Wedding planning, whether you have two years or four months to do it, can be highly stressful. If you are the type to make endless lists in your head (or on a piece of paper) only to forget them minutes later, then you’ll surely love our Complete Wedding Checklist. A detailed planning timeline of all the vital things you need to have a memorable wedding day.
Planning a wedding can be overwhelming; doing research, budgeting, and figuring out what to do and when. So if you want to have a list of all the essential things you need to do, from finding an amazing venue to wedding gown shopping, to organizing a honeymoon, then this checklist is perfect for you.
A Year Before Your Wedding
- Visit and book the ceremony and reception venue
- Look for potential wedding suppliers and services (e.g. florist, invitations, adventure elopement photographer, decor, music, cake, hair and makeup artists)
- Book a wedding photographer and videographer (e.g. Twenty5Films and other wedding photography/ videography companies)
- Decide the kind of entertainment you want for the reception, as well as the drinks, menu, and music.
- Consider venue and ceremony decor options
- Search for wedding planners or venue stylists, especially if you have to look after the venue set-up or you’re considering furniture rentals in Toronto or the area closest to you.
- Send Save the Date cards, which is crucial if you’re planning a destination wedding
- Start searching for your wedding gown
- Enlist your talented family or friends (for the cake, dresses, flowers, etc.)
- Reserve the accommodations for your guests
- Book your honeymoon, including the flights and accommodation
6-8 Months Before Your Wedding
- Order your wedding dress; most dress shops consider under six months a rush order and will charge a fee
- Start organizing bachelorette/ bachelor parties; usually, it’s the bridesmaid’s or best man’s duty to plan this
- Book ceremony musicians or wedding singers
- Ensure that passports don’t expire while you’re on the honeymoon; get them renewed if necessary
- Start planning the honeymoon, itinerary, and activities
4-6 Months Before Your Wedding
- Select and order the stationery and wedding invites
- Select the bridesmaids’ gowns
- Shop for your groom’s suit
- Rent formal wear for the men
- Meet with the florist to discuss the options
- Attend pre-marriage and relationship counseling if needed to fight pre-wedding jitters
- Organize and complete the legal requirements
- Organize a hair trial and book your hairstylist
- Read these makeup tips and organize a makeup trial before booking your makeup artist
- Start collecting addresses for the guest list or set up your wedding website
- Organize wedding transport for guests
- Arrange travel vaccinations if required
- Decide on readings, prayers, and music for ceremony booklets; consult your celebrant/registrar/ priest
2-3 Months Before Your Wedding
- Attend dress fittings
- Select and order the wedding rings
- Send out invitations to wedding guests
- Choose attire for ring bearers or flower girls
- Organize a menu tasting with your caterer
- Organize the gifts for bridesmaids, groomsmen, and parents
- Purchase accessories, hairpieces, bow ties, shoes, etc
4 Weeks Before Your Wedding
- Complete your wedding DIY or craft projects
- Make any final adjustments with your suppliers
- Have your final wedding gown fitting
- Review your final RSVP list and call guests who have not yet responded
- Finalize the details for the order of the ceremony
2 Weeks Before Your Wedding
- Give the venue or caterer the final guest headcount
- Create your seating plan
- Deliver the must-have shot lists to your photographer and videographer; also, determine when the portraits will be taken
1 Week Before Your Wedding
- Call all your wedding suppliers to confirm arrangements; make a timetable for the day
- Print the place cards
- Supply the wedding planner with a list of supplier requests, such as a setup space required by your florist or a table for the DJ
- Do a full wedding dress rehearsal
- Go to your massage, waxing, manicure, and other grooming appointments
- Pack your overnight bag for reception
- Pack for your honeymoon
- Give reception and ceremony venue managers the delivery schedule, setup times, and contact numbers of vendors
2-3 Days Before Your Wedding
- Contact the wedding car company and confirm the pick-up time
- Make last-minute changes to the seating plan if needed
- Reconfirm the final details with all the vendors
- Print a sheet with the running order for the day and the suppliers’ contact information, make sure to give your maid of honour or best man copies
- Grooms: Attend the final fitting and pick up your formalwear; don’t forget to ask your best man to make sure all the groomsmen attend the fittings and pick up their outfits
The Day Before Your Wedding
- Provide the wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the wedding day
- Sort out payment for any final balances to be paid after the reception
- Rehearse the ceremony with the wedding ceremony readers together with the officiant and iron out the details
- Make sure you and your groom get a good night’s sleep
Your Wedding Day
It’s finally your wedding day. Here are some things you have to take note of during the wedding ceremony and reception:
- Assign a family member/ attendant to assist your photographer, so he knows who is who
- Introduce your reception coordinator to the wedding planner, or bridesmaid/ best man for problems or questions during the reception
- Flowers were delivered to the bride’s dressing room
- Give the best man the wedding rings to hold during the ceremony
- Give the officiant’s fee envelope to the best man to be handed out after the ceremony
