Your 12 Month Wedding Checklist

This 12 month wedding checklist will be your go to resource for planning a wedding quickly and efficiently.

It is possible to plan a wedding in 12 months if you have a clear agenda in mind. In this post I will break down what tasks need to be accomplished each month if you are planning your wedding in a year or less. Keep reading for your 12 month wedding checklist.

---

Engagement lengths can vary greatly and every couples timeline is unique. This 12 month wedding checklist is a guide of major wedding planning milestones you should be hitting and approximately when to do each task. Feel free to adjust this timeline based on your unique engagement experience. You can use this guide as a recommendation on the latest you should be completing each task. Feel free to check things off your list earlier if you are having a longer engagement.

12 Months Before Wedding Checklist

1. Take a Moment to Enjoy Being a Fiancé

While it can be exciting to start your wedding planning as soon as possible, take a moment to enjoy this moment with your fiancé. If you are planning on celebrating with family and friends you can start planning your engagement party and thinking of how many people you would like to invite.

2. Create a Wedding Email

Having a separate email dedicated to just wedding planning is so helpful. You can use this email for all your vendor inquiries, to set up your wedding website, setting up your wedding registry and more. I recommend setting up notifications on your phone so you will never miss an important wedding related email.

3. Set a Budget

Before you can solidify the who, what and where of wedding planning you need to have a rough idea of your budget. Your budget will help you determine things like your guest count, wedding location and time of year you are getting married.

4. Choose a Wedding Date or Season

The time of year you get married may or may not be important to you and your fiancé. Keep in mind you can often get discounted rates from your venue and vendors during the “off season” where you live.

5. Make a Preliminary Guest List

Once you have a rough head count it is much easier to start researching venues. Not all venues are large enough to accommodate a 200+ person wedding and some venues may even have minimum head counts. Keep in mind often the larger your head count the more you will have to budget for your wedding.

6. Research Ceremony & Reception Venues

In order to find wedding venues near your preferred wedding location you can start looking up venues on theknot or zola.com. To find other unique venuess in your area I recommend following local wedding planners on instagram to see where they have planned weddings in the past. This will also help ypu get a better vibe of the look and feel of some venues in your area.

7. Book Your Venue & Choose your Wedding Date

Now is this exciting part! Booking your wedding venue and choosing the day you get married. This date will forever hold a special place in your marriage so it is worthwhile to consider it before booking. Keep in mind, if you are getting married in a church you may want to inquire with your church on their availability prior to booking a reception venue.

8. Start Researching Vendors

I recommend starting with a quick google search of vendors in your area. Websites like the knot and zola are also great resources to research vendors. Once you find a few vendors your love start following them on Instagram and look at other vendors they follow to get even more inspiration

11 Months Before

1. Finalize your Guest List

Now is also a great time to begin collecting your guests addresses if you are choosing to send physical save the dates to guests. Just make sure you don’t collect addresses too far in advance of mailing your save the dates since people may move and their addresses may change.

2. Book a Wedding Planner or Day of Coordinator

If you are a type A bride like I was a full blown wedding planner may not be the right fit for you. However, I highly recommend you consider hiring a wedding day of coordinator. This person will help you the month leading up to your wedding and can handle all the little details the day of so you don’t have to worry and can enjoy your day.

3. Book a Photographer / Videographer

Photographers and videographers can often be easier vendors to book since you can see their past work pretty easily on instagram or their website. Beware though photographers often post their best shots on their social media pages. To get a better idea of the type of work and number of photos you will receive from them I suggest asking if they can send you the full package of photos they delivered to a past bride & groom. This will give you a better idea of what you can expect to receive for your own wedding.

4. Book your Officiant / Celebrant

Once your venue and date are set it is the perfect time to start thinking about who you would like officiate your ceremony. Keep in mind depending on your state there may be different rules and requirements for someone to legally officiate your ceremony.

5. Book a Band or DJ

First step is to decide whether you would like. a band or a DJ for your reception. Once that is decided you can start your research. If you are hiring a band you will likely want to hear them perform prior to booking. If you are choosing a DJ I’d recommend reading their reviews to ensure they will mesh with the vibe of music you are looking for. Some DJs even offer a live music component like a musician accompanying the DJ and MC .

6. Choose your Wedding Party

Deciding who you want to stand by your side on your big day is an important decision. Be sure to take some time to think about who you want to be the most involved in this day. It might help to make a list of all these people and think about your relationship with them. Remember you and your fiancé don’t need to agree on having the same number of people. I promise in photos it won’t be a big deal if your sides are uneven. Looking for ideas on how to ask your bridesmaids. Click here to get some inspiration.

