Wedding planning checklist
Planning a wedding means many decisions that depend on each other: the budget sets the guest list, the guest list sets the venue, and the venue sets the date. Doing them in the right order saves a lot of rework.
This timeline assumes 12 months of planning, which suits a medium to large wedding. For a shorter engagement or a small ceremony, keep the order, shorten the gaps and delete whatever you don't need. Popular venues and vendors can book up well ahead, so contact those first.
89 tasks in 8 sections
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12 months before
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9 months before
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6 months before
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3 months before
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1 month before
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The final week
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The wedding day
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After the wedding
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Tips
Decide the budget first
Agree on a total and a rough split before you visit any venue. It is much easier than scaling back a plan you have already fallen in love with.
Read what each price includes
Service charges, overtime and delivery fees can change a quote a lot. Compare vendors on the final total, not the headline price.
Give the day to someone else
Name one person to handle vendor questions on the day, so that nobody needs to find you during the reception.