Riley Mendas

Planning a wedding can be daunting, but with the right tools and guidance, it can also be a fun and rewarding experience. One of the most important things to do when preparing for a big day is to create a checklist that outlines all the necessary checklist tasks and timelines.

With so many details to consider, a comprehensive wedding planning checklist will help you stay organized and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Viva Wedding Photography has made a list of everything you need to do for the next 12 months, so you can feel confident it’s all written down.

12 Months Before: Initial Planning

Make A Budget Plan

Before moving forward with any other wedding plans, it’s really important to figure out the financial side of things. Ready to start planning a wedding by identifying who will be contributing and setting a budget. We can use a wedding checklist timeline to help us stay organized. Once you have your budget set up, it’s time to prioritize your expenses and allocate your funds accordingly.

It’s always a good idea to consider doing some market analysis to make informed decisions. It’s a great idea to start off with a comprehensive spreadsheet to keep track of the changing financial dynamics as we go through the planning process. This smart move helps you keep a close eye on your spending and makes it easy to make any necessary changes.

Draft a preliminary guest list

You wish you could invite anyone, right? Though it’s a beautiful idea in theory, in practice, you’ll need to invite a smaller number of guests. The ideal number of invitees is determined by balancing your budget with the available space at the location. Consider your budget (the number of guests you can invite) and the venue’s capacity (the number of people who can fit comfortably) before deciding on a final headcount.

The issue of who will pay for what now emerges. Make a plan for handing out invitations once that is clear. It is common practice to have parents send out 30 percent of the invitations, and you and your spouse receive 70 percent if you jointly pay for the party. If parents can contribute financially, a common way to divide the expenses is to allocate one-third for each set of parents and one-third for the couple.

Once that is done, narrowing down the guest list, negotiating, and making any necessary budget changes are vital to get to the final guest count. These are all important things that must be done on the wedding to-do list.

Decide on the wedding style and wedding theme

Go ahead and open up your Pinterest boards as you start your wedding to do list! Now that you have your inspiration and color scheme ready, let’s start creating a mood board! If you’re looking for ideas, why not take a moment to observe the things around you? Consider your home decor, favorite Instagram accounts, and other sources of inspiration. It might just spark some creativity!

10-12 Months Before: Set a Date and Venue

Finalize the wedding date

The couple’s fantasies become a practical reality when they finalize the wedding date, a crucial step in the wedding planning checklist. This step requires a thoughtful balancing act between individual tastes, practical concerns, and maybe even some emotional weight. The date influences everything about the celebration, from the availability of the place to the spirit of the season. Weather, cultural and religious festivals, and the availability of significant guests are just a few of the factors that couples have frequently considered. Once the date is set, the entire wedding planning process revolves around it, as it gives a clear timeline for all subsequent decisions and arrangements.

Book a Wedding Venue

Choosing your wedding venue is undoubtedly a pivotal moment in your wedding planning journey. It becomes evident that this decision holds significant weight, as it commands a substantial portion of your budget allocation.

It’s great to keep in mind that some wedding venues might have last-minute availability or discounts for dates closer to your big day. However, booking your venue at least a year before your dream wedding date is generally recommended to ensure everything goes smoothly. So, while you should not hurry into anything, you should equally avoid wasting time.

Consider hiring a wedding planner

Again, your decision depends on your financial situation, like many aspects of important wedding planning. It’s a great idea to consider hiring a expert wedding planner! The best time to enlist their services depends on your budget and how much peace of mind you want.

This professional becomes a crucial ally throughout the entire and ultimate wedding checklist timeline! They will be there for you every step of the way, providing helpful advice on everything from choosing the perfect venue to managing your budget and handling all the logistics. So, it’s a good idea to think about hiring a potential wedding planner. Their expertise can help make your big day preparations a lot easier.

Take engagement photos

Arrange an engagement photo shoot if it’s not yet on your list of things you need for a wedding. It can be a fun and memorable experience! If you’ve already found a wedding photographer, scheduling this session is a wonderful chance to get to know them before the big day. Building a positive relationship with your photographer can make your time in front of the camera much more enjoyable, leading to stunningly beautiful photos.

Make sure to capture lots of moments during the shoot! These pictures will be cherished memories. Here’s a fun way to multitask: choose your favorite images to use on your simple wedding website and invitations, giving them a personal touch. It’s a clever way to enhance these important elements for your special day!

