Twelve Months (or More) Out:

• Budget: The not-so-fun part of any wedding, budgeting will allow you to allocate funds to what you prioritize over others. Numbers change, so track your spending with a spreadsheet so you can automatically adjust budget funds
• Venue: One of the first considerations you should take in when beginning your wedding planning endeavors. Your venue can determine your theme, the amount of guests, and your budget.
• Wedding Planner: If you hire a wedding planner, most of the time they will have tried-and-true recommendations. Get contacts and start your research! They will also allow you to be more at ease in regard to planning as they will handle any of the administrative duties.
• Wedding Party: Start considering and choosing who you want to be a part of your wedding ceremony. These should be individuals that uplift you, not ones that will take away attention from the importance of your wedding day.
• Guest List: Depending on your venue and how intimate you want your wedding to be will determine your guest list.
• Theme: Let the theme of your wedding exude you and your s/o’s personality. Compile ideas and put your own twist on it for a unique wedding day style.
• Vendors: Photographers, videographers, florists, entertainers, and caterers. These individuals/teams will set the tone of your wedding, so do your research and make sure they’re people that can envision your wedding in a similar light.
  

Eight to Ten Months Out:

• Wedding Dress Shopping: Wedding dress shopping should be done sooner rather than later. Alterations will need to have plenty of time to be done, especially if you’re planning on toning/leaning up before your big day.
• Book Hotel Rooms: Book hotel room blocks if you have a destination wedding or a mass group of individuals coming in from out of town. This will avoid any last-minute mishaps and allow the hotel enough time to prepare and reserve rooms.
• Engagement Photos
• Invitations/Save the Dates
• Gift Registry: The sooner you get out your wedding gift registry, the sooner guests will not have to guess on what to gift you.
• Bridesmaid Dress Shopping: Similar to wedding dress shopping, depending on your wedding color pallet, set a style/styles and color/color pallet for your bridesmaids to pick from so they have plenty of time to search and get alterations.

Six to Eight Months Out:

• Book Rehearsal-Dinner Venue
• Hire Ceremony Musicians
• Order Rental Items: If the venue doesn’t provide certain objects, you’ll want to rent them to complete your wedding venue package. Also, might be a good idea to have backup plans for possible inclement weather.
• Hire Officiant

Four to Six Months Out:

• Book Transportation for Guests: If you have individuals coming from out of town, it would be considerate to them for giving them transportation options, especially if they don’t have vehicles.
• Book Newlyweds Transportation
• Book Honeymoon: Along with the wedding planning, you’ll want ample time to plan out your honeymoon so that you’re prepared to travel after your wedding without any hesitation of plans and what you need to pack.
• Buy/Rent Groom’s Tux
• Premarital Counseling: Not a lot of emphasis is placed on marital counseling, but I’m saying it should be normalized as to understand where each party’s mindset is at and what your goals are post-marriage.
• Final Tasting with Caterer
• Choose Your Cake
• Buy Wedding Bands
• Groomsmen Attire
• Hair and Makeup Trial: If you haven’t gotten your engagement photos done yet, this will be the opportune time for you to get them done since you’ll already be glammed up.

Three Months Out:

• Order Invitations/Hire Calligrapher
• Plan Menu: Consider what your favorite food are, what the masses will enjoy, and if there any massive allergy restrictions.
• Brainstorm Guest Favors
• Write Vows: Sit down and stream-of-consciousness write. From there, reduce and revise to make your vows personal and meaningful.
• Select Readings
• Meet with Officiant

Two Months Out:

• Send Invitations
• Dress Fitting: To make sure that all loose ends are tied and the dress of your dreams is in tip-top shape.
• Marriage License
• Wedding Party Gifts
• Details: Gather your wedding details such as your invitation suite, ring boxes, garter, jewelry, your “something”s, and any other details you want to be featured in your detail shots.

One Month Out:

• Assemble Gift Bags
• Pay Vendors in Full: For the most part, everything should be settled with your vendors, so take of those bills so you won’t have to worry about it post-wedding.
• Seating Chart
• Final Venue Walkthrough
• Put Away Cash for Tips
• Break in Wedding Shoes: You never want to wear brand new shoes on your wedding day, so make sure break them in when you get the chance to avoid the blisters and foot aches.

Final Weeks:

• Hair Color, Eyebrow Wax, Mani/Pedi
• Final Dress Fitting
• Pack Bags for Honeymoon
• Clean Rings
• Clear To-Do List

Day Before:

• Pack Your Personal Items
• Drink A LOT of Water
• Go to Bed Early

IT’S HERE:

• Eat a Filling Breakfast
• Stay Hydrated
• Air/Steam Out Dresses
• Lay Out Details
• Exchange Notes with Your S/O
• Breather and Take It All In