Planning a wedding from scratch can easily become an overwhelming task. But, breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much smoother. This detailed, month-by-month wedding planning timeline will guide you through how to break down the process and help you make sure that nothing is forgotten.
Whether you’re planning a large celebration or an intimate affair, this timeline will help you stay organised, reduce stress, and allow you to enjoy the journey to your big day. This guide is designed to be a comprehensive resource that you can return to as your wedding date approaches, so make sure you add it to your bookmarks!
Before You Start
There are a few things you need to have sorted before you begin the planning process.
1. Set Your Budget
Establishing a realistic budget is the foundation of your wedding planning. Sit down with your partner and discuss how much you are willing (and able) to spend. Don’t forget to factor in contributions from family members, if applicable. Setting a budget first (however boring and grown up it feels) helps you avoid the disappointment of suddenly realising that your dream venue will costs more than your entire wedding budget.
Top Tip `
Keep around 5-10% of your budget as a contingency for unexpected expenses. They pop up more than most couples realise.
2. Know Your Vision
On your marks, get set, Pinterest! Before you can begin to book anything, you need to have a vision in mind for your wedding day. Start by thinking what type of venue you both want to go for. This is where you get to be the most creative. Choosing a venue, theme, and colour scheme is the time to think about what represents you as a couple.
Top Tip `
The main thing is to make it your vision, not other people’s cool wedding ideas. Pinterest and blogs can be overwhelming and if you’re not careful your vision can end up a collection of things from the internet, rather than something that represents you as a couple.
12-9 Months Before the Wedding
1. Create Your Guest List
Start drafting your guest list to get a general idea of the size of your wedding. The guest count will affect your venue choice, catering budget, and overall logistics. If you’re torn between a large and small wedding, create multiple versions of your guest list and adjust your budget accordingly. Creating the guest list is one of the things people find hardest when planning their wedding. The key to creating your guest list is thinking about 3 major factors:
- Decide whose input matters.
- How many guests work with your budget
- To plus one, or not to plus one?
With these key factors in mind,
Actionable Advice:
- Use an Excel spreadsheet or a wedding guest list app to keep track of RSVPs, addresses, and meal choices. It’s nerdy, but it saves so much hassle!
- Factor in the possibility that around 10-20% of guests may decline your invitation, especially if your wedding is during peak travel times. This means that you can always invite other people when you get your responses back, especially if you stagger your responses.
2. Book Your Venue
Choosing the right venue is one of the most critical decisions in wedding planning. Whether you want a countryside estate, an elegant hotel, or a cozy barn, book your venue early—ideally 12 months in advance, especially if you’re aiming for a summer wedding. A great place to start is my guide to Lincolnshire wedding venues
Key Considerations:
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: UK weather can be unpredictable, so ensure your venue has indoor options or contingency plans for rain.
- Venue Capacity: Ensure the venue comfortably fits your guest list without being too cramped or too spacious.
- Vendor Flexibility: Some venues may require you to use their preferred vendors, while others allow external suppliers. Always check this before booking.
3. Hire Key Vendors
Certain vendors, like photographers, videographers, caterers, and entertainment (band/DJ), get booked up quickly, especially if they’re popular or in-demand. It’s the same for hair & make-up and florists. Now is the time to research, compare, and secure your essential vendors. Who you prioritise here is up to you, but the sooner you book the ones you must have, the better.
Questions to Ask Vendors:
- Do they have experience with your venue?
- Can they accommodate any special requests (e.g., dietary restrictions for caterers, specific song choices for DJs)?
- What’s their cancellation policy, and do they have backup plans in case of emergencies?
4. Choose Your Wedding Party
Selecting your bridesmaids, groomsmen, or other attendants should be done early so they can mark the date and plan accordingly. Discuss expectations with your wedding party, such as financial contributions for outfits and roles (e.g. planning a hen/stag party).
5. Send Out Save-the-Dates
Once you’ve locked in your venue and date, it’s a good idea to send out save-the-dates to your guests, especially if they need to make travel arrangements. Save-the-dates are typically sent 9-12 months before the wedding.
