Wedding planning
A timeline wedding checklist: from setting the budget a year out to the big day itself. Nothing falls through the cracks between the paperwork and the last dance.

[ ] Set your overall wedding budget
    Break it down by category upfront: venue and catering usually eat 40–50% of the total. Keep a 10% buffer — costs almost always run over plan.
[ ] Draft your guest list
    Guest count drives venue choice, catering budget and banquet format — nail this down before booking anything, not after.
[ ] Pick a date and file for a marriage licence
    Check your local registrar's minimum notice period — it's often several weeks to a month, and popular dates get booked out fast. Confirm current rules before locking the date.
[ ] Book your venue
    Do this 6–12 months out — desirable dates (weekends, round numbers) get taken up to a year in advance, especially in peak season.
[ ] Book a photographer and videographer
    Do this 6+ months out — good ones book up a season in advance. Ask to see full wedding galleries, not just a highlight reel — that's where you spot their real weak spots.
[ ] Book a host / MC
    Watch full footage from a real wedding they ran, not a promo reel — judge whether their humor and pacing actually fit your crowd.
[ ] Book a DJ and plan the music
    Agree on more than the main set — give them a do-not-play list, plus the specific songs for your first dance and entrance.
[ ] Choose and order your dress or suit
    Do this 3–4 months out — tailoring and alterations take weeks, and waiting too long risks your size selling out in peak season.
[ ] Buy the wedding rings
    If you want engraving, budget an extra 1–2 weeks for it separately from the purchase itself.
[ ] Do a tasting with your caterer
    Ask for banquet-sized portions, not a special tasting plate — flavor and plating for 100 guests differ from a sample for two.
[ ] Order the cake
    Confirm size and tiers against your headcount ahead of time — a common rule of thumb is 100–150g per guest.
[ ] Plan decor and florals
    Out-of-season flowers can cost several times more — ask your florist early what's naturally in season on your date.
[ ] Send out invitations
    Send them 2–3 months out with a clear RSVP deadline — your final seating chart and catering order depend on it.
[ ] Book your honeymoon
    Flights and hotels get pricier closer to the date, and many hotels offer a honeymoon discount if you mention it when booking.
[ ] Do a hair and makeup trial
    Book this a month or two out so there's time to adjust the look — the wedding day is the wrong moment to try a new style for the first time.
[ ] Get the final fitting done
    Do it about a month out, once your weight and shape have settled — an earlier fitting risks no longer matching on the day.
[ ] Break in your wedding shoes
    Wear them around the house for a few hours over a couple of weeks — you'll be on your feet all evening, and stiff new shoes guarantee blisters.
[ ] Plan the seating chart
    Do this only after your RSVP deadline — a chart built earlier almost always needs redoing once no-shows and plus-ones settle.
[ ] Arrange transport and stay for out-of-town guests
    Block-book rooms at a hotel near the venue early — it's cheaper in bulk and keeps guests from scattering across town.
[ ] Build a minute-by-minute day timeline
    Send the final version to every vendor 2 weeks ahead — the photographer, caterer and host all need to be working off the exact same document.
[ ] Assign a day-of coordinator
    It shouldn't be the bride or groom — a friend, relative or hired pro who tracks the timeline and handles small fires while you actually enjoy the day.
[ ] Have a rain plan
    For an outdoor ceremony you need a covered backup within easy reach — settle it with the venue in advance, not on the wedding morning.
[ ] Prepare vendor payment envelopes
    Do this in advance and label each one by vendor name — you won't have a spare moment for cash on the wedding day, so hand this off to your coordinator.
[ ] Hand the rings to someone responsible
    On the day, give the rings to a witness or your coordinator ahead of time rather than holding them yourself — they're the easiest thing to misplace in the rush.
[ ] Prepare for a name change
    If you're changing your name, look up the paperwork ahead of time — passport, bank accounts, ID cards — the process spans multiple agencies and takes more than a day.
[ ] Send thank-you notes to guests
    Especially to anyone who gave a gift or helped organize — a personal note within a couple of weeks means far more than a group message.
[ ] Return anything you rented
    Decor, dishware, the suit, extra chairs — check your rental list and return dates so you don't get hit with a late fee.
[ ] Collect your photos and video
    Final editing usually takes 4–8 weeks — confirm the timeline upfront, and back the files up in two places as soon as you get them.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/wedding-planning