Wedding planning checklist: free 12-month timeline
Plan your wedding step by step: budget, venue, suppliers, invitations, clothes and the schedule for the day. A free printable 12-month checklist, or plan it in Plenzu.
13 stepsAbout 18h 15m of workPlanned back from your wedding day
What this plan is based on
The order wedding planners work in: budget and guests first, then date and venue, then suppliers, details last.
The plan, step by step
52 weeks before
Set the budget and a rough number of guests1h
47 weeks before
Choose the date and book the venue2h
43 weeks before
Arrange the ceremony and the legal side1h
The rules and waiting times differ per country; check them with your town hall early.
39 weeks before
Book the photographer, music and catering2h
34 weeks before
Make the guest list and send save-the-dates1h 30m
26 weeks before
Choose the clothes and the rings3h
17 weeks before
Send the invitations1h 30m
13 weeks before
Flowers, decoration and the cake1h 30m
9 weeks before
Make the schedule for the day and who does what1h 30m
4 weeks before
Pass on final numbers and make the seating plan1h
1 week before
Confirm every supplier and hand over the schedule45m
Wedding day
Wedding day
After the wedding day
Send thank-you cards1h 30m
Wedding plan
Date: … Venue: … Budget: …
Suppliers | What | Who | Phone | Paid | |---|---|---|---| | … | … | … | … |
Schedule for the day | Time | What | Who | |---|---|---| | … | … | … |
Questions
How long does it take to plan a wedding?
Most couples take about twelve months. With less time it still works: do the first four steps in the first weeks, because venues and photographers are booked up earliest.
What should you do first when planning a wedding?
Set the budget and a rough number of guests. Almost every later choice, from the venue to the menu, depends on those two numbers.
When do wedding invitations go out?
About four months before the day, with a reply date a month before. Save-the-dates can go out as soon as the date and venue are fixed.