>>> Recommend reading: Top 27 Things To Discuss Before Marriage | Expert Advice

9 Months Before: Legal Requirements

Purchase Insurance For Your Wedding

A wedding is costly, so it’s prudent to protect your investment with special events insurance. The expense of a wedding can quickly add up, so it’s wise to have special events insurance to cover any legal action or accidents that may arise. Some insurance firms will even offer you a policy on the day of your event if you apply early enough or have the venue booked. Including financial security and peace of mind in your wedding planning checklist is really important!

Wedding insurance might be a wise investment before you go overboard with your spending, even though you should try not to consider the worst-case possibilities. The amount of coverage you select determines the price of wedding insurance, just like with home and contents insurance.

Check and complete legal requirements

Meeting all of the legal requirements is the next thing on the wedding to-do list you will do at least 9 months before the wedding. Schedule a meeting with the registrar and show up as soon as you’ve reserved the location. You can schedule these anywhere from one year to three months out from your wedding, but it’s recommended to do it early to avoid disappointment.

On the big day, you’ll fill out a form asking for all the wedding details of your wedding ceremony, pay for your marriage certificate (note: some churches only take cash), and register your intention to marry.

Your ceremony specifics are due at least six weeks before the wedding, so there’s no need to worry if you haven’t worked them out yet. Learn more about the proper way to serve marriage notice carefully before you make any decisions.

8 Months Before: Create a Guest List

Finalize the guest list

In the intricate dance of wedding planning, your wedding party and guest list are intertwined. Now that you have a general idea of who you want to invite, it’s time to work together with your partner and create an awesome guest list. Let’s bring it to life! Let’s have some important discussions about the things we really need and the things that are not so necessary.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of making tough choices, don’t worry – we’re here to help you out! Additionally, if you need help with creating a guest list without any drama, we would be more than happy to assist you. It’s a valuable resource to have on your wedding planning checklist.

Send save-the-date cards

Are you excited about the next step in your wedding checklist timeline? It’s time to send out those save-the-date notifications to your loved ones! Timing is important, and it’s usually best to do this step about 12 to 6 months before your wedding. But if you’re getting married during a busy time, like a Saturday in the summer, it’s a good idea to act quickly.

It’s really important to ensure you only send save-the-dates to guests who will join us for the entire day rather than just the evening. When announcing your wedding date, it’s important to keep things concise and give a sneak peek of what’s to come. Whether sending formal invitations or directing people to your wedding website, make sure your announcements are friendly and inviting.

Determine the RSVP process

Creating a wedding register is a thrilling part of the wedding planning checklist. You might be wondering why. As a newlywed, you get to shop for the presents others will give you. In our opinion, that is truly heroic.

Some common items on the wedding registry checklist include formal dinnerware and an abundance of bedsheets. Did you know that in addition to traditional wedding gifts for couples, such as china and silverware, you may now register for cash, gift cards, experiences, and truly unique items like high-tech espresso machines and funds to go toward the adoption of a pet? Indeed, it is true, yet it is also true that registries are greater now than ever.

Make sure your well-meaning friends and family don’t give you any awkward surprises by creating your registry early. Avoid having yet another set of cookware take up valuable storage space in your kitchen by creating a register.

On top of that, your loved ones are likely to start presenting you with gifts as soon as possible, and a registry will help them stay on schedule.

Visitors to your wedding website will appreciate having access to additional information you’ve provided. It’s a central location for all the information about your wedding day.

Also, it’s a lot more fun to play with design elements and make your site seem and feel like it’s part of your wedding’s overall concept. Turn your website into a creative (and useful) resource for your loved one by allocating some of your time from the beginning stages of wedding planning to this project.

You should have your wedding website and register fully functional before sending your save-the-dates this month.

7 Months Before: Select Vendors

Book Your Wedding Photographer & Videographer

While it is possible to reserve some wedding vendors closer to the big day, it is essential to get those in high demand as soon as your location is finalized. Among the most important things you need for a wedding, hiring a photographer or videographer should be done well in advance to guarantee their availability.

Book a DJ or Wedding Band

The next thing you should do in your wedding planning timeline is reserve the services of important vendors, like the wedding band or DJ, as early as possible. You must book your preferred performers for your wedding in advance because these dynamic additions to your celebration can only be performed at one ceremony per day.

Book Caterers & Bar Staff

If your chosen location doesn’t offer catering, you’ll need to find another as part of your wedding printable timeline. Choose the wedding breakfast menu: traditional fare, a creative spread, or something else entirely. Making sure your guests don’t go hungry is why this should be at the top of your wedding to-do list, so get a head start.

Book Your Florist

If you aren’t planning to do your wedding flowers, finding a florist ahead of time should be high on your list of things you need for a wedding. You should design if you want elaborate floral arrangements, such as arches and hanging décor, because many florists attend numerous weddings every day.

