Plan your wedding in one year with this planning timeline

Planning a wedding can be really stressful and time consuming. Use this list as an initial guideline on planning your wedding to make the process a bit easier to manage.

Engagement-12 Months Before Wedding
• Announce your engagement with an engagement party!
• Budget your wedding and hire a consultant if it is within your budget
• Make a guest list to help you pick the right sized venue
• Send your engagement announcement to the newspaper for print
• Book reception and ceremony venues
• Make note of any venue restrictions and liability insurance

8-11 Months Before Wedding

• Pick your wedding party
• Shop for and order gown
• Interview photographer, videographer, entertainment, and caterers (if your venue doesn't cater)
• Reserve blocks of hotel rooms for out of town guests
• Register
• Research floral option 
• Book officiant and discuss if premarital counseling is required

6-7 Months Before Wedding
• Send save the dates
• Hire videographers/photographers
• Hire entertainment
• Book honeymoon
• Order bridesmaids dresses
• Finalize floral arrangements
• Reserve any rental items not provided by your location
• Sign caterer and develop menu

4-5 Months Before Wedding
• Book rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and plan dinner if catering is needed
• Review and order wedding invitations
• Shop for and purchase wedding rings
• Set dates of bridal shower, bachelor, and bachelorette parties
• Taste and order cake
• Ask others needed to participate in ceremony, such as readers, ushers, and singers
• Make guest list for bridal shower 
• Schedule hair and make up appointments

2-3 Months Before
• Finalize guest list and send invitations
• Order any favors
• Order wedding sparklers
• Finalize menu, wedding transportation, and rehearsal plans 
• Rent men's formalwear
• Make a play and don't play list for your entertainment and select music to play during cocktail hour if applicable

1-2 Months Before Wedding
• Have dress fitting with appropriate accessories
• Plan bar if not handled by caterer
• Prepare photo shoot list including any long exposure photos
• Write thank you noted for bridal shower gift and any gift received before the wedding
• Get marriage license
• Touch base with vendors

1 month to go!
• Break in shoes
• Finalize any jewelry 
• Order programs
• Call guests that haven't rsvp'd
• Pick up rings
• Finalize playlist
• Finalize hair and make-up

1 Week till Your Perfect Day!
• Have final gown fitting
• Pick up steamed dress
• Pick up menswear and ensure it fits correctly
• Pack a bag for your wedding night
• Pack an emergency kit with hair spray, sewing kit, bobby pins, and other essentials
• Confirm schedule for the day with your vendors
• Designate someone to gather important items throughout the day such as candles, cake topper, etc. 
• Get a manicure and pedicure
• Have rehearsal
• Give gifts out to wedding party
• Marry the person of your dreams!