Getting Married? Here’s Your Full 12 Month Wedding Planning Timeline.

Ok,so you’re engaged and it’s been celebrations and left hand waving for some time now but it’s time to get real! Need a 12 month wedding planning timeline to help you on your way? Planning a wedding is not an easy task and can become stressful for any new bride to be.  From choosing the venue, the flowers, bridesmaids and the menu for the big day, there are so many decisions to be made and doing it alone can be overwhelming.

Below you will find a full 12 month wedding planning timetable.  Before you start to check off your list for the next 1 months, sit down with your partner and discuss what is most important to you both on your big day.  

You need to book a venue but before you whip out the laptop and jump on the blower calling every venue that takes your fancy, you need to decide how many will be invited to your wedding. Bands and DJ’s get booked up so fast so this is so important to get out of the way and booked, once you have the church and the venue locked down the Dj / band should be priority.

12 Month Wedding Planning Timeline

Did you know that a wedding dress can take up to 8 months to receive? Yes, they do! So get shopping and aim to have it ordered at least 8 months in advance of the big day.  After all of the above is looked after, transport is next on the list, do you need transport for your guests? I know I did, i had a big bus ordered for all my guests as I got married in Spain, the bus was so handy as it took all my guests to the church and back again. This revealed the stress from both me and my guests, no worrying about taxis and Spanish addresses for me or my 80 guests.  

Invites should be sent out to your guests at least 2 months prior to the big day, I sent mine out 4 months early as I was getting married abroad and I wanted to give people as much notice as I possibly could. We would hope that all RSVP’s would be back in to you the following month, this will allow you to get the final numbers and you can pass the numbers onto your venue.

Your last few weeks will be pretty busy finalising all your wedding plans, so the 12 month wedding planning timetable should give you a helping hand when your head is all over the place.

12 Months Before the Wedding

  • Decide on the number of guests
  • Set a budget
  • Compile guest list and try to get as many address as possible
  • Set a wedding date
  • Decide if you want a wedding planner
  • Book church and venue
  • Ask your bridesmaids and groomsmen to be by your side on your big day

11 Months Before the Wedding

  • Book band / DJ , photographer and if you are a videographer
  • Research flowers and cake suppliers
  • Start wedding shopping
  • Send save the date cards

 

8-10 Months Before the Wedding

  • Order wedding dress
  • Have wedding taster meal
  • If have people traveling from out of the country book a block of rooms at the venue
  • Book the priest and church
  • Book the florist
  • Order the wedding cake

 

6-7 Months Before the Wedding

  • Order invitations or if making your own order the stationery
  • Book anything you need to rent like a photobooth
  • Book transport
  • Plan and book the honeymoon
  • Book the makeup artist and hairdresser, ensure you also book the trials in too
  • Set the dates for the hen and stag parties

 

4-5 Months Before the Wedding

  • Shop for grooms suits
  • Organise legalities
  • Check passports and if need be vaccinations
  • Do the pre marriage course
  • Find and buy bridesmaid dresses
  • Book hotel rooms for the night before and after the wedding
  • Shop for bridal accessories such as hair piece, shoes and everything else you will need.

2-3 Months Before the Wedding

  • Send out the invitations
  • Meet with the priest to run through the ceremony details
  • Buy the wedding rings
  • Do dress fitting and hair and makeup trials
  • Organise gifts for mother of the bride and bridesmaids if you are doing that
  • Choose the music for the ceremony
  • Finalise the menu and the flowers
  • Order or make the favours

1 Month Before the Wedding

  • Do the final dress fitting
  • Finalise any last minute decisions with suppliers
  • Finalise the mass booklets
  • Buy a guest book
  • Finalise guest numbers
  • Do a seating plan
  • Fix up any final payments if you need to
  • If doing your own vows this is the time to do them
  • Decide and ask the people who will do the readings

 

2 Weeks Before the Wedding

  • Give the final numbers to the venue
  • Break in the wedding shoes
  • Delegate any decorating jobs
  • Pick up dress and suits and not forgetting the rings if you need to
  • Ensure all wedding parties have their dresses and suits
  • Put together a bridal emergency kit
  • Put the favours together
  • If need get a haircut and colour

 

The Week of the Wedding

  • Finalise transport
  • Get mass booklets printed
  • Get any beauty treatments you need done now
  • Pack overnight bag
  • Groom should get a trim now

 

Day Before the Wedding

  • Drop off place cards
  • Wedding rehersals
  • Get a good night’s sleep

The Wedding Day

  • Place gifts for wedding party in the venue so you can give after the speeches
  • Give wedding bands to best man
  • Drink plenty of water and don’t forget to eat
  • Finally, enjoy your big day you deserve it!

So that’s our 12 Month Wedding Planning Timeline….

Happy Planning!

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