Wedding Planning Timeline Schedule

The wedding planning timeline checklist is the most important tool You Need.

            

                

The timeline wedding planning checklist lists the tasks needed to be done and the time frame by when they are to be completed.

TASKS to be FULFILLED when PLANNING YOUR WEDDING

Before you start, download the FREE personalized and printable ‘Wedding Planning Guide’ book

We have ___ Months to plan our wedding. Note: Our wedding planning timeline schedule is as follows:

FIRST PHASE as soon as Your Engagement is Announced

• Arrange for both sets of parents to meet. Done on: __________________ Met on:

• Work out a budget. Started on: _______________________ Completed on:

• Open a joint bank account to be used only for Wedding expenses. Done on:

• Apply for a wedding credit card that will be used solely for wedding expenses. Done on:

contribute for what. Completed our list of contributions on:

• Review your budget with those who will contribute money, or pay for a specific expense (flowers, music,
Bridal accessories, etc). Started on: _____________________ Completed on:

• Decide on the style of wedding you want. Wedding Style:_______________Done on:
• Decide who you want to officiate. Done on: __________________
• Set the Date and Time of your wedding. Date: ________________ Time: _______Done on:

• Choose your wedding attendants and call them individually with your invitation. Done on:

• Confirm the participation of your chosen wedding attendants. Completed on:

• Make a preliminary guest list and estimate the final size of your wedding. Done on:

• Choose your wedding style (degree of formality), theme, colors, etc. Done on:

• Have an engagement party. Planning Done on: _____________ Party given by ________ on:

• Send thank you notes to the engagement party guests, as soon as possible. Done on:

• Send out Save the Date cards. Done on:

• Secure a ceremony site, put down a deposit if necessary. Discuss it and your date and time of choice, with your

chosen Officiant.  Location: _______________Officiant: ______________________Done on:

SECOND PHASE

The FREE PRINTABLE ‘Wedding Planning Guide’ book will provide you with information, tips, ideas, worksheets with questions to ask when interviewing vendors, checklists and more. Download it now, while it is FRee!

 • Prepare an engagement announcement for your local newspaper(s). Done on:

• Secure a reception site if different than the ceremony site. Location: _________________Done on:

• Put down a deposit if necessary. Amount: ___________Paid by: ___________________Done on:

• Interview and Hire a caterer or enlist friends and family if you plan to self cater. Done on: ________________

• Reserve a site for the Rehearsal Dinner. Site: _________________________________  Done on:

• Book a block of rooms for out-of-town guests at a local hotel/motel. Hotel: ____________ Done on:

• Make arrangements with car rental agencies to provide out of town guests with cars.               Done on:

• Interview and hire a bar service if not provided by the caterers. Hired: _____________      Done on:

• Interview and hire photographers. Hired: ____________________________________Done on:

• Interview and hire videographers. Hired: ____________________________________ Done on:

• Interview and hire florists. Hired: __________________________________________Done on:

• Interview and hire musicians and or entertainers. Hired: _________________________Done on:

• Interview and hire calligraphers. Hired: ______________________________________Done on:

• Start interviewing bakers for your wedding cakes and other baked goods. Hired: _________Done on:

• Check out party rental establishments if you plan to rent reception needs. Done on:

• Make reservations for transportation and put down a deposit if necessary. Done on:

• Brain storm about and choose where you want to have your honeymoon. Done on:

• Start shopping for your attire and that of your attendants. Started on: ____________ Completed on:

• Check your guest list against your budget. If you need to shorten it. Finalize the list. Done on:

• Send out Save the Date cards to your invited guests. Done on:

• Other details to be done: ________________________________________ Done on:
 

THIRD PHASE

 • Order wedding gown and accessories. From: ____________________Done on:

• Have an engagement picture taken and submit it to your local newspaper. Done on:

• Decide on the details of your wedding ceremony including: The processional, the recessional, the
ceremonies within the ceremony (Unity Candles etc), the reserved seating, the music and the various
duties. Check out the complete music selection list to choose from Done on:

• Arrange for someone to be in charge of keeping everyone on schedule. Done on:

• Arrange for someone to be in charge of and coach the processional. Done on:

• Inform all who will be participating of the ceremony details. Done on:

• Make your honeymoon arrangements. Going to: ________________Done on:

• Apply for passports if you plan a honeymoon abroad. Done on: ________Passports

FOURTH PHASE

• Discuss their wedding attire with the mothers of the bride and groom. Done on:

• Go with the  bridesmaids to Order their dresses and shoes. Done on:

• Check out tuxedos, shirts, and shoes and choose the style for the men. Done on:

• Order wedding invitations, wedding programs, and wedding stationery. Done on:

• Decide on wedding favors for guests and if to purchase or make them. Done on:

From the FIFTH PHASE on, the details need a time frame and we presume that most brides and groom allow
at least 6 months to plan their wedding.

