The Complete Wedding Checklist & Timeline Planning Printable

Choose Your Engagement Ring If you have been waiting to buy your engagement ring, it’s time to go ring shopping. Yay! Share Your News Your proposal has taken place. Now you are newly engaged go ahead and enjoy the special moment by sharing your engagement announcement. There are more traditional options such as announcement cards and visiting loved ones to tell them.

Or more modern ways to share your engagement such as sharing your news via social media, text or phone call. Think of cute ways you can share the news, such as a special photo or save the date graphic. Have An Engagement Party It’s the only time you’ll ever be able to host one, so go for it. It doesn’t need to be a huge extravagant affair (of course if that’s your thing then go wild). You could have drinks at the pub, have a BBQ or even a picnic in the park.

An engagement party is the perfect way to celebrate with your closest loved ones and really mark the occasion. Especially if you are choosing to have a long engagement. Set A Date It’s time to set a wedding date! Think about seeing a rough time guide if you are flexible on the exact date. For example, choosing a season and year to work towards. It’s often a good idea to decide too if you’d like a mid-week or weekend date.

Then you can give your nearest and dearest a guideline date now to ensure they don’t double book. Create A Mood Board I’d really recommend Pinterest to collate your virtual wedding mood board. You can start with an overall fun wedding board. Before going further in-depth later down the line (more on this later in the article!). It’s a great way of nailing down what you both love (and don’t love) before moving on to more serious wedding planning.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Our newsletter will keep you up to date with all of our latest wedding advice. You will get freebies sent straight to your inbox and all the newest inspiration on our pages. First step in your wedding checklist done.

Set Your Budget Setting your wedding budget is the very first key step to your wedding checklist planning. Try to be as accurate as you can to ensure you are realistic with your costs and avoid any budget shortfalls. Discover if any of your family are looking to contribute too so you can get a final, maximum figure.

Get Organised To get totally organised consider downloading our free wedding planning spreadsheets, keeping all of your lists online is a great way to stay organised. It means you can access via any device and you can add contributors too. If you fancy a more traditional method then a folder or file is a great option too. If you are looking to hire a wedding planner, now is the time to book one!

Set Up Wedding Accounts If you are hoping to keep your wedding admin and your usual online activities separate. Then you could think about setting up a dedicated wedding email address and wedding social media account. It means that everything stays together in one place. Maybe if you fancy switching off from the wedding planning to-dos you simply don’t log in.

Find Wedding Inspiration Wedding blogs, just like us (hello!) are a great way to find lots of wedding ideas. Wedding blogs feature real weddings, inspirational editorials and wedding planning advice every single day. It means you can discover the latest trends, real-life wedding stories and beautiful images to inspire you. Following wedding social media accounts is a great way to stay up to date. Instagram and Facebook are both great ways to stay in the loop.

As mentioned earlier, Pinterest is a really visual way to find wedding ideas too. Find Your Wedding Venue The next logical step is to find your perfect wedding venue. Your venue will then dictate your wedding date and the number of guests you can invite. If you are looking at more than one venue, perhaps if you are thinking of hosting your ceremony and reception in different locations. Then you will need to coordinate your dates with both settings.

If you are thinking of a humanist ceremony, look to book your wedding celebrant now. Don’t forget your wedding marquee or tent too. Book Wedding Insurance Wedding insurance is a really important element of wedding planning that can easily be overlooked. Ensure you are covered for peace of mind, but make sure to carefully check the policy to ensure it covers all your needs.

Choose Your Guest List Choosing your wedding guest list can be one of the trickiest parts to wedding planning. But it’s an important step and one to try to tick off of your wedding checklist early on. This avoids any unnecessary expectations and means you can go ahead and send those save the dates. You can download our wedding guest list spreadsheet too to organise everything from RSVPs to special requests.

Book Your Photographer & Videographer One of the very best investments you can make into your wedding has to be your wedding photos and wedding film. Choosing your wedding photographer is super important and finding the right one will ensure you love your photos forever. Booking your wedding photographer and your wedding filmmaker early will ensure you don’t miss out as they can be booked very far in advance. Especially talented professionals if you are looking at peak dates.

