
Wedding Planning Checklist
Words by Jennifer SteinDestination Wedding Planning Time Line |
9-12 months before the wedding (or as soon as you are able):
- Decide on a location for your destination wedding
- Draw up a wedding budget
- Decide on the size of your wedding and begin developing a guest list
- Gather information about potential ceremony and reception sites, set a date and book as soon as you are sure of your location
- Gather information about marriage requirements for your destination
- Hire your wedding coordinator
- Invite close friends and family to be part of your wedding party
- Choose and book the officiant
- Develop your wedding website
- Research group room rates and reserve blocks of rooms for your wedding party and guests. Update your website with the information.
- Bride-be shopping for your bridal gown
- Begin researching wedding vendors including photographers, videopgraphers, florist, reception bands & DJ’s
- Book your caterer
9 months:
- Order your wedding dress
- Book your photographer
- Book your videographer
- Book your reception band or DJ
- Book your florist
- Send out your Save the Date cards
8 months:
- Decide on menu for reception
- Begin shopping for bridesmaids attire
- Decide on flower
- Make travel arrangements for wedding and honeymoon (if in a different location)
7 months:
- Order bridesmaids dresses
- Begin exploring music selections for your ceremony and reception
6 months:
- Begin attending pre-marital counseling
- Show for wedding invitations
- Groom-begin shopping for attire for you and your groomsmen
- Register for gifts
5 months:
- Gather all of the documentation you will need in order to be married at your destination
- Apply for passport if you do not have one. If you have a passport, be sure it is still valid.
- Obtain a visa if your destination requires one.
- Obtain translations for your documents if required by your destination
- Shop for wedding rings
- Research cake designers
4 months:
- Order your wedding invitations
- Order your wedding cake
- Order your wedding rings
- Make arrangements for limousine or other wedding day transportation
3 months:
- Address your wedding invitations
- Begin writing your wedding vows
- Begin designing wedding program if you intend to have one
2 months:
- Send out your wedding invitations
- Begin deciding on your hairstyle and try different hair do’s
- Purchase gifts for attendants, parents & each other
- Purchase items for gift baskets
- Begin assembling packets for your guests
- Prepare a packing lists for travel to your destination and honeymoon
1 month:
- Have your final dress fitting
- Check in with bridesmaids to be sure their alterations are on schedule
- Finalize the order with your florist
- Assemble gift baskets
- Meet with your photographer to discuss the pictures that are important to you
- Contact your ceremony and reception musicians to finalize the music that will (and will not!) be played
2 weeks:
- Call guests who have not returned their RSVP
- Bride-get your hair trimmed and colored
- Prepare your reception seating chart
When you arrive at your destination:
- Meet with your wedding coordinator to go over last minute details
- If you do not have a wedding coordinator, contact each of the wedding vendors to confirm all arrangements
- Get your marriage license
- Bride-have your dress pressed
- Bride-get manicure and pedicure
- Meet with your hairstylist if you’re having one
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