It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning your wedding, but it can be hard to gauge how much time you need to plan, dress shop, look for venues, vet through vendors, and send out invites! So here is a timeline for the general order of priorities.
18 Months
This is a bit soon for booking anything, but if you plan on having a long engagement, this is a good time to get an idea of what type of wedding you’d like.
Start your Pinterest board of cakes, dresses, rings, shoes, hair styles—you name it! Research the vision of your dream wedding and general cost, so when it comes down to decision-making you already have a clear idea of what you’re going for.
12 Months
Set a budget and book a wedding planner or coordinator. Planners work better with budget and details which requires an earlier booking for them, but you can book coordinators about 6-8 months before the ceremony as well.
Create your guest list so you know how big a venue to book, and to notify them of the general day so they can start to plan transportation. Couples typically send out Save the Date cards which can be done digitally or sent via mail!
Decide whether you want an indoor or outdoor wedding and book your venue. There are many quality choices that offer versatility for either option, such as Marinaj Banquets and Event. The best venues go fast, so you’ll want to act fast before your scheduled date is taken!
8-10 Months
Get an officiant. If you don’t want a religious ceremony, check with your State, and you can ask one of your best friends, or a family member to get their certification to officiate.
Create a wedding registry at your favorite stores that your guests can shop from to help minimize duplicates/returns.
Plan your bachelor/ette party or bridal shower if you want to celebrate the last days of your single life!
Book your caterer, photographer, videographer, entertainment, and start cake testing to decide what cake flavor you want.
Flowers are best to leave last so if you are tight on budget you can make the easiest adjustments here. But now is the time to look into what you want and when you can order them. This can also be handled through a design/event company if you choose to work with one as well.
6 Months
Take engagement pictures: this is a chance to get pictures for your website or framed photos at your wedding. This is also a great opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with your wedding day photographer—almost like a trial!
Arrange transportation for friends and family members traveling from out of State.
If you are having a casual outdoor wedding, this is when you would order rental arrangements, such as table setting, chairs etc. SoCal brides can check out these wedding rental services!
Plan your honeymoon! Be mindful of cancellation policies and travel restrictions, especially now during the pandemic.
4 Months
Send out invitations. Again these can be one digitally or be sent out by mail, but some of the customized ones can take some time to be created, so keep that in mind!
Find your wedding dress. Give yourself time to find your dream dress for the right price, and have it tailored to fit you perfectly.
Purchase your wedding rings so you have time for them to be fitted and customized to your liking.
2 Months
Get started on thank you cards. Write general thank you cards without addressing the person until after you have received your gift, and it will help you speed through the process after returning from your honeymoon.
Break in your shoes! Nothing like wearing brand new shoes all day for the first time—so take an hour a day to wear them around the house and soften the stiffness. Wearing them with socks or nylons can help depending on the type of shoes you decided on.
Check with your bridal party to make sure their outfits and shoes fit well, to ensure enough time for adjustments.
One Week
This is where deadlines and details grow more intense as the big day approaches, but you’ve been planning this for awhile now, so it’s just a few things to check up on before the big day.
Ensure the wedding party has transportation and housing, and that the caterers, venue, officiant, rings, and wedding dress are ready to go.
Pack your honeymoon bag so you’re not left with this task right before your wedding day.
Prepare a wedding kit. It’s always a good idea to have a kit on hand with emergency supplies such as earring backs, deodorant, Ibuprofen, stain remover, bobby pins, and safety pins.
Day Of
Having so many details leading up to this day, your excitement is at its peak and it’s time to celebrate! With bridesmaids at your side, and planning behind you, you now have the help and support behind you to make it the best day of your life.