Choose Your Wedding Party That’s right, it’s time to choose your bridesmaids, groomsmen, best man and maid of honour. Or of course your best woman, groomsmaids or bridesmen. Don’t feel that you have to stick to convention or tradition when it comes to wedding party roles. It could be you prefer not to have a wedding party at all.

Choosing those roles now will ensure that those who’d like to be involved can help with your wedding planning. Visit Wedding Fairs Wedding fairs are a right of passage when it comes to wedding planning. It always makes for an exciting expedition and you will end up armed with ideas and fun memories to boot.

Start Outfit Shopping – Brides & Grooms Shopping for your wedding outfits is a very exciting step in your wedding checklist planning process. Wedding dress and wedding suit shopping 12 months in advance will ensure that your outfit is able to be made and altered with plenty of time. If you are buying custom or bespoke options you do need to leave yourself as much time as possible for the process.

Book Your Entertainment Your wedding entertainment can really make your day, setting the atmosphere and really creating lifelong memories. Whether you are looking for a live band or a string quartet, now is the time to start your search! Start Looking For Wedding Party Outfits They’ve said yes and now it’s time to find those all-important wedding party outfits.

It could be that you ask your wedding party to rock their own attire. You could rent clothes, give them a budget to choose their own or go out shopping together to find them. Book Your Caterer Booking your wedding food and drink supplier now will mean you will have enough time to then decide on your menu. It will also allow time for tastings! Yum.

Create A Wedding Website A wedding website is a great way to share all the up to date info for your guests. Simply share the link on your invitations for all the extra details they may need in the run up and post wedding. Choose Your Wedding Cake Find your wedding cake designer, start thinking about your cake designs and cake flavours. There are so many amazing wedding cake ideas, such as buttercream wedding cakes, wedding dessert tables or naked wedding cakes.

Perhaps you are looking to make a DIY naked wedding cake? Send Your Save The Dates Think about sending your save the dates now, just to make sure those important to you keep your wedding date free. Your wedding checklist is certainly getting smaller now.

Book Your Florist If you are hoping to hire a pro wedding florist start searching now. The best of the business can get booked up and you can start working together to achieve your perfect wedding day flowers. It’s also a good time to start looking for wedding flower inspiration, such as summer wedding flower ideas and church wedding flowers.

Wedding Décor & Style If you have a Pinterest account set up, now think about creating boards for different aspects of your day. Such as a board for flowers or a board for decorations. If you have a wedding theme or a colour scheme in mind you can now start to refine it. Look to book wedding décor hire or a stylist to help things along. Alternatively, begin the process of crafting if you are having a DIY wedding.

Arrange Your Gift List Arranging your wedding gift list now will ensure you can include the details on your wedding stationery. You will be sure to have a lot of fun window shopping to your hearts content!

Book Your Honeymoon Your honeymoon can be taken straight after your wedding day or you could delay for a number of reasons. If you are looking to adventure straight off though book it now. If you are hoping to have a honeymoon fund gift list, look into organising this now instead. Order Wedding Stationery You have your date, so now it’s time to order your wedding stationery!

Find a wedding stationery designer to create your dream wedding invitations or your on the day stationery. Don’t forget to work out your wedding invitation wording too. Buy Your Rings Your wedding rings are one of the most important elements of your day. They are the one tangible thing from your day that will be by your side forever. It’s an important decision and if you are going bespoke, you will need to allow enough time for them to be made.

Another important part of your wedding checklist is complete. Guest Accommodation It’s a good idea to start booking your guests into their wedding accommodation now. It means there is enough time to organise and arrange everyone. Not to mention availability for all of your guests at their location of choice. Buy Your Accessories You have the perfect wedding dress or wedding suit, but now it’s time to purchase the accessories.

Whether you are looking for bridal accessories such as shoes, jewellery or hair pieces or groom accessories such as ties, pocket squares and cufflinks. It’s a good idea to find these in advance of any final fittings and beauty/grooming trials. Book Hen & Stag Dos Whether you are looking to have an epic night not or a luxe weekend away. It’s a good idea to get planning your hen and stag dos (or ask your wedding party to).

Don’t forget you could also have a hag do (a party for everyone), a family get-together or even a bridal shower. Don’t feel you have to stick with tradition folks. Book Your Transport Book in your wedding transport, whether it’s just for you or your immediate wedding party, or all of your guests. This will help you to plan timings and prepare for guests’ needs on the day.

