The question is popped, the ring is on, and stars are in your eyes…but now what? With so many tasks to take care of and details to arrange, planning a wedding can seem overwhelming. But, if you give yourself enough time to plan and sort the tasks month by month with a wedding-planning checklist and wedding timeline, the job becomes more fun and less stressful.
“By breaking down the year month by month, you are taking on the planning process in bite-size pieces and it will be far less overwhelming,” says Tessa Lyn Brand, the creative visionary behind Tessa Lyn Events. “You can enjoy each step.” (Trust her. She knows what she is talking about.)
Meet The Expert: Tessa Lyn Brand is the founder of Tessa Lyn Events, a wedding planning agency based in southern California. Brand has worked on over 180 weddings to date.
The ideal engagement length, in terms of planning, is 12 to 14 months, according to Brand. With a year or more to plan, brides will usually be able to book their venue of choice. That’s not to say you can’t get your dream venue with less time; it just gets trickier, of course, as popular venues book up quickly.
Brand shared her expert insights to help create this 12-month wedding-planning checklist and timeline to help brides plan a stress-free path to “I do!”
12 MONTHS OUT
Determine Your Budget
It’s time to do the math and crunch some not-so-fun numbers. Before you can start anything, you have to figure out who’s paying for what and determine your wedding’s bottom line. From there, you’ll want to break down said budget – what’s a priority? What’s not? – and start allocating funds accordingly. (A little market research here comes in handy.) And since these numbers will change as you plan, it’s smart to start a detailed spreadsheet from the get-go. This will help you keep track of your spending and make it easy to adjust numbers along the way.
Make A Guest List
If only you could invite any and everyone, right? Chances are, you can’t, which is why you have to put a cap on dishing out invites. When deciding your head count, consider your budget (how much can you afford?) and your venue (how many people does it fit?). Also, who’s paying for what? From there, figure out how you’re going to divvy up the list. If you and your partner are footing the bill, assume you’ll get 70 percent of the invites, while both sets of parents will split the other 30. But if mom and dad are contributing, it’s protocol to give all involved parties – your parents, your partner’s parents, you as a couple – one third each. Next comes cutting, negotiating, and cutting some more until you reach a final number.
Hire A Wedding Planner
Again, this will depend on your budget. (Fair warning: Most everything will.) But if your funds allow – or if your peace of mind depends on it – now is the time to tap the manager of your big day. This person will be your right-hand woman (or man) and will guide you in all decisions, from selecting a venue to tracking your budget and handling all the logistics.
Decide Formality And Overall Theme
Now’s the time to sit down and have another heart-to-heart convo with your significant other. After all, the vibe of your wedding needs to be a mutual decision between the two guests of honor. To get the conversation flowing, pour a glass of wine/water/tea and ask yourself: What’s important to you and why? What do you value? Also, know that your venue – more on that below – is going to affect all of this. (Because, in most cases, we’d argue against a glam, black-tie theme for a barn wedding.)
Select The Venue
Okay, you know who you’re marrying. Now the real question is where? Trust us: Choosing the venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make right now. Seriously, the location affects almost everything else, from how many people you invite to what kind of flowers go on the table. Chances are, it’s also the biggest chunk of change you’ve put down, like ever. That’s why you want to explore your options, visit the top contenders, and ultimately select a place that fits your guest count, style, and budget. (Here are the best venues we’d recommend again and again).
Select The Caterer
Your wedding is the best (and largest) dinner party of your life. So how exactly do you feed 150 of your nearest and dearest? Well, start with hiring people you trust to deliver – whether that’s the venue’s in-house caterer, a preferred caterer recommended by your planner, or even your favorite taco truck. And don’t be afraid to get creative with your menu. Your guests will enjoy tasting your favorite cocktail as much as they will your grandma’s blueberry pie.
11 MONTHS OUT
Choose A Color Theme And Start Thinking Of Overall Design
Pull up your Pinterest boards, people. It’s finally time to gather inspiration, select a color palette, and create a mood board. If you’re struggling for inspo, planner Jessica Sloane recommends taking a step back to look at things that are already in your world – like how you’ve decorated your house, what you are liking on Instagram, etc. – and draw inspiration from that.