FIFTH PHASE  About 5-6 Months before the wedding

• Select the tuxedo for the groom, for his attendants and for the dads. Done on:

• Make arrangements for tuxedo rentals. Put a deposit if required. Done on:

• Book your honeymoon. Put a deposit if required. Get luggage. Done on:

• Select and order your wedding bands. Put a deposit if required. Done on:

• Inform each of your attendants of their duties and responsibilities. Done on:

SIXTH PHASE  About 4-5 Months before the wedding

• Purchase wedding gifts for each other. Keep them secret!

• Purchase personalized gifts for your attendants, for your helpers and for all who contributed to the
success of your wedding. Done on:

• Finalize floral arrangements. Choose flowers and delivery to your wedding. Done on:

• Set spa,  hair, make-up, nail, and other beauty treatment appointments. Done on:

• Meet with the caterer to set the hors d’œuvre and menu for the reception. Done on:

• Select a bakery for your wedding cakes and other baked goods for the wedding. Done on:

for the wedding, pre-wedding receptions and after-wedding brunch or lunch. Done on:

SEVENTH PHASE About 3-4 Months before the wedding

• Finalize your guest list. Make sure that the final count is within your budget. Done on:

• Begin addressing the invitations or have a friend or a calligrapher do it for you. Done on:

• Purchase postal stamps. Stamp both invitations and reply cards envelopes. Done on:

• Address and Mail the invitations about 8 – 10 weeks before the wedding. Done on:

• Decide who will ride with whom to the wedding, from where and at what times. Done on:

• Prepare your wedding programs and assign a person to distribute them. Done on:

• Collect the measurements of your out of town groomsmen and the dads. Done on:

• Take the measurements and attire information to the tuxedo rental shop. Done on:

• Take all your local groomsmen and dads to the tuxedo rental shop for a fitting. Done on:

• Go with your maid of honor and bridesmaid to the Bridal shop for a fitting. Done on:

• Finalize the wedding cake(s) and baked goods and delivery arrangements. Done on:

• Purchase your wedding accessories; Ring pillow, flower basket, guest book , pen set, and Unity candles
for the ceremony and both garter and tossing garter, cake knife, toasting glasses, a bridal purse – money bag
and comfortable shoes for the reception. . Done on:
• Have a test run of your wedding hair design and make-up. Be sure you like them  . Done on:

EIGHTH PHASE  About 2-3 Months before the wedding

 • Have the last fitting and pick up the wedding gown and the ladies dresses. Done on:

• Separately write your Wedding Vows and speeches. Don’t share them until the wedding. Done on:

• Confirm the hotel-motel reservations for attending out-of-town guests and your suite. Done on:

• Confirm transportation arrangements for all attending out-of-town guests. Done on:

• Meet with the photographer and go over the list of all candid and journalistic photos
you want and the locations and times where they should be taken starting before the wedding. Done on:

• Provide the photographer with a list of your family members, wedding attendants and other special people you
want photographed. Also with a list of toasts, speeches, special dances etc. to photograph. Done on: 

• Meet with the videographer go over the locations, times of events and people to film.  Done on:

• Meet with your musician(s) entertainer(s) and review the schedule of events. along with your selected tunes and
special style of music requested. Also provide a list of toasts, speeches announcements etc.  Done

• Confirm the wedding rehearsal and the location of the rehearsal dinner that follows. Done on:

• Check therequirements of your State such as blood tests and marriage license and fulfill them. Done on:

• Make arrangements to take time off from work if possible a few days before the wedding. Done on:

• You may want to take Dancing Lessons but of course this is an option you may skip. Done on:

• If you are moving to a new residence, arrange for moving your belongings to your new home Done on:

• Arrange with the postal service for forwarding your mail to your new address Done on:

• Contact guests who have not responded because you must have a final count. Done on:

NINTH PHASE About 1-2 Months before the wedding

• Send out invitations to all those who need to attend the wedding rehearsal. Done on:

• Send the officiant an invitation to the rehearsal dinner. Done on:

• Assign a responsible person to keep an eye on the gift table and collect all the envelopes with
checks and cash gifts and keep them for you while you are on your honeymoon. .Done on:

• Schedule having the hair, nails and make-up of the bride done for the wedding. Done on:

• Create welcome Baskets for out of town guests and assign a responsible person to deliver them
 to the hotel(s) –motel(s) for distribution to their rooms before they arrive . Done on:

• Confirm that all the males in the wedding party will have their tuxedos shirts and shoes will 
be ready for pick-up and by when they need to be returned to avoid lare fee. Done on:

