12-Month Planning Calendar
A guide for the year leading up to your wedding.
- 12 Months Prior
- 11 Months Prior
- 10 Months Prior
- 9 Months Prior
- 8 Months Prior
- 7 Months Prior
- 6 Months Prior
- 5 Months Prior
- 4 Months Prior
- 3 Months Prior
- 2 Months Prior
- 1 Month Prior
- Two Weeks Prior
- One Week Prior
- Two or Three Days Before
- One Day Before
- The Big Day
Twelve Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Read up on diamonds and find that engagement ring
- __ Propose (if you haven’t already).
- __ Pick a wedding date and time.
- __ Announce your engagement in the newspaper.
- __ “Visualize” the wedding you want (day/night, traditional/retro/modern, indoor/outdoor, formal/casual).
- __ Do the math on an initial budget (who will pay for what?).
- __ Create a “planning team” or decide if you need a wedding coordinator
Eleven Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Work on a preliminary guest list. Request list from both sets of parents to help determine wedding size.
- __ Look into reception locales and availability.
- __ Scout out possible ceremony locations.
- __ Decide who will officiate at the ceremony and discuss structure and religious requirements (counseling, etc.)
- __ Set aside motel rooms for out-of-town guests.
- __ Ask family and/or friends to be in the wedding party (best man, maid-of-honor, etc.)
- __ Good time for an engagement party (optional).
- __ Get organized and start a wedding planner folder.
- __ Begin looking through pictures of gowns.
- __ Choose a wedding blockor scheme.
Ten Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Select and reserve your ceremony location.
- __ Select and reserve your reception location.
- __ Acquire a caterer.
- __ Finalize the people who will make up your bridal party.
- __ Book musicians or deejay.
- __ Interview and get price list from several photographers and videographers.
- __ Research honeymoon destinations.
- __ Begin to visualize your dream wedding cake.
- __ Contact any rental companies (chairs, tent, tables, etc.)
Nine Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Contact local florists to look at their bridal offerings.
- __ Begin research on bridal gowns.
- __ Begin research for groom’s tuxedo.
- __ Begin research on bridesmaids' dresses.
- __ Begin research on formal wear for groomsmen.
- __ Compile the initial guest list (discuss with fiancé and families)
- __ Send informal “save-the-date” cards (optional)
Eight Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Book and contract a photographer.
- __ Book and contract a videographer.
- __ Book and contract a florists.
- __ Book and contract a baker for the wedding cake.
- __ Create bridal registry.
- __ Visit bridal shows in the area.
- __ Shop for wedding dress and accessories.
- __ Decide who will be “record-keeper” for invitations, gifts, thank-you notes
Seven Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Select attendants for the wedding party.
- __ Buy the bride's gown and other accessories.
- __ Buy bridesmaids' dresses.
- __ Buy/rent the groom’s tuxedo
- __ Have groomsmen measured and reserve their tuxedos.
- __ Renew or acquire passports if necessary
Six Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Book the honeymoon.
- __ Parents of the groom begin arranging rehearsal dinner (reserve a restaurant or make other arrangements, etc.)
- __ Arrange any transportation for the wedding day (limousines, etc.)
- __ Arrange for time off at work.
- __ Think about how you want to wear your hair for the ceremony.
Five Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Begin shopping for wedding rings.
- __ Make appointments for a physical exam with your doctor/dentist.
- __ Order invitations and stationery.
- __ Make sure men's attire has been ordered or reserved.
- __ Check state requirements for blood test and marriage license.
- __ Decide where to live after the wedding.
Four Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Begin shopping for trousseau (bride’s other clothes, linen, jewelry, etc).
- __ Let mothers of bride and groom know to pick out their dresses.
- __ Order any additional, necessary men's attire.
- __ Complete guest list.
- __ Plan the rehearsal dinner and pick a time and place.
Three Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Select and purchase the rings.
- __ Confirm reception menu and other details with caterer.
- __ Create maps and directions to the ceremony and reception.
- __ Confirm date and time with the minister or other officiant for the rehearsal.
- __ Plan any other parties (bridesmaids' luncheon, etc.)
- __ Time to think about a printed program for the ceremony if so desired.
- __ Finalize (confirm) florist, photographer, videographer, musicians, etc., details.
- __ Purchase a guest book.
- __ Hire calligrapher if invitations are to be professionally addressed.
- __ Arrange accommodations for out-of-town guests if not included in previous motel reservations.
- __ Book hotel room for wedding night.
- __ Confirm wedding cake particulars with the baker.
Two Months Prior Top ↑
- __ Mail invitations and announcements.
- __ Make or buy wedding guest favors.
- __ Set appointments with hairdressers and/or makeup artists.
- __ Hire limousine or other transportation needed for the wedding.
