You’ve finally heard the question, and you’ve finally been able to say “Yes”. Now comes the hard part.
Getting married to the one you love is one of life’s most special moments. But with every great wedding comes plenty of stress and attempted planning.
It can feel overwhelming trying to come up with a timeline to make sure everything is ready for your wedding day. Luckily, we’ve been through this many times and can offer a helping hand.
While every wedding is different, there are some common things on every wedding checklist and milestones on every timeline. We’ll list a few of the most popular items during the most common times.
There’s No “One Size Fits All” Wedding Plan
Before we walk down this informative aisle, we need to make one thing clear. This is not a definitive list that you should follow step-by-step. Think of this blog as a list of suggestions that you can tailor to your situation.
These items are based on popular wedding checklists that are based on a 12 months timeline from engagement all the way to the wedding day. But your wedding doesn’t have to be “normal.”
Some people can plan a wedding in a couple of months, while others need a couple of years. Whatever your time frame is, you can make a checklist that fits your wedding perfectly.
12 – 10 Months: Planning and Budgeting
The most important part of your wedding is also the most difficult: planning your budget. Before you scour Pinterest mood boards and find the perfect venue, you and your finance need to know how much you’re willing to spend.
There a few things to consider with your budget:
- Number of guests
- Who is paying for what
- Theme and design
- Caterer and dietary restrictions
- Wedding planner
- DJ or band
- Wedding outfits
Once your budget is in place and the invitations are set, it’s time to get to work. You’ll begin to choose vendors, photographers, DJ’s, etc. You can also start picking dresses, the venue, the color palette, and other important design choices.
9-7 Months: Putting Your Plan into Motion
Now that your budget is set and your plan is coming together, it’s time to take action.
Take this time to actually buy and reserve important things for your wedding. These can include:
- Wedding venue
- Wedding Dress
- Caterer
- Photographer
- DJ/ Band
- Officiant
- Rental Items/ Furniture/ Linens
This is also the time to actually send out “save-the-date” invites and plan for the people in your wedding. Most importantly, plan for your bridesmaids’ and groomsmen outfits, including shopping time and fitting.
6-4 Months: The Midway Slump
This is the weird part, where you’re starting to finalize some things, but you’re still far enough from the wedding where changes can be made.
- Taste and finalize food menu with caterer
- Taste and finalize wedding cake
- Finalize music playlist
- Arrange transportation if needed
- Book your honeymoon
- Hair and make-up trial
- Prepare invitation designs
By finalizing your choices now, you can make sure these sometimes minor details don’t get lost in the big picture that is your wedding.
3-1 Months: The Last Big Steps
As the day gets closer, it can feel like you’re running out of time. But, if you’ve been following these guidelines, you should only have a few big ticket items to worry about.
- Double check with vendors
- Double check plan with photographer and DJ/band
- Write vows
- Prepare speech list
- Send out invitations with RSVPs
- Create seating chart
- First dress fitting
- Get marriage license
These steps are fairly important, since they’ll make sure everything is running as smoothly as possible. You’ll also be taking care of some important steps that you might have been putting off, like confirming plans with your team or even getting your marriage license.
1 Week: The Final Touches
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! You’re only a few agonizing days away from your wedding.
- Send final head count to vendors
- Confirm out-of-town lodging
- Delegate tasks to friends and family
- Final dress fitting/hair and make-up
- Confirm all event details
- Wrap up any small tasks
- Practice vows
- Pack for your honeymoon!
The most important step is to not lose yourself during this whole process. Take some time to relax and treat yourself. Make sure to spend time with your finance, family, and friends.
The only step left is to enjoy your wedding day! With everything in place, your special day should be everything you hoped. With guaranteed surprises and unplannable moments, this is going to be a memorable day.
Start With The Right Venue
Before you start with any other step of your checklist, might we suggest a great venue for your wedding?
Salem Chapel and Events Venue is the perfect spot for your traditional style wedding. We offer a historic feel with the benefit of modern amenities.
Contact us so we can cross off some steps from your checklist