What Should Be on Your Wedding Planning Checklist?
A lot of wedding planning checklists have these extensive and detailed timelines of what you should do in month 12, 8, 5,2....etc. But what about our brides that get engaged and plan a wedding three months out? Looking at what you "should have done" 9 months ago isn't exactly going to help the wedding stress. So here is a straight wedding planning checklist that that will help any bride or groom plan for their wedding day!
A Wedding Planning Checklist
- Announce engagement.
- Review finances
- Prepare wedding budget
- Create a wedding binder (actual or digital) to track planning and receipts
- Hire a wedding planner
- Create a guest list and be open to revision
- Decide upon a wedding design and style
- Choose wedding colors
- Decide on who you want in your bridal party
- Buy Bridal Party gifts
- Determine Bridal Party Assignments, if any
Do you really need to hire a wedding planner?
- Extend Bridal Party Invitations
- Review and Select a venue
- Review and secure a caterer
- Create song lists
- Review and secure a band or DJ
- Review and hire a florist
- Go cake tasting and order your wedding cake
- Buy wedding cake topper
- Review and hire a photographer
- Take Engagement Photos
- Make a wedding website
- Select Invitations and set a deadline for when to send them out
- Send out save the dates
- Buy your wedding dress
Plus Size Brides | How to Find the Perfect Dress | Part One
- Pick out what the bridal party is wearing. Make sure this is done early enough for everyone to get fittings!
- Create ceremony schedule
- Create reception schedule
- Decide and book luncheon and rehearsal dinner locations
- Secure officiant
- Determine hair and make up
- Buy rehearsal and luncheon dresses
- Buy guest favors
- Book any extra vendors for activities at your wedding, such as photo booths, archery, ax throwing. You know, the typical stuff.
- Write wedding vows
- Decide on what you want said at your wedding
- Invite those you want to give toasts to do so
- Plan and purchase any decorative accessories for your wedding and reception that goes beyond flowers
The 4 Best Design Tips for Wedding Centerpieces
- Create mock ups of table settings, floral elements, etc
- Get your marriage licence
- Book Honeymoon
- Create a seating chart based on RSVP
- Put tips for vendors and services in envelopes, ready to go
- Pay in full all vendors and venues
- Arrange all travel vehicles for guests, the bride and groom, and bridal parties as needed
- Book block of rooms for out of town guests
- Pack for honeymoon
- Get a pedicure and manicure, and maybe a massage