TogetherThe wedding planning checklist: a month-by-month timeline
Most wedding stress comes from doing things in the wrong order: falling for a dress before you know the budget, or finding the venue you love is booked for your date. This checklist puts every task in the month it belongs, with the lead times that catch couples out.
The order that matters: set the budget and a rough guest count first (12 months out), book the venue, photographer and officiant (10 to 11 months), shop for the dress (9 months, since it takes 4 to 8 months to arrive), send save-the-dates (8 months), send invitations 6 to 8 weeks before, and give the caterer a final headcount two weeks before the wedding.
It’s built on the timeline Together sets up when you start a US, Canadian, UK or European wedding. In the app, each task gets a real due date from your wedding date, and moves if the date changes.
How to plan a wedding timeline
- Work backwards from the date. Every task below is counted in months before the wedding. Pick your date (or season) first.
- Book the things that sell out first: the venue, the photographer and the officiant. Everything else fits around them.
- Give every task a due date and an owner. “Someone should book the cake” never happens. “Mom books the cake by March 1” does.
- Share it. Parents, the wedding party and your planner should see the same plan, not a copy of it from three weeks ago.
12 months before
- Set the budget and who is contributing. Have the money conversation with both families before anyone books anything.
- Get a rough guest count. It drives the venue, the catering and most of the budget, so do this before you tour venues.
- Pick a season and a few possible dates. Having two or three makes the venue search much easier.
10 to 11 months before
- Book the ceremony and reception venue. Popular venues book 12 to 18 months out, especially for Saturdays in peak season.
- Hire a planner or day-of coordinator, if you want one.
- Book the photographer and videographer. Ask how and when they deliver the photos.
- Book the officiant.
- Look into wedding insurance. Cancellation cover protects the deposits you’re about to pay, and weather cover often has to be bought a couple of weeks before the day, so don’t leave it late.
- Engagement photos, which double as your save-the-date and website photos.
9 months before
- Book the caterer, if your venue doesn’t provide one.
- Book the band or DJ.
- Make the wedding website with the date, venue, travel and hotel details.
- Shop for the dress. Dresses take 4 to 8 months to arrive, plus 2 to 3 months of alterations. This is the task most often left too late.
7 to 8 months before
- Ask your wedding party.
- Block hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.
- Send save-the-dates. For a destination wedding, send them 8 to 12 months out.
- Set up your gift registry (7 months), so it’s ready when guests start asking.
- Book the florist (7 months).
- Plan and book the honeymoon (7 months). Check passports now: many countries want six months of validity left.
4 to 6 months before
- Book hair and makeup.
- Order the wedding party’s attire.
- Meet the officiant to plan the ceremony: readings, vows, music and how long it runs.
- Cake tasting and order (5 months).
- Make a rain plan for anything outdoors (5 months). Ask the venue about a tent or an indoor backup, and what it costs.
- Buy or rent suits and tuxedos (4 months).
- Book transportation (4 months): for you, the wedding party, and guests if the venues are apart.
- Order invitations and day-of stationery (4 months): programs, menus, place cards. Order 10 to 15% extra envelopes for mistakes.
2 to 3 months before
- Buy the wedding bands. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for sizing and engraving.
- Check the marriage license rules where you’re marrying (3 months): how long a license lasts, any waiting period, what ID you need. In England and Wales, book your notice appointment early.
- Order favors and welcome bags (3 months).
- Send the invitations 6 to 8 weeks before, with RSVPs due 3 to 4 weeks out. Ask about dietary needs on the RSVP.
- Buy gifts for the wedding party and parents (2 months).
- Hair and makeup trial.
1 month before
- Get the marriage license (about 30 days before). US licenses often last only 30 to 90 days, so don’t go too early. In England and Wales, notice must be given at least 29 days before.
- Write your vows and speeches.
- Final dress fitting.
- Send the song list and a do-not-play list to the DJ or band.
- Chase missing RSVPs and dietary needs.
- Set up guest photo sharing. Make a photo QR code, print table cards, and ask a bridesmaid or cousin to remind each table.
- Seating chart and place cards (3 weeks).
- Send the photographer your shot list (3 weeks): family groupings with names, so nobody is missed.
- Break in your wedding shoes (3 weeks).
The last two weeks
- Final headcount and meals to the caterer (2 weeks).
- Share the day-of timeline with vendors and the wedding party (2 weeks): who arrives when, and who to call if something goes wrong.
- Pay the final balances and prepare tip envelopes (10 days).
- Pack for the wedding and the honeymoon (3 days).
- Emergency kit (2 days): stain pen, sewing kit, medicine, phone chargers.
After the wedding
- Send thank-you notes. Keep a list of who gave what as gifts arrive, so this takes an evening, not a month.
- Collect every guest photo. Send the upload link with your thank-yous. See how to collect wedding photos from guests.
- Change your name, if you’re changing it, once the marriage certificate arrives.
- Review your vendors, especially the ones who were great.
Checklist by event
Engagement party
- Date and venue, the guest list (usually smaller than the wedding’s), invitations, food and drinks, a toast.
Bridal shower and bachelor or bachelorette party
- Usually planned by the wedding party. Share the date, budget and guest list with them, and stay out of the surprises.
Rehearsal dinner
- Venue and menu, the guest list (wedding party, family, out-of-town guests), who is hosting, and a run-through of the ceremony first.
Ceremony
- Officiant, rings, vows, the marriage license, readings and music, the processional order, a seat for everyone who needs one.
Reception
- Seating chart, the entrance, first dance, speeches, cake, the last song, photo QR cards on every table.
Farewell brunch
- Venue, headcount, and a note in the welcome bags so out-of-town guests know it’s happening.
Planning in less than a year?
Six months is very doable, in a different order. In the first two weeks, book the venue, the photographer and the officiant, and order the dress (or buy one off the rack). Consider a Friday, Sunday or off-season date: venues and vendors are far more likely to be free. Then follow the timeline above, squeezed.
Keeping everyone on the same page
The checklist is the easy part. The hard part is that a dozen people are helping, over text, with the budget in someone’s spreadsheet. A shared wedding planner app helps: every task has an owner and a due date, the owner gets a reminder, and each person sees only what’s theirs, so the budget and surprises stay private.
Planning an Indian wedding? The functions and lead times are different: see the Indian wedding checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should you start planning a wedding?
About 12 months is comfortable. Popular venues book 12 to 18 months out, and dresses take 4 to 8 months to arrive. Six months is possible if you book the venue, photographer and officiant first.
What should you book first for a wedding?
Set the budget and a rough guest count, then book the venue. After that: the photographer, officiant, caterer and band or DJ.
When should wedding invitations be sent?
Six to eight weeks before the wedding, with RSVPs due three to four weeks before. Save-the-dates go out about eight months ahead, or 8 to 12 months for a destination wedding.
When should you buy a wedding dress?
About nine months before the wedding. Most dresses take 4 to 8 months to arrive, and alterations take another 2 to 3 months.
When do you need a marriage license?
In most US states and Canadian provinces, get it about 3 to 5 weeks before the wedding: licenses often last only 30 to 90 days, and some places have a short waiting period. In England and Wales, give notice at least 29 days before. Check your local rules about three months out.
Do you need wedding insurance?
It’s optional, but worth pricing when you start paying deposits. Cancellation cover can refund non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel or postpone for a covered reason, and liability cover is required by some venues.
Is there a free wedding planning checklist app?
Together sets up this checklist when you start a wedding, with due dates from your wedding date, reminders for whoever a task is assigned to, and lists for every event. It’s free.
Get this checklist with your dates on it
Every task, due at the right time, shared with everyone helping. Free.
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