12 Months Out
- Insure the Engagement Ring
- Determine Your Budget
- Make a Guest List
- Hire a Wedding Planner
- Decide Formality and Overall Theme
- Select the Venue
- Buy Wedding Insurance
- Select the Caterer
11 Months Out
- Choose a Color Palette and Start Thinking of Your Overall Design
- Hire Vendors Who Book Up Quickly, Including Your Photographer, Band, DJ, and Videographer
10 Months Out
-
Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress
-
Book Hotel Room Blocks for Guests
-
Create Your Wedding Website
-
Take Engagement Photos
-
Start Looking at Invitations
9 Months Out
-
Buy Your Wedding Dress
-
Send Save-the-Dates
8 Months Out
- Register for Gifts
- Select the Bridesmaids' Dresses and Bridal Party Accessories and Schedule Fittings Within the Month
- Meet With Potential Florists
7 Months Out
- Book the Rehearsal-Dinner Venue
- Hire the Ceremony Musicians
- Order Rental Items, Such as Specialty Chairs, Linens, Draping, Lounge Furniture, and the Dance Floor
- Hire an Officiant
6 Months Out
-
Hire a Lighting Technician
5 Months Out
- Book Transportation for Guests, If Needed
- Book the Newlyweds' Transportation (Like a Limo or Specialty Car)
- Book the Honeymoon
- Buy or Rent the Groom’s Tuxedo
- Begin Premarital Counseling
4 Months Out
- Have Your Final Tasting With the Caterer
- Choose Your Cake
- Buy Wedding Bands
- Select the Groomsmen Attire and Schedule Fittings Within the Month
- Have Your Hair and Makeup Trial
3 Months Out
- Order the Invitations and Hire a Calligrapher
- Create or Plan Your Menu
- Brainstorm Guest Favors and Gift Bags
- Book a Photo-Booth Rental
- Write Your Vows
- Select Readings
- Meet With the Officiant and Invite Them to the Rehearsal Dinner
- Start Crafting DIY Items If You Haven’t Already
2 Months Out
- Send the Wedding Invitations (With RSVPs Due One Month Before the Wedding)
- Send Out Rehearsal-Dinner Invitations (These Can Be Included With the Wedding Invitations If You Like)
- Have Your First Wedding Dress Fitting
- Purchase Wedding Dress Undergarments
- Pick Up Your Marriage License
- Buy Wedding Party Gifts
- Do a Floral Mock-Up With Your Florist
- Give the Song Selections to Your Musicians
- Buy All Necessary Small Items
1 Month Out
- Assemble Gift Bags
- Pay Vendors in Full
- Create a Seating Chart
- Order or Make Escort Cards and Place Cards
- Have a Final Venue Walk-Through
- Put Cash in Tip Envelopes for Your Planner/Delegate to Distribute
- Break in Your Wedding Shoes
Final Week
- Manicure/pedicure
- Having a massage (why not make it a couple's massage?)
- Final dress fitting (a friend or bridesmaid should come with you so they can learn how to bustle if your dress requires it)
- Pack your bags for the honeymoon (don’t forget your passport if leaving the country), and confirm travel arrangements (if you're leaving right after the wedding)
- Clean your ring (head to your jeweler to get your engagement ring professionally cleaned so it’s extra sparkly on the wedding day)
- Chase any RSVP straggles and deliver the final headcount
- Clear your work to-do list so you can only focus on wedding festivities and take it all in
- Practice your vows out loud
- Write your partner a note
Night Before and Morning of the Wedding
The Night Before:
- Eat a healthy meal
- Pack a clutch or small bag of personal items
- Drink water
- Get a good night's sleep
- Put any boxes, suitcases, bags, and survival kits to bring to the ceremony or reception in the car (you'll thank us tomorrow)
The Morning Of:
- Stay off your feet as much as possible
- Eat breakfast
- Drink even more water
- Take your dress and veil out of the bag early on and have someone steam them if needed
- Lay out all the items (rings, invitations, etc.) that you want the photographer to capture
- Exchange notes with your partner
- Say thank you to everyone around you