Most wedding planning goes wrong in the same way: the big things get booked, and then a pile of small deadlines arrives at once in the last two months. The fix is boring but it works. Spread the tasks across the year so nothing piles up.
Below is the full month-by-month checklist. If your engagement is shorter than a year, start at the timeframe you’re in and do the earlier tasks first.
12+ months before
- Set your total budget
- Agree who is contributing and how much
- Draft the guest list (A list and B list)
- Pick a season or date range
- Decide on the size and style of the wedding
- Research and tour venues
- Book the ceremony and reception venue
- Decide whether you need a planner or day-of coordinator
- Set up a shared wedding email and folder
10-12 months before
- Book the photographer
- Book the videographer
- Book the caterer (if not included with the venue)
- Book the officiant
- Choose your wedding party
- Start shopping for wedding attire
- Set up your wedding website
8-10 months before
- Book the florist
- Book the band or DJ
- Book hair and makeup
- Reserve hotel room blocks for guests
- Send save-the-dates
- Set up your gift registry
- Order wedding attire (leave time for alterations)
6-8 months before
- Book rentals (tables, chairs, linens, tableware)
- Book transportation
- Book the cake baker
- Order invitations
- Choose wedding party outfits
- Book the rehearsal dinner venue
- Plan the honeymoon and check passport expiry dates
4-6 months before
- Go to cake tastings
- Plan the ceremony order of service
- Buy wedding rings
- Book your wedding night accommodation
- Shop for partner's attire and accessories
- Decide on favours
3 months before
- Finalise the menu
- Write your vows
- Choose ceremony music
- Choose first dance and key reception songs
- Order programs, menus and signage
- Book the hair and makeup trial
2 months before
- Mail invitations (6-8 weeks before the date)
- Check marriage licence requirements
- Confirm every vendor booking and payment date
- Buy gifts for the wedding party
- Book attire fittings
1 month before
- Get the marriage licence
- Chase missing RSVPs
- Finalise the seating chart
- Give the final headcount to the caterer
- Final attire fitting
- Write the wedding day timeline
- Break in your wedding shoes
1-2 weeks before
- Send the day-of timeline to vendors and wedding party
- Confirm vendor arrival times
- Prepare final payments and tips in labelled envelopes
- Assign someone to collect cards and gifts
- Pack for the honeymoon
Day before
- Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Drop off decor and signage at the venue
- Pack the emergency kit
- Hand the rings to the person carrying them
- Get a full night's sleep
After the wedding
- Return rentals and borrowed items
- Preserve the bouquet and attire
- Send thank-you cards (within 3 months)
- Update your name on documents (if changing)
- Leave reviews for your vendors
Short engagement?
With six months or less, book the venue, photographer and caterer in the same fortnight, send invitations instead of save-the-dates, and pick a florist and attire from what’s available rather than what’s ideal. Everything else on the list still applies; it just happens faster.
From the shop
Wedding Planning Checklist
The same checklist as a spreadsheet: enter your date and every task gets a due date, with overdue tasks flagged. Plus a printable PDF.
