What is the typical wedding planning timeline?

You just got engaged! Congratulations! What do you do first!? I’ve had brides get excited to find the perfect invite, but hold on! That might not be the right place to start! Wedding planning can get overwhelming and if you don't follow the right checklist for planning a wedding you may make a mistake that could force you to re-plan and therefore waste your time and money. You cannot book your photographer unless you know when and where you want them to be available. You cannot determine your venue or date until you have a guest count, budget, and theme in mind! Here are some wedding planning tips from us to you! Don’t forget to download our free Wedding Planning Checklist to make it even easier.

What to do 9-12 months before the wedding?

First thing's first: discussing the budget! But, so many couples wonder, “Well, how much does a wedding cost?” This is where it can be so incredibly helpful to have an instant expert on the industry at your exposure… the wedding planner! He/she can help you sift through the marketing and the google searches to find a venue that will work with your budget and party size and therefore help you hone in on a wedding date that works for both the venue and family. Then, it is time to go look for THE DRESS! Sometimes ordering the perfect dress can take months, plus you need time for accessorizing and alterations, so that needs to get rolling first!

What to do 6-9 months before the wedding?

It is not just about booking the venue and finding a dress! Pulling off a wedding requires teamwork of quite a few vendors such as photographers, videographers, DJ’s, caterers, bartenders, florists, bakeries, invitations, officiants, hair and makeup artists, and it can go on and on…. These are the people who make a wedding possible. Some can’t do more than one wedding per day, and some can only do one wedding a weekend! Some have decades of experience (which their price reflects) and some are just getting their feet wet. Some include a lot of options while some focus on perfecting one aspect. Work your way through one at a time, choosing what works for you, your priorities, and your budget until you have all the right pieces to the puzzle. Don’t forget to use your wedding planner's recommended vendor list! If they come recommended by a professional, you can rest assured that they are also professional and trustworthy!

What to do 3-4 months before the wedding?

Once you get the main vendors selected, there is another layer you can't forget! Unless you are going against the "traditions", you will also need the rings, the bridesmaids dresses, the tuxedos, the favors, the cake topper & cake cutting set, the guest book, the card box, the placecards, the table numbers, the garter and toasting flutes, and the legal document itself… the marriage license! Some of these things need time. The dresses can take months to have made, ordered, and altered. Whereas something like the marriage license expires in 90 days, so you don’t want to get that until closer to the event day. Use the checklist to collect one item at a time and make sure you have a plan about who is going to bring it to the wedding and put it in its special place. Your wedding coordinator might be just the right fit for the job!

What to do 1-2 months before the wedding?

Along the way, and mostly towards the end, there may need to be some creative crafting. With the help of your venue, you’ll need to design a floorplan, and assign each guest to a table. For visual appeal, don’t forget to finalize the placecards, linens, napkins, number of centerpieces, and food counts/selections with the vendor that will need to know! You’ll be writing your vows, choosing your songs for your special dances, planning readings, assigning toasts and writing thank you speeches! Don't forget to break in your wedding shoes (maybe while practicing your first dance), and come up with a plan for how the processional is going to go! That’s who is walking with who and in what order down the aisle. If you are not into those details and crafts just aren't your thing, there are professionals you can hire for all of it! Of course your wedding planner can take care of communicating the plan with the vendors and bridal party for you! You would be amazed at how fast a professional planner can whip up a processional lineup and a timeline of the day!

What to do the night before the wedding?

After your rehearsal, the night before the wedding, you need to hydrate, relax, get some sleep, and leave it all to the professionals! Yes, you heard me! The plans have been discussed, song selections made, tasks delegated, ceremony has been rehearsed, and now it is time to enjoy! Get some sleep!

The Unbelievably Simple Wedding Planning Timeline for Pulling off your Dream Wedding