• Confirm all the hotel, attractions, you reserved for your honeymoon. Done on:

• Arrange for your family seating preference for the ceremony Usually up front. Done on:

• Make the seating chart for the reception to provide the wedding venue with. Done on:

TENTH PHASE About 3 weeks to 1 month before the wedding

• Pick up your wedding bands. Done on:

• Call guests who have not responded yet. The caterer and venue need numbers. Done on:

• Finalize reception seating arrangements and prepare the place cards. Done on:

• If you wish, Prepare a wedding announcement for your local newspaper(s). Done on:

• Make final payments to vendors whose fees must be paid at this time. Done on:

• Place fees and vendor tips to be paid on the wedding day, in envelopes. Done on:

• Assign a responsible person to distribute the envelopes to the vendors. Done on:

• You can pay or give an honorarium to the officiant after your return from your honey moon.

• Put a responsible person in charge of bringing all accessories, documents, wedding day stationery,
emergency kit etc. to the wedding and taking them home afterwards. Done on:

• Appoint a responsible person to return all rented items including the men’s attire. Done on:

• Appoint a responsible person to take your bouquet and your gown, home. Done on:

• Appoint a responsible person to bring the flowers to a flower preservation artist. Done on:

• Appoint a responsible person to bring the gown to a reputable gown preservationist. Done on:

ELEVENTHTH PHASE About 1-2 weeks before the wedding

 

• Provide the caterer with the final guests count. Seperate number of adults and kids. Done on:

• Reconfirm all hotel – motel reservations and get room numbers. Done on:

• Reconfirm that cars will be available for your guests wanting to rent a car. Done on:

• Reconfirm pickup and drop-off locations with your hired transportation service. Done on:

• Reconfirm and go over all the details with each wedding vendor you hired. Done on:

• Reconfirm with each of your attendants and helpers that they know exactly what their duties and
 responsibilities are how to perform them and that they will fulfill them. Done on:

• Reconfirm wedding rehearsal and the following dinner arrangements. Done on:

TWELFTH PHASE  About 1-2 weeks before the wedding

• Put together a detailed schedule of all your pre-wedding and wedding day activities. Done on:

• Pack for your honeymoon.Don’t forget to take money and credit card with you. It happened. Done on:

• Confirm rehearsal day, time and place as well Confirm rehearsal dinner day, time. Done on:

• Remind your family and attendants of both the rehearsal and the dinner. Done on:

• Confirm the Post-wedding brunch arrangements and inform the atendees. Done on:

THIRTEENTH PHASE Within the week before our wedding

• Attend wedding rehearsal and dinner scheduled on: ________________. Done on:

• Review to make sure that every aspect of the wedding is under control. Done on:

• Make sure that everyone knows what is expected of him/her how and when. Done on:

• Make sure that all events are scheduled and you can relax. Spread love and have fun at your dream wedding.

ONE DAY before the wedding

• Pick up the tuxedos of all participants.

• Get a manicure.

• Put together all the Legal documents you need to bring with you, and give them to your parents, best man or maid
of honor Also make a duplicate of each document for “Just in case.”

• Bride: If you plan to get dressed at the ceremony location, prepare the gown or dress, veil,
undergarments, stockings, formal shoes and comfortable shoes by the door ready to be transported.

• Groom: If you plan to get dressed at the ceremony location, prepare the tux/formal wear, shirt, cufflinks,
tie, socks and shoes by the door ready to be transported.

• Pack a wedding day emergency kit.*

YOUR WEDDING DAY

• Bride; Have your hair make-up done,  Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Walk down the aisle full of love.
• Marry your best friend and soul mate. Celebrate, enjoy yourself and should something go wrong, don’t worry about it. !
This maybe the only thing you will remember and later in your married life, you’ll laugh about it.

When my husband and I got married 55 years ago. His parents ordered the wedding cake paying then $600. 

After lunch, the venue servers announced that “the wedding cake is now being served”. My father in law was insensed!

and let the manager know that the bride and groom did not cut the cake, they did not even see it. So the manager brought

a wedding cake he had ready for an evening wedding. He requested that we only pretend to cut the cake for pictures.

Yes! You guessed correctly. We not only cut the cake, but fed each other with a slice. This and a few other mishaps are

what we still chuckle about.

For more information, read the following:

• Planning the Perfect Wedding Day

• Check your financial compatibility -Financial quiz

• Preparing for Your Wedding – Part 1

• Have You Considered a Friday Wedding?

• A Home Wedding or Party on a Budget

• Your Dream Wedding budget in the Current Economy

• Wedding Budget Related Questions and Answers

• Wedding Questions and Answers-2-Budget

• A-wedding Day FREE, Wedding To-Do and budget checklist

• Planning Your Destination Wedding and Honey moon