Complete Wedding Checklist + FREE Printable Timeline
Congratulations! You’re engaged! Take a moment to bask in the afterglow of that just-said-yes moment. This is one of the most exciting times of your life, so enjoy every second of it. Planning a wedding is a big deal and can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help make sure that you have fun along the way.
Skip ahead to your month
12+ Months Out | 11+ Months Out | 9-10 Months Out | 7-8 Months Out | 6 Months Out | 5 Months Out | 4 Months Out | 3 Months Out | 2 Months Out | 1 Month Out | 2 Weeks Before | 1 Week To Go | Day Before | Night Before | Wedding Day |
12+ Months Out
Congratulations! Don’t fret, we’re here every step of the way..
- Choose a date (or up to 3 for flexibility)
- Determine your budget
- Discuss priorities
- Have conversation with parents
- Decide if you’ll hire a planner
- Begin compiling rough wedding guest list
- Decide which traditions you will include
- Decide on the size of your wedding
- Start looking for a photographer for your pre-wedding/ engagement shoot
- Explore venue options
- Create a wedding website
- Discover your wedding style and overall theme
- Gather planning tools
- Decide if you will hire a planner or a day coordinator
- Will it be a destination wedding?
11 Months Out
- Explore wedding vendors
- Hire vendors that book out quickly; eg photographer, videographer, planner
- Finalise wedding date
- Book venue
- Pick bridal party
9-10 Months Out
- Finalise guest list
- Finalise venue
- Start designing save-the-dates
- Begin wedding dress/tuxedo shopping
- Research Caterers
- Research Decorators
- Research Florist
- Research makeup artist
- Send out your save-the-dates
- Browse invitations
- Take engagement photos
- Decide bridal party attire, plus accessories
- Book the rest of your vendors
7-8 Months Out
- Finalise booking of non-negotiable vendors
- Start planning your honeymoon
- Discover bridal makeup and hair styles
- Browse decor and flower arrangement photos for inspiration
- Order invitations
- Shop for wedding dress accessories, veils, undergarments
- Research Emcee
6 Months Out
- Send out invitations
- Schedule fittings for bridal party
- Select cake design and schedule tasting
- Attend pre-marital courses
- Shop wedding bands
- Book emcee
- Book master of ceremonies
- Book entertainment
- Book food truck, dessert booth
- Book photobooth services
5 Months Out
- Plan rehearsal dinner, traditional ceremonies, gatecrashing ceremony, pre-wedding celebrations
- Guest list for the above events
- Submit paperwork for registration of marriage
- Book honeymoon flights and accommodation
- Finalise flower and décor selection with decorator
- Arrange transportation to and from venue for yourself
- Arrange transportation to and from venue for out-of-town guest
- Book hotel rooms for out-of-town guest
- Purchase gifts for bridal party
- Prepare for Guo Da Li, Hair combing ceremony, Chinese tea ceremony
- Prepare for hantaran
- Prepare for Christian ceremony
- Prepare for Hindu ceremony
- Finalise honeymoon arrangements and make sure documents are updated
- Order wedding favours/gifts
3 Months Out
- Makeup and hair trial
- Food tasting
- Finalise reception menu
- Finalise persons involve in ceremony for example: reading of scripture in a Christian ceremony
- Order alcohol, finalise drinks with bartender
- Dress fittings
- Plan reception seating
- Order the rest of the stationary suite; menu cards, programme booklets, escort cards or place cards
2 Months Out
- Organise RSVPs
- Write wedding vows and speeches
- Review ceremony order with officiant, emcee or master of ceremonies
- Final fitting for bridal party
- Create wedding timeline and send to vendors, officiant, bridal party (if not hiring coordinator)
- Finalise playlist with musicians/ DJ
- Purchase gifts for parents
- Start practicing for your first dance (+/- dance classes)
1 Month Out
- Touch base with vendors; confirming date, time, location
- Meet with coordinator
- Start packing for honeymoon
- Confirm honeymoon reservations
- Final dress fitting, complete with accessories
- Pick up marriage license
- Final facial session
- Break in wedding shoes
- Finalise seating arrangements
2 Weeks Out
- Follow up with guest that have not RSVP-ed
- Give caterer/hotel final head count (things to discuss)
- Get final haircut or colour
- Make arrangements for the care of plants or pets while away on honeymoon
- Delegate wedding day duties: guest registration, gift collection
- Give photographers and videographers your requests
- Complete work to-do-list (get work out of the way)
- Finalise walk-in songs for reception dinner
1 Week To Go
- Prepare final payments for vendors
- Pack your garments and accessories
- Make time for relaxation, book a spa
- Prepare wedding day emergency kit
- Prepare gifts for those helping out
- Prepare red packets
- Collect jewellery from bank/safe
- Get wedding bands/engagement ring cleaned at the jewellers’
- Prepare additional shoes to be kept in the car in the event of an emergency
- Pack overnight bag
Day Before
- Get wedding car decorated
- Get manicure/pedicure
- Rehearse your ceremony
- Layout your dress and veil and have them steamed
- Pack small bag of personal items (basic medication, mint, snacks etc)
- Layout stationary suits, props, jewellery for photographers to capture
Night Before
- Attend rehearsal dinner
- Pack suitcases, bags, shoes, emergency kits in the bridal car (if travelling to a different venue)
- Go to bed earlier
Wedding Day
It’s finally here!
- Eat breakfast
- Allow ample time to prepare
- Pass wedding bands to best man
- Stay hydrated
- Relax and enjoy your day
Beyond the Wedding Day
- Return rentals
- Send out thank you notes
- Enjoy your honeymoon
- Complete outstanding payments
- Store registered marriage license/certificate in safe place
- Update insurance policies
- Share wedding photos and video
- Submit your photos to The Wedding Notebook for featured write up
- - Wedding Guest Seating Cheat Sheet: A Step-By-Step Guide
- - TWN Couples Share 30 Wedding Saving Tips
- - Top 7 Myths of Destination Weddings
- - The Difference Between Wedding Planners, Stylists and Coordinators.
- - The Difference Between a Wedding Stylist, a Decorator and a Florist
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Post written by: theweddingnotebook
The Wedding Notebook is an ultra chic quarterly online magazine and website for the modern bride. We cover engagement celebrations, bridal portraits and weddings. Besides that, we also offer fresh perspectives on wedding ideas and new talent in the industry. Showcasing some of this region’s most unique, never-before-seen celebrations, our aim is to inspire others to plan a wedding day that truly reflects their personality and, most importantly, themselves as a couple. Above all, we are crazy about anything and everything that has to do with weddings!
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