# Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline > The complete wedding planning checklist: 150+ tasks from engagement to after the wedding, organized by timeline and category, with a short guide for every task. Source: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist Publisher: ReadyToWeddy (https://readytoweddy.com) · Last updated: 2026-09-17 Every wedding planning task, month by month. Tap any task for its guide and tick it off as you go — no account needed. ## What should be on a wedding planning checklist? A complete wedding checklist starts with priorities, [a working budget](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/set-working-budget) and a guest estimate, then moves to booking the venue 12–18 months out and key vendors 9–12 months out. Save-the-dates go out 6–8 months before, invitations are designed 3–4 months out, and attire, rings and ceremony planning fill the months between. The final months cover sending invitations 6–8 weeks before, RSVPs, [the seating plan](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-seating-plan), the marriage license, final payments and the wedding-day timeline, then returns, thank-yous and backups afterwards. ## Wedding planning timeline at a glance | When | Main priorities | | --- | --- | | Getting started | Agree on priorities, set a working budget, estimate your guest count, choose a date range and location | | 12+ months | Research and book the venue (ideally 12–18 months out), confirm the date, start booking priority vendors such as photographer, caterer and officiant | | 9–12 months | Book florist and rentals, create your wedding website, reserve guest accommodation, order wedding outfits | | 6–9 months | Send save-the-dates, book remaining vendors, plan the ceremony and reception flow, plan the honeymoon | | 3–6 months | Design and order invitations, finalize menu and décor, shop for rings, choose music, agree on a wet-weather plan | | 1–3 months | Send invitations 6–8 weeks out, track RSVPs, create the seating plan, apply for your marriage license, attend fittings, build the day-of timeline | | 1 month | Confirm final numbers, do the venue walkthrough, assign wedding-day responsibilities | | 2 weeks | Send the final timeline to vendors, reconfirm everyone, prepare final payments | | Wedding week | Gather documents and rings, rehearse, pack an emergency kit, hand over vendor contact | | Wedding day | Keep essentials with one trusted person, let others handle questions, enjoy it | | After | Secure gifts, return rentals, back up photos, send thank-you notes, settle final charges | ## Getting Started Just engaged? Enjoy it first. The planning can start slowly. - [ ] **Agree on your top wedding priorities** (Essential, First steps) — Agree on three to five shared wedding priorities before you book anything, so every later decision about budget, venue and vendors has a clear tiebreaker. - [ ] **Set your working budget** (Essential, First steps) — Set a working wedding budget before you contact venues or vendors: agree on a total, decide who contributes, keep a contingency, and split the rest by your priorities. - [ ] **Talk about family contributions** (Recommended, First steps) — Talk openly with family about any financial contributions early in planning, including how much, when it arrives, and whether it comes with expectations about guests or decisions. - [ ] **Estimate your guest count** (Essential, First steps) — Estimate your guest count before shortlisting venues, because the number of people you invite drives venue capacity, catering costs and most of your budget. - [ ] **Draft your guest list in three tiers** (Essential, First steps) — Draft your guest list in three tiers, must invite, would like to invite and invite if space allows, so you can adjust numbers calmly once your venue and budget are set. - [ ] **Choose a season or date range** (Essential, First steps) — Choose a season or a range of possible dates early in planning, rather than one fixed day, so you have flexibility when checking venue and vendor availability. - [ ] **Decide where you want to get married** (Essential, First steps) — Decide the general area for your wedding early, whether close to home, near family or a destination abroad, since location shapes your budget, guest list and legal steps. - [ ] **Decide what kind of ceremony you want** (Essential, First steps) — Decide early whether you want a civil, religious or symbolic ceremony, and whether the legal marriage will happen separately, since this shapes your venue, officiant and paperwork. - [ ] **Decide whether you need a planner** (Recommended, First steps) — Decide early whether you want a full-service planner, a partial planner or a wedding-day coordinator, based on your time, budget and how complex your wedding will be. - [ ] **Set up a shared planning system** (Recommended, First steps) — Set up one shared place for your wedding budget, guest list, vendor contacts, contracts and tasks at the start of planning, so both of you can see what’s happening. - [ ] **Insure your engagement ring** (Optional, First steps) — Consider insuring your engagement ring soon after the engagement, either through a specialist policy or your existing home or contents insurance, so loss or damage is covered. - [ ] **Share your news the way you want to** (Optional, First steps) — Share your engagement news in whatever way feels right, ideally telling close family and friends personally before posting online, and without committing to wedding details yet. ## 12+ Months Before Plenty of time. Start with the foundations. - [ ] **Research and shortlist venues** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Research