Stay organized and stress-free with our ultimate wedding planning checklist! This month-by-month guide covers every detail, from engagement to post-wedding.
By: Bridal Guide
Photo: Christopher Duggan
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, but a detailed to-do list will help keep you on track and ensure nothing is forgotten. Our month-by-month wedding planning checklist will help keep your planning stress-free and on tracking.
Wedding Planning Timeline: Month-by-Month Wedding Checklist
12+ Months Before Your Wedding
- Announce your engagement
- Choose a wedding theme and style
- Work out a basic wedding budget; research reception venues
- Determine number of guests
- Look through bridal magazines for attire ideas
- Meet potential wedding consultants; obtain bids
- Research wedding pros (photographers, videographers, reception bands or DJs, ceremony musicians). Set up appointments and review portfolios and recordings.
11 Months Before Your Wedding
- Select a wedding consultant and meet to discuss wedding planning details
- Determine theme/decorations for your reception
- Meet with several caterers; arrange for tastings
- Select and book a caterer
- Reserve musicians/DJ for reception
- Determine wedding ceremony musicians and make musical selections
- Book wedding videographer and photographer; make a list of photos, such as must-have photos of the bride and groom, fun bridal party ideas, and traditional bridal, ceremony and reception shots
- Research and interview florists
- Select and reserve your ceremony venue and schedule a rehearsal time
- Choose reception venue; negotiate contract; leave a deposit
- Secure parking and/or transportation for your guests at the reception location
- Visit local bridal stores to browse their selection of gowns
- Choose your wedding-party members and ask them to participate in your celebration
- Meet with your officiant to discuss the wedding ceremony
- Mail save-the-dates for a destination wedding
10 Months Before Your Wedding
- Select and order your wedding gown
- If your ceremony or reception will be held in a park or recreational area, obtain necessary permits
- Discuss attendants' duties with your maid of honor and bridesmaids
9 Months Before Your Wedding
- Register for wedding gifts
- Coordinate with vendors to incorporate your theme/style into all aspects of your wedding
- Decide on the food and liquor to be served at your reception
- Prepare a playlist of wedding-reception musical selections
- Select and order your headpiece, veil, gloves and shoes
- Confirm orders of and delivery dates for your wedding attire
- Research airline, hotel and rental-car reservations for out-of-town guests
8 Months Before Your Wedding
- Go to first gown fitting; invite your maid of honor to attend
- Choose and order bridesmaid dresses and accessories
- Research a variety of wedding ring styles
- Select florist; discuss wedding ideas, theme and style
7 Months Before Your Wedding
- Review and finalize your wedding details with consultant
- Notify bridesmaids about dress fittings
- Discuss attire with groomsmen and make referrals to local formalwear store
- Select attire for flower girl and/or ring bearer
- Determine the design, wording, font and paper stock for your wedding invitations, stationery, table and escort cards and thank-you notes; finalize order
- Arrange a printer or hire a calligrapher for table cards
- Determine order of ceremony events and choose appropriate wording for your programs
- Negotiate rates and book a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests
- Select and order your wedding rings
- Purchase bridal accessories: jewelry, lingerie, etc.
- Choose and order something fun for guests to throw after your ceremony (rose petals, confetti or birdseed)
6 Months Before Your Wedding
- Review and approve proofs of wedding invitations and stationery
- Discuss the type of honeymoon you want, start reading up on potential destinations and consult a travel agent for ideas and suggestions.
5 Months Before Your Wedding
- Order table and/or escort cards; place print order for programs
- Finalize choice of honeymoon destination
- Taste a variety of wedding cakes and select a baker; place cake order and arrange for delivery
- Secure reservations for rehearsal dinner and select menu
4 Months Before Your Wedding
- Determine method of addressing wedding invitations and hire a calligrapher, if applicable
- Hand-address — or have a calligrapher address — wedding invitations, or print labels.
- Write or choose your wedding vows
- Have groom visit formalwear shops and try on tuxedos
- Purchase or rent groom's wedding accessories, including tuxedo, cuff links, shoes, socks, etc.
- Make honeymoon reservations and place all deposits
3 Months Before Your Wedding
- Review and approve wedding announcement and printed program proofs
- Book venue or secure reservations for post-wedding brunch
- Discuss bachelorette party plans with your attendants
- Plan your bridesmaids' luncheon or dinner
- Make appointment with stylist and/or hairdresser to discuss your wedding hairstyle
- Search for your wedding makeup artist.
- Take another look at your registry and update or add items
- Create hotel information cards and maps to include with your wedding invitations
2 Months Before Your Wedding
- Secure a wedding-day dressing room for your bridesmaids
- Weigh, purchase postage for and mail wedding invitations
- Go to final gown fitting; arrange for pickup or delivery
- Have groom's formalwear fitted
- If you plan to have a prenuptial agreement, meet with your attorney to discuss it
- Purchase gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen, as well as your parents
- Arrange transportation for bride and groom from the ceremony site to the reception
- Purchase ceremony accessories (Unity candle, wine glasses, etc.)
6 Weeks Before Your Wedding
- Purchase a new camera, if needed
- Send rehearsal dinner invitations
- Write thank-you notes as you receive gifts
- Confirm music selections ("playlist") with musicians/DJ
- Select menu for post-wedding brunch
- Write newspaper announcement and gather photos
- Purchase a gift for your spouse-to-be
- Shop for wedding favors
- Purchase honeymoon clothing, luggage and accessories
- Go in for a practice hairstyling and make day-of-wedding hair appointment
4 Weeks Before Your Wedding
- Apply for your marriage license (check your state's guidelines)
- Confirm floral order and arrange for delivery times
- Meet with ushers and assign duties for the ceremony and reception
- Discuss the details of your wedding ceremony with your officiant
- Determine the placement or distribution of programs at the ceremony venue
- Arrange for preparation, storage and break areas for musicians/DJ at the reception venue
- Determine your seating chart arrangements for guests
- If you color your hair, make appointment for a touch-up the week before your wedding
- Go in for a your makeup trial and make a day-of-wedding appointment
- Schedule an appointment for a manicure and/or pedicure the day before your wedding
- Finalize details with wedding photographer and videographer, determining arrival times at each nuptial venue
- Arrange for preparation/storage area for photographer and videographer at each nuptial venue
- Sign your prenuptial agreement, if applicable
- Finalize honeymoon plans/itinerary and confirm all travel and hotel reservations
- Arrange for transportation to and from the airport
- Make all necessary arrangements for care of pet(s), plants and mail while you're away on honeymoon
- Post announcement and photo on your wedding website
- Arrange for table card setup at reception venue
- Schedule pickup/return of groom's formalwear
3 Weeks Before Your Wedding
- Finalize list of reception guests
- Give the final headcount to the caterer and review details
- Arrange for delivery and placement of wedding flowers, candles and other decorations on the day of the ceremony
- Contact anyone who has not responded to his or her wedding invitation
- Create welcome bags for out-of-town guests
1 Week Before Your Wedding
- Confirm your honeymoon travel arrangements
- Start packing bags for your wedding night and honeymoon
- Pick up your wedding dress
Your Big Day!
- Eat a good breakfast
- Attend hairstyle appointment
- Give yourself plenty of time to get ready
- Relax and enjoy yourself!
Post-Wedding: 3 Days
- Arrange for transport of gifts
- Have family or friends mail wedding announcements
After the Honeymoon
- Take wedding gown and veil to a dry cleaner who specializes in gown preservation
- Submit name-change forms for driver's license, passport, Social Security card, state and federal tax boards, banks, credit cards, etc.
