Wedding Planning Timeline

A wedding is one of the most important things that will ever happen in your life. It is a time that brings great joy to the bride and groom. Sometimes the thought of planning the wedding details can be quite overwhelming, and often times becomes stressful for everyone involved in the planning stages. To get you off on the right foot, take a look at this basic wedding planning timeline to help you with the process. 

One Year Before the Wedding 

Choose your wedding date: It is a good idea to get your wedding day pinned down as soon as possible. Churches book their calendars way in advance for weddings, and if you are set on a particular day, then you want to be sure to get it penciled in. On the other hand, if having your wedding ceremony at a particular church is your goal, then you will want to get your date penciled in as well before you may be forced to choose another location. 

Choose a reception hall: One thing that can derail wedding plans is when you cannot find a reception hall that is available on the same day as your wedding. In order to combat this problem, try booking your reception hall in advance. 

Keep records organized: Get yourself a wedding organizer or at least some type of file where you can keep all of your receipts, important documents, and notes that you take during the planning stages. This is also a good place to keep your guest list as you start jotting down who you are inviting to the wedding and/or reception. 

Eight Months Before the Wedding 

Entertainer: Now is the time to start searching for the perfect band or DJ for your wedding reception. Most halls do not provide the entertainment or you may find that you do not like what they provide. Give yourself plenty of time to make a good choice by starting this process early. 

Photographer: This is also the timeframe to start looking for a wedding photographer. Most photographers will have many samples for you to look through. They also charge varying amounts for their services, so you want to be sure to find one that is good and fits within your budget. 

Other Eight-Month "To Do" List Items: 

·         Choose your bridesmaids and ushers, including maid of honor and best man. 

·         Decide on a flower girl or ringer bearer, if applicable. 

·         Gather addresses of people you intend to invite. 

·         Choose a caterer for the reception, if not provided by the reception hall. 

Five Months Before the Wedding 

Pick a wedding gown: You need plenty of time to pick out your wedding dress and have it altered in time. Alterations may take one time or up to a few times to get the dress perfect. Also bear in mind that you want to try and keep your weight consistent during this time, so the dress will still fit properly on the big day. 

Choose a wedding cake: While it does not take too much time to whip up the best wedding cake ever, you do want to be sure that your cake is ready on time. Depending on where you get your cake from, some bakers can be booked with wedding orders far in advance. 

Other Five-Month "To Do" List Items: 

·         Choose and order an invitation and thank you card style. 

·         Finalize the guest list. 

·         Make arrangements for your honeymoon.

Continue the wedding planning timeline at three months...