Your Wedding Planning Checklist: Everything You Need to Start Planning Your Wedding

Start off discussing your date. Don’t just look at the calendar and choose the first one that pops out. You want to think about the type of theme you could consider, the time of year you prefer and if there are other major events during that time. A June wedding could be your initial thought, but what about a winter wedding?

Once you have a date in mind (not set in stone yet) talk about your wedding budget. This is going to dictate the rest of your wedding planning. Keep it reasonable based on your income and the amount that you already have saved. It is possible to have the big day of your dreams on a tight budget, so try not to worry about it too much.

Pull out a ring binder or create a folder on your computer for all your wedding ideas. Cut out clips from magazines with wedding tips, and save photos that you find for bridesmaid gift ideas or flower decorations. Pinterest is also great for this stage. Create a wedding ideas board and repin all the ideas that you find on the site. There is such a range on the social media site, whether you need cake ideas, invitations ideas or even wedding gown options.

Consider starting a website or blog about your big day. This will end up being an amazing keepsake afterwards. Write down your thoughts and ideas from the whole planning stage, and ask your friends or family members to contribute. You can share photos in the run up of your bridal shower or the stag do. It could even help you make a little money in your run up to the big day.

Now that you have a date set, you can send out your save the date cards. These don’t need to be flashy, and many people now make their own. Include the date and general location (city or town) and the names of the people getting married. All you want to do right now is tell people you’re getting married and you want them there.

Of course, before you send them out, you need your guest list! It’s time to go through your family and friends. Just who do you want attending the big day, and who aren’t you so bothered about. This is a day all about you. If you don’t want your cousins attending because they always start a fight, you don’t need to invite them.

It’s getting closer to your day, and it’s time to organize some of the finer details. Now you’ve had the chance to think about your photography, entertainment and catering, it is time to book them. Talk to the different companies or individuals, get prices and find the one that you both agree is perfect for your wedding day. It’s really important to be together for as much of this part of the wedding planning process as possible.

Registering for your gifts is great if that’s something you want to do. Sign up to two or three different retailers and include gifts of all different budget ranges so your guests have an option. If you’re not bothered about the gifts (not everybody is) then make sure you let your guests know. If you don’t, they will bug you about it.

Now it’s time for organizing the clothes for yourselves and the wedding party. When it comes to the wedding dress, you will need to book at least three fittings. Then you need to work on the bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents of the bride. Discuss with your wedding party who will pay for what. Your bridesmaids may expect you to pay for everything, and vice versa.

This is also the time to send out the final wedding invitations. These need to include the full details of the day, and could even include your wedding website if that has more details. Remember to include the RSVP details, and a date that you need to hear from everyone by. This should be three months before the wedding.

Around four months before the big day, you also want to book your hair and makeup trials. You’ll also need to discuss options with your stylist. Will she come to you on the day or do you and your bridesmaids need to go to her?

Will the two of you have parties and showers? Now’s the time to think about booking them. Of course, you could leave these to the Maid of Honor and Best Man. It will give you one less thing to worry about!

Finally, pick the music you’ll have on the day. Some DJs will just want the first dance, while others will ask if there are any particular types of music you would like for the day.

It’s time to get everything finalized. This includes your readings for the ceremony, the menu for the dinner, flowers for your day and the order of service. You don’t want to run around at the last minute trying to finalize the details. You will have far too much to do.

Finalize everything based on the RSVP details. If you’re not sure about some people—there is always one!—then you could order a few extras of things if possible. If not, then any late RSVPers will have to be told that it is too late. You had a date on there for a reason.

It’s also worth getting back in touch with all your vendors right now. This just helps to make sure they’re ready for your wedding day, and you can discuss the final details. This is extremely important for those you booked months ago.

Take a look at the details for the marriage license. This varies between countries, but two months is usually enough time to get all the paperwork together, so you can get married.

It’s getting really close now, and it’s time to go shopping for the rings. The stress will start to show through, but you want to work together as much as possible.

You may want to put an announcement of your wedding into the newspaper. This isn’t a necessity, depending on country laws, but it is sometimes a nice keepsake. Some parents like to do it for their children instead and grandparents especially love it.

This is also the time to book your wedding rehearsal dinner, and invite the wedding party. Make sure they know where to go if they are from out of town.

Confirm all your timings with your vendors, and create your seating plan for the dinner. You’ll also need to make sure you have the decorations ready to go. Try not to leave these things to the last minute, otherwise you risk mistakes and missing out on something. Remember small things like the guest book, bridal gifts and writing your vows (if you are doing).

You’re not going to be around the whole day to meet and greet your guests, so you need to put other people in charge. Arrange with the ushers and other members of the wedding party to make sure someone is there for all the vendors, and people know where they are sitting.

If you don’t already have your dress, now is the time to pick it up. The same applies to all the other outfits for the day.

The day before your wedding, arrange it so you can sit back and relax. You want to enjoy your last day as a single person. There is nothing else you can do now!

Hopefully this wedding planning checklist gives you a good breakdown of the things you need to do in the run up to your big day. It is based on the assumption that your wedding is in a year’s time at least. If not, you’ll have to do some rearranging to suit your own needs. Remember to enjoy your big day. It’s a day you want to remember for all the right reasons.