Book Your Wedding Cake Supplier

Ensure your wedding to-do list includes finalizing your cake design by the four-month mark at the latest and placing the order. If you have your heart set on a certain baker or kind of wedding cake, it’s best to get in touch with them early because they are usually rather busy. Quickly clarify the terms of payment and the specifics of delivery.

Book Your Transport

Make sure to include transportation arrangements in your wedding to do list in case the ceremony and reception locations differ. To add a touch of elegance to your entrance, arrange wedding automobiles for guests and consider special transportation for the wedding party and yourself.

Seek Renting Equipment

We know that you may not see the need for things like a dance floor, lounge furniture, or even specialty chairs, but please reconsider. Good rentals will serve as the framework for the rest of your wedding decorations. If money is no object, invest in more comfortable chairs and lounge equipment (your guests will be grateful).

Find An Officiant

Be sure to factor in the cost of a third-party officiant or celebrant for the legal marriage ceremony into your wedding budget, particularly if you are not having the ceremony in a religious building. A big step on your wedding planning checklist is choosing an officiant. You can go with a professional or go for a more personal touch by asking a close friend or relative to officiate.

6 Months Before: Dress and Attire

Get The Outfits Shopping Started!

Recognizing the importance of your wedding clothes is a good place to start when making a wedding to-do list. If you want your wedding dress to be just right, start looking for it early on. Coordinating the procedure with your wedding checklist timeline requires considerable study and attention, regardless of whether you’re purchasing dresses or suits.

Get Or Rent A Tuxedo For The Groom

In the initial stages of the wedding planning checklist, remember that the groom traditionally departs first, setting the tone for the event. Decide whether it’s best to buy or rent a tuxedo or suit, depending on how formal the wedding is. When finalizing your ensemble, it’s important to prioritize both form and function. This will help ensure that your outfit is not only stylish but also comfortable and durable. By doing so, you can avoid common mistakes that others make when renting their clothes.

Get The Accessories And Bridesmaid Dresses Picked Out

Before you invite the bridal party in person, do preliminary research online as part of your wedding timeline. You can get great insight into their feelings about the selections by observing them in different outfits. This is an important part of your wedding checklist because it includes considering the accessories accompanying the theme.

Choose Groomsmen’s Clothes And Set Days For Fittings

Let’s make sure everything runs smoothly for your wedding party by taking care of all the groomsmen. It’s an important step in your wedding checklist timeline! Planning is super important when our members are spread out nationwide! Get the groom involved in the process! He has great organizational skills that can help create a well-dressed and coordinated lineup.

5 Months Before: Plan Ceremony and Reception

Book the Rehearsal-Dinner Venue

When creating your wedding planning checklist, don’t forget to include the rehearsal dinner! The groom’s family typically hosts the rehearsal dinner, so if this is the case, consider it an occasion to show appreciation to your future mother-in-law. But, since you will be paying for this event on your own, you can choose the venue and theme. We think it’s great that you’re considering having a relaxed, family-style meal at your favorite restaurant or going with a more informal event, like a clambake or backyard barbecue.

Reserve Hotels In Prior

It’s a crucial part of the wedding to do list that you should consider thoughtfully. Wedding guests from out of town may travel considerable distances to be with you on your special day. It’s actually a really nice idea for the couple to reserve a block of hotel rooms (or give rooms at the location itself, in the case of a destination wedding). Staying in the same location is a great idea for your wedding! It allows everyone to relax and have fun together, which is definitely something to consider when planning your big day.

Certain hotels and resorts may not guarantee your room reservations until up to a year in advance. Still, the vast majority will discuss block possibilities with you when booking. As a result, it’s possible that a “soft hold” confirmation won’t be possible until after a year has passed, even if you begin the planning process immediately. Find out what services your venue or potential hotel offers, how they will work with your event schedule, and how to book a hotel block for the wedding.

Provide Transportation For Guests If Necessary

Don’t forget to include transportation logistics in your wedding to-do checklist! Think about how your guests will get to the location, whether they need cars or can take public transportation, and how much it will cost them. A decent rule of thumb is to consider a shuttle bus if it costs $20 or more per person, especially if you’ve already invited them to travel for a wedding. Or, you can arrange rides for other people using services like Uber.

Prepare Escort And Place Cards

You need to recognize the distinction first. Place cards are more formal and specific than escort cards, which indicate where guests will be sitting at a celebration but not their actual location. In addition to indicating the table each guest will be seated at, a place card will also provide the guest’s specific seat. Whatever you decide, the cards should coordinate with the wedding’s overall aesthetic. However, the design options are almost limitless.