Top Tip
Use online platforms like Paperless Post (or good old fashioned emails) to send digital save-the-dates, which is eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to printing and posting.
8-6 Months Before the Wedding
1. Book Wedding Transport
Depending on your venue location and guest logistics, consider booking transport now. Whether you’re planning on classic cars, party buses, or horse-drawn carriages, book early to secure your preferred option.
Top Tip
You can look to co-ordinate group transport for guests, especially if the venue is in a remote location. It really helps with trying to find taxis later in the evening.
2. Start Wedding Dress Shopping
It’s best to start looking for your wedding dress at least 8-9 months before the big day to allow for alterations and fittings. Keep in mind that custom-made dresses or designer gowns can take several months to arrive. By doing this here, you get the most current, on trend, designs, but still allow time for delivery and alterations.
Important Considerations
- Do you want a traditional gown, or are you leaning towards something more modern?
- Will your dress be season-appropriate for the UK climate (e.g., heavy fabrics for winter, lightweight for summer)?
- Don’t forget to budget for accessories like veils, shoes, and jewelry.
3. Hire Your Florist
Flowers play a crucial role in wedding decor, from bouquets to centerpieces. Meet with your florist 6-8 months in advance to discuss your vision and color scheme. Consider the seasonality of flowers and whether you’d prefer locally sourced or eco-friendly arrangements. Have ideas, but let the florist guide you.
4. Plan Your Honeymoon
If you’re planning on taking a honeymoon immediately after the wedding, start researching destinations and book your flights and accommodation. Consider travel restrictions, weather conditions, and whether you’ll need travel vaccinations.
Top Tip
Use travel comparison websites like Kayak or Google Flights to find the best deals.
5. Order Invitations
Now is the time to order your wedding invitations, which should be sent out 2-3 months before the wedding. Choose invitations that align with your wedding theme and budget.
Eco-Friendly Option
Consider using recycled paper or digital invites for a more sustainable approach.
5-3 Months Before the Wedding
1. Send Out Invitations
Make sure to send out your wedding invitations with enough time for guests to RSVP. Include essential information like RSVP deadlines, dress codes, and directions to the venue.
2. Organise Attire for Bridespeople and Groomspeople
Order the outfits for your wedding party. Make sure you schedule time for alterations and fittings.
3. Finalise Your Menu
If your venue or caterer offers a tasting, take advantage of it to finalise your food and drink menus. Ensure you cater to dietary restrictions and check the seasonality of your menu to align with your wedding date.
4. Create Your Gift List
Now is the time to finalise your gift list and share it with your guests. If you’re unsure where to start, many UK retailers like John Lewis and Amazon offer wedding wish list services.
5. Start Planning Your Seating Plan
Once RSVPs start rolling in, it’s time to think about the final seating plan. Use online tools (or good old fashioned pen and paper) to visualise the layout of your reception venue and plan guest seating.
2 Months Before the Wedding
1. Confirm the Details with Vendors
Reach out to all your vendors to confirm bookings, timelines, and any last-minute details. Ensure that everyone has the correct information about locations, setup, and logistics for the day. The more you do at this stage, the less you have to think about on your wedding day as you can leave it to your vendors.
2. Finalise Your Ceremony Details
Work with your officiant to finalise any scripts, music, and any special readings for your ceremony. If you’re writing your own vows, now’s the time to get them polished and practiced!
3. Plan Your Rehearsal
If you’re having a rehearsal, make final arrangements with the church/venue and wedding party now.
4. Organise Beauty Appointments
Book any beauty treatments you’ll need before the wedding, such as hair and makeup trials, facials, and manicures.
1 Month Before the Wedding
1. Get Your Marriage License
In the Uk, you need to give notice that you intend to marry. How you do this, depends on the type of ceremony you are having. If you are having a religious ceremony, you might need to have your Banns read; if one or both of you live outside of England or Wales, you might need to get a marriage license; or you might just simply need to give notice to your local Registry Office, that you intend to marry (even if you aren’t getting married locally). The notice needs to be at least 28 days before your ceremony. Requirements could vary by region, so contact your local registry office to ensure you meet all the legal requirements.
