A wedding planning checklist—or, an in-depth inventory of tasks to complete before your nuptials—is the first thing you should do after agreeing to say I do. (Well, call your parents and bask in the immediate bliss of being betrothed. But then… wedding planning checklist.) Sure, the action items may seem obvious at first. A venue needs to be locked down early. Sending save-the-dates six months in advance is common knowledge. Yet, do you know when you should get an officiant? Lock down a band? Finalize your seating plan? Unless you’re in the wedding industry, the answer is probably not.
So, Vogue asked top event planner Augusta Cole for a month-by-month, step-by-step checklist of everything you need to do before your wedding day. Below, find her ultimate to-dos for brides and grooms-to-be.
9-12 months out
“A lot happens in the first three months—it is time to lay the foundation, build a trusted team, and commit to your vendors that are only able to take on one wedding in a weekend,” says Cole.
Establish a ballpark budget. “This will help you navigate the critical first decisions efficiently and with narrowed boundaries,” says Cole.
Hire a wedding planner if possible. “Hiring a planner before committing to your venue and guest list can be invaluable. The planner will offer helpful guidance on cost commitments associated with your favorite venues and help you think through the pros and cons of your headcount as it relates to the type of ceremony and party you would like to throw,” she says.
Secure your venue and date. “If you are doing a tented event, be prepared to put significant deposits down on tenting, restrooms, power, and lighting early on in the process,” Cole adds.
Book the following: photographer, band/DJ, officiant, hair and makeup, and printed material partner. (Why hair and makeup so early? “You will be spending a lot of time with your stylists, and it is a very personal decision. The talent books surprisingly quick!” Cole explains.)
Make your guest list.
Start digital communication with your guest list and organize addresses. “Whether you plan to mostly communicate via snail mail or not, you will want to have everyone’s email on hand for updates or emergency communications.
Create your wedding website.
Consider sending an informal “mark the weekend” via email or announce the date on your wedding website. It is helpful to send a ‘mark the weekend’ and collect updated addresses early on given the competition for dates,” Cole says.
6-8 months out
“It is time to layer on the personality and build on your moodboards. At this point, you should have a good sense of your budget having committed to some fixed costs, and you will want to move into confirming your key culinary and creative partners,” Cole says.
Select your caterer, cake, florist, decor team, and your videographer.
Choose your wedding dress. “On the fashion front, hopefully you have started on your dress. If not, time to hop on it!” Cole says.
Pick your bridesmaids dresses. “It is also a good time to chat with your bridal party about their fashion, especially if they are going to shop ready-to-wear in a certain palette,” Cole says.
Send out the save-the-dates at the six month mark (or even earlier). “Save the dates should be mailed no later than six months. In today’s era, I am seeing save the dates being mailed much earlier, around 9 months,” says Cole.
3-6 months out
“This is the time to bring it all to life and make final decisions!” Cole says.
Schedule your menu tastings.
Plan your design presentation. “This is where you get to see a sample table and sign off on the overall vision,” Cole explains.
Design and taste your cake.
Finalize invitations and send out your invites around three months before the wedding. “This will allow plenty of time for replies given the slower mail system. Digital RSVPs are totally fine too, but I do recommend going all paper or all digital,” Cole says.
Write your vows. The personal process usually takes longer than you think. Getting started three to six months ahead ensures you have plenty of time to put together your heartfelt thoughts and practice.
2 months out
“Focus on your health and beauty!” Cole says.
Consider your skincare plan.
Chat about the personal touches of the weekend. “The personal touches may include narrowing in on your set list for the band, any special dances, your ceremony, and who will be toasting during the weekend events,” says Cole.
Schedule your final fittings. “It is best to have your last fitting within two or less weeks of the wedding,” Cole explains.
Do a hair and makeup trial.
1 month out
Sign off on your wedding run of show. “It is critical to go through this exercise so not only you, your family, and bridal party know what is going on, but to be sure your creative and vendor team are all on the same page,” says Cole.
Make sure you have your marriage license and your officiant has everything they need to legalize the marriage.
Plan to make all of your final payments. (“So the finances are out of the way before your wedding week,” Cole reasons.)
Finalize your seating for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Cole says to also remember “to communicate any allergies to your planner and caterer.”
Make sure you have your rings.
Week of the wedding
“My best advice is to take as much time off that week as possible so you can build in necessary R&R. Last minute questions, weather plans, et cetera, will come up. You want to be as calm as possible going into the wedding week,” Cole says. ”Remember you set the tone, and your guests will feed off of the positive energy of the couple—no matter what happens.”
Review the specialty items list with your planner. This is “a detailed list of all items that you want to be sure are collected and make it back home to you after the wedding—wardrobe change, getting ready look, veil, change of shoes, menu/place cards, cake top, bouquet, and so on,” says Cole. “It will be a whirlwind and thus these details are otherwise forgotten.”
Pack an overnight bag for the wedding night stay.
Think through the logistics around checking in and transportation.
