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Wedding Planning Checklist: Your Roadmap to Stress-Free Celebration
You’ve said the beautiful “yes” and put a ring on it. Well, what next? Now, there’s this future you are looking at, holding hands with him. There’s the grand wedding. You know when you get that feeling of butterflies that are strange in a way that you’ve never gotten them before? The feeling of getting something wrong. And this feeling, let me tell you, is overwhelming. Anxiety, wedding stress, anticipation, and excitement all at once.
But did you know that all you need to do to tackle this feeling is break down your year, month by month, to both enjoy the process as well as not leave them for the last moment?
Below you’ll find a simple 12-month wedding planning guide to help you reach your “Happily Ever After.”
However, if you prefer a personalized wedding checklist – you can use the services of Say I Do – a cool wedding website that (among others) creates for you a free and personalized wedding checklist. This does make life easier and stress-free 🙂
12 Months Out
Insure Your Precious Bling
Make sure you purchase insurance for your engagement ring as soon as you can.
Set Your Budget
You have to make a line on how much you are willing to spend on different expenses. For this, start updating your detailed spreadsheet from the beginning to never miss out on a priority and pay for things twice or more than required.
Who to Invite?
This depends on different things like who’s contributing to paying the bills, your venue, and your close ones. If both of your parents are contributing more than you as a couple, then make sure they get an equal say in the guest list.
Get a Wedding Planner
When we say “Your Right-Hand Person,” they may come at a cost, but they are your personal embodiment of convenience, keeping a check on everything from decor to keeping your budget on track.
Choose Your Venue
Yes, this is exactly the time to choose your wedding venue. Here’s where you decide the theme of your wedding and make it personalized and special for every person present on the big day, especially the both of you. This factor also decides how much foot traffic you are willing to invite, so make sure you get on to this big decision as soon as possible.
Speaking of venues, if you’re one of our followers in Portland, Oregon – make sure you check out Opal28.com. It’s a fantastic vintage venue with a lovely private patio, tasty in-house catering, and a lot more to offer.
Take Care of the Catering
Hire the best people you can afford when it comes to catering. With exceptional food choices, you’ll create a lasting impression in your guests’ hearts.
Watch this video for some more tips:
11 Months Out
Collect Inspiration for the Theme
It all comes down to questions like, “What do you want your wedding to look like?”, “What do you want to feel like at your wedding,” “Is there a certain kind of aesthetic you are aiming for,” and “What instantly makes you happy.”
And you know what? As easy as these questions sound, finding answers to them takes a lot of research and effort. So make sure you keep scrolling on your Instagram feed or Pinterest Board for inspiration. If you need some help to pick your wedding theme, Vistaprint created a handy flowchart in their guide on How to Plan a Wedding.
Hire Wisely
Whether it’s your DJ, band, photographer, or videographer, you have to give it enough time and observation before you decide to hire them. Trust us, they can make your memories better. A great DJ, photographer, and other such vendors are not just there to earn some bucks but to make your big day more memorable and heartwarming.
10 Months Out
Get That Dress
Every bride deserves to feel like the most beautiful on her big day. For this, you need to start shopping and looking for that perfect wedding dress.
Book Accommodations for Your Precious Guests
Make sure you book hotel rooms and avoid that last-minute jitter early on. Not only will you save on costs, but you’ll also guarantee your guests have a place to stay when the time comes.
Look at Invitations
Your wedding day comes once in a lifetime, so make sure you recheck things to keep them updated according to your wants. If you want a personalized wedding, collaborate with the vendors and designers. If not, you can sit back and relax with this one.
9 Months Out
Make It Official
Let your precious invitees know THE DATE and THE VENUE.
8 Months Out
Apply for Presents
This is special for both of you, so make sure you take your significant other’s insights with the presents. And when it comes to basics like pans, pots, sheets, etc., then make it as personalized as you can.
Give Your Bridesmaids Attention
It’s time for your bridesmaids to choose their attire for your big day. You want them to feel confident and stress-free all day long, so take their insights and make the best choice for them together.
7 Months Out
Take Care of the Muted Things
Things that keep going on in the background, like the band, the music, and other rental things like furniture, dance floors, and linens, are just as important.
6 Months Out
Take care of the lights to make the photos on your big day pop.
5 Months Out
Get Your Transportation Needs Checked
How are your guests going to travel to and from the venue? Is it a private car, a rental one, or some public transportation? As for the two of you, if you like a more extravagant vibe, and live in DC, Virginia, or Maryland, for example, get that luxury limousine. Or, if you just want to make it more fun, get a bicycle.
4 Months Out
Taste the Food
This is the time to taste the catering for the last time. The dessert, the drinks, everything there is on the menu. Also, select a cake and hire a baker to make it come to reality.
Try Out Your Makeup
Is there a hairstyle you love and adore? A makeup that suits you best? Or is there something you want to experiment with? If so, this is the perfect time to try out any of those options. The perfect tip we have for you is to be really specific.
3 Months Out
Finalize the Basics
This is the official time to finalize everything, especially your wedding invitation card and make the final edits if you want. Finalize the menu, the photo booth, and the guest favors.
Note Your Promises
Start writing your vows and a certain vibe of the whole narrative.
2 Months Out
- Send out the invitations
- Have your first wedding dress fitting.
- Buy those presents and favors for your guests.
- Provide a personalized playlist to the band or musician.
- Get those accessories – this includes everything from a cake stand, knife, card box, a gorgeous hangar for your attire, glasses for the guests, dancing shoes, and so on.
1 Month Out
- Make the final payments to every vendor and other required designations.
- Create a floor plan for your guests. Also, if you have a head table, then it’s time to decide who you want to take it.
- Take a final look at the venue.
To conclude…
In the whirlwind of wedding planning, remember that it’s all about the journey towards your happily ever after. Following a well-organized 12-month wedding planning guide will ensure you don’t miss a beat, allowing you to cherish every moment as you prepare for your special day. Enjoy the process, stay stress-free, and savor the moments that lead you to your beautiful beginning.