and shortlist three to five wedding venues about 12–18 months before the wedding, filtering by guest capacity, budget, location and your preferred dates. - [ ] **Visit your shortlisted venues** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Visit your shortlisted venues in person, ideally at the same time of day as your wedding, with a list of questions about capacity, rules, costs and backup plans. - [ ] **Book your venue** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Book your wedding venue 12–18 months before the wedding, and earlier for popular dates, once you’ve compared quotes, read the contract carefully and confirmed your date. - [ ] **Secure your ceremony location** (Essential, 12+ months before) — If your ceremony will be somewhere other than your reception, such as a place of worship or registry office, secure that location around the same time as your venue. - [ ] **Confirm your date and tell key people** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Confirm your wedding date once the venue contract is signed and ceremony arrangements are secure, then share it with close family, your wedding party and priority vendors. - [ ] **Hire your planner or coordinator** (Recommended, 12+ months before) — Hire your wedding planner or coordinator early, ideally before or alongside your venue for full-service support, after comparing their services, style and contract terms. - [ ] **Book your wedding photographer** (Recommended, 8–18 months before) — Book your photographer 9–12 months before the wedding, after your venue and date are confirmed, or up to 18 months ahead for popular peak-season dates. - [ ] **Decide on a videographer** (Optional, 7–18 months before) — Decide whether you want a wedding videographer around the time you book your photographer, and if so, book one whose style and deliverables fit your budget. - [ ] **Book your caterer** (Essential, 8–18 months before) — Book your caterer 9–12 months before the wedding, after your venue and date are confirmed, comparing complete quotes that include staff, equipment and service charges. - [ ] **Book your officiant** (Essential, 6–18 months before) — Book your officiant 9–12 months before the wedding, making sure they’re able to perform the kind of ceremony you want and, if needed, the legal part of your marriage. - [ ] **Book your band or DJ** (Recommended, 7–18 months before) — Book your wedding DJ or band 9–12 months before the wedding, after checking your venue’s noise and power rules, and compare set times, equipment and contract terms. - [ ] **Know what to check in every vendor contract** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Before you sign any vendor contract, check what’s included, the payment schedule, cancellation and postponement terms, substitutions and, for photos and video, usage rights. - [ ] **Consider wedding insurance** (Recommended, 6–18 months before) — Consider wedding insurance soon after booking your venue, checking what’s covered and excluded, and whether your venue requires liability coverage for you or your vendors. - [ ] **Start researching wedding outfits** (Recommended, 12+ months before) — Start researching your wedding outfits 12 months or more before the wedding, setting a budget, checking production lead times and booking first appointments if needed. - [ ] **Check destination wedding requirements** (Essential, 12+ months before) — Check the legal and practical requirements for your destination wedding early, including residency, documents, translation and whether a legal or symbolic ceremony is best. - [ ] **Check passport validity for both of you** (Essential, 8–18 months before) — Check both passports well before a destination wedding or honeymoon, since many countries require validity for several months beyond your travel dates and renewals can take time. - [ ] **Choose your wedding party** (Optional, 8–18 months before) — Choose your wedding party, if you want one, about a year before the wedding, and ask each person personally with a clear idea of the time and costs involved. ## 9–12 Months Before Your big pieces are in place. Now for the people and the plans around them. - [ ] **Book your florist** (Recommended, 6–12 months before) — Book your florist 9–12 months before the wedding, once your venue and color ideas are settled, so you can secure their date and plan around seasonal flowers. - [ ] **Book hair and makeup** (Optional, 4–12 months before) — Book hair and makeup artists 9–12 months before the wedding if you plan to use them, since good artists take limited bookings on busy weekends. - [ ] **Book rentals and equipment** (Recommended, 5–12 months before) — Book rentals such as furniture, linens, tents, generators and restrooms 9–12 months before the wedding, especially for outdoor or blank-canvas venues where little is provided. - [ ] **Check permits for a private or outdoor venue** (Recommended, 6–11 months before) — If you’re marrying at a home, park, beach or farm, ask the local authority and landowner 9–10 months ahead which permits, insurance and rules apply to your event. - [ ] **Create your wedding website** (Recommended, 7–12 months before) — Create your wedding website 9–12 months before the wedding, before save-the-dates go out, with the date, location, travel and accommodation details guests need to plan. - [ ] **Collect guest addresses and contact details** (Essential, 8–11 months before) — Collect mailing addresses, emails and phone numbers for every household on your guest list 8–11 months ahead, in one shared spreadsheet, before save-the-dates or invitations go out. - [ ] **Reserve accommodation for guests** (Recommended, 6–12 months