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160 tasks · engagement to after the wedding

Wedding planning checklist

ReadyToWeddy

Getting Started

  • Agree on your top wedding priorities (essential)
  • Set your working budget (essential)
  • Talk about family contributions
  • Estimate your guest count (essential)
  • Draft your guest list in three tiers (essential)
  • Choose a season or date range (essential)
  • Decide where you want to get married (essential)
  • Decide what kind of ceremony you want (essential)
  • Decide whether you need a planner
  • Set up a shared planning system
  • Insure your engagement ring
  • Share your news the way you want to

12+ Months Before

  • Research and shortlist venues (essential)
  • Visit your shortlisted venues (essential)
  • Book your venue (essential)
  • Secure your ceremony location (essential)
  • Confirm your date and tell key people (essential)
  • Hire your planner or coordinator
  • Book your wedding photographer8–18 months
  • Decide on a videographer7–18 months
  • Book your caterer (essential)8–18 months
  • Book your officiant (essential)6–18 months
  • Book your band or DJ7–18 months
  • Know what to check in every vendor contract (essential)
  • Consider wedding insurance6–18 months
  • Start researching wedding outfits
  • Check destination wedding requirements (essential)
  • Check passport validity for both of you (essential)8–18 months
  • Choose your wedding party8–18 months

9–12 Months Before

  • Book your florist6–12 months
  • Book hair and makeup4–12 months
  • Book rentals and equipment5–12 months
  • Check permits for a private or outdoor venue6–11 months
  • Create your wedding website7–12 months
  • Collect guest addresses and contact details (essential)8–11 months
  • Reserve accommodation for guests6–12 months
  • Book your getting-ready space and wedding-night stay5–11 months
  • Plan how guests will get around5–12 months
  • Set up your registry4–12 months
  • Book an engagement photo session7–12 months
  • Order your wedding outfits (essential)6–12 months
  • Book your cake or dessert supplier4–11 months
  • Share travel details with destination guests7–12 months
  • Research marriage license requirements (essential)4–12 months
  • Complete any religious ceremony requirements (essential)6–12 months

6–9 Months Before

  • Send save-the-dates5–12 months
  • Book the remaining vendors4–10 months
  • Review your budget against real quotes6–8 months
  • Plan the ceremony structure (essential)3–9 months
  • Plan your honeymoon2–12 months
  • Request time off work4–8 months
  • Review accessibility and guest needs2–10 months
  • Choose wedding party outfits3–9 months
  • Plan a rehearsal or welcome dinner2–9 months
  • Book transport for the two of you3–10 months
  • Decide on plus-ones and children4–12 months
  • Decide your dress code5–8 months
  • Sketch the reception flow3–9 months
  • Check venue rules for vendors and décor3–11 months

3–6 Months Before

  • Design and order your invitations (essential)3–5 months
  • Finalize your menu and tasting (essential)2–5 months
  • Plan the bar and drinks2–5 months
  • Finalize flowers and décor2–5 months
  • Confirm transportation details2–5 months
  • Buy your wedding rings (essential)2–6 months
  • Plan signage and on-the-day stationery2–5 months
  • Decide how guests will share photos1–5 months
  • Decide on an unplugged ceremony1–5 months
  • Choose your key music moments1–5 months
  • Schedule hair and makeup trials1–5 months
  • Decide on wedding favors1–5 months
  • Choose a guest book or keepsake2–5 months
  • Write your vowsUp to 5 months
  • Decide who will give speeches1–5 months
  • Buy shoes and accessories2–5 months
  • Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties1–6 months
  • Agree on a wet-weather plan (essential)2–6 months

1–3 Months Before

  • Send your wedding invitations (essential)
  • Track RSVPs as they arrive (essential)
  • Follow up on missing RSVPs (essential)3–5 weeks
  • Create your seating plan2–6 weeks
  • Apply for your marriage license (essential)
  • Confirm your officiant can legally marry you (essential)2–3 months
  • Attend your outfit fittings (essential)
  • Finalize ceremony details (essential)
  • Create your wedding-day timeline (essential)
  • Set up guest photo sharing
  • List every final payment (essential)
  • Share a must-have photo listUp to 3 months
  • Arrange vendor meals
  • Prepare welcome bags or notesUp to 3 months
  • Buy gifts for your wedding party and parentsUp to 3 months
  • Set the exact weather decision pointUp to 2 months