Send Your Wedding Invites Send off your wedding invitations to allow enough time for RSVPs, requests, guest list changes and final number counts with your wedding venue. Buy Gifts Purchase gifts for your wedding party to say thank you. Don’t forget your husband/wife too; something special to say I love you on the wedding morning.

Arrange The Little Details From the wedding favours to the table plan, guest book and table names. Get all of those smaller details organised. This is possibly the most fun element of your wedding checklist. Make Up & Hair Trials Find your dream wedding hairstyles, wedding hair stylist and wedding make-up artist, then book in those all-important trial runs! Don’t forget to bring along your hair accessories and any ‘look’ ideas you have to try out.

Also think about whether you’d like a wedding day perfume. Engagement Shoot Book in your engagement shoot with your wedding photographer. It’s a wonderful opportunity to capture this precious moment in time. It’s also a great way to gain confidence in front of the camera and get to know your photographer on a more personal level.

Start Changing Your Name If you are thinking about changing your name, some preparations before your wedding mean you will be able to use it sooner. Get that admin out of the way now to ensure you can enjoy your newly-wed status on your honeymoon. Arrange Notice Of Marriage or Banns Arrange to give notice at your register office. You have to give notice 29 days before your wedding ceremony and hold your wedding within 12 months.

If you are having a Church of England or Wales wedding, organise for your banns to be read. Your officiant can guide you with the legalities. Choose Wedding Music Choosing your wedding music is super fun. Make sure you choose wedding songs that mean something to you. Don’t forget that first dance song too!

Pick Ceremony Readings Now is also the time to choose and finalise your wedding readings and arrange your ceremony details with your officiant. It allows time to organise the order of service, rehearsals and any changes that may need to happen too. Outfit Alterations Make sure you begin to alter all the outfits, whether that’s the wedding dress, wedding suits or wedding party dresses. This will allow time for the final fittings later on!

Write Your Speeches & Vows It’s a good idea to begin thinking about the speech and wedding vow writing now to save any last minute panic. It will also give you time to find inspiration and practice reading them too. Have Your Wedding Tasting One of the most fun parts of the wedding planning has to be testing out your menu. The perfect excuse for a pre-wedding date too!

Work Out Your Timeline Sit down and work out your wedding day timeline. By now you should have most of your wedding suppliers booked, the legalities organised and all of your outfits and décor arranged. So it’s important to work out your timings. Be sure to hand it around to those who need to know it all too. Confirm Details With Suppliers Get in touch with all of your wedding suppliers to confirm your bookings and tie up any loose ends.

It’s also a good idea to give the suppliers a contact for the day itself for any questions. Book In Treatments Make sure you book in beauty or grooming treatments in the final week before the wedding. Check The RSVPs It’s a good idea to start thinking about checking all the RSVPs as your venue will be looking for final numbers confirmation.

Buy Confetti Buy your fluttery beautiful confetti now. It will leave you with enough time to find the perfect petal or paper and allow you to store it safely before the big day. Confirm The Rehearsal Date If you are having a wedding rehearsal confirm this and invite the appropriate guests. Don’t forget you could head off for drinks or dinner after to make the most of it too!

Pay Final Balances Check in with your wedding suppliers to see if you need to pay off any final balances. Some wedding suppliers may ask for payment on the day, so be sure to be prepared for this. Organise Your Table Plan Now you have your final numbers it’s a good time to organise your wedding tables. Break-In Your Shoes Start breaking in your wedding shoes and remind your wedding party to do so too!

Sore feet equals zero dance floor action, a no-no for fun party weddings. Assign Roles To Your Wedding Party Formally give out wedding party roles to your wedding party. Think about giving out a contact sheet with your suppliers details (paper or virtual). Assign confetti distributors, someone to help with on the day timings and group photo organisers too.

Have Your Final Fittings It’s time for those final outfit fittings. Then more often than not you will be given a date for outfit pick up. Be sure to make a note in your calendar. It’s getting very exciting now.

