Using a personal wedding checklist as your guide is a smart way to begin your wedding planning on the right foot. It ensures you get your daily, weekly and monthly tasks done on time, helps you keep track of projects on deadline and ensures you’re organized throughout the day. The following detailed checklist will act as a step by step wedding planning guide.
Wedding checklist
Six to twelve months before the wedding:
- Announce engagement
- Decide on type of wedding
- Decide on time of day
- Choose the location
- Set a date
- Set a budget
- Select bridal party
- Plan color scheme
- Select and order bridal gown and/or groom’s suit
- Select and order headpiece
- Select and order shoes
- Select and order attendants’ gowns
- Start honeymoon planning
- Create bridal gift registry
- Start compiling the guest list
- Select caterer
- Select musicians
- Select florist
- Select photographer
- Start planning reception
- Reserve hall, hotel, etc., for reception
- Plan to attend premarital counseling at your church, if applicable
- Select and order wedding rings
- Plan rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Young couple reviewing invoices and doing family
Three months before the wedding:
- Complete guest list
- Make doctor’s appointments (if needed)
- Plan to have mothers select attire
- Select and order invitations
- Order personal stationery
- Start compiling trousseau
- Finalize reception arrangements (rent items now)
- Make reservations for honeymoon
- Confirm dress delivery
- Confirm time and date with florist
- Confirm time and date with caterer
- Confirm time and date with photographer
- Confirm time and date with musicians
- Confirm time and date with church
- Discuss transportation to ceremony and reception
- Order cake
- Select and order attire for groomsmen
- Schedule bridesmaids’ dress and shoe fittings
Two months before the wedding:
- Mail all invitations to allow time for RSVPs
- Arrange for appointment to get marriage license
- Finalize honeymoon arrangements
One month before the wedding:
- Schedule bridal portrait (if wanted/needed)
- Reserve accommodations for guests
- Begin to record gifts received and send thank-you notes
- Purchase gifts for bridal party
- Purchase gift for fiancé if gifts are being exchanged
- Schedule final fittings, including accessories and shoes
- Schedule appointments at beauty salon for attendants
- Schedule bridesmaids’ luncheon or party
- Arrange for placement of guest book
- Obtain wedding props, e.g., pillow for ringbearer, candles, etc.
- Get marriage license
- Two weeks before the wedding:
- I Mail bridal portrait with announcement to newspaper
- Finalize wedding day transportation
- Arrange to change name on license, Social Security card, etc.
- Confirm accommodations for guests
- Prepare wedding announcements to be mailed after the wedding
One week before the wedding:
- Start packing for honeymoon
- Finalize number of guests with caterer
- Double-check all details with those providing professional services (photographer, videographer, florist, etc.)
- Finalize seating arrangements
- Confirm desired pictures with photographer
- Style your hair with headpiece
- Practice applying cosmetics in proper light
- Arrange for one last fitting of all wedding attire
- Make sure rings are picked up and fit properly
- D Confirm receipt of marriage license
- Have rehearsal/rehearsal dinner (one or two days before wedding)
- Arrange to have the photographer and attendants arrive two hours before ceremony
- if there are to be pre-wedding pictures
- Arrange for music to start one half hour prior to ceremony
- On your wedding day:
- Try to relax and pamper yourself; take a long bath, have a manicure, etc.
- Eat at least one small meal prior to the ceremony; drink plenty of water
- Have your hair and makeup done a few hours before ceremony
- Start dressing one to two hours before ceremony