Timeline Tips for Wedding Planning!
12 Months to go...
Decide what type of wedding you want (style, size, location, time of day, etc.)...
Get out all of those pictures and magazine cut outs you've been collecting for your dream wedding and start to make it a reality!
Draft preliminary guest lists (Bride’s, Groom’s, Bride’s Family, Groom’s Family)
Subscribe to wedding magazines and join sites like TheKnot.com, WeddingWire and Pinterest for tips & ideas!
Set a budget
Get a wedding binder (you'll have it stuffed soon) and a wedding email!
You'll be happy you made an email just for wedding vendors especially after you attend your first bridal show!
Decide what type of wedding you want (style, size, location, time of day, etc.)...
Get out all of those pictures and magazine cut outs you've been collecting for your dream wedding and start to make it a reality!
Draft preliminary guest lists (Bride’s, Groom’s, Bride’s Family, Groom’s Family)
Subscribe to wedding magazines and join sites like TheKnot.com, WeddingWire and Pinterest for tips & ideas!
Set a budget
Get a wedding binder (you'll have it stuffed soon) and a wedding email!
You'll be happy you made an email just for wedding vendors especially after you attend your first bridal show!
11 Months to go...
Begin dress search
Create a wedding website
TheKnot offers free wedding websites!
Gather vendor referrals
Please let me know if you need any help with this! I love to give recommendations...
Start meeting with vendors- photographers & videographers
Once your venue is booked it's time to think about the next big thing- photography! Photographers can book as far as 18 months in advance! Take advantage of early planning to get the most popular photographers before they are scooped up!
Begin dress search
Create a wedding website
TheKnot offers free wedding websites!
Gather vendor referrals
Please let me know if you need any help with this! I love to give recommendations...
Start meeting with vendors- photographers & videographers
Once your venue is booked it's time to think about the next big thing- photography! Photographers can book as far as 18 months in advance! Take advantage of early planning to get the most popular photographers before they are scooped up!
10 Months to go:
Determine your wedding’s color theme and style- more PINTEREST!
Check out our Pinterest Page for more inspiration!
Select the members of your bridal party
Reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests
Inquire about shuttle services, if needed- make sure it's written in the contract if they will be offering shuttles for you!
Start meeting with vendors- Bands & DJ’s
Begin thinking about your honeymoon
Register for gifts
Determine your wedding’s color theme and style- more PINTEREST!
Check out our Pinterest Page for more inspiration!
Select the members of your bridal party
Reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests
Inquire about shuttle services, if needed- make sure it's written in the contract if they will be offering shuttles for you!
Start meeting with vendors- Bands & DJ’s
Begin thinking about your honeymoon
Register for gifts
9 Months to go...
Make bridal salon appointments to try on wedding gowns
Interview Officiants if needed
Order and mail save the date cards
Start meeting with vendors- bakers (attend cake tastings- YUM!), florists, decorations, etc.
Make bridal salon appointments to try on wedding gowns
Interview Officiants if needed
Order and mail save the date cards
Start meeting with vendors- bakers (attend cake tastings- YUM!), florists, decorations, etc.
8 Months to go...
Select Bride’s Maids Attire
Book ceremony and/or reception music (Band or DJ)
Reserve a hotel room for your wedding night
Be sure to think about how you will be getting there at the end of the night!
Select Bride’s Maids Attire
Book ceremony and/or reception music (Band or DJ)
Reserve a hotel room for your wedding night
Be sure to think about how you will be getting there at the end of the night!
7 Months to go...
Order your wedding dress and accessories
Search for groom and groom’s men attire
Order your wedding dress and accessories
Search for groom and groom’s men attire
6 Months to go...
Book baker and decide on cake, cupcake or other dessert flavors, design and style
Book florist and determine overall plan for flowers, bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony and reception flowers, etc.
Review invitation design
Select Officiant and discuss ceremony service
Book day of transportation for you and your bridal party
Confirm that each bride’s maid has ordered her dress
Book baker and decide on cake, cupcake or other dessert flavors, design and style
Book florist and determine overall plan for flowers, bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony and reception flowers, etc.
Review invitation design
Select Officiant and discuss ceremony service
Book day of transportation for you and your bridal party
Confirm that each bride’s maid has ordered her dress
5 Months to go...
Select attire for your flower girl and ring bearer (cute!)