Plan reception details, including menu and decorations

As you continue your wedding planning, one exciting step is finalizing the menu after a delightful tasting experience. Whether you love to plan every little detail or trust the chef’s expertise, giving your final approval is important to ensure the menu matches your preferences, dietary needs, and schedule. It’s a big task on your wedding to-do list, but we’ve got you covered!

4 Months Before: Invitations and Stationery

Design and order invitations

Ordering wedding invitations? Here are some important criteria to bear in mind as you start planning your wedding checklist timeline: Be sure they will arrive in time, validate all addresses, and double-check any spelling issues before ordering.

Though there may be a limited number of templates, the design and phrasing possibilities are vast. Remember that your invitations should have a theme that reflects who you are as a couple and your wedding style.

Send out invitations

Plan when you will send out wedding invites so it fits well with your overall schedule for wedding preparations. Without save-the-dates, send out invites about four months before the big day. A sensible approach for your wedding planning checklist would be to wait a few months before the wedding day to send the invitations, provided that save-the-dates were already delivered.

Select Your Wedding Cake

You and your significant other should now agree on a style and flavor profile you enjoy. Don’t worry if you can’t make everyone happy at your party. Enjoy this cake as a married couple. How about the cake(s)? A baker is essential at this time. Look for a dependable one who can meet you on your preferred date, is willing to work with you on your ideal design, and charges an acceptable fee.

Buy Wedding Bands

A vital thing to accomplish before your wedding is to make sure you or your fiancé knows what a wedding band is and how it differs from an engagement ring. Do yourself a favor and learn as much as you can. Insurance for these priceless possessions should be high on your list of things you need for a wedding.

3 Months Before: Plan Honeymoon

Decide on a honeymoon destination

A delightful addition to your wedding planning checklist is the customary arrangement of a secret vacation by the groom for the bride as part of the wedding festivities. If you’re using the honeymoon approach in tandem, you should strive to have things mostly straightened out by this point.

Having a shared understanding of costs, departure and arrival times, and the general course of travel is essential. Even though not every detail needs to be carefully thought out, you should talk about the purpose of the trip and work together to make it happen. This is a great thing to add to your wedding to-do list.

Book travel and accommodations

Continuing with the theme of a secret vacation, if the groom organizes this special experience for the bride, consider incorporating it into the wedding planning timeline. If you’re using the honeymoon approach in tandem, you should strive to have things mostly straightened out by this point.

2 Months Before: Finalize Details

Make An Arrangement For Seats

On the wedding planning checklist timeframe, creating the seating chart is just as difficult as inviting guests. Relationships, ego, and crisis management have been delicately balanced throughout this complex process. An essential part of planning your wedding is thinking about the venue’s arrangement, whether or not you want a head table, who will sit at it, and how the invites will look overall.

Prepare The Goodie Bags And Party Favors

You should buy wedding favors and welcome packages for your guests now if you plan on surprising them with these thoughtful gestures. These optional extras are like icing on the cake if they can be worked into your budget. Around two months before the event, your presents should be wrapped and ready. Although favors are appreciated, they do come at an extra cost. Place it at the bottom of the printable wedding planning checklist and only investigate if money is left over.

Purchase All The Little Items

Beyond the essentials, various things you need for a wedding include items like table numbers, toasting flutes, a cake topper, stand, and knife, along with a guest book, card box, ring bearer and flower girl accessories, a special hanger for your outfit, and a garter. Likewise, consider purchasing baskets and pashminas, flip-flops, or/and glasses for guests to use throughout the reception. Then, don’t forget the signage (“Welcome,” “Guest Book,” “Dancing Shoes,” etc.).

Prepare Escort And Place Cards

You need to recognize the distinction first. Place cards are more formal and specific than escort cards, which indicate where guests will be sitting at a celebration but not their actual location. In addition to indicating the table each guest will be seated at, a place card will also provide the guest’s specific seat. Whatever you decide, the cards should

Tryouts For Hair And Makeup

The following essential part of the free wedding planning checklist is trying hair and makeup layouts. You can help the experts help you by doing some background reading prior you beginning your trials. Examine past photographs of yourself to discover a tried-and-true method of looking your best but being recognizably you.

You can then look to other social media platforms for unique wedding ideas, but don’t let the filtered photos on Instagram fool you. Bring the pictures and be as detailed as possible when describing your preferences to the stylist.

Verify Your Dress Fits and Begin Wearing Wedding Shoes

As part of your wedding checklist timeline, check in with the other wedding party members to ensure everyone is dressed and ready. If any alterations or hemming need to be done, do them now.

