#4 Want Less Stress? Here’s a Wedding Planning Timeline.

Want Less Stress? Here's a Wedding Planning Timeline - Episode #4

In this episode, we share our suggested timeline for planning your wedding!

• Pick a date range
• Approximate guest list (for the venue options) and tentative bridal party
• Tentative theme and colors, be aware seasons availability of flowers
• Planner or venue first
• If planner, you have options, full service or day of coordination.
• Referrals are best, next review.
• Visit venues to find the perfect one, work around their dates
• Fridays and Sundays often have discounts or are a bit cheaper
• Set your date
• If you are six months out send save the dates if not, wait.
• Set wedding budget- in doing your budget please do some research on what is appropriate for each vendor
• Research vendors IE. photographers, bands, florist, caterers…

8 months

• Photographer and videographers and band/DJ, musicians for ceremony need to be hired/booked
• Caterers meet with and booked, bartenders also
• Dress search, designers, bridal shops, resales
• Hotel rooms for guests
• Register!!! Have fun with this but from experience register for all areas, not just kitchen and bath.
• Launch wedding websites
• Schedule hair and makeup artist (*different from podcast because we heard from a Hair and Makeup artist that this is a better time but if you have a peak date or very sought after date even earlier is better*)

6 months

• Set guest list and gather addresses
• Purchase invites
• Start planning the honeymoon
• Bridesmaids dresses
• Officiant
• Send save the dates
• Reserve lighting designer including pipe and drapes
• Book a florist and décor
• Transportation, limos, buses, antique cars…
• Start a day of timeline

5 months

• Rehearsal dinner venue
• Verify wedding invitations
• Order your cake(s)
• If you are having a shower, send guest list for the shower to the host/maid of honor who is traditionally the host.
• Wedding shoes and dress fittings
• Choose music: first dance, father-daughter, processional and recessional

3 months

• Finalize menu and floral
• Order favor if having, s'mores packages, candy bags…
• Make a list of toasters
• Finalize readings
• Purchase bridal lingerie
• Schedule second fitting with your lingerie
• Finalize the timeline for ceremony and the reception
• Finalize catering, create menus as well as programs (your invitation designer may also offer these)
• Purchase wedding rings if need
• Send event schedule to your vendors

2 months

• Set final meetings with vendors
• Playlist to band/DJ
• Send out invitations
• If needed send out newspaper wedding announcement
• Plan bachelorette party with maid of honor
• Update RSVP lists
• Marriage license
• Contact rehearsal dinner guest for final count
• Final dress fitting
• Get final count to bartenders and caterers and venue
• Final payment to vendors
• Confirm all vendors, time of delivery…

One Month before

• Book spa treatment, nails, facial, waxing
• Break in shoes
• Seating charts, if you are doing them
• Bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts, and bride/groom gift
• Write vows
• Get your hair done, cut and color.

Week of wedding

• Delegate, pick up guest from airport, someone in charge of gifts, rental returns, handing out tips, point of contact person for each vendor
• Pick up dress
• Pack for honeymoon

**We heard from a few Hair and Makeup artist that 8-10 months is actually a better time to schedule your session with them for the wedding day**

The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner

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-Until next time, No Stress No Worries Keep Calm and Listen On-