Hire Vendors Who Book Up Quickly, Including Your Photographer, Band, DJ, And Videographer
These are the people who will make your night fun – and all those memories last forever (aka, they’re important). Do your research before you hire, ask all the right questions, and maybe even date your photographer. Seriously, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
10 MONTHS OUT
Start Shopping For Your Wedding Dress
You may know exactly what you want or you might not, which is okay, too. To get you started, here’s an ultimate guide to dress shopping. Also, visit these places in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City – because finding a gown may be a matter of trial and error, but finding a salon shouldn’t be.
Book Hotel-Room Blocks For Guests
It’s a thoughtful gesture to block out rooms (and secure a discounted rate) for your guests. Here’s everything you need to know.
Create Your Wedding Website
Get your site running now because you’ll need to put the URL on save the dates next month. Follow these rules and make it pretty using Riley & Grey, Squarespace, or Appy Couple.
Take Engagement Photos
Now is a great time to practice being in front of the camera, especially since most photographers include a session in your package. But don’t fret: We have three tips for the camera shy.
Start Looking At Invitations
The wedding invitation is a guest’s first impression of your big day. That’s why you want to put your best foot forward with a personalized preview. If you’re going custom, start working with a graphic designer or stationer now to create your dream suite. If you’re going for a less involved route, you can wait until the six-month mark. (Invites will be sent out just six to eight weeks prior to the big day.) Here are 12 of our favorite sites to look for invites.
9 MONTHS OUT
Buy Your Wedding Dress
It’s time to say “yes” to the dress if you want to avoid rush fees.
Send Save The Dates
Let everyone officially know when and where you’re making it official. And remember: Everyone who gets a save the date gets a wedding invite. No exceptions.
8 MONTHS OUT
Register For Gifts
Involve your better half in this one – after all, you two are building a life (and home) together. When registering, it’s smart to ask for staples – like sheets and pots and pans, and so on – but it’s even more genius to think about what you really want. Are you adventurers? Aspiring chefs? Charity givers? Consider your hobbies and tailor your registry to your soon-to-be-married lifestyle.
Select The Bridesmaids’ Dresses And Schedule Fittings Within The Month
After browsing Brides.com for initial research, ask your bridesmaids to come shopping with you IRL – if they live close by. It will be helpful for you to see them in the dresses, and you could even ask how they feel in the options you’re considering. (They do have to wear it in front of a crowd of hundreds, after all.) With that said, we’re all about the trend of selecting a color palette – like yellow, grey, burgundy, or white – and letting your girls choose what they want to wear. Even better, check out our guide to perfectly pulling off mismatched dresses.
Meet With Potential Florists
Much like hiring your other vendors, you want to be simpatico with your florist, as well. In order to do that, we suggest polling friends for recs, scrolling through Instagram inspo, and asking your planner/venue coordinator who they recommend in the area. It’s important that you find someone who is able to deliver on your vision and budget.
7 MONTHS OUT
Book The Rehearsal-Dinner Venue
Traditionally, the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner so treat this as an opportunity to impress your future MIL if that’s the case. With that said, you still have say in the theme of this party and where it should happen (especially if you’re footing the bill yourself). We love the idea of hosting a family-style dinner at your favorite restaurant – here are some great ones in NYC – or even hosting a casual celebration like a clambake or backyard BBQ. Read this before you start hashing out the details.
Hire The Ceremony Musicians
If you’re enlisting the talents of a three-piece band, now’s the time to do so. As for the actual music, we say don’t go generic when you can go personal. Here are 100 song ideas for the processional, and 100 for the ever-important bridal march.
Order Rental Items, Such As Specialty Chairs, Linens, Draping, Lounge Furniture, White Dance Floor, Etc.
You may think of these as extras, and we beg you to change this way of thought. Great rentals essentially act as the good bones of your wedding-day décor. Conclusion: Don’t skimp on upgraded chairs and cozy lounge furniture (your guests will thank you) if your budget allows.
Hire An Officiant
If you aren’t marrying in a house of worship, you’ll need to hire someone to make it official. Couples can use a professional (check local listings online on Thumbtack) or take a more intimate approach and ask a close friend or family member to do the honors.
6 MONTHS OUT
Hire A Lighting Technician
The most important detail couples forget about is lighting. Seriously, the bulbs and candles you select are what will ultimately light your perfect venue, make your photos just right, and keep the party going – even after the sun sets. Here are 24 bright ideas, and another 31 of picture-perfect candle displays.