1 Month Before

  • Confirm your final guest count (essential)2–4 weeks
  • Send final numbers to vendors (essential)1–3 weeks
  • Do a final venue walkthrough (essential)2–6 weeks
  • Confirm vendor arrival and access times (essential)2–5 weeks
  • Finalize the ceremony and reception layout2–5 weeks
  • Print place cards and the seating chart1–4 weeks
  • Approve signs and printed materials2–5 weeks
  • Test your printed QR codes1–4 weeks
  • Assign wedding-day responsibilities (essential)1–6 weeks
  • Decide who looks after gifts and cards1–5 weeks
  • Prepare your own thank-you wordsUp to 6 weeks
  • Confirm guest accommodation details2–6 weeks
  • Choose your wedding-day point of contact (essential)Up to 2 months
  • Check mobile signal and Wi-Fi at the venue1–6 weeks

2 Weeks Before

  • Send the final timeline to vendors (essential)1–3 weeks
  • Reconfirm every vendor (essential)1–3 weeks
  • Prepare final payments and tips (essential)Up to 3 weeks
  • Start packing for the wedding and honeymoon1–3 weeks
  • Review your backup plans1–3 weeks
  • Attend your final fitting (essential)1–3 weeks
  • Book pre-wedding groomingUp to 3 weeks
  • Confirm rental and décor deliveries1–3 weeks
  • Send music requests and a do-not-play list1–4 weeks
  • Send guests the final details1–3 weeks

Wedding Week

  • Gather your marriage documents (essential)2–10 days
  • Check the rings are ready (essential)Up to 2 weeks
  • Hold your ceremony rehearsal1–7 days
  • Steam and prepare your outfits1–7 days
  • Pack a wedding-day emergency kitUp to 2 weeks
  • Charge devices and power banks1–5 days
  • Save vendor contacts offline1–7 days
  • Reconfirm pickup times and routes (essential)1–7 days
  • Drop off décor at the venue1–5 days
  • Plan food and water for getting ready1–7 days
  • Hand over vendor communication (essential)1–7 days
  • Stop making big changes1–7 days

The Day Before

  • Check in with your coordinator1–2 days
  • Put rings, documents and outfits in one place (essential)1–2 days
  • Hand over payment envelopes1–3 days
  • Eat properly, drink water and rest1–2 days
  • Set alarms and confirm the morning plan
  • Write a note for your partnerUp to 2 weeks

Wedding Day

  • Keep your essentials with one trusted person (essential)
  • Sign your marriage documents (essential)
  • Make sure you eat your meal
  • Take a quiet moment together
  • Enjoy the wedding

First 48 Hours After

  • Collect and secure gifts and cards (essential)Up to 2 days after
  • Return rentals and borrowed items (essential)Up to 2 days after
  • Collect décor and personal belongingsUp to 2 days after
  • Check getting-ready and hotel roomsUp to 1 day after
  • Store your wedding outfits safelyUp to 3 days after
  • Download guest photos and videosUp to 2 weeks after
  • Back up your photos and videosUp to 2 weeks after
  • Confirm who has the marriage documents (essential)Up to 2 days after

First Month After

  • Send thank-you notesUp to 3 months after
  • Leave reviews for your vendorsUp to 3 months after
  • Follow up on photos, video and other deliverablesUp to 6 months after
  • Clean or preserve your outfitsUp to 3 months after
  • Update your name, if you’re changing itUp to 12 months after
  • Order certified copies of your marriage certificateUp to 2 months after
  • Update finances, insurance and beneficiariesUp to 4 months after
  • Settle final charges and deposits (essential)Up to 2 months after
  • Organize gifts and close your registryUp to 3 months after
  • Share photos with your guestsUp to 4 months after
  • Choose photos for prints or an albumUp to 12 months after
  • Update or close your wedding websiteUp to 4 months after