About your wedding shoes, go briskly down the hall, or kitchen dancing is encouraged. Try not to risk getting painful blisters on your wedding night by taking any unnecessary precautions.

Create A Floral Mockup With Your Florist

Floral examples may or may not include a faux reception table setting, centerpiece, and bouquet based on the florist and the wedding decor you’ve selected. Discussing and settling on the last details of your birth and care strategy is especially important right now.

Get The Underwear For The Wedding Gown

As you progress through the wedding planning timeline, consider the undergarments you need for your dress. The undergarments you must wear beneath the dress can be purchased after the initial fitting. The first wedding dress fitting is where you want to be because that’s when you’ll get a clear picture of the shapewear or lingerie foundation your design will need.

Final Week-of wedding Planning Checklist

Prepare Your Wedding Vows

We strongly recommend planning ahead of time and putting your vows in writing. Those vows you make in front of a loved one are quite significant. The best course of action is to prepare ahead of time and put your promises in writing. A considerate addition to your wedding planning to-do list, starting this writing project early gives you plenty of time to develop ideas and minimize distractions that could cause headaches and your block.

Make Complete Payments To Vendors

Maintaining meticulous records of payments to vendors is a crucial task on your complete wedding planning checklist. You don’t want to deal with a vendor pursuing money a day before the wedding. Prevent it from happening by keeping meticulous records of all payments made to suppliers. Let your most reliable friend or relative know that on the wedding day, you’ll depend on them to distribute the labeled envelopes containing payments to vendors who require same-day payments or tips.

Go Around The Venue One Last Time

Prepare your questions in advance, and bring a planner or a close friend or relative if you forget any.

>>> Read more:

• 98 Fun Bridesmaid Group Chat Names To Boost Your Wedding Day
• How to Choose Bridesmaids For The Perfect Wedding Support?

Wedding Planning Checklist For A Day Before The Wedding

You are now move to finalize your wedding preparations. Take a few deep breaths; you’ve completed most of the task. Now, all that’s left to do is iron out the specifics. Things to take care of include:

• RSVPs must be confirmed. Lastly, double-check your guest list to ensure you have included everyone who has responded. Next week, you must provide your location with a final headcount.
• Meeting with your wedding planner or day-of coordinator for a final review and modifications is necessary.
• Maintain communication with your vendors. Checking in and ensuring everything is ready for your wedding day is not bad.
• Finalize your beauty appointments now. Coloring your hair and brows, getting a manicure and pedicure, and having a massage are all great ways to treat yourself before your big day.
• Tidy up your ring. If you want your engagement ring to shine even brighter on your wedding day, take it in to get it professionally cleaned.
• Finish your wedding vows. Please verify that the vows have been through their last rounds of editing. As soon as this week is possible, you should begin your practice!
• Get Your Outfits Ironed. Steam and press your wedding attire. You’ll be glad you spent effort maintaining a polished appearance when you review old pictures. In the end, nobody wants to walk down the aisle with wrinkles.
• Ready yourself for the honeymoon right after your wedding. If you are leaving the nation, have your passport with you and confirm your travel plans.

>>> Recommend reading: The Ultimate Last-minute Wedding Checklist for Perfect Planning

The Evening Before The Wedding Day

The big day is here. Your hard work and innovative ideas have paid off, and now you can relax and enjoy the wedding. Follow these steps:

On the evening before:

• Fill up on nutritious food.
• Put your essentials in a clutch or other tiny bag.
• Hydrate yourself.
• Rest up and load up the car with all the boxes, luggage, bags, and emergency supplies you’ll need for the wedding and reception.

On the day of the wedding:

• Start the day off well and hydrate thoroughly.
• Wear your veil early; have someone steam it if needed.
• Prepare an arrangement of the objects (rings, invites, etc.) you wish to have photographed by the photographer.
• Share your thoughts with your partner by trading notes.
• Give thanks to those around you.

>>> Recommend reading:

• The 6 Most Popular Wedding Months and Their Secrets Revealed
• Top Wedding Party Entrance Songs For a Memorable Reception
• 30 Fun Wedding Reception Activities To Make Your Day Special
• Wedding Vendor Checklist: Best Wedding Suppliers in 2024 to Know

Creating a wedding planning checklist can help you stay organized and on track throughout the planning process. Use this Viva Wedding Photography‘s step-by-step planning guide to ensure you don’t miss details and create a flawless celebration that reflects your unique style and personality. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can enjoy a wedding day you’ll treasure forever.