Wedding Planning Checklist

You’ve got the groom, the dress and the bridal party, but is it that simple? We’re here with a big wedding planning checklist so you don’t forget anything.

Most usual engagements are at least a year long. You may be in a spot where you only have a few months to plan or over a year. You can make the wedding planning time less stressful no matter your timeline if you make checklists!

Photo by Happy Family Today

Let’s plan on a 12 month long engagement. The first list on your wedding planning checklist needs to be budget. How much do you want to spend on your wedding? Keep in mind unforeseen costs too and what are you willing to compromise on? Who is paying for the wedding? It’s usually a tradition for the bride’s family to pay, but these days it’s more common for the groom’s family to cover some cost as well. At this point in time, you also will want to make a guest list. This can get tricky with everyone wanted everyone involved so be sure to make your wishes clear.

Photo by Wedding Ocean

10 months out you’ll want to start the fun of wedding dress shopping and venue selecting! You may fall in love with the first dress you try on but keep an open mind. Sometimes what you envision doesn’t quite match up to how it looks actually on you. You will want to start looking at invitations and take engagement photos if you want. We’ve put together a wedding planning checklist to keep things easy:

1. Book hotel rooms/blocks for guests
2. Send out save the dates around 9 months before the big day
3. Buy wedding dress
4. Register for gifts
5. Select bridesmaid’s dresses
6. Meet with florist and other rental accessories
7. Book rehearsal dinner venue
8. Hire musicians/DJ for reception
9. Hire Officiant
10. Book the honeymoon, guest transportation and your own transportation on the wedding day
11. Buy/rent the tuxedoes
12. Choose your cake
13. Buy wedding bands
14. Hair and makeup trial
15. Select groomsmen’s attire
16. Brainstorm guest favors
17. Select readings (from any religious texts you may want in the ceremony)
18. Meet with Officiant and invite them to rehearsal dinner
19. Send out wedding invitations and/or rehearsal dinner invitations
20. Dress fitting
21. Marriage license

Photo cred Every Last Detail

These are only a few of the myriad of things you’ll want to keep track of. You may find it helpful to hire a wedding planner to help keep everything on track! No matter what, enjoy your wedding day because you’ve certainly worked hard enough planning it!