March 15, 2022
You’ve decided to get married! Congratulations! Now the real work begins. Wedding planning can seem daunting, but breaking it down into a manageable wedding timeline is key to ensuring a smooth and picture-perfect wedding day.
In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know from start to finish. We’ll answer all of your questions and provide a wedding timeline to help keep you on track. Let’s get started!
The average wedding takes about 12 months to plan. However, if you are short on time, you can definitely do it in less than a year with some adjustments to this wedding timeline.
Just be sure to start planning as early as possible. Giving yourself plenty of time to plan will help you avoid stress, secure the venue and vendors you are hoping for, and allow you to take your time making decisions.
The best place to start is to figure out your budget and what type of wedding you want. Do you want a big wedding with all the bells and whistles or an intimate gathering of family and friends? Do you want your wedding to be close to home, or are you dreaming of a destination wedding?
Next, you need to decide on a wedding date. You will want to talk to your close family and friends to coordinate a day when you know they can all be there to celebrate with you.
Once you have a general idea of what you want and when, it’s time to hire a wedding planner or get a wedding planning notebook to keep track of everything. Staying organized is key, especially as you research and compare the many different vendors and professionals.
When it comes to booking your venue, remember the sooner, the better! Venues tend to book up quickly, especially during peak wedding season (late spring through early fall).
Many wedding venues are booked a year or more in advance, so it’s essential to start planning as soon as possible. If you have your heart set on a specific venue, be sure to contact them well in advance to see if they’re available on your desired date.
Once you’ve figured out your budget, date, and venue, you are ready to choose your wedding party. 10 months out is a great time to do this because then they will be able to help and support you with the rest of your wedding planning.
Choose the people who are closest to you and who are going to help coordinate the rest of the wedding arrangements; the different members of your party will have different roles. The size of your wedding party is entirely up to you.
10 months before the wedding you should be shopping for what you will wear on your big day. This will allow time for shipping your perfect outfit and getting alterations done. Don’t forget your wedding party will also need their outfits and alterations!
While waiting for your wedding attire to ship, you can shop for accessories for yourself and your wedding party.
Most weddings involve several vendors and professionals that specialize in different products. Also, keep in mind that if you choose an all-inclusive venue, many vendors will already be included in your package and will not have to be hired out—freeing up some of your budget and time.
You’ll want to have your guest list finalized by this point, so you know roughly how many people you are planning for. Here’s a list of potential vendors you’ll want to research and choose, starting about 8 months before your wedding:
Send out save the dates to your guests 6 months in advance so they can clear that date on their calendars.
Your invitation suite should be sent out 6-8 weeks before the big day, and make sure to include an RSVP deadline of about 3 weeks before the wedding. If you are having a destination wedding, you will need to give your guests even more notice and adjust your wedding timeline accordingly.
About 6 months before your wedding, you will want to shop for you and your fiance’s wedding bands. This will give you plenty of time to find the perfect ones and have them engraved if you desire.
You need to complete your wedding registry before your shower and before you print your invitations, which usually falls about 3 months before your wedding. You may have multiple registries, and it can be very helpful to consolidate them.
There are several people you will want to get gifts for to thank them for their love and support. You usually present these gifts in the few days leading up to the wedding, during the rehearsal dinner, or the wedding day. But you’ll want to start shopping for these gifts 2 months in advance, especially if you want to order anything that would need to be personalized, such as matching robes for your bridesmaids.
When thinking about and ordering gifts, make sure to include your spouse, your wedding party, and your parents. You may also want to get gifts for your flower girl, ring bearer, grandparents, officiant, and other special people.
One month before your wedding is crunch time! There are some critical tasks you’ll still have on your wedding timeline, such as:
Weddings can quickly get very expensive. There are a few key ways you can save money while wedding planning:
Now you’re ready to plan your 2023 nuptials with our wedding timeline! Marinaj Banquets and Events will make your day perfect with our picturesque venues, incredible vendors, and unforgettable service. Book a tour today and reserve the venue of your dreams!