport, shots, etc.)
• Do a final fitting for your dress; begin a diet and exercise routine if necessary
• Confirm all the details (arrival time, cost, etc.) with your wedding vendors
• Get a marriage license
• Send rehearsal dinner invitations
• Order alcohol
• Buy a guestbook

2 weeks before your wedding day…

• Take care of all the details like what you will use to cut the cake, toasting glasses, etc.
• Prepare welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
• Purchase thank you notes
• Finalize the menu, etc. for the rehearsal dinner.
• Finalize your seating chart.
• Give final headcount to caterer, etc.
• Do a hair and make-up trial run.
• Plan the activities for the night before your wedding.
• Help your wedding party plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties if they need it.

1 week before your wedding day…

• Get checks ready to give your wedding vendors.
• Make sure you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and (most importantly to us) something blue.
• Make sure you have a garter.
• Get a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, eye-brow wax, etc.
• Pick up your wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses
• Confirm all the details with your florist.
• Give the members of your wedding party their tasks for your special day.
• Pack for your honeymoon!

The day before your wedding day…

• Go to the spa to get a massage!
• Hold the rehearsal dinner.
• Give your wedding party and parents their gifts.
• Attend the bachelor or bacheloretter party.

After your wedding day…

• Have someone take your wedding dress and keepsakes if you are going straight on your honeymoon.
• Keep the top layer of your cake for your 1st wedding anniversary.
• Go on your honeymoon.
• 6-8 weeks after: send thank you cards. Not feeling motivated? Read the lazy bride’s guide to sending thank you cards.p
• Start your life with the one you love!

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