Meet the Wedding Planner

A Yearlong Wedding Timeline to Organize Your Dream Wedding

By Anjelica MacGregor

Piecing together an immaculate wedding takes a lot of planning. To help a vision come to life, here is a wedding timeline that answers all of your pre-bridal questions. Use this plan to help customize that dream wedding of yours.

12+ Months Before

□ Discuss and settle on a budget.

□ Pick a season of the wedding. Being flexible on exact dates will give you a larger selection of venues.

□ Research locations for the venue and start touring.

□ Have an engagement party! And yes, it’s OK to create a registry beforehand.

□ Book the venue.

10 Months Before

□ Determine wedding style.

□ Shop for and order your gown.

□ If not provided by the venue, start looking for catering companies that will incorporate the wedding theme.

□ Research and book wedding vendors, including the videographer, photographer and reception band or D.J.

□ Hire an officiant.

□ Take engagement photographs.

□ Select the bridal party.

□ Consider researching a wedding insurance policy to protect all deposits.

8 Months Before

□ Make a wedding website.

□ Go to the gown fitting with the maid of honor.

□ Order bridesmaid dresses and flower girl attire.

□ Research and order wedding rings.

□ Start researching honeymoon options.

□ Block off hotel rooms for guests.

□ Collect names and addresses for the guest list.

6 Months Before

□ Book the honeymoon.

□ Send save-the-dates.

□ Renew or get passports if the honeymoon is abroad.

□ Research ideas for wedding favors.

□ Reserve rental equipment: tables, tents, chairs, linens, decorations, etc.

□ Reserve transportation services.

□ Update wedding website.

□ Order the cake.

□ Hire a calligrapher for wedding invitations.

4 Months Before

□ Rent the groomsmen formal attire.

□ Plan the rehearsal dinner.

□ Ensure vendors are aware of plans.

□ Finalize hair and makeup options.

□ Finalize guest list and send invitations to calligrapher.

□ Order wedding favors.

□ Purchase wedding accessories: baskets, candles, ring pillows, linens.

□ Finalize menu

2 Months Before

□ Mail wedding invitations.

□ Start writing vows.

6 Weeks Before

□ Apply for marriage license.

□ Get everything printed.

□ Finalize wedding song.

□ Have the final gown fitting and the dress pressed.

□ Create the wedding program for guests.

4 Weeks Before

□ Have the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

□ Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements

□ Call guests who have not sent their RSVP.

2 Weeks Before

□ Finalize wedding-day schedule and share the schedule with everyone.

□ Go over music with the D.J. or band.

□ Send the must-get shot lists to the photographer and determine timing for portraits.

□ Attend all pre-wedding beauty appointments — think waxings, haircut, hair coloring, facials, etc.

□ Confirm final headcount.

□ Pack for the wedding night and honeymoon.

□ Finalize seating arrangement.

2 Days Before

□ Enjoy a full-on spa day. Enhance that inner glow with a tan plus a mani-pedi.

□ Package bridesmaid and groomsmen’s gifts.

□ Reconfirm all final components with all vendors.

Day Before

□ Attend the rehearsal dinner.

□ Hand out bridal gifts.

□ Ensure all final balances for the reception are paid.

□ Provide vendors and the wedding team with an emergency contact number.

□ Give the marriage license to your officiant.

Day Of

□ Breathe, get married and look forward to a beautiful life together.