before) — Reserve guest accommodation, such as a hotel room block, 9–12 months before the wedding so traveling guests have convenient options at a known rate before rooms sell out. - [ ] **Book your getting-ready space and wedding-night stay** (Recommended, 5–11 months before) — Book your getting-ready space and wedding-night room about 9 months ahead, choosing somewhere near the venue with good light and room for hair, makeup and photos. - [ ] **Plan how guests will get around** (Recommended, 5–12 months before) — Plan guest transport around 9–12 months before the wedding, covering the trip to the ceremony, travel between venues, and how everyone gets home at the end of the night. - [ ] **Set up your registry** (Optional, 4–12 months before) — Set up a registry around 9–12 months before the wedding if you want one, so guests invited to early celebrations have options. Include items, experiences or funds that suit you. - [ ] **Book an engagement photo session** (Optional, 7–12 months before) — Book an engagement photo session 9–12 months before the wedding if you’d like one, ideally with your wedding photographer, so the images are ready for save-the-dates. - [ ] **Order your wedding outfits** (Essential, 6–12 months before) — Order your wedding outfits 9–12 months before the wedding, since made-to-order pieces can take several months to arrive and alterations need time afterward. - [ ] **Book your cake or dessert supplier** (Optional, 4–11 months before) — Book a cake or dessert supplier about 9 months before the wedding if you want one, after confirming what your venue or caterer already includes and allows. - [ ] **Share travel details with destination guests** (Recommended, 7–12 months before) — Share travel details with destination wedding guests 9–12 months ahead, including flights, accommodation, entry requirements and costs, so they can budget and request time off. - [ ] **Research marriage license requirements** (Essential, 4–12 months before) — Research marriage license requirements around 9 months before the wedding with the official authority where your legal ceremony takes place, so you know when to apply and what to bring. - [ ] **Complete any religious ceremony requirements** (Essential, 6–12 months before) — If you’re marrying in a religious ceremony, ask your officiant or place of worship early which meetings, courses or documents they need, and allow time to complete them. ## 6–9 Months Before You’re building the details now. - [ ] **Send save-the-dates** (Recommended, 5–12 months before) — Send save-the-dates 6–8 months before the wedding, or 8–12 months ahead for destination or holiday weddings, with your names, date, location and website. - [ ] **Book the remaining vendors** (Recommended, 4–10 months before) — Book any remaining vendors around 6 months before the wedding, choosing only the services that support the priorities the two of you agreed on at the start. - [ ] **Review your budget against real quotes** (Recommended, 6–8 months before) — Once your main vendors are booked, compare your original estimates with real quotes and deposits paid, add hidden extras, and decide where to trim before the final months. - [ ] **Plan the ceremony structure** (Essential, 3–9 months before) — Plan your ceremony structure around 6 months before the wedding with your officiant, including the order, readings, music, processional and roughly how long it will last. - [ ] **Plan your honeymoon** (Optional, 2–12 months before) — Plan your honeymoon around 6 months before the wedding if you’re taking one soon after, so you can book flights and stays and check passport and entry requirements in time. - [ ] **Request time off work** (Recommended, 4–8 months before) — Request time off work about 6–7 months ahead, covering the final days of preparation, the wedding, a day or two to recover and any honeymoon travel. - [ ] **Review accessibility and guest needs** (Recommended, 2–10 months before) — Review accessibility and guest needs around 6 months before the wedding, checking step-free access, seating, hearing support and a quiet space, so every guest can take part comfortably. - [ ] **Choose wedding party outfits** (Optional, 3–9 months before) — Choose wedding party outfits around 6 months before the wedding, leaving time for ordering and alterations, and agree early on who pays for what. - [ ] **Plan a rehearsal or welcome dinner** (Optional, 2–9 months before) — Plan a rehearsal or welcome dinner around 6 months before the wedding if you want one, deciding who’s invited, who’s hosting and where it will be held. - [ ] **Book transport for the two of you** (Recommended, 3–10 months before) — Book transport for the two of you around 6 months before the wedding, covering getting to the ceremony, moving between venues and leaving at the end of the night. - [ ] **Decide on plus-ones and children** (Recommended, 4–12 months before) — Agree on a clear plus-one policy and whether children are invited before save-the-dates or invitations go out, then show it through how you address each invitation. - [ ] **Decide your dress code** (Recommended, 5–8 months before) — Decide your dress code about 6–7 months ahead, choosing a clear term that fits your venue and season, and share it on your website and invitations with a short, friendly explanation. - [ ] **Sketch the reception flow** (Recommended, 3–9 months before) — Sketch your reception flow around 6 months before the wedding, deciding roughly when the entrance, meal, speeches, first dance and dancing will happen. - [ ] **Check venue rules for vendors and décor** (Recommended, 3–11 months before) — Check your venue’s rules for vendors and décor around 6 months