Have Your Beauty Treatments Time to be pampered. Get your hair cut, have treatments and relax. Pick Up Outfits Collect all of your wedding outfits and distribute them to your wedding party. Then resist wearing them for the whole week! Have A Relaxed Pre-Wedding Get Together Have a chilled out date night or laid back drinks with your loved ones.

Drop Off Decor At Your Venue Arrange to drop off your wedding décor at your venue or get decorating yourself if you are DIYing your day. Pack For Your Honeymoon If you are heading off on your honeymoon or mini moon pack your bags now. You will be tired post wedding and trust me, you will be relived when you remember this has been done already.

Pack A Bag For The Day Pack a wedding day emergency kit bag with helpful things for the day; medicine, plasters, tissues, lip balm, needle and thread and so forth. Don’t forget something old, new, borrowed and blue.

Rest & Relax It’s going to be a busy day, so take time to relax. Do some exercise, have a soak in the bath and do whatever makes you feel chilled. Get A Good Nights Sleep Easier said than done, but you will feel bright-eyed thanks to a good night’s sleep. Whether you chose to spend the night before with your bride/groom or your besties, plan something lovely. Wedding films, fave drinks or a special meal are nice ways to spend the evening.

Write A Letter Why not write your soul mate a letter or write in your journal all that you are feeling at this very special moment?

Go On Your Honeymoon It’s time to enjoy the newly-wed bubble! Have fun and enjoy this special adventure. Share Your News Announce your wedding news far and wide! Update your social channels, show off your ring and most importantly; be happy. Send A Thank You Be sure to send wedding thank you cards to those who gave you a gift. Perhaps to wedding suppliers you feel went above and beyond too.

Receive Your Photos & Film It won’t be long until you receive your wedding photos and film. Be sure to share your gallery links with your guests to enjoy and add the link to your wedding website. Then think about ordering your wedding album and prints! Leave Supplier Reviews Give back to your wedding suppliers by leaving glowing testimonials on their review pages.

Preserve Your Wedding Flowers Want to keep your wedding flowers? Within a week of your wedding, you should begin preserving your wedding bouquet. Any later and you may miss out on keeping your flowers at their best. Plan Something Fun It’s good to be prepared for possible post-wedding blues. Some brides and grooms can feel a little down when all the excitement has subdued. So be sure to plan something fun to look forward to.

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The Complete Wedding Checklist & Timeline Planning Printable

JUST ENGAGED CHECKLIST

JUST ENGAGED CHECKLIST

JUST ENGAGED CHECKLIST

JUST ENGAGED CHECKLIST

Subscribe To Our Newsletter Our newsletter will keep you up to date with all of our latest wedding advice. You will get freebies sent straight to your inbox and all the newest inspiration on our pages. First step in your wedding checklist done.

JUST ENGAGED CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 YEARS TO GO CHECKLIST

18 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

18 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

18 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

18 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

12 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

12 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

12 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

9 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

Perhaps you are looking to make a DIY naked wedding cake? Send Your Save The Dates Think about sending your save the dates now, just to make sure those important to you keep your wedding date free. Your wedding checklist is certainly getting smaller now.

9 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

9 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

Arrange Your Gift List Arranging your wedding gift list now will ensure you can include the details on your wedding stationery. You will be sure to have a lot of fun window shopping to your hearts content!

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

6 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

4 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

2 MONTHS TO GO CHECKLIST

1 MONTH TO GO CHECKLIST

1 MONTH TO GO CHECKLIST

Have Your Final Fittings It’s time for those final outfit fittings. Then more often than not you will be given a date for outfit pick up. Be sure to make a note in your calendar. It’s getting very exciting now.

1 MONTH TO GO CHECKLIST

1 WEEK TO GO CHECKLIST

1 WEEK TO GO CHECKLIST

Pack A Bag For The Day Pack a wedding day emergency kit bag with helpful things for the day; medicine, plasters, tissues, lip balm, needle and thread and so forth. Don’t forget something old, new, borrowed and blue.

1 WEEK TO GO CHECKLIST

1 DAY TO GO CHECKLIST

Write A Letter Why not write your soul mate a letter or write in your journal all that you are feeling at this very special moment?

1 DAY TO GO CHECKLIST

POST-WEDDING CHECKLIST

POST-WEDDING CHECKLIST

POST-WEDDING CHECKLIST

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