The Only Wedding Planning Checklist You Will Ever Need

So we hear you are getting married? Congrats!  Now that the excitement has settled down from your engagement, it’s time to start planning your wedding.  To help ease the stress, we have put together this wedding planning checklist of just about every aspect of the planning process.  This is literally the only wedding planning checklist you will ever need and it’s a long one!  But, before we dig in, we just wanted to give you some tips to get you started. Since this post has TONS of links and resources, it’s a good idea to favorite this page since you will want to refer back to it often. The world is an ever-changing place and the wedding industry is no exception.

Instead of a checklist, we like to think of this as a “roadmap for your wedding planning journey.” Each section will guide you through a treasure trove of resources and advice so take the time to read through the sections that are relevant to your vision, budget, and timeframe. Enjoy every minute of the planning process and let’s have some fun!

◯ Draw up your guest list

◯ Ask the special people in your life if they would like to be in your wedding party

◯ Choose your ceremony site and book your officiant

◯ Schedule your engagement photo session

◯ Plan/have an engagement party

◯ Start a skin care regimen

◯ Create your wedding website

◯ Finalize your wedding theme and choose your colors

9 Months

☐ Shop for and buy your wedding dress

8 Months

☐ Pick your bridesmaid dresses and schedule a fitting with your bridesmaids

☐ Send out a Save the date

7 Months

☐ Interview and choose a photographer and videographer if you have not already done so.

☐ Hire a DJ and decide if you want any live music as well

☐ Choose your florist

☐ Reserve a block of hotel rooms for any out of town guests

☐ Meet the caterers, plan the menu and schedule a tasting

☐ Set up your wedding registry.

☐ Begin planning your bridal shower

☐ Meet with your officiant to confirm the details of your ceremony

☐ Make a list of all the rental equipment you need for the ceremony or reception

6 Months

☐ Book your transportation for the day including any limos or party buses to and from the venue

☐ Book a hotel room to get ready during the day and for the wedding night

☐ Schedule and attend your 6-month dress fitting

5 Months

☐ Book your ceremony musician

☐ Hire a hair stylist and makeup artist 

☐ Book your honeymoon

4 Months

☐ Order your invitations

☐ Hire a calligrapher to hand address your invitations

☐ Purchase your wedding rings

☐ Schedule your rehearsal dinner

☐ Choose your wedding favors

3 Months

☐ Attend any pre-wedding retreats or counseling that may be required

☐ Shop for formal wear for your Bridal Shower and rehearsal dinner

☐ Choose your wedding cake

☐ Choose and schedule a time for the Groom and Groomsmen to get fitted for their formalwear

☐ Book dance lessons for your first dance

☐ Attend your bridal shower

2 Months

☐ Meet with your officiant to finalize the details of your ceremony

☐ Choose any readers and finalize the readings with each of them

☐ Obtain the paperwork needed to change your legal name

☐ Mail out the invitations

☐ Write your vows

☐ Purchase any gifts for your parents and each other

☐ Purchase gifts for your bridal party to be handed out at the rehearsal dinner

☐ Don’t forget Something old, new, borrowed and blue!

☐ Schedule a spa and beauty day for you and your bridal party

☐ Gather your RSVPs and contact anyone who has not yet responded

☐ Prepare a seating plan

☐ Confirm the final headcount with your vendors

☐ Prepare your speech for the rehearsal dinner

☐ Write your vows

☐ Deliver final song playlist to your DJ

☐ Review finalized photo list with your photographer

☐ Circle back with your vendors to make sure they have everything they need and that they are clear on expectations

1 Month

☐ Finalize the your wedding day logistics

☐ Schedule your final dress fitting

☐ Contact all of your bridesmaids to make sure their gowns are altered and ready

☐ Create a wedding program to hand out to your guests as they arrive

☐ Purchase wedding day accessories

☐ Obtain your marriage license

☐ Get your last haircut and color before your wedding

☐ Print place cards or table numbers

☐ The Groom should go for his final fitting and pick up his suit along with all of the groomsmen

☐ Choose an outfit for your Bachelorette party

☐ Keep breaking in those wedding shoes!

☐ Make sure all ceremony/reception items for the day are packed up and ready to go

☐ Prepare any tips or final payments ahead of time for your vendors

☐ Attend Bachelor/Bachelorette parties

☐ Prepare a wedding day survival kit

The Week Before

☐ Pack for your honeymoon

☐ Attend your rehearsal dinner

☐ Get a manicure and pedicure & Massage

☐ Deliver any gift baskets to the hotel with instructions on who the deliver them to

☐ Circle back with your vendors one last time

☐ Get a spray tan no more than two days before

☐ Arrange transportation for your out of town guests to and from the hotel

☐ Deliver ceremony and reception accessories to the site 

☐ Give your marriage license to your officiant

The Day Before

☐ Get to bed early

The Day Of!

☐ Eat a good breakfast

☐ Present parents and each other with gifts

☐ Give wedding bands to the best man for the ceremony

☐ Assign a family member as a point of contact for vendors during the day if you don’t have a planner or on-site coordinator

☐ Sit back and let your vendors do the work as you get ready

☐ Enjoy every moment of your day

After The Wedding

☐ Arrange for someone to return rental equipment

☐ Make sure tuxes are returned

☐ Write and send thank-you notes to guests and vendors. Leave reviews online and share your experience

☐ Get your gown cleaned and preserved if you choose to keep it