Wedding Planning Timeline

Planning a wedding can be stressful and time consuming....but it doesn't have to be. If you think ahead, get organized and make your arrangements early enough, you can avoid all that grey hair.

Follow the schedule below and actually get a few good nights of sleep....

9 - 12 Months

* Announce engagement to family & friends
* Arrange for formal engagement photograph
* Shop for engagement ring
* Set wedding date & time
* Set up wedding budget you can live with
* Decide who is contributing what financially
* Hire wedding consultant if you plan to use one
* Select your wedding attendants
* Decide style and color scheme of wedding
* Reserve wedding and reception sites
* Determine size of wedding guest list
* Start compiling guest list addresses
* Choose your gown, veil & accessaries
* Select your bridesmaids outfits
* Begin researching your honeymoon
* Buy a memory album & start your personal journal
* Meet with officient to discuss pre-marital counseling and the wedding service
* Select photographer, videographer, DJ or band, florist, caterer, emcee and schedule planning meetings

6 - 8 Months

* Begin any required pre-marital counseling
* Discuss wedding vows
* Order your bridal gown & confirm delivery date
* Order headpiece & other accessories
* Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
* Research invitation styles
* Finalize invitation wording
* Decide on necessary invitation inserts
* Reserve all rental equipment (tents, chairs, etc)
* Decide on reception decorations
* Begin researching wedding cake designers
* Discuss & reserve wedding transportation
* Register for wedding gifts
* Keep a careful record of all gifts received
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Finalize honeymoon plans & make any deposits
* Order invitations, inserts, announcements, thank you notes, napkins, reception place cards, etc (Proof read !!)

4-5 Months

* Shop for wedding rings
* Complete guest list
* Plan ceremony decorations
* Make final arrangements for ceremony including readings
* Meet with organist/soloist to select music for ceremony
* Have mothers coordinate and select their dresses
* Reserve mens formal wear
* Pick up printed invitations (proof read again !!)
* Address invitations & announcements
* Make or buy favors for guests
* Arrange for guest parking at ceremony & reception site
* Finalize menu & confirm all details with caterer
* Order cake & cake topper
* Select flowers for bridal party
* Select flowers for ceremony & reception
* Check requirements for getting a marriage license in your state
* Finalize living arrangements for your new life
* Discuss whether or not to have a prenuptial agreement
* Plan rehearsal dinner
* Research passport & visa requirements
* Write thank you notes immediately

3 Months

* Coordinate accommodations for out of town guests
* Review ceremony with officiant
* Select ceremony music
* If using personalized wedding vows, begin writing them now
* Schedule first bridal gown fitting
* Schedule first bridesmaids gown fitting
* Shop for bridal lingerie
* Experiment with makeup & hair styles
* Make all hair, nail & makeup appointments
* Make sure all attire for flower girl & ring bearer has been ordered
* Discuss reception traditions you plan on using
* Order table numbers & menu cards for reception
* Consider taking dance lessons if desired
* Finalize plans for wedding rehearsal & rehearsal dinner
* Shop for honeymoon clothes
* Obtain all passport & visa requirements
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Have all accessories...toasting glasses, garter, ring pillow, candles, guestbook/Pen, etc

2 Months

* Pick up wedding rings
* Finalize ceremony specifics with officiant including music
* Select responsible person to handle guestbook
* Schedule dress fittings
* Assemble directions & accommodation cards for out of town guests
* Mail invitations
* Design & print wedding programs if using
* Confirm all reception details
* Give invited head count to caterer & review details
* Finalize all details with florist & entertainment
* Finalize music selections
* Confirm details with photographer & videographer
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Plan bridesmaid's party
* Draw up any prenuptial agreement
* Make rehearsal arrangements

1 Month

* Buy gifts for attendants
* Arrange for final gown fittings
* Begin breaking in bridal footwear
* Mail announcements
* Give all musicians list of music to be played
* Have your formal bridal portrait taken
* Give photographer list of photographs you would like taken
* Finalize wedding transporation arrangements
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Host bridesmaids party
* Complete all physical & dental appointments
* Get blood test & marriage license
* Get necessary forms for your name change
* Buy gift for your fiance, if you are exchanging gifts

2 Weeks

* Contact invited guests who have not responded
* Confirm that all vendors received necessary payments
* Prepare any wedding toasts
* Plan seating arrangements for reception
* Designate reliable person to be in charge of gifts brought to reception
* Give final counts to caterer and review all details
* Confirm delivery arrangements with baker
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Attend bachelor/bachlorette party
* Confirm honeymoon arrangements and start packing
* Get traveler's checks for your honeymoon
* Confirm hotel reservations for the night of your wedding. Guarantee late arrivals
* Mail wedding announcements to the newspapers

1 Week

* Go over special seating arrangements with ushers
* Pick up wedding gown
* Pick up bridesmaids dresses
* Pick up grooms attire
* Make sure you have all wedding attire & it fits
* Write thank you notes immediately
* Arrange for gifts brought to your reception to be delivered to your new home
* Make sure you have your marriage license
* Have wedding rehearsal & rehearsal dinner
* Provide transportation company with written wedding day itinerary including addresses
* Provide entire wedding party with written wedding day itinerary including addresses

On Your Wedding Day

* Be sure you eat something before everything starts
* Do hair and nails at least 3 hours before ceremony
* Allow plenty of time to apply your makeup
* Give your honor attendants your wedding rings
* Have programs delivered to the church
* Assign someone to transport flower arrangements from the church to the reception
* Be sure best man has the soloist's fee, tips for the officiant's assistants, as well as payment for the organist and DJ or band
* Have all accessories together
* Girls begin dressing about 1-1/2 - 2 hours before ceremony...especially if you are having a photographer arrive before ceremony. If bridesmaids getting ready elsewhere, have them arrive a minimum of 1 hour before leaving for ceremony
* Don't forget to bring marriage license to ceremony

* Relax & Have A GREAT Time

Wedding Planning Timeline

Live Help

Cake Decorations

Bridal Accessories

The Ceremony

The Reception

Parties & Gifts