Weddings require lots of careful planning and attention to tedious details. If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding, it can be helpful to have an idea of what kind of tasks you need to do prior to the wedding. Here’s a complete wedding checklist to help you plan your big day. Remember to relax and have fun with it to avoid some of the stress!
Advance Planning: About a Year Before The Wedding
- Establish a budget
- Start brainstorming how you want your wedding to look
- Compile a guest list as a starting point
- Choose your wedding party
- Set a date
- Find venues for the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception
- Find attire
- Start looking for vendors
- Consider hiring a wedding planner to help relieve some of the stress
- Start dreaming about your honeymoon
- Reserve hotel blocs for out-of-town guests
Concrete Planning: At Least 6 Months In Advance
- Book florists, photographers, caterers, venues, cake designers, entertainment
- Decide on a style – color scheme, decorations, atmosphere, etc.
- Buy wedding invitations
- Create gift registries
- Send out save-the-date cards
- Establish who is in your wedding party and who’s involved in the wedding ceremony
- Book transportation
- Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal shower, etc.
- Book and talk with your officiate – some require marriage counseling!
3 Months In Advance
- Finalize venue and vendor bookings
- Go to dress fittings
- Reserve party linens and decorations
- Finalize guest list and send out invitations
- Decide on ceremony order and content
- Purchase wedding rings
- Finalize honeymoon plans
It’s Coming Up Quickly: 6-8 Weeks in Advance
- Touch base with vendors and venues
- Go to dress and tux fittings
- Take dance lessons
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations
- Finalize any leftover vendors
- Create a timeline for the rehearsal dinner and reception
Last-Minute Items: 0-5 Weeks In Advance
- Obtain a marriage license
- Adhere to any old traditions
- Purchase the little things
- Print ceremony bulletins
- Confirm RSVP list and create seating arrangements
- Touch base with your wedding party and anyone else involved
- Have final dress and tux fittings
- Give vendors final guest counts
- Pack for the big day and honeymoon
- Make hair appointments and other beauty appointments
- Complete any leftover final payments
- Give out wedding party gifts
- Try to relax and enjoy the wedding week
- Plan for a clean-up crew after the wedding
After the Honeymoon
- Write and send thank you cards
- Have your wedding dress cleaned
- Touch base with your photographer
- Complete your registry
