Wedding Planning Timeline: When to do What

Planning a wedding can be both a fun, exciting experience, and a stressful, overwhelming experience all at the same time. There is so much to do, so many decisions to make, and so many details that can get overlooked. If you just got engaged it can be hard to figure out where to start and when you need to do things. Getting married should be one of the happiest experiences of your life, to help you avoid the stresses of planning a wedding, I have put together a Wedding Planning Guide and Timeline to help you organize your planning tasks and get things done on time. Whether you just got engaged, or your wedding is in 4 months, this Planning Guide will help you every step of the way till you’re walking down the aisle. 

In this guide I will break tasks down in a timeline for the ideal month that they should be completed before your wedding date. With only a few tasks each month, some more fun than others, planning your wedding will be a breeze. Be sure to subscribe below to receive a Free Downloadable Wedding Planning Guide.

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12 - 9 Month Before the Wedding

The first steps towards planning your wedding are the most important. Start with the fun stuff, picking a date, and announcing your engagements to friends and family. Let it settle in that you’re getting married! Take some time to celebrate, and then start working on the more nitty gritty aspects of planning your wedding. The next step is to start your budget. This is the best time to start looking for a wedding planner to assist you in the planning process and manage your budget for you. This is also the best time to start drafting your guest list. This will help give you a better idea of what your budget can buy.

8 Months Before the Wedding

Now it is time to start picking your vendors! This can be a lot of fun, but with so many options, it can also be a bit overwhelming. Be sure to do your research first and schedule a time to meet with your vendors when booking them. 8 months is also the right time to start dress shopping, dresses can take a long time to get altered and shipped, so be sure to pick your dress earlier rather than later. For more tips on picking out your wedding dress, read my post with Tesori Bridal here. Next, you will need to sit down with your caterer and discuss your menu. There are lots of options. When it comes to catering and this is a step where your planner can be of some assistance.  

6 - 7 Months Before the Wedding

This is a crucial month when it comes to planning your wedding. It's finally time to finalize your invite list, send out save the dates, and purchase your wedding invitations. If it hasn’t set in yet that you’re getting married, this is one of those steps that makes it feel so real. This is also the right time to get your bridesmaids to the bridal shop and pick out their dresses. There are so many different colors and styles to choose from and if your bridesmaids require any custom orders or alterations, you really don’t want to put this off for much longer. If you are planning to incorporate florals, 6 months before the wedding is the perfect time to pick your florist and have your design consultation.

4 - 5 Months Before the Wedding

There are a lot of things that still need to be done in the coming months like booking your rehearsal dinner space, ordering your wedding cake, and booking and confirming all of your vendors. Creating a vendor checklist is very helpful in booking and confirming that they all have the information they need to create the perfect wedding experience for you and your guests. Wedding vendors you may need to include are: Caterer, Baker, Florist, Photographer, Videographer, Bartender, DJ, Band, and Coordinator. You will also want to secure any and all rentals that you will be using for decor from chargers and goblets to elegant vignette seating. Keeping all of these contracts and invoices organized will help you out in the long run so be sure to have a designated file or email to use to keep track of all of them. 

2 - 3 Months Before the Wedding

It is finally time to send those invites! With the wedding date approaching, it can be easy to get overwhelmed in these last few months. It is best to do these tasks now rather than later so that you aren’t stressed on your wedding day because you forgot to send your DJ your song list. During the 4th and 5th month, you will need to finalize your menu and florals, send your photographer the list of photos that you want captured on your big day, and rent your groomsmen suits and accessories. Finishing up these final decisions are very detail oriented and communication with your vendors and planners is very important to ensure that your wedding is executed to your expectations. 

1 Month Before the Wedding

Happy wedding month. Your time as a fiancé is almost over! These tasks are a bit more tedious, but easy to complete. This last month you will need to collect your RSVP’s, visit the courthouse to pick up your wedding license, send rehearsal dinner invitations, have your final dress fittings, create your seating chart, and send your caterer your final guest count. While these tasks are all very important, the most important thing you should be doing is spending time with your fiancé and taking in this time together before you get married and really enjoy yourselves. 

1 Week Before the Wedding

Your wedding date is finally upon us. You should feel so relieved that the months of planning and anticipation are over. This time next week you will be a newly married couple on your honeymoon. This week is a joyous one with very little tasks. You will want to have one last meeting with your planner or coordinator to finalize your wedding day timeline and check in with your vendors. You will also need to pick up the bridal party dresses, and tuxes, along with packing any decorations, personal items, and overnight bags. You have put in a lot of work into this wedding, remember in this last week to relax so that you can enjoy this time with your friends and family celebrating the love and connection that you all have and the beginning of your new life together. 

I hope that this guide will help you break down the tasks for planning your wedding and allow you to take a breath and enjoy it; knowing that your wedding day is going to be perfect. To download a copy of this detailed Wedding Planning Guide and never miss our wedding planning content, subscribe to the email newsletter below. 

Cheers,