before the wedding, including noise curfews, candles, confetti, preferred suppliers and insurance requirements. ## 3–6 Months Before Things are coming together. - [ ] **Design and order your invitations** (Essential, 3–5 months before) — Design and order your wedding invitations about 3–4 months before the wedding, agreeing the wording and RSVP method, so there’s time to proof, print and send them 6–8 weeks before the day. - [ ] **Finalize your menu and tasting** (Essential, 2–5 months before) — Finalize your wedding menu about three months before the wedding, ideally after a tasting, including dietary alternatives, children’s meals and any late-night food. - [ ] **Plan the bar and drinks** (Recommended, 2–5 months before) — Plan your wedding bar about three months ahead: choose a drinks package or supplier, add good alcohol-free options, and confirm licensing and service rules with your venue. - [ ] **Finalize flowers and décor** (Recommended, 2–5 months before) — Finalize your wedding flowers and décor about three months before the wedding, confirming quantities, setup, cleanup and whether any arrangements will move between spaces. - [ ] **Confirm transportation details** (Recommended, 2–5 months before) — Confirm wedding transportation details about three months ahead, giving the company every address, pickup time, passenger estimate and a wedding-day contact who isn’t you. - [ ] **Buy your wedding rings** (Essential, 2–6 months before) — Start shopping for your wedding rings about 3–4 months before the wedding to leave time for sizing, engraving and insurance. Allow 4–6 months for custom designs or engraving-heavy orders. - [ ] **Plan signage and on-the-day stationery** (Optional, 2–5 months before) — Plan wedding signage and on-the-day stationery about three months ahead, deciding which signs guests actually need, such as a welcome sign, directions, menus and table numbers. - [ ] **Decide how guests will share photos** (Recommended, 1–5 months before) — Decide how guests will share wedding photos about three months before the wedding, choosing one simple method, such as a shared album or QR-code upload, so candid shots end up in one place. - [ ] **Decide on an unplugged ceremony** (Optional, 1–5 months before) — Decide whether you want an unplugged ceremony, where guests put phones away, about three months ahead so you can tell guests kindly and plan where photos will come from. - [ ] **Choose your key music moments** (Recommended, 1–5 months before) — Choose the music for your key wedding moments about three months ahead, including the processional, recessional, first dance and last song, so musicians have time to prepare. - [ ] **Schedule hair and makeup trials** (Optional, 1–5 months before) — Schedule hair and makeup trials about 2–3 months before the wedding, ideally after choosing your outfits, so you can test the look and adjust it in good time. - [ ] **Decide on wedding favors** (Optional, 1–5 months before) — Decide whether you want wedding favors about three months ahead. Many couples skip them entirely; if you do give favors, choose something guests will genuinely use or enjoy. - [ ] **Choose a guest book or keepsake** (Optional, 2–5 months before) — If you’d like a keepsake of guests’ messages, choose a guest book or alternative about 3 months ahead and decide who looks after it on the day. - [ ] **Write your vows** (Optional, Up to 5 months before) — Start writing your wedding vows about 2–3 months before the wedding, after checking what your officiant allows, so you have time to draft, rest and revise without pressure. - [ ] **Decide who will give speeches** (Optional, 1–5 months before) — Decide who will give wedding speeches about three months ahead, and let each speaker know their slot, order and a suggested length of a few minutes. - [ ] **Buy shoes and accessories** (Recommended, 2–5 months before) — Buy wedding shoes and accessories about three months before the wedding, so you can bring them to your first fitting and your outfit is altered to the right length. - [ ] **Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties** (Optional, 1–6 months before) — Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties about 2–3 months ahead, scheduled at least a few weeks before the wedding so everyone has time to rest and recover. - [ ] **Agree on a wet-weather plan** (Essential, 2–6 months before) — Agree on a wet-weather plan about three months ahead, confirming an indoor or covered backup, any tent or heating costs, and how guests will stay comfortable in rain, wind or heat. ## 1–3 Months Before RSVPs are arriving. The plan is getting real, one reply at a time. - [ ] **Send your wedding invitations** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — Send wedding invitations about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, or 8–12 weeks ahead for destination weddings or when many guests travel, with an RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before the day. - [ ] **Track RSVPs as they arrive** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — Track wedding RSVPs in one list as they arrive, recording attendance, meal choices, dietary needs and access requirements, so final numbers are ready when vendors need them. - [ ] **Follow up on missing RSVPs** (Essential, 3–5 weeks before) — Follow up kindly with guests who haven’t replied soon after your RSVP deadline, usually about 3–4 weeks before the wedding, so you can confirm final numbers and finish the seating plan on time. - [ ] **Create your seating plan** (Recommended, 2–6 weeks before) — Create your wedding seating plan once most RSVPs are in, usually 3–5 weeks before the wedding, grouping guests