5 MONTHS OUT
Book Transportation For Guests, If Needed
How do you know if it’s needed? Consider your venue’s parking situation, guests’ access to car services or public transportation, and the cost you’re asking them to incur. Good rule of thumb: If it’s going to run them $20 or more – especially if you’ve already asked them to travel for a destination wedding – think about a shuttle bus. Or, some car services, such as Uber, allow you to book rides on others’ behalf. For everything else you need to know about wedding guest transportation, check out our handy guide.
Book The Newlyweds’ Transportation (Limo, Specialty Car, etc.)
Time to think about you two. Whether you’re into getting in to a stretch Escalade limo, or all about hopping on a tandem bicycle – get around in a style that’s all your own with these 15 creative transportation ideas.
Book The Honeymoon
Traditionally, wedding etiquette states the groom plans a surprise honeymoon for the bride. But, if you guys are tag-teaming your honeymoon strategy, try to have things semi-sorted out by this five month mark. That means being on the same page about budget, timing, travel arrangements, and a semblance of an itinerary. You don’t have to schedule every minute, but each of you should share the most important takeaways you want from this trip, and act to ensure those activities will happen. Then, grab our top 13 tips to create the trip of a lifetime.
Buy Or Rent The Groom’s Tuxedo
The groom walks out first, remember? Make sure that first impression on your guests is a good one. Step one is choosing between a tux or suit, based on the formality of your wedding, and then deciding whether to buy or rent. When selecting the actual ensemble, focus on fit and function. A well-made outfit will be flattering, but also allow your groom to show off any and all embarrassing dance moves without fear of splitting any seams. Finally, if you’re going the renting route, avoid these five mistakes groomsmen make when renting a tux or suit.
Begin Premarital Counseling
Whether you come from a religious background or not, pre-marital counseling has worked wonders for countless couples. (The experts say so, and so do the couples.) It’s helpful to have an objective third-party encouraging you to address issues that haven’t come up yet in your relationship. And, counselors can provide you with healthy conflict resolution tactics so you’ll be ready when the inevitable disagreement does present itself. Plus, some states offer a discount on your marriage license if you undergo counseling.
4 MONTHS OUT
Have Your Final Tasting With The Caterer
At this point, you’ve asked your caterer to talk through these questions. Now it’s time to taste what they’re really made of. The tasting has become increasingly important as more and more couples choose to customize everything from their signature cocktails to their desserts. If you’re nervous about heart-eyes obstructing your taste buds’ judgment, bring your planner or consultant. They’ve likely attended dozens of tastings, and will be your clear-eyed troubleshooter – paying attention to the detailing of the food and the attentiveness of the service, while you’re crying over crab cakes to bae about how “It’s just starting to feel so real, you know?” Here’s more info on what not to do.
Choose Your Cake
We’ll hit you first with the pinspiration: Check out these gorgeous photos and delicious flavoring descriptions. Now, you and your partner should settle on a look and flavor profile you both love. Don’t stress about pleasing every one of your guests. This is your cake as a couple; it’s about expressing you guys. (You can also consider a groom’s cake.) Got the cake(s) decided? You need a baker. Find a reputable one who’s available on your date, and happy to take on your dream design for an equally dreamy price. (Ask them these questions.)
Buy Wedding Bands
Does your fiancé (or you) know the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding band? Read up, and then look through some of our favorites for him and her.
Select The Groomsmen’s Attire And Schedule Fittings Within The Month
Do you want the groom and his guys to be matchy-matchy? How can you ensure the entire entourage gets fitted on time if they live all over the place? What else could go wrong? Breathe. You’ve got this, and don’t be afraid to get the groom involved. He may be able to easily pull rank and get his men in line – a very neat, orderly, and well-dressed one, at that.
Hair And Makeup Trial
Help your stylists help you by researching some particulars before you come in for your trials. Look back at old photos of yourself so you can find something that’s worked before and ensures you still look like yourself. Next, feel free to search social media for other inspiration; just don’t delude yourself with highly-filtered Instagram expectations.
“bring photos and be as specific as possible about what you want and don’t want.”
3 MONTHS OUT
Order The Invitations And Hire A Calligrapher
There are a few ground rules when it comes to ordering your wedding invitations: Order enough of them and account for some mistakes, make sure they will arrive in time, set up a system for recording RSVP replies, and confirm all addresses and spelling. But when it comes to design and wording, the options are endless. Need a little advice to rein it all in? Keep reminding yourself that the theme of your invites should match the vibe of your wedding and express you as a couple. If you commission a calligrapher, here’s everything you need to know about calligraphy. Make sure your calligrapher knows it, too, and can prove it before booking him or her.
