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A month-by-month plan for a one-year engagement, from setting the budget and booking the venue to sending invitations, the seating chart and the final week.
With 12 months to plan, spend the first two months on the big decisions (budget, guest count, venue, date and the most in-demand vendors), the middle months on the guest list, attire, website and stationery, and the last three months on invitations, legal paperwork, final numbers and seating. A year is enough time to do everything without rushing, as long as the venue is booked early, because almost every other booking depends on the date it fixes.
A year gives you a real choice of venues and vendors and time to save. It's also roughly where etiquette guides start: the Emily Post Institute's planning checklist begins a year or more out with date, style, budget and guest list size. If your engagement is shorter, the 6-month timeline compresses the same work.
Sit down together and agree three things: the total budget and who is paying, your top three priorities, and a guest count range. Our guides on how much a wedding costs and wedding budget by guest count help put numbers on it. If parents are contributing, have that conversation now; see what if your parents are paying.
Visit venues with your guest count and budget in hand. Ask about capacity, what's included, curfews and the cancellation policy. How to choose a wedding venue and questions to ask a wedding venue cover the details. Signing the venue contract fixes your date.
Book the vendors who can only work one wedding a day, usually the photographer, the caterer if the venue has none, and the band or DJ. Confirm your officiant, or check your place of worship's requirements, which can include preparation classes. What to book first explains the order, and questions to ask a wedding photographer helps with the interviews.
Ask your wedding party. Build the full guest list with addresses, using how to build a wedding guest list. Put up a simple wedding website with the date, city and travel basics, so save-the-dates can point to it.
Start shopping for wedding clothes; made-to-order outfits and alterations can take months. If guests travel, reserve hotel room blocks. Book florist, videographer and hair and makeup if you want them.
Send save-the-dates. Our guide to when to send save-the-dates and invitations has the ranges. Book the honeymoon and check passport expiry dates.
Order invitations and day-of stationery. Book rentals (chairs, tables, linens, lighting) and transport. Choose attendant outfits. Book the rehearsal dinner.
Have a menu tasting and order the cake or dessert. Meet your officiant to plan the ceremony, including readings and who walks down the aisle (who walks you down the aisle covers the options).
Order or buy rings, allowing time for sizing and engraving. Draft the day's timeline with your venue; our wedding reception order of events is a good starting point. Begin the music list.
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