Your Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist
Your wedding planning checklist is a can't miss step in planning your big day
This wedding checklist is going to be your best friend over the next year and change. It will offer great advice when you need it, ideas when you're lost, it'll listen when you want to vent (and won't talk back) but most of all it will calm any frantic nerves that creep in as your big day approaches. Sounds pretty sweet ehh?! I've pieced this wedding to list together from various sources both online and off - through my own experience as a groom and a wedding photographer as well some wedding vendor friends.
“Like my wise grandmother always told me, it’s the gettin’ goin’ that gets ya. ”
So we're going to time-chunk this wedding planning checklist together! I've broken down key areas to consider along your planning journey and tossed them into their own "when-should-I" bucket so you're not overwhelmed by everything all at once. Let's time-chunk it out.
Quick tip before we dive in... along the way be sure to consult with your vendors. When you hire great wedding vendors they become an invaluable resource of knowledge. Great vendors love sharing their wisdom!
12 MONTHS - 24 MONTHS
These are in no specific order because everyone places a different value on the following points. These are however, crucial first-steps in getting the ball rolling.
Select your date: Start with your desired season Summer, Fall, Winter? Or perhaps a special date in your history as a couple.
Research your wedding venues: Venues book up fast, especially the popular ones. If you're flexible with Friday or Sunday wedding dates then you'll have more options. Saturday dates naturally book well in advance. This past year I actually had multiple Thursday weddings simply due to scheduling. Here are some tips for choosing your wedding venue.
Create a wedding Pinterest board: Dive into the deep end of Pinterest, there are so many ideas you've never heard of just waiting to inspire you!
Create your wedding budget: Nobody enjoys this one, it's a total mood killer. However it's important so check it off your list early to make room for the fun stuff. Figure out what is most important to you and how it may impact your budget ie. Balancing a large guest list with cost per plate? How important are your photos?
Select your wedding party
Create your guest list and get the word out to save your date
Research key wedding vendors: This will vary with each couple but it's important to understand that like popular venues, great vendors book very early in the process. For example, my average booking lead time for my photography services is 14-18 months.
Book your venue
Book your wedding photographer
Create a wedding website: Share your story on the site and it will be a valuable resource for your guests.
10 MONTHS - 12 MONTHS
This is the time to lock down your favourite wedding vendors. I'll say it again because this point can't be overlooked - most of the best wedding vendors will book early. Waiting any longer than this time frame may mean your favourite vendors will already be booked up. Of course, everyone will have their priorities in terms of vendors so again these are in no particular order.
Book Planner
Book Caterer
Book DJ/Band
Book Officiant
Cinematographer
Book Hair and Makeup
Book Florist
Book Cake, Pie, Cupcake
Research honeymoon options
Double check passport expiry dates for out-of-country honeymoon plans
Begin the search for The Dress
Do your engagement photo session: Doing your engagement session early allows the planning process to leap forward in the feels department. It also allows you to get to work with your photographer well in advance of the wedding and get great photos that you can use for Save the Date cards, invitations, your website as well as displaying at the wedding itself.
Look into room hotel room availability for guests
8 MONTHS - 9 MONTHS
The fine-tuning begins at this stage, less decisions More doing.
Create your wedding day timeline: Reach out to your planner and photographer. They can provide you with a sample timeline and valuable advice in this area.
Create wedding registry
Lock down your hotel block of rooms for out of town guests + your own suite for the wedding night
Finalize guest list + send out Save the Dates or invitations
Select the fella's suits
Order bridesmaids dresses
Book honeymoon
6 MONTHS - 7 MONTHS
We're at the half-way point! Everything starts taking shape as you get together with vendors to get everyone on board with your vision.
Schedule hair and makeup trial
Schedule menu tasting with caterer
Schedule dress fitting
Narrow down your decor: Make decisions on things like centerpieces, ceremony + reception decor items
Order wedding favours
Send out invitations
3 MONTHS
This is the shit's gettin' real part...
Create your seating chart as well as table numbers
Finalize your menu selections (don't forget your vendors)
Start working on your speeches
Get your marriage license
Purchase wedding bands
Select your wedding music (ceremony, reception) with your DJ/Band
Book transportation
Book rehearsal dinner
2 MONTHS
Now let's fine tune the details.
Finish any name changing paperwork
Finalize ceremony details and your vows
Finalize first dance songs
Create table menus
Create wedding program
Create weather backup plan with your planner/photographer
Purchase wedding party and parent gifts
Purchase accessories: Things like guest book, cake servers and toasting flutes
Arrange brunch for the day after the wedding
1 MONTH
Eeek! Just one month to go however after all your careful planning up to this point, it's just a matter of confirming everything.
Final dress fitting: Bring maid of honour to learn how to bustle your dress.
Finalize your reception seating + VIP seating for your ceremony
Organize your RSVPs
Confirm and send wedding day timeline to each vendor
Follow up with any guests who have not RSVP'd
Confirm rehearsal dinner numbers
Confirm with bridesmaids that they have their dresses ready
Create a morning-of itinerary with times each vendor is to arrive, duties for those family/friends helping out.
Create a Go Bag: Get together the little things you may need ie. needle/thread/scissors, straw for drinking and not messing up your lipstick, blotting papers etc. Your Maid of Honour will be on-call duty with the bag of necessities.
2 WEEKS
Turn that fine-tuning dial a little more to the right...
Provide caterer with final numbers
Provide playlist to DJ/Band
Delegate wedding day duties
Get haircut and colour
Practice your vows
Leaving for your honeymoon right after your wedding? Begin packing now. Get travel items purchased and ready.
Create your family photo list for your photographer: This is typically your parents, grandparents and siblings formal photos taken following the ceremony.
Determine wedding party positions for the ceremony and the order of the party in the processional
Schedule a final timeline call with your photographer: Nailing key moments on the wedding day is the whole point for your photographer, so having the timeline of events nailed down will help your photographer be ready for those moments.
1 WEEK
Start checking the final Wedding To Do List.
Pick up the fella's suits
Confirm any last minute changes with your vendors
Prepare any day-of payment envelopes for vendors
Arrange for snacks/lunch in your groom and bridal suites while you get ready
Provide vendors with your contact phone numbers in case of emergency
Confirm wedding day duties with wedding party and any additional helpers
Check the weather forecast to prepare for any surprises
WEDDING EVE
Just one day to go before showtime, the culmination of this entire checklist! This is your green light to let go of everything and enjoy the anticipation of the day to come.
Spa time with your crew - YOU get a mani/pedi and YOU get a mani/pedi...
Practice your 1st kiss: Sound weird? Make your 1st kiss as husband and wife a smooth experience in front of all those guests. Lots of practice, you're welcome fellas.
Wedding rehearsal
Rehearsal dinner
Consider the following day before getting carried away with your bar tab
Get to bed at responsible time
YOUR WEDDING DAY
It's here! You've planned everything and you have amazing vendors doing what they do best... now is the time to let go and let the day unfold before your eyes, not your clipboard.
Get a great start to the day with a healthy breakfast
Water, hydrate!
Give maid of honour and best man the wedding bands to hold before the ceremony
Introduce venue coordinator to your maid of honour and best man: let them be your contact for reception questions or problems.
Get married!
