Wedding Planning Checklist

So You Just Got Engaged…

I am sure you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, there are so many decisions to make!! Here is a wedding planning checklist to help you plan the big parts of your special day!

When You get Engaged!

• Get inspired!! Soak up all the wedding pictures from your favourite magazines, instagram, facebook, pinterest, and take notes of what you like!

• Decide on a theme, and your colour scheme

• Figure out your budget, and your priorities. What is most important?

• Select your wedding party

• Start your wedding guest list

• Wedding Planners are a huge help! This is the time to look at booking one if it is in your budget

• Book your venue – if you have your heart set on a location reserve your date as soon as you can!

• Research vendors: photographers, videographers, officiants, DJ’s, caterers, florists, and others.

• Start a wedding binder – it will keep everything in one place and keep you organized on what is left to be done. This would be the perfect place for your wedding planning checklist to go!

Around 1 Year Before Your Wedding Day

• Start planning your timeline, decide on details such as if you will do a first look, and what games or events will you do during your reception?

• Hire the perfect photographer and videographer for your day!

• Take your engagement pictures, these can be used on your invites

• Buy your dress! Try on different styles to see what fits your body best, you might be surprised what you fall in love with!

• Meet with your caterers

• Reserve hotel rooms for guests if needed, most hotels will give a discount if booking a number of rooms for a wedding

• Create your gift registry, and share this information with your guests. You can share this info via a wedding website – click here to create your own free website!

• Pick the officiant you’re excited to have marry you

Around 6-7 Months Before

• Send out save the date cards!

• Finalize the guest list and collect addresses

• Discuss your honeymoon: if you’re going to leave immediately after your wedding start planning it now!

• Go bridesmaid dress shopping!

• Reserve rentals including: chairs, tents, linens, portable toilets, generators, etc.

• Book your florist

• Arrange your wedding day transportation

Around 4-5 Months Before

• Go cake tasting!! Hire your pastry chef

• Send your bridal shower guest list to your host

• Find the right hair and makeup artists for your day

• Select your music: processional music, first dance songs, and reception playlist

• Purchase or rent the Groom and Groomsmen’s attire

• Provide your guest lists to the maid of honour and best man for the bachelor and bachelorette parties

• Purchase your rings

Around 3 Months Before

• Finalize the menu for your reception with your caterer

• Meet with your florist to confirm the chosen florals

• Finalize your timeline for the day

• Print programs

• Order your wedding favours

Around 2 Months Before

• Chat with your photographer about the day and any specific shots you want. Start creating a family picture list for them

• Provide the band/DJ with a list of “do” and “don’t” play songs

• Send out your wedding invites (my personal favourite is Canva for their templates and easy printing options!)

• Purchase wedding party gifts

• Have a blast at your bachelor/bachelorette parties!

Around 1 Month Before

• Go to your final dress fitting

• Send invites to rehearsal dinner

• Get your marriage license!

• Purchase alcohol

• Create your seating chart for your reception

• Write vows

• Call guests who haven’t RSVP’d yet for a final head count

• Let the wedding party members know if they have duties on the day of the wedding

• Dance in your shoes! Break them in

1 Week Before Your Wedding Day

• Touch base with all vendors if they haven’t, resend the timeline if any changes have been made

• Confirm getting ready locations, give this info to vendors involved: hair and makeup, photography, and videography

• Ask family/friends to help with any small day of tasks

• Plan snacks for yourselves and the bridal party for between the ceremony and reception

• Make any final payments, have checks ready for any day of payments

• Pack for your honeymoon if you leave right after your wedding

After the Wedding

• Clean wedding dress

• Send thank you cards

• Change your name! (if you are going to)

• Pay any remaining balances with vendors

• The satisfaction of checking off every point on your wedding planning checklist!!