The Essential Wedding Planning Checklist: From Venue to Vows
With the checklist and the tips here, you can approach the wedding planning and preparation process more systematically.
The wedding is inching closer and it feels like you have an overwhelming number of tasks to complete. If this sounds like you, this post has got you covered.
With the checklist and the tips here, you can approach the wedding planning and preparation process more systematically. This will ensure that you can complete tasks early and appear for your wedding vows relaxed and radiant.
Checklist To Do: A Year to the Wedding
- Draw a wedding budget, and determine how you’re sharing the expenses. Use a spreadsheet application for the task, and ensure some flexibility.
- Sit with your partner (and both sets of parents if required), and prepare a guest checklist. You need the expected guest count for several other decisions.
- Have a heart-to-heart conversation with your partner and mutually decide on the theme and formality level of your wedding.
- If you’re hiring a wedding planner (and it’s recommended, to take away some of the weight from your shoulders), this is the time to engage one.
- Now that you have the budget, guest count, theme, and wedding planner, you can hunt for the venue and lock in the most suitable one. For a warm and intimate wedding, select from among charming wedding venues with small spaces. Or you could break from tradition with an unconventional venue. Decide if a special date or nabbing a specific venue is more important to you. You’ll need flexibility in either the date or the venue.
- At this point, book your DJ, as this is the person who will get the energy going on your special day, and set the vibe. It’s also a good idea to take this time to book an experienced photographer and videographer to capture your wedding moments. Additionally, you may also need to make decisions regarding the catering, and other key services.
Checklist To Do: 11 Months before the Wedding
- Prepare a wedding board that captures the aesthetic and thematic elements that you and your partner desire. Pore over Pinterest and discuss with your wedding planner.
- If you haven’t had one already, have an engagement photoshoot session. It’s preferable to have the session with the chosen photographer for the wedding to build comfort and connection.
- Make a checklist and decide who you want on your side as part of the wedding party. Once done, you can then you can get to the planning part of the wedding party proposals.
Checklist To Do: 10 Months before the Wedding
- Start shopping for your wedding attire in earnest. Having time on hand will help you hunt for the perfect attire, secure better deals, and get alterations done as required. Also, maybe select a more casual dress for dancing.
- Book transportation and hotel block accommodation for the comfort of your wedding party and out-of-town guests.
- Take a look at wedding invitations and stationary, especially if you’re going for extensively customized versions.
- Set up your wedding website.
Checklist To Do: 9 Months before the Wedding
- Send out the save-the-date cards. This is going to generate excitement and anticipation around your wedding and help your guests plan their schedules.
- Plan the entertainment activities for your wedding.
Checklist To Do: 8 Months before the Wedding
- Sit with your better half and make a well-thought-out gift registry. Moreover, this will help you get items that will facilitate your new journey, and it will prevent your loved ones from wasting money on items that you already have or might never use.
Checklist To Do: 7 Months before the Wedding
- Book the officiant for your wedding. Comparatively, if you aren’t taking your vows in a house of worship, you could use a professional or request a close friend/family member.
- Start planning and making the bookings for your honeymoon.
- Book the wedding rental items such as the furniture and linens.
- Finalize details with all your key vendors
Checklist To Do: 5-6 Months before the Wedding
- Choose and order the outfits for the wedding party.
- Order the formal invitations so that you have sufficient time to deal with any issues that may arise.
- This might be a good time to go for premarital counseling with your spouse-to-be.
Checklist To Do: 4 Months before the Wedding
- Select the flavors and design of your wedding cake, or you can skip the traditional cake ceremony and go for a dessert table. With this in mind, finalize your menu and have a final tasting session with your caterer.
- Choose and purchase the wedding bands.
- You might want to have a hair and makeup trial with the professionals to ensure that you’ll get your desired look on your special day. Additionally, try and schedule this with a dress fitting so that you can see your entire look.
- This is also the time you should start paying extra attention to your skin, hair, and general beauty upkeep. Likewise, if you wish to try out any special treatments, begin no later than this month, to allow your body and skin to adjust.
- Purchase wedding shoes and a second pair just for dancing later in the reception.
Checklist To Do: 2-3 Months before the Wedding
- Purchase the wedding favors, thank-you gifts, and all other small items such as the guest book and the ring-bearer accessories. Prepare a checklist in advance to ensure that you’re not missing anything.
- Get the marriage license. Check with the local jurisdiction of the specific town or city where you’re getting married.
- Prepare your vows.
- Check postage, then send out the wedding invitations and include envelopes with your address and stamps for the RSVP cards.
- Your first and second dress fittings should be in these months.
Checklist To Do: 2-4 Weeks Before Your Special Day
- Carefully prepare a seating chart. Account for all your RSVPs and give a final headcount to your vendors and the venue.
- Confirm all details with vendors, and either pay them in full or prepare labeled envelopes and delegate the task to a trusted relative/friend.
- This is also the time for your final dress fitting and your final chance for alterations.
- Break in your wedding shoes and pack your honeymoon bags.
Checklist To Do: 1 Week to Go
- Go for your final beauty appointments.
- Rehearse your wedding vows.
- Press or steam the wedding attire and the dress, so that they look smooth and wrinkle-free on your wedding day.
- Pack a small bag with your personal items
- Kick off your wedding festivities with the rehearsal dinner
Checklist To Do: On The Special Day
- Relax and let your professional teams take over the delegated tasks.
- Ensure that you’re eating well and keeping yourself hydrated.
Finally
Have FUN and enjoy every minute of your special day!
Listen and Learn
Above all, listen now to a special edition of the STRESS-FREE WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST so that you can follow these guidelines and have a stress-free wedding.
Photo Credit: Trung Ngyuyen on Pexels
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