7. Set Up a Hotel Room Block

It may be helpful to set up a hotel room block if you have lots of guests coming in from out of town. If this is the case it is nice to include this information on your wedding website prior to sending out save the dates. Hotel room blocks are not necessary for all weddings. Also be aware that sometimes you may be on the hook for a certain percentage of your room block if they do not book so always be sure to read the fine print of your contract.

8. Create a Wedding Website

There are many wedding website options that are free to create. Wedding websites are a great place to add extra information like recommendations on what to do in the area, frequently asked questions about the wedding, a timeline of your wedding weekend and your wedding registry. I personally used zola.com for my wedding website and loved how user friendly it was. Zola also offers an amazing registry option where you can add so many products from a variety of brands. You can also link external registries like an Amazon registry.

10 Months Before

1. Send out Save the Dates

Whether they are digital or printed there is no wrong way to do save the dates. The important thing is you are notifying guests far in advance so your guests can plan accordingly. What you include on your save the dates can be minimal. You just need to include your names, your wedding date and the general wedding location (no need to be too specific). Also if you have a wedding website and want to give guests more information you can include this link on your save the dates. Looking for a modern save the date design that does not include a photo, check out the one I used for my wedding here.

2. Book your Hair and Makeup Artists

Your hair and makeup is such an important part of your wedding day. It is important to find artists you genuinely like being around since these are the people you will be starting your day with. It helps to have a rough idea of how many people will be getting their makeup and hair done so your artists can give you accurate pricing for their services and let you know if multiple artists or stylists are needed.

3. Book your Florist

Prior to booking your florist save some photos of the flower style you are looking achieve. These visuals will be helpful to have when talking to different florists. It is also important to have a rough idea of approximately how many tables you will have and a rough number of bouquets and boutonnieres needed. This will help your florist give you an accurate price estimate. Hesitant to hire a professional florist. There are other options available if real flowers aren’t your style or are outside your budget. Click here to learn more about how you can DIY your own wedding florals.

4. Go Wedding Dress Shopping + Purchase Your Dress

I’d recommend starting your dress search sooner rather than later. Most bridal dresses purchased at traditional bridal retailers are made to order and can take months to make. Be sure to schedule your bridal appointments as soon as you find a weekend that works since popular bridal retailers appointments may book up fast, especially during peak dress shopping seasons. Ideally you should purchase your dress 8-10 months prior to your wedding day to ensure you have plenty of time to get alterations done. If you are outside this window, don’t panic there are other options available. Be sure to talk with your bridal attendant prior to your appointment so they understand the limitations on your timeline and can pull dresses for you to try on accordingly.

5. Book your Bridal Shower

Depending on how far before your wedding you would like the have your bridal shower you may be able to book things later. It’s a good idea to start thinking about what you would like though and how far before your wedding you would like have your shower. While you may not be super involved in the planning of the shower you should definitely communicate with whoever plans on throwing your shower and think about what weekends work best for you and your wedding party.

6. Book Wedding Day Transportation

Having a plan of how to get from point A to point B is critical and can vary greatly from person to person. If you are planning on providing transportation for your wedding party to get from one place to another it is important to book this in advance. There are a ton of fun options for transportation the day of your wedding including trolleys, limos, and party buses. Also consider if you will be providing transportation for your guests to get from a specific hotel to your venue. While most hotels offer discounted rates in the form of room blocks, many do not provide a shuttle service and this may need to be booked separately with a transportation company.

9 Months Before

1. Start your Wedding Registry

Depending on when you are planning your wedding shower now may be a great time to start working on your registry. Even if you and your fiancé already live together think about items you have that may be in need of an upgrade. If you aren’t in need of too many physical items you may wish to include fun activities on your registry like a cooking class or even have guests contribute to a honeymoon fund. I recommend zola.com for their amazing registry options including the ability to link to other registries created through other retailers (such as an Amazon Registry).

2. Book your Honeymoon

First decide on when you would like to take your honeymoon. Depending on when you want to go could dictate the location you are traveling to. It also may be helpful to find a travel agent that specializes in planning honeymoons to ensure you are getting the best deal.

3. Start Planning your Wedding Decor and Pinning Inspiration

You may have started a Pinterest board for your wedding even before getting engaged. However now is a good time to start narrowing down some of that inspiration and planning how you are going to make that inspo a reality. Organizing your Pinterest board into different categories can be super helpful in keeping organized and making sure your wedding has a cohesive look.

4. Schedule Pre-Cana or Pre-Marital Counseling

If you are getting married in a Catholic church you are often required to take a pre-cana class which is intended to prepare you for marriage in a Catholic church. Even if you are not required to take a pre-marital class it may be a good idea to go to some sort of counseling with your partner to ensure your marriage is starting off on solid ground.

