Your Wedding Planning Timeline
Image: Kate Izak Photography
It’s time to plan your wedding!
Whether you are going to be hiring a wedding planner or DIY-ing the wedding yourself, this post will help you to get started on your wedding planning journey. Organisation is key and getting started early will make it manageable, relieving stress and overwhelm. This brief 12 month wedding timeline will help you get started and includes all the elements you need to think about and in what order.
FIRST THINGS FIRST!
BUY A WEDDING PLANNING NOTEBOOK
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming at times with so many things to thing about, invitations, finding your perfect dress, cake tasting, guests lists, seating charts, decorations and floral design, and the style of catering that you would like you could get lost in a sea of possibilities. We would suggest that you buy a notebook dedicated to your wedding. There are so many fabulous wedding planning books that you can purchase.
DRAFT YOUR GUEST LIST
Who will you be inviting to your wedding? Start with the obvious family
members and then your besties. If you find the guest list is expanding too much do not be afraid to scale back, you don't have to invite work colleagues unless you are particularly close to them.
DECIDE ON YOUR WEDDING BUDGET
Planning your wedding is no different to buying a car or a house. You need to know your budget before you start planning.
When purchasing property you wouldn’t look at a 5 bedroomed mansion if your budget will only stretch to a 2 bedroom flat and setting a budget for you wedding is important to ensure you don't overspend or over stretch yourselves.
You may have saved up or decided to take out a wedding loan. Your parents may also be contributing so organise a family gathering to talk numbers first. Once you have your budget and guest list prepared then you can start on the next stage of your wedding planning.
CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING DATE
You may have a special date in mind, or you may be more flexible, decide if you would like a weekend wedding or are happy to have a midweek wedding. Do remember popular holiday dates will be more expensive for people to travel and also check school holidays if many of your friends have children. Check with the most important people first if they are available too, your family and besties.
Image: Kate Izak Photography
12 MONTHS TO DO CHECKLIST
BOOK YOUR WEDDING VENUE
Now you have your budget and guest list organised it is time for your venue search.
Narrow down your most preferred venues to 5 then check which ones tick the most boxes, location, aesthetics, how many guests it can cater for, is it within your budget and if it is an outdoor location, make sure it has a weather plan b.
If you are renting a tent or marquee book this now. Companies get busy so don't leave the most important elements until later.
CHURCH OR CEREMONY OFFICIANT
No wedding is a wedding without a ceremony. If you are planning a church wedding do book this as soon as you can so you know you have both the venue and church booked. If you are booking a wedding officiant again book this first and spend time making sure the celebrant is someone you relate to and would enjoy being married by them.
CATERING
Decide what style catering you would like for your wedding. If the venue offers in house catering start planning the menus from the options they send you. If you are looking for an external catering company then do get in contact to ask for the menus and make sure these are all within your budget. It is also a good idea at this stage to book a wedding cake so you know all the catering for your wedding is confirmed.
When planning your wedding always work on this theory. A wedding isn't a wedding without a ceremony, good food and drinks and great entertainment.
START WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING
Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting activities when planning your wedding. Do bear in mind that it can take up to 9 months to make a wedding dress but if your wedding timeline is closer take a look at off the rail dresses that just need adjusting.
Make sure you tell your wedding dress supplier your wedding date so they can pre-book dress fittings for you.
Likewise, if you are having suits made, do make sure you visit your tailor earlier rather than later.
BOOK YOUR PLANNING/DESIGN/STYLING PROFESSIONAL
If you are looking to hand the reigns of planning or design to a professional, now is the perfect time to do this. Planners and design professionals are usually booked in advance so now is the time to secure your preferred professional before they are booked up. Here are 5 reasons to work with a wedding stylist.
