Wedding Planning Timeline
Just got engaged? Congratulations! Now comes the fun (and sometimes overwhelming) part - actually starting wedding planning! Don’t worry, I’ve broken it down into a month-by-month wedding planning timeline so you know exactly what you need to do, and when.
12+ MONTHS before the wedding
Hire a Wedding Planner! The ultimate wedding planning hack is to hire an expert from the outset, particularly if you are planning an outdoor/ marquee or tipi wedding. With so many added elements, having a specialised wedding planner will reduce stress and help you enjoy the process.
Create a “Needs and Wants” list: sit down and decide what is a must have for your wedding, and what would be a nice addition should the budget allow for it.
Write your guest list: remember, if you wouldn’t invite them to your home for dinner on a Tuesday, you really don’t need to invite them to your wedding day. Even a basic headcount allows you to understand what size venue you need.
Set your budget (and stick to it): how much do you ideally want to spend? By starting with your guest list, your budget can be realistic for the amount of people you really want to include in your day.
Book your venue: finding your dream venue may be the deciding factor in choosing your wedding date.
Research Photographers: good photographers can be booked up to two years in advance! Research what style of photography you would like, and start making some enquiries. See my advice on choosing the right wedding photographer HERE.
9-11 MONTHS before the wedding
Send Save the Dates: save the dates are not official invitations so you don’t have to have all of the details decided. Just let your guests know not to book a holiday, you’re getting married!
Research and book your other key suppliers: it is important to consider catering style at this point. Is it a traditional three course meal you would like, food vans, a barbeque? Also start to think about whether to book a florist, band and videographer.
Consider design ideas: do you have a particular colour scheme in mind, any ideas you’ve seen that you’d like to incorporate? Pinterest is your best friend here.
Shop for your wedding dress!
Take out wedding insurance
Choose your wedding party: invite your bridesmaids and groomsmen to be a key element in your big day.
6-8 MONTHS before the wedding
Book remaining vendors: hair and makeup, entertainment, guest transportation.
Create a wedding website: this is a really modern part of wedding planning which I strongly believe is a must have! Especially if you are planning an outdoor marquee or tipi wedding. A website is the opportunity to have all of your information in one place, along with collecting RSVP’s, dietary requirements, and answering all your guest questions in bulk. No couple wants 50 RSVP’s by text with the added “will there be toilets?” to answer!
Plan the honeymoon: it is super popular with modern couples to ask for a honeymoon fund rather than gifts. If this is appealing to you, think about how to incorporate this. This is easily done through your wedding website.
Book accommodation: both for yourselves and for guests
4-5 MONTHS before the wedding
Send out your invites
Book your extras: your Needs vs Wants list starts to come in handy here. With your key suppliers being booked, you can consider if your budget is allowing for the extras.
Tastings with your caterers and cake provider (yum!)
Assign wedding party roles: are there key tasks you wish for your bridesmaids or groomsmen to take on?
Hair and makeup trials
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2-3 MONTHS before the wedding
Finalise guest numbers and seating plan: send final numbers to your suppliers
Finalise your timeline for the day: confirm this with all of your suppliers (but remember, if you’ve hired a wedding planner, this is our job!)
Send your band or DJ your song lists
Write your vows
1 MONTH before the wedding
Write your vows
Final dress fittings
Create a honeymoon packing list
Buy/order your wedding party gifts
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1 WEEK before the wedding
Finalise wedding party roles: if you’ve decided not to have a wedding planner or coordinator, this is the time to ensure that you have someone who knows all the ins and outs of the day.
Start breaking in your wedding shoes (this goes for the whole wedding party!)
Drink LOTS of water.
Plan a pre wedding date night for you both
Create a wedding day emergency kit: don’t worry, if you’ve got a wedding planner or coordinator, we’ll have this for you!
THE DAY BEFORE the wedding
RELAX!!! Try to spend some time together, and let it sink in that the day you have spent so long planning is finally here. You’re about to get married!
This is an approximate guide to help you along your wedding planning, but don’t stress if you do things a little differently. Your planning has to be right for you! And ultimately, you need to enjoy it. You may feel a little overwhelmed at the amount of tasks on this list, but don’t worry – this is exactly why I am here to help. Contact me for a free consultation so that I can start to help you through your wedding planning.
FAQ’S
Q: How far in advance should I book my venue?
A: I’d recommend booking your wedding venue at least 12-18 months before your wedding day, particularly if planning for a weekend or summer date. As a wedding planner, I can absolutely accommodate shorter time frames! But this is an ideal set up for wedding planning.
Q: I’m starting to plan my wedding, what is the first thing I need to do?
A: Write your guest list! This then allows you to set a realistic budget based on your guest numbers, which in turn allows you to secure your venue and date.
Q: When should I send Save the Date Cards?
A: Save the Date Cards should be sent approximately 9-12 months before your wedding, especially if guests are travelling or your date falls outside of school term times where guests are likely to plan holidays.
Q: How can I stay on track with a wedding planning timeline?
A: Create a step by step checklist that you can tick off. I’d recommend a spreadsheet or even just a list if you’re not confident with Excel. Regularly reviewing this timeline will help you stay organised and on track.