Create Or Plan Your Menu
Once you’ve undergone a successful tasting, you’ll have a good sense of your caterer’s style and offerings, so you’re ready to finalize your food. Maybe you’re the couple who’s hand-selected every hors d’oeuvres, main, side, dessert, and drink situation. Or, perhaps you just told your chef to “handle it” and called it a day. Either way, now is the time to stamp your approval on a completed menu that fits your budget, tastes, and timing.
Brainstorm Guest Favors And Gift Bags
You don’t have to do favors or gift bags, but now’s the time to decide. Here are some of our favorite options for favors, and these are Lauren Conrad’s thoughts on welcome bags. Go forth!
Book A Photo-Booth Rental
Photo booths have become a reception staple, but if you’re hoping for something with a little more pizzazz than your standard step-and-shoot, check out these seven creative alternatives.
Write Your Vows
If you’ve opted to write your own promises to one another, start thinking about what those should sound like for you two as a couple. Traditional? Tear-jerking? Feminist? Millennial? Pop-culture inspired? We’ve got guides for them all.
Select Readings
Bible versus are an obvious choice here (thanks, Mandy Moore à la A Walk to Remember), but there are plenty of nonreligious options, as well. If you’d like for your readers to choose their own, make sure you give them as much guidance as possible.
Meet With The Officiant And Invite Him Or Her To The Rehearsal Dinner
Lots of things to consider when asking someone to marry you, but your main concerns are availability, eligibility, fee, and fit. Can your officiant of choice lawfully, affordably, and meaningfully help you two become one? Once you’ve chosen, make sure he or she is on the same page as you about your expectations and the overall tone you want for your ceremony. And if you’ve recruited a recently-ordained bestie to head up the charge, here’s an article on how to officiate a wedding ceremony you can send along.
Start Crafting Any DIY Items If You Haven’t Already
Whew! Let’s hope you were able to control yourself scrolling through our DIY inspo and only have a few projects to tackle at this point. (Read this if you’re overwhelmed.) Get to crafting – and make it anything but crappy with good friends, good music, good food, and good breaks regularly.
2 MONTHS OUT
Send The Wedding Invitations (With Rsvps Due One Month Before The Wedding)
You already did the hard part – the selection process. Now, just print and assemble.
Send Out Rehearsal-Dinner Invitations (These Can Be Included With The Wedding Invitations If You Like)
If your partner and his or her family are handling the rehearsal dinner, make sure you give them an accurate list of addresses, and feel free to discuss the design and overall aesthetic of the rehearsal dinner. You don’t want it to be an exact replica of the reception that will follow the next night, but you may also want to confirm you don’t show up to an “eat with your hands” BBQ buffet in black tie.
First Dress Fitting
We know you’ve been following along on our Ultimate Wedding Dress Shopping Timeline, but just to remind you: Your first fitting should be anywhere between two to three months after ordering, and your second one around the six-week mark.
Pick Up Your Marriage License
Ah, the fine print. There are four steps to getting your marriage license, and it’s important to know where to go, what to bring, how much it’ll cost, how long it’ll take, and how long it’ll last.
Every state has different laws and requirements, so Google yours. If you’re having a destination wedding, whether domestic or international, you’ll need to research those paperwork requirements as well. Then, make sure you as a couple, your witness(es), and your officiant sign it. (Here’s what to do if, God forbid, you lose it.)
Buy Wedding-Party Gifts
How much you spend on your bridesmaids’ gifts is determined on an individual basis, but no matter your price point, your goal should be something that’s as thoughtful, functional, and personalized as possible. Here are some suggestions, and testimonials from real maids of honor.
Do A Floral Mock-Up With Your Florist
Floral samples vary depending on your florist and your own wedding décor choices, but most of the time they’ll include a mock reception table setup, centerpiece, and bouquet. Now is also the time to talk tweaks and finalize your delivery and care strategy.
Give The Song Selections To Your Band Or DJ
Give The Song Selections To Your Ceremony Musicians
Buy All Small Items
Just off the top of our heads, those include table numbers, toasting flutes, cake topper, cake stand, cake knife, guest book, card box, ring-bearer accessories, flower-girl accessories, a cute hanger for your dress, and a garter. Also consider purchasing pashminas, flip-flops, and/or sunglasses for guests to change into at the reception, as well as baskets to hold them. Then, don’t forget your signs (“Welcome,” “Guest Book,” “Dancing Shoes,” etc.).
