The ultimate wedding planning timeline – A checklist for couples
Are you trying to plan your dream wedding? Do you have a tonne of ideas that you want to see come to life on your big day? Well, planning a wedding can be pretty overwhelming but it most definitely is a lot of fun and a very enjoyable experience. Whether you have a couple of months or half a year to plan your wedding, it can be quite a journey. There's a lot you'll have to think about from deciding how large you want your wedding to be to dealing with a large number of suppliers. But how do you stay up to date with everything?
It's really important to always be organised and have a checklist in place! Having a step-by-step wedding planning timeline of all the key things you need, so that you can pull off your big day in style, is really important as it's very easy to get lost along the way and miss out on details that could really make all the difference.
If you're planning a big wedding in a city like San Diego then it's advised to hire a wedding planner. Hiring a wedding planner in San Diego is highly recommended as they take you through every aspect of the wedding, they know all the best suppliers in town and make the process of wedding planning a breeze in comparison to if you were trying to plan the whole wedding yourself. When planning your wedding you don't want to appear stressed or distracted on your wedding day so hiring a wedding planner will ease that stress and give you peace of mind so that you can also enjoy your big day along with family, friends and all your guest.
Here's a wedding checklist which you can print off and use to help you plan for your dream wedding. The checklist is based on a 12-months engagement and planning timeline and runs through the typical timeframes for researching, contacting and booking the various suppliers for your special day. But remember, each wedding varies and there are several factors that may affect the time period of planning. Where some weddings can be planned in just 10 weeks others may take two to three years, but this planning checklist will give you a general guideline that we hope is helpful in planning your big day.
When should you begin planning your wedding?
Once you’re engaged, it's time to start planning for your big day! Here's a few things you can do to begin with:
Get together with your other half and have a discussion on what your ideal wedding would be just to ensure that you are on the same page.
Draw up a budget plan as this will really help you to plan better and not overspend unnecessarily.
Think about your guest list and decide on an approximate number of guests you would like to attend.
Jot down a list of your potential wedding venues and then narrow it down to one.
Consider having an engagement party to celebrate?
12 months before your wedding
Visit your wedding venue and confirm a date with them
Research suppliers such as your potential photographer/videographer, florist, invitations, cake, decor, music, hair and makeup
Have a think about wedding insurance options
Decide on the type of entertainments you would like to have at your ceremony and reception party. Think about whether you would like a live singer or dancers.
Book your photographer and/or videographer
Research and think about options for wedding venue decor.
Research and consider hiring a wedding planner or stylist
Think about a theme for your wedding and to honour a tradition. This is especially important if you are incorporating traditional clothes to your wedding.
Start having a look at potential wedding dresses.
Send save the date cards as it’s better to ensure everyone’s availability well in advance.
Pop the question to your wedding party - send a nice hamper or invitation to your to-be maid of honour, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen.
Consider booking your wedding casino hire at this point.
8-10 Months Before the Wedding
Book yourself a band/DJ for your reception
Book your wedding singer for your ceremony + reception
Have a look into and book accommodation for your guests.
Contact decor hire companies for chairs, tables, or a tent
Book your honeymoon (flights, hotel etc)
Have a look into cake suppliers and book a tasting so that you can place an order for it.
6-8 Months Before the Wedding
Order your wedding dress.
Book musicians for your ceremony e.g. harp players, piano players etc.
Make sure your passports are in date for your honeymoon. You wouldn't want to leave it to the last minute to find out your passport is expired just before you travel.
Start planning honeymoon activities and excursions
Start planning your hen/stag nights- well actually not you but your best man/bridesmaids/pals should!
4-6 Months Before the Wedding
Choose your bridesmaids dresses
Order your wedding invitations
Visit your florist to discuss and choose the flowers you want
Shop for the Grooms suit
Rent the groomsmen's suits
Organise all the legalities — make sure you give yourselves at least 3 months notice to your registrar/religious celebrant
Think about and decide which prayers, readings and music you want at your ceremony and ensure you have booklets made
Organise wedding transport
Start gathering addresses for your wedding guest list
Organise to have a hairdresser do a trial on the hairstyle you want
Plan a makeup trial so you can decide which makeup artist to book
2-3 Months Before the Wedding
Send out your wedding invitations
Go for a wedding dress fitting
Have a look at and order your wedding rings
Think about whether you want gifts for parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen and even for each other
Purchase shoes, hair-pieces, bow ties, all your accessories etc **
Organise dresses for flower girls or little suits for page boys
Plan a menu tasting with your chosen caterer
4 Weeks Before the Wedding
Go for one last wedding dress fitting
Ensure you have made all the necessary adjustments with your suppliers
Finalise details for your ceremony
Review your final RSVP list and maybe call any guests who have not yet responded to see if they are coming or not
2 Weeks Before the Wedding
If you have specific shots that you would like your photographer and videographer to capture make sure you send them over to the photographer/videographer. If you are planning family/group shots then send over that list too.
Give your caterer the final number of guests attending
Plan your seating and table plans
1 Week Before the Wedding
Give your wedding planner/coordinator a list of supplier requests for example tables for your DJ, setup space needed by florist etc
Print or get your place cards made
Call all wedding suppliers to confirm all arrangements are in check
Ensure you give ceremony and reception site managers an itinerary of vendor delivery and setup times and maybe even give their contact numbers just incase.
Treat yourselves to a manicure, a relaxing massage, waxing & all the necessary prep
Hold a full wedding dress rehearsal
Pack an overnight bag for the reception
Pack your bags for your honeymoon
2-3 Days Before the Wedding
Go over your seating plan and make any necessary changes if needed
Groom to go for a final fitting and pick up your formalwear.
Grooms to ask the best man to ensure all groomsmen attend fittings and collect their outfits for the day.
Confirm the collection times with the wedding car hire company
Reconfirm final details with all vendors
Print off a sheet with the itinerary for the day and suppliers' contact details and give copies to your best man and maid of honour
The Day Before the Wedding
Drop-off place cards, table cards, menus, favours, table plan to your wedding coordinator
Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding, perhaps your maid of honour and best man.
Ensure you sort out payment (write cheques/organise cash) for any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception party.
Make sure your wedding cake is on time to be delivered to reception venue
Rehearse the ceremony with the full wedding party ceremony readers.
Most importantly get a good night’s sleep!
The Wedding Day!
Give the gifts that are for your parents to your best man/bridesmaid to be given after the speeches
Your flowers are to be delivered to where you’re getting ready
Give the wedding rings to the best man to hold and protect during the ceremony
Give your best man the officiant's fee in an envelope, ad this is normally to be given after the ceremony is completed
Get a family member or attendant to be the photographer's contact so he knows who is who and if he needs assistance then he can speak to that person and not bother you.