thoughtfully and allowing for access needs and family dynamics. - [ ] **Apply for your marriage license** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — When to apply for your marriage license depends on where you marry. Check the official authority for the application window, any waiting period and the expiry date, then apply within that window. - [ ] **Confirm your officiant can legally marry you** (Essential, 2–3 months before) — About 2–3 months before the wedding, check with the official authority where you’re marrying that your officiant is authorized there, and what they must sign and submit afterward. - [ ] **Attend your outfit fittings** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — Attend your wedding outfit fittings starting about 2–3 months before the wedding, bringing your shoes, undergarments and accessories so alterations match exactly what you’ll wear. - [ ] **Finalize ceremony details** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — Finalize your ceremony details about 6–8 weeks before the wedding with your officiant: readings, participants, music cues, processional order, microphones and any legally required wording. - [ ] **Create your wedding-day timeline** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — Create your wedding-day timeline about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, building it around fixed moments like the ceremony, meal service and venue close, then adding buffer time. - [ ] **Set up guest photo sharing** (Recommended, 1–3 months before) — Set up your guest photo-sharing method about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, test it on several phones, and add the link or QR code to your website and signs. - [ ] **List every final payment** (Essential, 1–3 months before) — List every final wedding payment about two months ahead, including vendor, amount, due date, payment method, who pays and whether gratuity is already included. - [ ] **Share a must-have photo list** (Recommended, Up to 3 months before) — Share a short must-have photo list with your photographer about 4–8 weeks before the wedding, focusing on family groupings and key people they might not recognize. - [ ] **Arrange vendor meals** (Recommended, 1–3 months before) — Arrange meals for vendors working through the wedding about 4–8 weeks ahead, checking contracts for meal requirements and including them in your caterer’s final numbers. - [ ] **Prepare welcome bags or notes** (Optional, Up to 3 months before) — Prepare welcome bags or notes about 4–8 weeks ahead if you’d like to greet traveling guests, with useful items like water, snacks, a local map and the weekend schedule. - [ ] **Buy gifts for your wedding party and parents** (Optional, Up to 3 months before) — Buy thank-you gifts for your wedding party, parents and key helpers about 4–8 weeks ahead, leaving time for personalization and deciding when you’ll give them. - [ ] **Set the exact weather decision point** (Recommended, Up to 2 months before) — Agree who will make the final weather call and by when, often the day before or morning of the wedding, so vendors know when your backup plan becomes the plan. ## 1 Month Before Time to turn plans into confirmations. - [ ] **Confirm your final guest count** (Essential, 2–4 weeks before) — Confirm your final guest count about 3 weeks before the wedding, once your RSVP deadline has passed, so your caterer, venue and rental suppliers can plan accurately. - [ ] **Send final numbers to vendors** (Essential, 1–3 weeks before) — Send your final guest numbers, meal choices and dietary needs to your caterer, venue and rental suppliers by their contract deadlines, usually 1–3 weeks before the wedding. - [ ] **Do a final venue walkthrough** (Essential, 2–6 weeks before) — Do a final walkthrough of your venue with your coordinator about a month before the wedding to check layout, power, access, storage and timings. - [ ] **Confirm vendor arrival and access times** (Essential, 2–5 weeks before) — Confirm when each vendor can access the venue, where they load in and park, and the setup and cleanup windows, about a month before the wedding. - [ ] **Finalize the ceremony and reception layout** (Recommended, 2–5 weeks before) — Finalize your ceremony and reception floor plans about 2–4 weeks before the wedding, after your seating plan is drafted, so the venue and rental suppliers can set up correctly. - [ ] **Print place cards and the seating chart** (Optional, 1–4 weeks before) — Print place cards and your seating chart about 2–3 weeks before the wedding, once your seating plan is settled, leaving time to proofread names and fix late changes. - [ ] **Approve signs and printed materials** (Recommended, 2–5 weeks before) — Approve the final proofs for signs, menus, programs and table numbers about 3–4 weeks before the wedding, checking every name, date and time carefully. - [ ] **Test your printed QR codes** (Recommended, 1–4 weeks before) — Test every printed QR code on several different phones about 2–3 weeks before the wedding, so guests can open your photo-sharing page or website without trouble. - [ ] **Assign wedding-day responsibilities** (Essential, 1–6 weeks before) — Assign wedding-day responsibilities about a month before the wedding, naming one trusted person for the rings, documents, gifts, vendor questions, rentals and end-of-night tasks. - [ ] **Decide who looks after gifts and cards** (Recommended, 1–5 weeks before) — Decide who will look after gifts and cards at your wedding about a month ahead, and plan a lockable box, a supervised spot and a safe way to take them home. - [ ] **Prepare your own thank-you words** (Optional, Up to 6 weeks before) — Prepare