Creating Your Wedding Planning Timeline

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1 person | Log in to rate

Ranked #11,569 in How-To, #121,931 overall

What is the necessity of a wedding planning timeline?

Why do you need to have a wedding planning timeline?

As a bride-to-be you would surely like to have a wonderful, stress-free wedding day and not have to rush and worry about last-minute things that aren't complete or go horribly wrong because they haven't been thought out properly. However, planning a wedding can be a daunting task and that is why you need to have a wedding planning timeline and work according to it.

What does a typical wedding planning timeline look like? 

The following wedding planning timeline is only an example of the typical things that need to be done when planning a wedding. This will serve as a handy guide when setting up your own timeline, since the items on the list may not be exactly what you need, therefore you have to add or delete items as required. Furthermore, you may have to compress the timeline if you have less time available before your wedding date.

Timeline: 12 - 6 months before the big day
Set your wedding date
Draw up your budget
Draw up your guest list
Select your best man, ushers and bridesmaids
Arrange a first meeting with your minister
Book ceremony venue / registrar
Choose your dress/wedding gown
Start making or order your stationery
Choose the bridesmaids' dresses
Arrange for leave from work
Plan and book your honeymoon
Reserve a reception venue

Timeline: 6 - 4 months before the big day
Arrange a master of ceremonies
Book transport, photography and videography
Book musicians, i.e. band, choir or DJ
Arrange for church organist
Choose florist
Buy wedding rings
Order wedding cake
Choose your gift list company
Groom to organize tuxedo/suit hire
Select caterers
Reserve rental equipment i.e chairs, tables, crockery, etc
Reserve your stylist

Timeline: 4 - 2 months before the big day
Send out invitations with gift list
Write your wedding vows
Schedule rehearsal time and dinner
Book first-night accommodation
Get passports, visas, etc. in order

Timeline: 2 - 1 months before the big day
Follow up all outstanding RSVPs and draw up the final guest list
Draw up a seating plan
Have a final dress fitting with lingerie and shoes
Write up all the place cards
Book travel insurance and buy currency
Organize stag and hen parties
Pay for marriage license and certificates

Timeline: One week before the big day
Confirm photographer, videographer, musicians, flowers and transport
Arrange for cake to be delivered
Pack for your honeymoon
Hold ceremony rehearsal
Groom to have a final trim at the hairdressers
Wear in your wedding shoes
Attend any beauty appointments i.e. wax, tan

Timeline: The day before the big day
Have a manicure and pedicure
Decorate the venue

Timeline: On the big day
Ensure that the best man has the rings
Get makeup and hair done

Timeline: After the big day
Return hired items to relevant stores
Open wedding presents and make list of presents and who gave them
Send out thank you cards for wedding presents
Send out wedding cake to those unable to attend

How do I use the wedding planning timeline? 

Besides giving you an indication of when to perform the actions, the timeline can also be used as a handy wedding planning checklist. Each item should also be tied in to your wedding budget, so that you can easily control the budget.

To have more control over the planning process in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly and is completed on target and within the budget constraints, set up the following action plan for each item in the planning timeline:

  • Responsible person

  • Assistants (if any)

  • Start date

  • Completion date

  • Completed (yes/no)

  • Budget (planned versus actual)

  • Outcome (e.g. for the reception venue, write down the venue name and address, time of availability and manager's details)

By making use of the above information, you will get the most out of your wedding planning timeline and ensure that you have a lovely, stress-free wedding day.

Reader feedback on your wedding planning timeline 

submit
Show All

Featured Lenses 

featured lens Finding the Right Party and Wedding Planning Resource

Many brides-to-be worry about finding the right party and wedding planning resource. Your wedding day will be one of the greatest thrills of your life. Imagine that you'll be the center of attention of the most beautiful event. Not only that -- every...

featured lens Planning a Wedding on a Small Budget

Are you wondering if planning a wedding on a small budget is possible? Are you so unbelievably excited about your upcoming wedding that you just cannot wait anymore? Have you started to plan, but came to realize that weddings can be very, very expens...

featured lens Cheap Wedding Plans

Are there such things as cheap wedding plans? You may have wondered about the same question. You had stars in your eyes when the love of your life asked you to marry him, but the stars soon disappeared when you discovered that it would not be possibl...

featured lens Creating Your Wedding Planning Checklist

Why do you need a wedding planning checklist? According to Hallmark, exceeding a budget is the single biggest worry for marrying couples. It's been estimated that about 80% of couples go over their wedding budget. Forgetting something important and...

featured lens Planning Low Budget Weddings

Are you fretting over low budget weddings? The day of your dreams is quickly drawing nearer. However, you have come to realize that weddings can get very expensive, and with only so much money available for your wedding budget, you may ask the quest...

More Featured Lenses 

featured lens Wedding Planning Done Cheap

Yes, it is possible to get wedding planning done cheap! But remember, you have to forget about using a professional wedding planner and do all the planning and arrangements by yourself. However, this does not mean that you cannot have an amazing wedd...

featured lens How to Plan Inexpensive Weddings

Have you struggled to plan inexpensive weddings? If you have started to plan your wedding recently, you must have come to the conclusion that weddings can be extremely expensive events. There are people who say that the most expensive things that a...

featured lens Planning a Simple Wedding

Don't be fooled if you think that planning a simple wedding should be an easy undertaking. It can be just as daunting as planning a large wedding. Although things are done much simpler, you still need to perform most of the steps as when planning for...

featured lens Getting Cheap Wedding Ideas

Are you looking for cheap wedding ideas? You were so happy and excited when the love of your life first proposed to you, but once you started to plan for the wedding, it seemed that you will never be able to get married due to the high costs involve...

featured lens Steps for Planning a Wedding

Do you need to know about the steps for planning a wedding? It can be such an amazing feeling when the love of your life proposes to you! You walk on clouds for days on end and you just want to jump in and start the planning for the wedding. You may...

More Featured Lenses 

featured lens Planning a Small Cheap Wedding

Don't be fooled if you think that planning a small cheap wedding should be a simple task. It can be just as daunting as planning a large wedding. The reason for this is that you still want most of the things that go with a fabulous wedding, but you n...

Amazing Wedding Planning on a Budget Blog 

This blog gives ideas about your wedding planning timeline and low budget weddings.

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

by amyrs

I would like to show brides-to-be to get the most out of your wedding planning timeline. (more)

Related Topics

amyrs Recommends...

Create a Lens!