Wedding Planning Checklist
6 Months or Less
ImmedIately after gettIng engaged
Announce your engagement on social media.
Have the money talk with your ancé, your parents
and the groom’s parents to determine who plans to
contribute to the budget.
Get inspired. Start collecting bridal magazines, pinning
on Pinterest and perusing ArkansasBride.com.
Create a wedding binder or buy a wedding organizer.
Print off these helpful tools:
Wedding Planning Checklist
Wedding Budget Spreadsheet
Gown Buying Guide
Wedding Day Timeline & Checklist
Bridal Registry Checklist
Insure your engagement ring.
Set a date!
Build a wedding website.
6 months—Better get goIng!
Finalize your budget.
Draft a guest list. You can’t book a venue if you don’t
have an estimate in mind.
Choose your wedding party.
Order your bridesmaids and groomsmen attire ASAP.
Determine your wedding style: choose your colors and/
or theme.
Book your wedding venue.
Order your wedding dress.
Hire these key professionals ASAP:
Photographer
Schedule engagement photos right away.
Wedding planner or event designer
Caterer
Ofciant
Wedding cakes
Florist
Videographer
Ceremony musicians.
Begin a tness regimen.
Schedule regular beauty treatments: facials, massages,
Botox, etc.
Research hotels for out-of-town guests, and reserve a
block of rooms for guests
Research honeymoon destinations.
4-5 months
Register for wedding gifts.
Reserve the band or DJ.
Order your wedding invitations.
Book honeymoon plans.
Make sure plans for the rehearsal dinner are underway.
Draft a rehearsal dinner guest list.
Shop for wedding bands.
Send save-the-dates.
Shop for wedding party thank you gifts.
Pick out wedding shoes, veil, headpiece, garter and any
other accessories.
Research transportation for the wedding day.
3 months
Order custom thank you notes. These will come in
handy after your upcoming bridal showers.
Book bridal beauty treatments.
Finalize menu with caterer.
Order beer, wine and/or liquor now to ensure you get
the best price. Discuss your needs with a liquor store
manager for bulk discounts and deals on certain brands.
Buy wedding favors.
Add items to your registry, if incomplete.
Begin gown ttings and alterations.
Take your shoes and accessories with you.
Book transportation services.
2 months
Mail the wedding invitations.
Check in with all wedding vendors to conrm dates,
plans and ask questions.
Create a photo checklist or review the list provided
by your photographer. Discuss your wishes with the
photographer.
Take your bridal portraits.
Do a hair and makeup run-throughs.
Order programs, menus, place cards, table numbers, etc.
Marriage license can now be obtained. Remember, it’s
only valid for 60 days.
Be sure your wedding website is up-to-date.
Continue gown ttings. Bring your shoes and accessories.
Buy your outt for the rehearsal dinner.
1 month
Enjoy any bridal showers and bachelorette party.
Have a nal meeting or phone call with photographer to
run down photo list.
Now’s a good time to check in with your wedding
planner and/or day-of coordinator.
Schedule a nal walk-through at your venue(s).
Print programs, menus, place cards, table numbers, etc.
Get your marriage license, if you haven’t already.
2 Weeks out
Call and conrm any unconrmed guests (optional).
Give nal headcount to the caterer, and to any bar
service providers.
Provide nal headcount to reception venue.
Conrm rehearsal and rehearsal dinner plans.
Do you have the marriage license yet?
Finalize ceremony readings and vows with ofciant.
Write and mail any bridal shower thank you notes
left to send.
Week of
Email a rehearsal schedule to those obligated to attend.
Email a wedding day timeline to the wedding party,
house party and close family.
Be sure your wedding website is updated.
Begin to relax.
Host a bridesmaids luncheon (the weekend before or a
few days before the wedding) to thank your bridal party;
present thank you gifts at this time.
Designate a point person for the wedding day to answer
vendor and guest questions, troubleshoot issues that
may arise and pay the necessary gratuities. Be sure to
tell your vendors, family, wedding party and out-of-town
guests who this point person is.
day of
Download our Wedding Day Timeline & Checklist
for a complete guide to your big day!
2 Weeks later
Preserve your wedding gown.
Return duplicate or unwanted wedding gifts.
Send thank you notes.
Make sure all vendor balances are paid in full and all
gratuities have been shared.
Wedding Planning Checklist, 6 Months or Less