a short thank-you, usually 2–4 minutes, a few weeks before the wedding if the two of you plan to speak, covering guests, family and anyone who helped. - [ ] **Confirm guest accommodation details** (Recommended, 2–6 weeks before) — Confirm guest accommodation about a month before the wedding by checking room-block bookings, release dates and any shuttle or check-in arrangements with the hotel. - [ ] **Choose your wedding-day point of contact** (Essential, Up to 2 months before) — Choose one wedding-day point of contact, a planner, coordinator or trusted friend who isn’t either of you, about a month before the wedding, and share their details with every vendor. - [ ] **Check mobile signal and Wi-Fi at the venue** (Recommended, 1–6 weeks before) — Check mobile signal and Wi-Fi in every part of your venue about a month before the wedding, since weak coverage affects vendor payments, guest photo uploads and coordination. ## 2 Weeks Before Final checks now. The hard work is already behind you. - [ ] **Send the final timeline to vendors** (Essential, 1–3 weeks before) — Send your final wedding-day timeline to every vendor and key helper about two weeks before the wedding, with arrival times, addresses and your day-of contact’s details. - [ ] **Reconfirm every vendor** (Essential, 1–3 weeks before) — Reconfirm every vendor about two weeks before the wedding, checking the date, arrival time, address, services included and who their on-site contact will be. - [ ] **Prepare final payments and tips** (Essential, Up to 3 weeks before) — Prepare final vendor payments and any tips about two weeks before the wedding, paying balances that are due and putting day-of amounts in clearly labeled envelopes. - [ ] **Start packing for the wedding and honeymoon** (Recommended, 1–3 weeks before) — Start packing for the wedding and honeymoon about two weeks ahead, separating wedding-day items, overnight bags and travel essentials, and finish the honeymoon bag in the final week. - [ ] **Review your backup plans** (Recommended, 1–3 weeks before) — Review your backup plans about two weeks before the wedding, covering weather, power, transport and illness, and make sure your day-of contact knows each one. - [ ] **Attend your final fitting** (Essential, 1–3 weeks before) — Attend your final outfit fitting about 1–2 weeks before the wedding, wearing your wedding shoes and undergarments, and arrange when and how you’ll collect the outfit. - [ ] **Book pre-wedding grooming** (Optional, Up to 3 weeks before) — Book haircuts, nails and other grooming for the week before the wedding, sticking to treatments you’ve had before so there are no surprise reactions. - [ ] **Confirm rental and décor deliveries** (Recommended, 1–3 weeks before) — Confirm rental, flower and décor deliveries about two weeks before the wedding, checking quantities, delivery times, the drop-off point and when items will be collected. - [ ] **Send music requests and a do-not-play list** (Recommended, 1–4 weeks before) — Send your DJ or band your key songs, a short request list and a do-not-play list about two weeks before the wedding, including timings for each music moment. - [ ] **Send guests the final details** (Recommended, 1–3 weeks before) — Send guests the final details about 1–2 weeks before the wedding: timings, addresses, parking, dress code, weather advice, transport and your photo-sharing link. ## Wedding Week Most decisions are done. Focus on handoffs and essentials. - [ ] **Gather your marriage documents** (Essential, 2–10 days before) — Gather your marriage license and required identification about a week before the wedding, check the details and validity dates, and decide who will bring them to the ceremony. - [ ] **Check the rings are ready** (Essential, Up to 2 weeks before) — Check your wedding rings about a week before the wedding: try them on, confirm the engraving is correct, and decide who will hold them until the ceremony. - [ ] **Hold your ceremony rehearsal** (Recommended, 1–7 days before) — Hold a short ceremony rehearsal in the final days before the wedding, usually 1–2 days ahead, so everyone knows where to stand, when to walk and what to do. - [ ] **Steam and prepare your outfits** (Recommended, 1–7 days before) — Steam or press your wedding outfits a few days before the wedding, then hang them with shoes, accessories and undergarments so everything is ready in one place. - [ ] **Pack a wedding-day emergency kit** (Recommended, Up to 2 weeks before) — Pack a wedding-day emergency kit in the final week with sewing supplies, stain remover, pain relief you already use, bandages, chargers and snacks, and give it to a trusted helper. - [ ] **Charge devices and power banks** (Recommended, 1–5 days before) — Charge phones, power banks, speakers, cameras and any other devices in the last few days before the wedding, and pack the chargers and cables you’ll need on the day. - [ ] **Save vendor contacts offline** (Recommended, 1–7 days before) — Save every vendor’s name, on-site contact and phone number offline in the final week, and give a printed contact sheet to your coordinator or day-of contact. - [ ] **Reconfirm pickup times and routes** (Essential, 1–7 days before) — Reconfirm transport pickup times, addresses and routes in the final week for the two of you and any guest shuttles, allowing for traffic, road closures and parking. - [ ] **Drop off décor at the venue** (Recommended, 1–5 days before) — Drop off your own décor at the venue in the final days, where the venue allows, in labeled boxes with setup notes and a plan for collection afterwards. - [ ] **Plan food and water for getting ready** (Recommended, 1–7 days before) — Plan simple