1 MONTH OUT
Assemble Gift Bags
Follow the same guidelines as you did for your DIY projects to ensure this task is fun, not frustrating.
Pay Your Vendors In Full
The last awkward situation you want to deal with right before your wedding day is a vendor chasing money. Avoid that by keeping careful track of when and how much you pay each vendor. If there are some vendors who must be paid the day-of, or you’re distributing tips, give your most trusted bridesmaid or relative a heads-up that come wedding day, you’ll be counting on them to handle the labeled envelopes you’re going to put together.
Create A Seating Chart
You thought the guest list was a pain in the hiney, and now you’ve arrived at the seating chart challenge – another daunting balancing act of relationships, egos, potential, and crisis-management. You’ll want to think about your venue’s floor plan, whether or not you’ll have a head table and who will be sitting at it, and choosing a cool design. Here is a digital planning guide, in case that helps, too.
Order Or Make Your Escort Cards And Place Cards
First, you should know the difference. While both place cards and escort cards designate where each guest will be seated at a wedding, place cards are more specific – and also more formal – than escort cards. A place card not only directs guests to the table where each will sit during the reception, but also points each guest to his or her particular seat at the table. Whichever you choose, you’ll want your cards to complement the overall theme of your wedding, but again, the possibilities are unlimited.
Have A Final Venue Walk-Through
Make a list of questions beforehand, and bring your planner or another close friend or family member to bring up anything you forget.
Put Cash In Tip Envelopes For Your Planner/Delegate To Distribute
Remember those labeled envelopes we talked about for last-minute checks or tips? (By the way, here’s a complete tipping guide on how much to give and to whom). Primarily, you don’t need to tip people who own their own business – such as photographers, videographers, and florists. It’s customary to tip the following vendors: musicians, DJs, hair stylist, makeup artist, drivers, bartenders, and servers. Many couples tip the wedding planner, as well.
Break In Your Wedding Shoes
Walk around your hallways. Dance in your kitchen. Do everything in your power to avoid painful blisters on your wedding night.
FINAL WEEK
Congratulations! You’ve made it all the way to the final week of your wedding planning. Deep breaths now, most of the hard work is over at this point. Now all that is really left is the nitty-gritty details. Take care of things like:
- Refreshing your hair color
- Getting your eyebrows done
- Manicure/pedicure
- Getting a massage (why not make it a couple’s massage?)
- Final dress fitting (a friend or bridesmaid should come with you so she can learn how to bustle if your dress requires it)
- Pack your bags for the honeymoon (don’t forget your passport if you’re leaving the country), and confirm your travel arrangements
- Any edible crafting
- Clean your ring (head to your jeweler to get your engagement ring professionally cleaned so it’s extra sparkly on your wedding day)
- Chase any RSVP stragglers and deliver the final head count
- Clear your work to-do list so you can only focus on wedding festivities and take it all in
- Practice your vows out loud
- Write your partner a note
NIGHT BEFORE AND DAY OF THE WEDDING
The big day is finally here. All your careful preparation and creative planning have come to fruition, and it’s time to enjoy the wedding. Here’s what to do:
The Night Before:
- Eat a healthy meal
- Pack a clutch or small bag of personal items
- Drink water
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Put any boxes, suitcases, bags, and survival kits to bring to the ceremony or reception in the car (you’ll thank us tomorrow)
The Morning Of:
- Stay off your feet as much as possible
- Eat breakfast
- Drink even more water
- Take your dress and veil out of the bag early on and have someone steam them if needed
- Lay out all the items (rings, invitations, etc.) that you want your photographer to capture
- Exchange notes with your partner
- Say thank you to everyone around you
For Brides With Less Time To Plan
Though 12 to 14 months is the ideal length for an engagement, every couple’s engagement time is different. (Brand once planned a wedding for a couple in a mere seven weeks.) If your engagement length is shorter, Brand’s advice is to condense the schedule.
“If you’re getting married in six months, try to complete all the wedding-planning checklist tasks designated for month 12 to 6 in that very first month, and then you’ll be right on schedule with everything else,” she says.
originally posted on brides.com by Krisit Kellogg, Anna Price Olson, and Jessie Mooney DiGiovanna
