How to Organise Your Wedding Planning Timeline

Planning a wedding can be as stress-free or as stress-fuelled as you choose. If you’re the sort of person to rush into organisation willy-nilly then you’re likely to find planning your wedding day a chaotic and potentially painful experience. Plan too early and you’re likely to change your mind, but leave it too late and your favourite London wedding photographer may already be booked. This blog will show you how to Organise Your Wedding Planning Timeline to help you avoid expensive mistakes and allow your planning process to flow smoothly all the way to the altar and beyond.

12 Months Before

  • Create a moodboard to help you decide on a theme for your wedding.
  • Pinterest is perfect for this as it is packed with visual inspiration.
  • Set your budget, including a 10% contingency cushion.
  • Check out several potential venues before making a decision. Even if you think the first one is the best choice you will benefit from having other places to compare it to.
  • Book your venue and set your date. Send an informal save the date notification to guests you know will have to travel, or who may have difficulty booking time off work.
  • Ask your chosen friends and relatives you want to be in the wedding party.

10 Months Before

  • Go wedding dress shopping. You will need to order your dress at least six months before your wedding day, if not earlier, and it may take a while to find a dress you love.
  • Find a wedding photographer. Browse online, talk to couples who have recently been married, and visit wedding fairs to get a short list, then interview them.
  • Book your other main vendors including caterers (if they are not included with the venue), florist, musicians or DJ, celebrant, and wedding videographer.

6-8 Months Before

  • Order your wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses.
  • Plan and book your honeymoon.
  • Choose your stationery and send save the date cards.
  • Find and book your wedding cake maker.
  • Book any vendors you have not yet booked, including your transport, hairdresser, and makeup artist.

4 Months Before

  • Buy or commission your wedding rings.
  • Organise suits for the groom and groomsmen.
  • Renew your passport if you need one for your honeymoon. You will need at least six months left on it on the date you travel.
  • Start your pre-wedding beauty plan with regular facials, manicures, and pedicures. Talk to your beautician, and try a few different fake tans until you find the right shade for you.
  • Register your gift list, if you’re having one.
  • Book an On-the-Day Wedding Planner service if you think you will struggle to oversee the details yourself.

2 Months Before

  • Post your invitations.
  • Book your pre-wedding hair and makeup trials.
  • Buy presents for your wedding party, parents, and anyone else who has been of particular help to you in organising or paying for your wedding.

1 Month Before

  • Make sure all your paperwork is in order.
  • Have your final dress fitting, and schedule one for your bridesmaids.
  • Confirm details and timings with vendors
  • Check on transport including any shuttle service you have arranged for guests.
  • Start writing thank you notes for any gifts which have arrived.

2 Weeks Before

  • Chase guests who have not RSVP’d
  • Share wedding day schedule with anyone who needs to know, including vendors, your parents, best man, and maid of honour.
  • Have your pre-wedding haircut and colour.

1 Week Before

  • Start packing for your honeymoon.
  • Buy any foreign currency you need.
  • Wrap gifts and write thank you cards for your wedding party and parents.

2 Days Before

  • Have a manicure.
  • Apply fake tan.
  • Check the weather forecast and make sure any necessary bad-weather backup plans are in place.
  • Confirm your transport bookings to take you from your reception to your honeymoon.
  • Drink lots of water and eat several light meals the day before as wedding days can be long and physically demanding day for brides who may not get much of a chance to sit down.

Finally, remember to relax and enjoy the anticipation of what’s to come.