Timeline
Your dream wedding timeline—from A to Z.
Our free wedding planner guide will carry you from RSVP to OMG!
A year may seem like plenty of time to plan a wedding, but is it really?
Picking a date takes plenty of coordination—from guests to musicians to caters to florists to… you get the gist. So what’s in fashion for floral arrangements and what isn’t? Plastic or living arrangements? And how do you keep on top of it all and keep blossoms fresh?
Here is a brief summary to help get your checklist started!
Need more insight? Download our full version at the bottom.
12+ Months Before
- Set your date & times
- Establish your budget
- Decide on the size & style of your wedding
- If desired, book your wedding consultant
- Choose your wedding party & confirm participants
- Meet & book your officiant
- Start working on guest list
9-12 Months Before
- Announce your engagement
- Order your wedding dress & attendant's attire
- Book a photographer and/or videographer
- Book the caterer
- Book your live entertainment/DJ
- Book your florist
- Book rental items (chairs, linens, etc.)
- Book the ceremony & reception locations
- Research accommodations for out of town guests
- Plan your honeymoon
6-9 Months Before
- Reserve the location for the rehearsal dinner
- Order invitations & any other stationary
- Order wedding cake
- Book wedding day transportation
- Have the mothers select their dresses
- Check marriage license (and any other paperwork) req.
- Finalize your guest list
- Finalize what you want on your gift registry list
3-6 Months Before
- Finalize your flowers
- Send out invitations
- Purchase the weddings rings/bands
- Reserve formalwear for the men
- Book your live entertainment/DJ
- Finalize the menu
- Choose wedding favors & start getting them ready
- Reserve your room for the wedding night
- Purchase additional event outfits
- Purchase wedding party gifts
- Start gift registry
2 Months Before
- Decide on your wedding vows
- Confirm wedding details with your officiant
- Confirm wedding details with your musician
- Purchase parents' gifts
- Make hair & beauty appointments
- Compile guest lists for showers & to give hostesses
- Schedule final dress fitting
- Have programs printed
- Purchase any additional bridal wear (veil, shoes, etc.)
- Confirm attendants' attire
- Finalize your gift registry
- Record all gifts received with name, address and type
1 Month Before
- Have final meeting with photographer and videographer - give list of MUST HAVE photos
- Plan and send out invitations to rehearsal dinner
- Get the marriage license
- Confirm all of your travel arrangements
- Have the bachelor and bachelorette parties
- If needed, get all the appropriate name change documents
- Attendants should have their final fittings done
- Confirm your transportation
2 Weeks Before
- Have the final fitting for your wedding dress
- Contact any guests who have not replied
- Notify your caterer of the final guest count
- Write your toasts/speeches
- Have a party for your attendants
- Finalize the reception details
- Deliver your song lists to your musician
- Confirm your honeymoon plans
- Break in your new shoes
1 Week Before
- Finalize rehearsal dinner plans
- Finalize seating arrangement
- Determine order for the procession
- Pick up attire for the men
- Assign responsibilities to the attendants
Confirm details with...
(if you haven't already)
- Caterer
- Florist
- Musicians
- Officiant
- Photographer/Videographer
- Transportation
- Honeymoon
- Wrap your attendants' gifts
- Have all your beauty treatments
- Write any required cheques (ie.: Officiant, caterer, etc.)
1 Day Before
- Have your rehearsal
- Give your attendants their gifts
- Give the parents their gifts
Bridal Fantasy is putting over 40 years of wedding industry connections to work for you in our handy guide. The wedding timeline above is just a taste of what you’ll find inside! Containing OVER FORTY steps, each sorted by priority and time sensitivity, your day is sure to include all of the details. Download it for FREE below!