6 Months Before

1. Purchase the Groom’s Attire

Don’t forget to plan the groom’s attire. Consider whether you wish to rent or buy the groom’s wedding day look. There are lots of fun ways to make the groom stand out including a fun jacket, different colored tie or pocket square. Also don’t forget to consider the groom’s shoes and socks. All of these items will look great in you photographers detail shots.

2. Order Bridesmaids Dresses

Nowadays there are so many options on where to purchase bridesmaids dresses. If your bridesmaids don’t all live locally there are many companies that offer at home try on services. If you are looking for fairly affordable dresses that are great quality check out Azazie. They offer plenty of style and color options and even have lots of different dress material options.

3. Order or Rent Groomsmen Attire

Be sure to send exactly what you would like the groomsmen to wear to your wedding. Be specific! If the men are wearing tuxes specify where they can be rented and what type of lapels you would like them to wear. If wearing suits specify where they can be purchased or rented. Don’t forget to include visuals. Websites like The Black Tux allow you to build your own look and send this to your groomsmen. Even if you don’t end up renting from there it’s a great way to provide specific information with a visual to your groomsmen.

4. Book Rehearsal Dinner

Restaurants can book up fast especially during peak event months. Choose a place that is not too far from where your actual rehearsal is going to be taking place. Allow enough time for those involved to travel from the place you are rehearsing to the dinner location.

***Something I did that I loved was I had my maid of honor and best man give their speeches at our rehearsal dinner. This was a more intimate environment where those attending knew me and my fiancé really well. Moving the speeches to the night before allowed more time for dancing and they didn’t feel rushed. The only “speech” I had on my wedding day was I had my dad give a short toast during the beginning of the evening.

5. Schedule your Hair + Makeup Trial

Once you have your dress you can get a clear picture of what hair style and makeup look you think will be best for your big day. Makeup artists and stylists have busy schedules so you may even want to book your trial farther in advance if they book up quickly. Keep in mind often times your stylists will be working other weddings on the weekends so you may need to schedule your trial during a weekday. If you don’t want your trial look to go to waste see if you can coordinate at least one of your trials with your engagement photoshoot. I personally had my makeup trial the same day we shot engagement photos with our photographer and it worked out perfectly.

6. Purchase Wedding Favors + Decor

While favors are not necessary there are nice keepsakes guests can take away from your wedding. Some of my favorite types of favors are those guests can eat. Try and coordinate making larger purchases, like favors + decor, with holidays when retailers have sales, such as Black Friday.

3 Months Before

1. Mail your Wedding Invitations

Before purchasing stamps be sure to take one of your invitation suites (envelopes included) to the post office so they can determine how many stamps you will need. From there you can either purchase your stamps in person or order them online since sometimes they have better choices on the USPS website. Remember to set your RSVP date to at least 2 weeks prior to the date your venue needs the final guest count so you have time to reach out to those who forget to RSVP on time.

2. Purchase Wedding Bands

I would recommend trying on wedding bands prior to 3 months before your wedding to get an idea of what styles you and your fiancé like best. Depending on where you end up ordering your bands from try and order your bands at least 3 months before the wedding so you can make sure both of your bands fit perfectly and do not need to be resized.

3. Set your Reception Menu

If you need to choose your reception menu now is a great time to do so. Your venue may offer pre-made menus for the table or you can let your creativity shine by creating your own menu cards.

4. Schedule your Wedding Cake Tasting + Order your Wedding Cake

Be sure to read your venue contract to see if your cake is included in your reception pricing or if you will need to find an outside bakery to make your wedding cake.

1 Month Before

1. Get your Marriage License

Obtaining your marriage license varies based on where you live. Typically in the United States you can get your marriage license up to 30 days before your wedding day. However, it is important to check the specific requirements of your area. Sometimes you need to wait at least 24 hours after getting the license for it to be valid. If you are getting married in a state that is different from your permanent residence you must obtain the marriage license from the town where your wedding ceremony will take place.

2. Mail or Digitally Send your Rehearsal Dinner Invitations

If you are having a rehearsal dinner prepare to send out the invitations to whatever guests are invited to it at least a month in advance. If your wedding is out of town and people will need to travel to attend the rehearsal dinner be sure to tell guests farther in advance so they can adjust their accommodations accordingly.

3. Complete your Final Dress and Suit Fittings

When you purchase your wedding attire be sure to inquire about if alterations are included or if you will need to go to a separate place to have your items altered. Most places will have a set schedule on how far advance you need to come in to finish your alterations on time. Be sure to wear the undergarments you are planning to wear the day of and your wedding shoes to your fitting. I’d recommend to have your final attire fitted and in your possession the week before your wedding to avoid any last minute stress.

4. Send your Final Guest Count to your Venue

Once all of your RSVPs are received you can send the final guest count to your venue. Be sure to read the contract with your venue to know when your venue requires the final guest count.