Image: Kate Izak Photography
9 MONTHS TO DO CHECKLIST
ORDER YOUR WEDDING STATIONERY
Now you have the date, venue and church booked you can start ordering your wedding stationery. You may wish to hire a bespoke wedding stationer who will also create all of your on the day stationery too. Read more about the type of wedding stationery you may need here
It is currently popular for couples to create an online website and also send out digital invites linking back to an RSVP system so think about what part of your wedding budget you wish to spend on stationery or if you feel digital is the way forwards with beautiful stationery just on the day.
If you are sending out invitations remember to factor in the postal costs for not just sending but also a return RSVP envelope.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEO
It is so important to book a good photographer! Photographs are the one tangible thing that you will have of your wedding day apart from the memories and maybe guests phone images!
Take time to look at photographers work and also ask to see entire portfolios if they don't have them on their website. You can learn how to choose a photographer for your wedding here. If you want video, now is the time to book this too and do make sure the photographer and videographer work together well.
6 MONTH CHECKLIST
ORDER YOUR BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
Now you have the main things booked it is time to start on the details. Decide on the bridesmaid’s dresses, colours and styles and order them so your wedding they have time to try things on. Also allow time for them to find shoes and jewellery and plan their own looks.
CHECK YOUR PASSPORTS
If you are planning a destination wedding or a honeymoon abroad do check your passports are not going to expire. This will allow you time to apply for a new passport if the expiry date is close to the time you will travel.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT
A wedding is a ceremony with great food & drink and of course fabulous music so now is the time to book your band, DJ and any other musicians and entertainers. You will need to think about music for your ceremony, cocktail reception, background dinner music and of course the party and dancing later.
BOOK YOUR HAIR AND MAKE UP
If you are planning to try new styles and make up for your wedding start trialling them now.Book into your local salons to test out the looks you like or hire a personal hair and make up stylist for your wedding.Do take along your veil or hair accessories with you to your trial.
Image: Kate Izak Photography
4 to 6 MONTH CHECKLIST
DECOR AND RENTALS
At this stage you will have booked all the key suppliers for your wedding and if you are DIY-ing your wedding now is the time to take another look at your wedding budget to see what you can spend on florals and decor. Choose your florist and decide on the flowers for your wedding. Do make sure you confirm the date with them. If you wish to have rentals, table linens, furniture, dance floors, special glassware, etc then do book this in too.
BUY YOUR BRIDAL PARTY GIFTS AND THANK YOU GIFTS
If you are planning to buy your bridal party gifts for celebrating your big day with you then start looking for ideas and purchasing their gifts.
2 MONTH CHECKLIST
FINALISE YOUR CEREMONY DETAILS
START PLANNING YOUR TABLE SEATING AND CHASE ANY OUTSTANDING RSVPS.
FINALISE YOUR WEDDING TIMELINE AND SEND THIS TO ALL VENDORS, DO CHECK THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. If you have a Wedding Planner or On the Day Wedding Co-ordinator, they will do this for you.
MAKE SURE ALL YOUR VENDORS WILL HAVE ACCESS AND PARKING TO THE VENUE.
ASSIGN A GUEST GATHERER FOR YOUR PHOTOS, DO REMEMBER YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER DOESN'T KNOW WHO AUNT AMY IS!
FINALISE THE SPEECHES AND TIMINGS OF THEM.
If you feel you need help on the wedding day then do ask. You can hire a Wedding Planner if you just won't have time to plan your wedding who will also be present on the day or hire an On the Day Co-ordinator who will coordinate your wedding day for you. Alternatively, ask a family or friend to help you.
FINAL CHECKLIST
Start packing and getting all your wedding items organised. Make sure you have your wedding attire in bags and hung up.
Shoes, accessories, perfumes, beauty products all arranged into cases or marked boxes.
Wedding favours and gifts.
On the day wedding stationery.
Cake knife, champagne glasses and anything personalised you have bought for your wedding day.
Make sure all the vendor payments are done.
Contact all the vendors once more to make sure they are all prepared for your wedding day and answer any final questions they may have.
All necessary travel documents are packed into a folder.
The rings!
Prepare to have fun and celebrate your nuptials!