food and water for the getting-ready hours in the final week, so you and your helpers eat properly before a long day with little time to stop. - [ ] **Hand over vendor communication** (Essential, 1–7 days before) — Hand over vendor communication to your coordinator or day-of contact in the final week, and tell vendors to contact that person, not the two of you, from now on. - [ ] **Stop making big changes** (Recommended, 1–7 days before) — In the final week, stop making big changes to the plan and only adjust what genuinely needs fixing. What you have now is ready. ## The Day Before You’ve planned this. Let your people take it from here. - [ ] **Check in with your coordinator** (Recommended, 1–2 days before) — Check in with your coordinator or day-of contact the day before the wedding to run through the timeline, deliveries, open questions and who handles what tomorrow. - [ ] **Put rings, documents and outfits in one place** (Essential, 1–2 days before) — The day before the wedding, gather your rings, marriage documents, ID and complete outfits in one place, so nothing important has to be found on the morning itself. - [ ] **Hand over payment envelopes** (Recommended, 1–3 days before) — Give labeled final payments and any tips to your coordinator or a trusted person the day before the wedding, so vendors are paid on time without you handling money. - [ ] **Eat properly, drink water and rest** (Recommended, 1–2 days before) — The day before the wedding, eat regular meals, drink plenty of water and plan an early, quiet evening so you start the wedding day rested and steady. - [ ] **Set alarms and confirm the morning plan** (Recommended, The day before) — The night before the wedding, set two alarms and confirm the morning plan: wake-up time, hair and makeup order, breakfast, transport pickups and who arrives when. - [ ] **Write a note for your partner** (Optional, Up to 2 weeks before) — If you’d like to, write a short note or letter for your partner the day before the wedding and ask someone to deliver it on the morning. ## Wedding Day Nothing else to plan. Go get married. ♡ - [ ] **Keep your essentials with one trusted person** (Essential, Wedding day) — On the wedding day, give one trusted person your rings, marriage documents, vows, ID, phone, medication and room key, so the important things are always accounted for. - [ ] **Sign your marriage documents** (Essential, Wedding day) — Sign your marriage documents on the wedding day with your officiant and any required witnesses, and confirm who will return or register them afterward. - [ ] **Make sure you eat your meal** (Recommended, Wedding day) — On the wedding day, sit down and eat your meal before greeting guests, and ask your caterer to set aside a plate of anything you miss. - [ ] **Take a quiet moment together** (Optional, Wedding day) — On the wedding day, plan five to ten minutes alone together, often right after the ceremony, to take in the moment before rejoining your guests. - [ ] **Enjoy the wedding** (Recommended, Wedding day) — On the wedding day, let the plan work: the preparation is done, the people you trust have it handled, and the only task left is to enjoy it. Nothing else to plan. Go get married. ♡ ## First 48 Hours After Rest first. Then a few small things before they slip away. - [ ] **Collect and secure gifts and cards** (Essential, Up to 2 days after) — Within a day of the wedding, collect all gifts and cards from the venue or your trusted person and store them somewhere secure until you can open them. - [ ] **Return rentals and borrowed items** (Essential, Up to 2 days after) — Return rented outfits, décor and equipment by the date in each contract, usually within a day or two of the wedding, to avoid late fees and keep your deposits. - [ ] **Collect décor and personal belongings** (Recommended, Up to 2 days after) — Collect your own décor, signs, guest book and personal belongings from the venue within the agreed pickup window, usually the night of or the day after the wedding. - [ ] **Check getting-ready and hotel rooms** (Recommended, Up to 1 day after) — Before checking out after the wedding, check the getting-ready rooms and hotel rooms carefully for chargers, jewelry, outfit pieces, documents and gifts. - [ ] **Store your wedding outfits safely** (Recommended, Up to 3 days after) — Within a day or two of the wedding, hang or lay your wedding outfits somewhere clean and dry, and note any stains before arranging cleaning or preservation. - [ ] **Download guest photos and videos** (Recommended, Up to 2 weeks after) — Within a couple of days of the wedding, download the photos and videos guests shared, and send a gentle reminder to anyone who still has pictures to upload. - [ ] **Back up your photos and videos** (Recommended, Up to 2 weeks after) — Back up your wedding photos and videos soon after the wedding by keeping at least two copies in different places, such as cloud storage and an external drive. - [ ] **Confirm who has the marriage documents** (Essential, Up to 2 days after) — Within a day or two of the wedding, confirm who holds the signed marriage documents and whether they have been returned or registered with the official authority. ## First Month After A few final things, then you’re officially done. - [ ] **Send thank-you notes** (Recommended, Up to 3 months after) — Send wedding thank-you notes within a few weeks of the wedding if you can, aiming to finish within about three months, naming each gift or kindness and adding a personal line for every guest. - [ ] **Leave reviews for your vendors** (Optional, Up to 3 months after) — In the weeks after the wedding, leave honest reviews for the vendors who