5. Finalize your Reception Table Arrangements

Once everyone has RSVPd you can finalize your table arrangements. I arranged all my tables digitally using the app Notion. It was a great way to easy move guests around and get all my tables to be even. For more information check out my post all about using a digital wedding planner for more information. You can also purchase my exact planner via my Etsy shop.

6. Print your Ceremony Programs, Reception Menus, Seating Table Cards, etc.

I recommend Prints of Love for all your professional printing needs. They offer exceptional quality and a personal touch with every order carefully reviewed before printing. Use code VMDESIGNS10 for 10% off your order of $49 or more. Although they offer fast shipping I would suggest to place your order a little more than a month before your wedding to be on the safe side.

7. Schedule Beauty Treatments

Are you planning on fitting in one last hydra-facial, getting your teeth professionally whitened or getting a spray tan before your big day. Now is the perfect time to make these final appointments. Also don’t forget to schedule your manicure and pedicure for a few days before the wedding. If you are getting a spray tan I recommend getting your pedicure prior to your spray tan and scheduling your manicure for at least 24 hours after your spray tan.

8. Order Food for the Morning of the Wedding

Your wedding day is a long day for those that are in your wedding party. Be sure to have plenty of food and water for the morning and afternoon for your bridal party.

The Week Of Wedding Checklist

1. Confirm Arrival Time with Vendors

Check your contracts and communicate with all your vendors to ensure you are all on the same page.

2. Confirm Wedding Day Schedule with Day of Coordinator + Venue

If you have a Day of Coordinator they will help you greatly with the day of schedule and often also help with coordinating with your venue and vendors.

3. Give Ceremony / Reception Venue all Decor + Printed Materials

Organize all your decor and stationary prior to dropping these items off at your venue. I recommend clearly labeling where each item is intended to go and keeping a master list of all items that you are dropping off.

4. Send Day of Schedule to your Wedding Party

Make sure your wedding party has a rough timeline and expectation of where they are required to be and when on the day of and the night before the wedding. Also be sure to keep them in the loop if there are any activities, like a bridal brunch, you are planning on having the day after the wedding.

5. Pack Day of Emergency Kit

Bandaids, safety pins, a stain remover wipe & dental floss are all important items you will want to keep on hand just incase they are needed anytime that day. It might be helpful to assign your maid of honor or one of your bridesmaids the job of carrying this kit all day and night.

6. Organize Final Vendor Payments + Tips

Now is a great time to look at all of your vendor contracts and see how much you owe each vendor. It is also important to see how each vendor expects to receive their final payment. Do they accept Venmo/ Zelle or will you need to go to the bank and get a cashiers check. All vendors are different so it is critical to go back and review each vendor contract. Not all vendors require tips but it is important to organize cash for the vendors that you would like to tip. I recommend labeling each envelope with the companies name and the name of the individual at the company the tip is meant for.

7. Pack Overnight Bag for the Night of the Wedding

Remember to bring the garment bags for your wedding dress and your husband’s suit or tuxedo. Also it is important to pack a good makeup remover and face wash. Please remember to take off all your makeup before you go to sleep. As annoying as it is to get all of the makeup off, I promise you will thank yourself the next morning.

8. Pack Bags for your Honeymoon

If you are departing for your honeymoon shortly after your wedding night I suggest having your honeymoon bags packed and ready to go. If there are skincare and makeup items or chargers you need from your wedding night bag be sure to transfer these items over. Most importantly make sure you have any medications or glasses/contacts if you need them.

The Night Before Wedding Checklist

1. Do a Final Review of your Day of Schedule

It’s always a good idea to look at your fay of schedule one last time. The most important time to remember is the start time for your hair and makeup. Maybe send your bridesmaids a quick text noting what time they need to arrive to your getting ready location.

2. Make Sure all Your Bags Are in Order

Be sure your bags are loaded into the car you will be taking to your wedding or that you have made arrangements for someone to bring your bags to whatever hotel you are staying in the night of your wedding.

3. Confirm you have all your Final Vendor Payments

The morning of your wedding can be chaotic so make sure you have all your vendor payments organized. A day of coordinator often helps distribute final payments so be sure to give her all your envelopes on the morning of the wedding.

4. Get a Good Nights Sleep

I know it can be super hard to sleep the night before your wedding, but try your best to get into bed at a reasonable time and relax. The best day of your life is almost here. Don’t forget to let all the little things go and enjoy every second of it!

I know this list may seem like a lot but I promise if you take your time to accomplish each task during the recommended months it won’t feel as overwhelming. Happy planning! ◡̈

Want this blog post consolidated into a single PDF. Click here to get your free printable.

*this page may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you*