- __ Check your local newspaper for details and deadlines of wedding photograph to be published.
- __ Confirm appointment with photographer for formal bridal portrait.
- __ Select and purchase gifts for attendants.
- __ Write your vows.
- __ Write ceremony program (optional).
- __ Contact those you want to do special performances or readings during ceremony.
- __ Confirm music for ceremony, first dance, parent dances, and inform band, deejay, and/or musicians.
- __ Decide on floral scheme and choose flowers.
- __ Provide guest list to bridesmaids for your shower.
One Month Prior Top ↑
- __ Get your marriage license and any blood tests which are needed.
- __ Confirm the expected number of guests at the reception and let caterer know if there has been a change from earlier discussions.
- __ Buy a gift for the bride.
- __ Buy a gift for the groom.
- __ Buy gifts for parents and attendants.
- __ Schedule a gown fitting so it’s ready for the formal bridal portrait.
- __ Have a trial run with your hairstylist to make sure your veil and hair work well together.
- __ Purchase a going-away outfit.
- __ Pick up wedding rings.
- __ Buy or borrow wedding accessories (ring pillow, something blue, goblets, garter belt, candles, etc.)
- __ Confirm florist details and delivery times.
- __ Plan reception seating as well as other details for the ceremony and reception (special requirements, accommodations, etc.).
- __ Write placement cards.
- __ Send rehearsal dinner invitations.
- __ Have bridesmaids’ dresses fitted.
- __ As you receive presents, be sure to update and/or add items to your registry.
Two Weeks Prior Top ↑
- __ Make arrangements to have your wedding gifts moved to your new home.
- __ Finish business and legal details (name and address changes, etc.)
- __ Plan and order in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests (optional).
- __ Review RSVP list and call those who have not responded.
- __ Prepare the wedding announcement for the newspaper.
- __ Reconfirm your guests' accommodations.
- __ Give photographer and videographer list of “must-haves”
- __ Make sure all clothing and accessories for you and the wedding party are ready.
- __ Work out wedding day timing and details (how bride will get there, where wedding party will dress, photography timeline, etc.)
- __ Get final haircut and/or blockoring before wedding.
- __ Get a head start on writing thank-you notes.
One Week Prior Top ↑
- __ Review seating details with “planning team” and ushers.
- __ Make sure all wedding attire fits.
- __ Groom has hair trimmed.
- __ Customary time for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
- __ Finalize the seating arrangements.
- __ Confirm again your honeymoon reservations (plane tickets confirmed?)
- __ Begin packing for the honeymoon.
- __ Arrange to have someone pick up guests arriving at airports.
- __ Finish reception place cards.
- __ Confirm the availability of the musicians and vocalists.
- __ Finalize your rehearsal dinner arrangements.
- __ Practice walking in your wedding shoes.
- __ Arrange for your gown to be cleaned and preserved after wedding.
- __ Arrange for someone to pick up your wedding dress and other personal items at the hotel after you depart.
Two to three Days Prior Top ↑
- __ Give a final head count to the caterer.
- __ Arrange for someone to return any rentals.
- __ Groom should have formal wear in hand.
- __ Best man makes sure all groomsmen have their attire and it fits.
- __ Confirm with attendants who will return gown or tuxedos.
- __ Verify with limousine company exact pickup times, etc.
- __ Review all the final details with your photographer, videographer, etc.
- __ Delegate responsibilities to “planning team” for the wedding day.
- __ Have someone in charge of keeping/preserving the bridal bouquet.
- __ Wrap and present the wedding party gifts.
One Day Before Top ↑
- __ Review and rehearse all the details of your participants with your “planning team.”
- __ Visit a spa, get a manicure or massage to relax yourself.
- __ During rehearsal, give wedding certificate to officiant.
- __ Bring any ceremony accessories to site at rehearsal.
- __ Talk to wedding hosts (or parents) about final payments to caterers, etc.
- __ Attend rehearsal dinner and give gifts to attendants.
- __Stay with your family that night, and get to sleep early.
The Big Day Top ↑
- __ Don’t forget to eat something that morning.
- __ Take a bubble bath to relax.
- __ Be a little early for the hairdresser and makeup appointments.
- __ Allow plenty of time to get dressed.
- __ Introduce someone to photographer and videographer to be a contact for ID/”must have” purposes.
- __ Make sure best man has officiant’s fee envelope
- __ Have the best man and maid of honor sign the wedding certificate.
- __ Give rings to best man and maid of honor.
- __ Take a moment to thank your parents, give them their gifts and tell them you love them.
- __ Walk down the aisle and bask in the moment!
- __ Set aside a private moment together after the wedding to exchange gifts and a congratulatory kiss.
