Wedding Planning Checklist: A Step by Step Guide for 2019

To Do List For Wedding

12+ Months

• Choose a wedding date, pick a few so that you can be flexible with venues
• Set a budget. (here's a calculator just for this) This will be a deciding factor in all of your decisions
• Choose your bridal party: maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, flower girl, ushers etc.
• Create a wedding website. Zola and The Knot are good places to start.
• Begin compiling a guest list
• Explore ceremony and reception venue options.
• Start getting your wedding pros organized:
• planner, photographer, videographer, caterer, florist
• Get engagement photos taken

       10-11+ Months

• Choose bridal party attire
• Purchase wedding dress and veil
• Reserve reception and ceremony venues
• Decide on your officiant and book:
• Hire caterer, photographer, videographer, band/DJ, and florist
• Mail your save the dates

8-9+ Months

• Find and and reserve a block of hotels or places for out of town guests
• Create gift registry
• Finalize your guest list
• Start planning honeymoon

6-7+ Months

• Choose your cake and start testing
• Book a florist
• Send out save the dates
• Arrange transportation
• Reserve rentals: chairs, linens, lighting, décor, generators. etc.

4-5+ Months

• Schedule dress fitting
• Book honeymoon and flights
• Book the rehearsal and rehearsal-dinner venues
• Choose your processional music and reception playlist
• Purchase/rent groom's attire
• Assemble rehearsal dinner guest list
• Book rehearsal dinner venue
• Schedule hair and makeup artists

3+ Months

• Work with your caterer to finalize the menu for the reception
• Plan ceremony and reception seating
• Meet with your florist to finalize the flowers for the event
• Purchase: wedding favors, serving pieces, guestbook,
• flower basket and ring bearer pillow
• Finalize honeymoon plans and ensure all documents
• are in order
• Purchase the rings

2+ Months

• Meet with your photographer to discuss day-of plans and specific shots you want
• Mail Wedding Invitations
• Meet with your florist to finalize the flowers for the event
• Review ceremony details with officiant
• Send out as many final payments as you can
• Bachelor/bachelorette party time!
• Apply for marriage license, order more than one.
• Touch base with all vendors
• Finalize seating arrangements
• Finalize fittings for bridal party
• Make sure groomsmen attire is in order

1+ Month

• Call vendors to confirm date, times and location
• Get your marriage license
• Send out rehearsal-dinner invitations
• Final dress fitting
• Create your seating chart for reception
• Purchase wedding party gifts
• Write your vows
• Confirm honeymoon reservations and transportation
• Check on hotel room blocks for your guests
• Go over wedding roles with bridal party

1 Week

• Give final count to caterer

• Update gift registries
• Final haircut and color
• Call guests who have not yet RSVP'd for final head count
• Purchase alcohol and finalize your signature cocktails
• Send directions to wedding day directions to limo/transportation driver.
• Write thank you card as gifts are received
• Confirm honeymoon reservations and transportation
• Prepare wedding day emergency kit
• Pack for honeymoon
• Break in your wedding shoes!

1 Day

• Attend wedding rehearsal
• De-stress at the spa and get a mani/pedi
• Relax and have fun, you did great!

Wedding Day!

• Wake up early enough and give yourself plenty of time to get ready
• Eat a good breakfast
• Lay out your dress and accessories
• Get your prepping on with your girls, take the cutest pictures in your bridal robes just before the aisle
• Pop some bubbly and have a toast!