helped, mentioning specific details that will be useful to future couples. - [ ] **Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables** (Recommended, Up to 6 months after) — After the wedding, track the delivery dates in your contracts for photos, video, albums and other items, and follow up kindly if anything is running late. - [ ] **Clean or preserve your outfits** (Optional, Up to 3 months after) — In the weeks after the wedding, take your wedding outfits to a specialist cleaner, then decide whether to preserve, alter, sell, donate or simply store them. - [ ] **Update your name, if you’re changing it** (Optional, Up to 12 months after) — If either of you is changing your name, start once you have your official marriage certificate, updating core identity documents first and then accounts, following the official authority’s guidance. - [ ] **Order certified copies of your marriage certificate** (Recommended, Up to 2 months after) — Once your marriage is registered, order several certified copies of your marriage certificate from the official authority, and check every detail for errors as soon as they arrive. - [ ] **Update finances, insurance and beneficiaries** (Optional, Up to 4 months after) — In the months after the wedding, review your accounts, insurance, beneficiaries and emergency contacts together, and ask a qualified professional about anything that affects your taxes or legal situation. - [ ] **Settle final charges and deposits** (Essential, Up to 2 months after) — In the weeks after the wedding, pay any approved final charges, check invoices against your contracts and make sure damage or security deposits are returned. - [ ] **Organize gifts and close your registry** (Optional, Up to 3 months after) — In the weeks after the wedding, organize your gifts, handle any returns or exchanges, use remaining registry perks and close or update your registry. - [ ] **Share photos with your guests** (Optional, Up to 4 months after) — Once you’ve collected guest and professional photos, share a selection with your guests through a gallery link, album or message, respecting your photographer’s usage terms. - [ ] **Choose photos for prints or an album** (Optional, Up to 12 months after) — Once your full gallery arrives, shortlist favorite photos for prints, frames or an album, and check any album selection deadline in your photographer’s contract. - [ ] **Update or close your wedding website** (Optional, Up to 4 months after) — After the wedding, update your wedding website with a thank-you message and photos, or close it once you no longer need it. ## Commonly forgotten wedding tasks - Meals for vendors who work through dinner - Who looks after gifts and cards at the reception - The exact time you’ll make the rain decision - Mobile signal and Wi-Fi at the venue - Chargers and power banks for the day - Vendor contacts saved offline - Who has the rings and marriage documents - Transport home after the reception - Returning rentals on time - Checking the getting-ready room before checkout - Backing up every photo and video - Food and water while getting ready ## FAQ ### What is the first thing to do when planning a wedding? Agree on your top priorities as a couple, set a working budget and estimate your guest count. Those three decisions determine which venues, dates and wedding styles are realistic, so they come before any booking. ### What should you book first for a wedding? The venue is usually the first major booking because it fixes your date, location and capacity. After that, book [the vendors that matter most](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/vendors) to you and tend to fill up early, such as your photographer, caterer, officiant and band or DJ. ### How far in advance should you start planning a wedding? Many couples plan over about 12 months, and 12–18 months gives the most choice of venues and vendors. Smaller or simpler weddings can come together in a few months by combining early steps and focusing on essentials. ### Can you plan a wedding in 6 months or less? Yes. Start with your budget, guest count, venue, legal requirements and the vendors that matter most, then [simplify optional details](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/short-engagement). ReadyToWeddy compresses the timeline automatically when you enter a date that’s coming up soon. ### How many tasks are on a wedding checklist? A thorough checklist covers roughly 100–160 tasks, but not every wedding needs all of them. ReadyToWeddy marks each task as essential, recommended or optional, and lets you mark anything that doesn’t apply as “Not for us.” ### When should wedding invitations go out? [Invitations commonly go out](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-invitations) about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, or 8–12 weeks ahead for destination weddings or when many guests need to travel. Set the RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before, so you can give your caterer final numbers, usually due 1–3 weeks before, and finish the seating plan. ### What do couples most often forget when planning a wedding? Commonly missed details include vendor meals, who looks after gifts and cards, a clear rain-decision time, transport home, chargers, offline vendor contacts, rental returns and backing up photos. Each has its own task in this checklist. ### Is this wedding checklist free? Yes. The full checklist is [free to read, print and use](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/printable) without an account. You can personalize it with your wedding date to get your own timeline, check off tasks and share responsibilities with your partner.