The Big Picture 12 Month Wedding Planning Timeline

I’ll deal it to you straight - planning a wedding is no easy feat. It feels like there are a million tasks to complete for the wedding alone. Throw in planning a wedding shower, a unforgettable bachelorette weekend, and managing a guest list of 150+ of your favorite people… the overwhelm is real.

I present to you the ultimate wedding planning tool to ease your overwhelm all in a tidy list. I love this list. It’s a broad view that outlines getting engaged through getting your marriage license, as well as all the little steps in between. You will love it! Below I’ve organized the to dos into tidy monthly tasks for brides to tackle instead. So please, print it out, write in in your journal, make it into a poster to hang at your desk… whatever organizational strategy works for you. Do it, love it, and get sh*t done!

xo Madison

Brainstorm

12 Months Prior

• Set a budget

• Create an inspiration board of your wedding style

• Research wedding venues + schedule tours

• Research wedding professionals + follow their content

• Explore wedding dress options + styles

• Plan your engagement party!

Date + Venue

11 Months Prior

• Book your date + venue for ceremony + reception

• Book your wedding planner

• Book your officiant

• Book your photographer + videographer

• Plan your engagement photoshoot

• Choose + invite your bridal party members

• Draft guest list and collect addresses

Dress + Design

10 Months Prior

• Say yes to the dress + bridesmaid dresses

• Finalize guest list

• Design + mail your save the dates

• Design wedding website

• Build your gift registry

Food + Entertainment

9 Months Prior

• Book your caterer + schedule tasting

• Book your cake + dessert chef + schedule tasting

• Book your wedding DJ or live band

• Create a playlist of songs you love

Travel + Honeymoon

8 Months Prior

• Reserve wedding day hotel block for yourself + out-of-town guests

• Arrange transportation for wedding day

• Reserve rental furniture/equipment for ceremony + reception

• Book travel + lodging for bachelor/bachelorette party

• Book travel + lodging for honeymoon

Wedding Bands + Suits

7 Months Prior

• Size + buy wedding bands

• Send the groom + groomsman to suit fitting

• Select attire for flower girls + ring bearers

Invitations + Bridal Shower

6 Months Prior

• Collect all information for wedding invitation

• Design + refine wedding invitation

• Buy postage + organize RSVP return envelopes

• Research + book venue for Bridal Shower

• Design + order bridal shower invitations

Floral + Makeup

5 Months Prior

• Mail bridal shower invitations

• Book your florist

• Design bouquets, boutonnières, centerpieces, alter floral, etc…

• Book your hair + makeup artist

• Schedule a hair + makeup trial

Mail Invites + Finalize Details

4 Months Prior

• Mail wedding invitations

• Meet with your officiant

• Design + print ceremony programs

• Gather ceremony items (candles, flower girl basket, ring holders, vow books…)

• Start making seating chart + guestbook + wedding favors

• Finalize dinner options + print menu

• Finalize cake design

• Design centerpieces + signage + reception decor

• Gather reception items (champagne flutes, cake cutter, memoir table photos…)

• Book photo booth

Bridal Shower + Rehearsal

3 Months Prior

• Host bridal shower

• Research + book venue for rehearsal dinner

• Design + order rehearsal dinner invitations

• Gather gifts + write speeches for rehearsal dinner

Vows + Marriage License

2 Months Prior

• Write your wedding vows

• Obtain your marriage license

Bachelor(ette) Party + Self Care

1 Month Prior

• Mail rehearsal dinner invitations

• Host Bachelor/Bachelorette parties

• Self Care (haircuts, whiten teeth, skin care, eat healthy, exercise)

• Organize RSVPs and touch base w. guests who haven’t responded

• Finalize headcount for caterer + order alcohol according

• Finalize seating chart

• Finalize timeline w. vendors (photographer, hair + makeup, florist, officiant, DJ…)

• Set aside tips in envelopes for your vendors

Dress Fitting + Final Touches

I Week Prior

• Use vacation time from work

• Have your final dress fitting

• Break in your wedding shoes

• Create day of timeline for bridal party

• Pack for honeymoon + plan pet/plant care

• Host your rehearsal dinner

Organize + Treat Yo Self

I Day Prior

• Book a mani + pedi

• Gather everything you need for the wedding day (robes, dresses, shoes, accessories…)

• Pack an emergency kit (sewing kit, band-aids, dress tape, tide pen, mints, etc…)

• Get ready for the best day of your life!