Provide your maid of honor with guest lists for bridal shower and bachelorette party
Update your gift registry for the bridal shower
Finalize your invitation design, review the proofs and order them
(don’t forget the envelopes...word to the wise...square envelopes cost more in postage!)
Order wedding bands
Reserve tuxedos or suits for groom, dads and groomsmen
Select attire for your flower girl and ring bearer (cute!)
Provide your maid of honor with guest lists for bridal shower and bachelorette party
Update your gift registry for the bridal shower
Finalize your invitation design, review the proofs and order them
(don’t forget the envelopes...word to the wise...square envelopes cost more in postage!)
Order wedding bands
Reserve tuxedos or suits for groom, dads and groomsmen
4 Months to go...
Draft wedding program information
Be sure to review with your Officiant before you print anything.
Meet with hair and makeup stylists to discuss your ideas
Create your song play and do not play lists for your band or DJ
Don't forget to select special songs like your first dance, father/daughter & mother/son dance, grand entrance, etc...
Schedule your wedding rehearsal
Plan you rehearsal dinner and send invitations
Draft wedding program information
Be sure to review with your Officiant before you print anything.
Meet with hair and makeup stylists to discuss your ideas
Create your song play and do not play lists for your band or DJ
Don't forget to select special songs like your first dance, father/daughter & mother/son dance, grand entrance, etc...
Schedule your wedding rehearsal
Plan you rehearsal dinner and send invitations
3 Months to go...
Attend first dress fitting!
Make wedding favors
Purchase your guest book
Try something fun like a frame or a piece of furniture that represents your story for guests to sign!
Order your wedding programs- proof read, proof read, proof read!
Attend first dress fitting!
Make wedding favors
Purchase your guest book
Try something fun like a frame or a piece of furniture that represents your story for guests to sign!
Order your wedding programs- proof read, proof read, proof read!
2 Months to go...
Schedule hair & makeup trials
Bring pictures! And don't forget your hair piece too! Do a trial run as if is were the real thing!
If you have a particular makeup brand that works well for you bring it along and have the stylist use it on you!
A little airbrushing and fake eye-lashes never hurt either- they last all night long!
Mail wedding invitations
Start and keep a record of your RSVPs
Start a spreadsheet on your computer!
Attend your bridal shower!
...Then update your wedding registry after any showers
Write and mail shower thank you notes
Review ceremony details with your Officiant
Schedule hair & makeup trials
Bring pictures! And don't forget your hair piece too! Do a trial run as if is were the real thing!
If you have a particular makeup brand that works well for you bring it along and have the stylist use it on you!
A little airbrushing and fake eye-lashes never hurt either- they last all night long!
Mail wedding invitations
Start and keep a record of your RSVPs
Start a spreadsheet on your computer!
Attend your bridal shower!
...Then update your wedding registry after any showers
Write and mail shower thank you notes
Review ceremony details with your Officiant
1 Month to go...
Meet with the caterer at your wedding venue to discuss your final dinner menu and timeline!
Draft your seating chart & print your placecards
Be sure to call anyone you haven’t heard from!
Apply for your marriage license
Send your shot list to your photographer and your play/do not play lists to your band/DJ
Attend final dress fitting and hair & makeup trials
Meet with the caterer at your wedding venue to discuss your final dinner menu and timeline!
Draft your seating chart & print your placecards
Be sure to call anyone you haven’t heard from!
Apply for your marriage license
Send your shot list to your photographer and your play/do not play lists to your band/DJ
Attend final dress fitting and hair & makeup trials
1 Week to go...
Send your final count and seating arrangement to your venue!
Pick up your wedding dress and tuxedo
Attend your rehearsal
Drop off any decorations for your reception and assign someone to do the set up
Get plenty of rest and relax- you have everything covered by this point!
Get MARRIED and dance the night away...
Send your final count and seating arrangement to your venue!
Pick up your wedding dress and tuxedo
Attend your rehearsal
Drop off any decorations for your reception and assign someone to do the set up
Get plenty of rest and relax- you have everything covered by this point!
Get MARRIED and dance the night away...
Photo provided by Eileen K Photography