Wedding Timeline
What needs doing when? Check if you're on track with our month by month wedding checklist and timeline.
If you want to personalise your timeline then enter your Wedding date here.
As soon as possible
- Decide on your date
- Agree a budget
- See if you can boost your wedding fund
- Decide on a number of guests and make a list
- Book the church/ceremony. This might need to be provisional booking until 12 months before
- Choose and book wedding cars
- Book photographer
- Book videographer if you're having one
- Choose the best man, ushers, bridesmaids and page boys
- Investigate wedding insurance - decide on either a policy you take out before bookings are made or after.
- Book reception venue plus caterers/marquee/wedding coordinator as necessary
- Book entertainment for the reception - Think about a DJ or band, a magician or maybe a jazz quartet
- Start wedding dress shopping
- Start looking for bridesmaids dresses
- Give notice to the Registrar (can be done any time from 12 months before the wedding)
- Find a florist
- Book a toastmaster if you're having one
- Book your honeymoon - especially if travelling in school summer holidays or over Christmas
- Book an overnight stay in a hotel room/bridal suite if needed.
- Order the cake
- Make sure you have a written contract for all major suppliers
By 6 Months before
- Choose and order your wedding dress
- Choose outfits for the groom, best man, bridesmaids and ushers
- Order the brides and grooms wedding rings
- Order the wedding invitations and other stationery
- Book hair and makeup consultant if required
- Have hair and makeup trial - take along any headdress
By 5 Months before
- Arrange the hire of any formal wear for the groom, best man, ushers and other male members of the wedding party
By 4 Months before
Rustic wedding seating plan - etsy.com
- Choose the bride's wedding shoes and accessories
- Order your wedding stationery - invitations, orders of service, place cards, table plan etc
- Work out a detailed timeline for the day
By 3 Months before
- Apply for a new passport if you want to travel in your married name
- Finalise details at your venue - table decorations, timings etc
- Confirm your honeymoon plans and check whether any visas or vaccinations are needed
- Shop for your honeymoon clothes
- Set up your wedding list
- Buy your wedding favours if you're having them
- Choose music, readings and vows for the ceremony
- Meet and confirm details with the minister (one month before for a registrar)
- Start to plan your hen and stag nights/weekends
By 2 Months before
Use TopTablePlanner to arrange your wedding seating plan.
- Send out your wedding invitations
- Start to think about your seating plan. Software such as TopTablePlanner can help you arrange it.
- If presents are sent to you before the wedding you might want to send a thank you now
- Buy presents for the best man, ushers, bridesmaids and parents
By 1 Month before
- Chase any late rsvps
- Order currency for the honeymoon if needed
- Advise caterers or reception of the final guest numbers
- Notify your bank, utilities, etc if you are planning to change your name
- Reconfirm with all your suppliers
- Arrange a date for a wedding rehearsal, if required
- Organise a date for picking up any hired outfits
- Write the wedding speeches (groom, best man and father of the bride).
By 2 Weeks before
- Have final fitting of your dress and pick it up
- Finalise your seating plan and write out the place cards
- Wear-in your wedding shoes (indoors) so they don't rub on the day
In the final week
- Have the wedding rehearsal if necessary
- Give the best man a list of everything he needs to do on the day plus cash to pay any suppliers
- Pack for your honeymoon
- Put together an emergency kit
- Give your 'order of service' sheets to your vicar/ushers as needed
- Give the rings to the best man
- Check your honeymoon arrangements - timings, tickets and passports
- Reconfirm any suppliers if you want to
The day before
- Check you have told any friends and family of any duties they have
- Ensure your honeymoon case is at your hotel
- Check arrangements for your wedding dress and presents to be taken home for you and suits returned
- Have a manicure
- Relax!
Article written by Adam. See his Google+ profile.
