If you’re planning a wedding yourself, then it’s going to involve bouncing between a host of vendors, making sure that you’re able to secure those whose booking window matches your own. If you want to make sure that you get everything done in time, prioritizing them by timeline can ensure that you’re not missing any deadlines. Here’s a breakdown of what needs to be done and when.
12-18 Months Before The Wedding: The Venue
The first choice you make and definitely the biggest of the whole occasion is the venue. It will dictate the date, the style of the event, as well as who may or may not be able to make it. Whether you choose to have an outdoor wedding at the beach, a classic affair at the church, or something else, you typically need to book a year in advance, so you should get started looking as soon as you set the date.
9-12 Months Before The Wedding: The Caterers
The next biggest part of the wedding comes next: the food. At this stage, you should also start looking into catering companies, especially if your venue doesn’t provide in-house catering. Many top caterers get booked well in advance, so reach out to schedule tastings and discuss menu options. Consider whether you want a plated meal, buffet, or food stations, as this will impact costs and logistics.
6-9 Months Before The Wedding: The Services
The middle section of your planning timetable should go to booking your photographer and videographer, as well as entertainment like your band or DJ. Now is also the time to finalize your florist, decor rentals, and wedding dress. If your caterer allows it, schedule another tasting to refine the menu and confirm dietary accommodations for guests.
3-6 Months Before The Wedding: The Invites
Right about now is when you want to make sure that you’ve got the choice of your wedding cake cementing, and the baker is able to start planning it in time for the big day. Otherwise, this is when you finalize your invite list and send out invitations, using them not only to kick off the final countdown towards the big day but to also give a first look at the aesthetic you’re choosing for the wedding/
1 Month Before The Wedding: The Final Touches
At this stage, you’re going to have mostly everything done. This is just when you take the time to confirm all of your vendor contracts, make sure they’re available, and double-check your logistics, especially with the caterer. Cement your meal choices, the final headcount, and make one final walkthrough of the venue just to confirm everything’s moving as planned.
Of course, there is some wiggle room for adjustment. If you’re a few weeks or even a month behind on one thing or another, it’s not going to make a huge difference outside of a few key factors like the venue. However, keeping to this timeline helps you narrow down the to-do list as you go, allowing you to prioritize the biggest ticket items, first.