2. Finalise Your Wedding Day Timeline
Create a detailed schedule for the wedding day, from getting ready to the final song at the reception. Share this with your vendors, wedding party, and any key helpers.
3. Prepare Final Payments & Tips
Organise final payments and tips for vendors, which are often handled on the wedding day itself. It’s helpful to put cash in labeled envelopes to give to a trusted friend or family member to distribute, so you don’t have to worry about it.
4. Prepare for the Honeymoon
Start packing for your honeymoon and ensure all travel documents (passports, visas, etc.) are in order. Make a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything last minute.
5. Break in Your Shoes!
I cannot stress this one enough. Make sure you wear your wedding shoes to make sure they’re comfortable. It’s the small details like this that can make your wedding day so much more comfortable. I also always advise you to bring a change of (comfy) shoes or trainers as part of your wedding day emergency kit
1 Week Before the Wedding
1. Final Check with Vendors
Call or email each vendor to confirm timings and last-minute details. Provide a point of contact for the day to manage any questions or issues.
2. Wedding Rehearsal
Conduct a full rehearsal with your wedding party and officiant. This helps everyone feel confident about their roles and timing for the ceremony.
3. Pack a Wedding Emergency Kit
Prepare an emergency kit with essentials like safety pins, plasters, tissues, and mints. Assign someone from your bridal party to hold onto it for quick fixes throughout the day. This kit can be a lifesaver for minor mishaps such as wardrobe malfunctions or sudden headaches.
4. Relax and Enjoy!
Take some time for yourself in the days leading up to the wedding. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, having a spa day, or simply taking a quiet moment to reflect, focus on your well-being. You’ve put in months of planning—now it’s time to enjoy the excitement of the final countdown.
Wedding Day
On the big day, your only job is to enjoy yourself. Trust the professionals you’ve hired, lean on your wedding party for support, and savour every moment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Top On-The-Day Tips
- Stay Hydrated: It’s easy to forget to drink water, especially with all the excitement. Keep a water bottle nearby.
- Eat a Light Meal: A small, nutritious meal will help keep your energy up without feeling too full.
- Be Present: Don’t let the day pass by in a blur. Take a moment to look around and appreciate all the effort, love, and joy that surrounds you.
Post-Wedding: The Week After
Once the big day is over, there are still a few key tasks to complete:
1. Send Thank You Notes
Within a few weeks of the wedding, send thank-you notes to your guests for attending and for any gifts you received. Personal, handwritten notes add a thoughtful touch.
2. Finalise Vendor Reviews
Take time to leave reviews for your vendors. We always appreciate the feedback, and your review helps us more than you may realise.
3. Preserve Your Dress
If you plan on keeping your wedding dress, consider having it professionally cleaned and preserved. This is especially important if your dress gets dirty during the celebration.
4. Return Rentals
If you rented suits, decorations, or other items for your wedding, make sure they’re returned promptly to avoid extra fees.
5. Enjoy Your Honeymoon
If you’re heading off on your honeymoon, this is your time to relax and celebrate your new life together. Leave any wedding stress behind and focus on making memories as newlyweds.
Remember. Try to Stay Organised to Minimise Stress
By following this detailed month-by-month wedding planning timeline, you can confidently navigate the entire process and ensure your big day goes off without a hitch. This guide serves as your one-stop resource, offering practical advice, tools, and strategies to manage every aspect of wedding planning, from budgeting and guest management to the final details on your wedding day.
Planning a wedding is a massive undertaking, but by taking it step-by-step and staying organised, you’ll not only be able to enjoy the process but, most importantly, you’ll be able to cherish the amazing day you’ve worked so hard to create.
This blog post is designed to be a resource you’ll keep coming back to whilst planning your wedding, offering comprehensive guidance throughout the entire process. Make sure you bookmark this page and refer back to it as you plan your perfect wedding day.