Congratulations on your engagement! Once you’ve had a chance to let it all soak in, it’s time to jump into wedding planning. Whether you’ve been daydreaming about wedding ideas for years or never considered what your wedding will look like until now, we have a wedding checklist to make everything more manageable. It starts over a year out, but don’t stress if you're planning a wedding in a shorter time frame—just begin as soon as you can and work your way down the list. And not everything on this list will be essential to your wedding, so feel free to strike out what you don't need.
Invitation Suite by Minted | Photo by Erika Geier
12+ MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Send an engagement announcement to friends and family, or post one on social media.
- Insure your engagement ring.
- Begin considering your aesthetic.
- Determine your wedding budget.
- Consider your ideal time of year to get married.
- Get inspired. Browse our Minted Wedding Planning Guide, wedding magazines, blogs, Instagram, and Pinterest.
- Start compiling a guest list. (Read How Many People to Invite To Your Wedding)
- Browse venues (or book one!)
- Hire a wedding planner, if you choose to use one.
10–12 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Reserve the ceremony and reception venues.
- Finalize your guest list; collect mailing addresses and upload them to your online address book with the Minted Address Assistant™.
- Make your free Minted wedding website.
- Book your photographer and videographer.
- Take engagement photos.
- Plan an engagement party.
- Start shopping for your and your partner's wedding dress/attire and accessories.
- Propose to your closed ones to be part of your day (Get Inspired by our Bridesmaid Proposal Ideas).
- Schedule your free 30-minute virtual appointment with a Minted Wedding Concierge to craft your perfect save the date.
- Book a band, musicians, or a DJ for your ceremony and reception.
7–9 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Make your wedding registry and add it to your wedding website.
- Book hair and makeup artists.
- Select your wedding attendants’ outfits.
- Book your cake designer.
- Order and send out save the dates.
- Book your florist.
- Book your caterer.
- Book a lighting company, if needed.
- Reserve hotel-room blocks for out-of-town guests.
- Create a day-of timeline for your wedding day.
- Book or ask someone to be your officiant.
- Reserve rental equipment, such as tables, chairs, tents, linens, a dance floor, etc.
- Book your honeymoon or mini moon.
- Request individual wedding invitation samples or order a free sample kit.
5–6 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Book a room for the wedding night (and the night before, if necessary). Choose male attendants' attire.
- Plan your wedding or bridal shower.
- Plan your bachelor or bachelorette party.
- Book your rehearsal dinner venue.
- Arrange transportation for your wedding guests.
- Make a floor plan for the ceremony and reception.
Invitation Suite by Minted | Photo by Becca Howland
3–4 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Order and send out wedding invitations. Work with your Minted Wedding Concierge to find or customize your invitations or design an invitation from scratch.
- Decide on a dress code for your wedding guests.
- Send your bridal shower and bachelorette party guest list to the host(s).
- Choose getting-ready outfits for the bridal party and groomsmen.
- Do a menu tasting and finalize the reception menu with your caterer.
- Do a cake tasting and order your cake.
- Choose the music for your ceremony and reception.
- Finalize readings for the ceremony.
- Purchase wedding rings.
- Create a guest list for the rehearsal dinner.
- Make a shot list for your photographer.
- Book your rehearsal dinner venue, if it’s different from the wedding venue.
- Schedule hair and makeup trials.
- Enjoy your bridal or wedding shower!
2 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Follow up on RSVPs.
- Update the details on your wedding website.
- Schedule a ceremony rehearsal time and rehearsal dinner.
- Order and send rehearsal dinner invitations.
- Repeat a hair or makeup trial if needed.
- Order table numbers, escort cards, and place cards.
- Discuss ceremony details with your officiant.
- Book any beauty or spa treatments for the weeks leading up to your wedding.
- Order ceremony programs, menus, and wedding signs.
- Begin writing your wedding vows.
- Select gifts for the wedding party and your parents.
- Order wedding favors.
- Have a final fitting and alterations with shoes and accessories.
- Order wedding thank you cards and write them as gifts arrive.
- Purchase a cake-cutting knife, guest book, flower basket, and ring bearer pillow.
- Enjoy your bachelorette party!
Stationery by Minted | Photo by Morgan Kennedy
1 MONTH BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Pay any remaining vendor balances in full.
- Organize table numbers, escort cards, and place cards.
- Order wedding favor tags and favor stickers.
- Obtain your marriage license and order additional certified copies.
- Send your wedding day timeline to your wedding party and vendors.
- Create a reception seating plan once you’ve received all your RSVPs.
- Walk around in your full wedding attire so you can get comfortable with the shoes, dress, veil, and other aspects of your outfit.
- Organize day-of catering for your wedding party.
- Hold any final meetings with vendors.
2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Notify the caterer of the final guest count.
- Write toasts for the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
- Put together welcome bags for out-of-town guests.
- Confirm all vendors have received and understand the timeline.
- Put together thank-you gifts for your wedding parties.
- Confirm any final shot requests with your photographer.
- Get any last facials, massages, or other treatments.
- Make a hair and makeup schedule and distribute it to the wedding party.
1 WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Finalize the seating plan.
- Assign specific responsibilities to the wedding party.
- Practice reading your wedding vows aloud.
- Pack for your honeymoon, if you’re taking it directly after the wedding.
- Get your wedding emergency kit ready!
- Pack any decorations or items needed for the wedding day.
3 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Put the finishing touches on any vows and speeches.
- Get manicures, pedicures, spray tans, if you choose to.
- Prepare tip and payment envelopes for the officiant and vendors, and assign a wedding-party member or the wedding planner to distribute them.
- Take the time to relax and appreciate your engagement with your partner.
DAY & NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING
- Host the rehearsal dinner.
- Bring welcome gifts to the hotel or wherever your guests are staying.
- Give rings and the marriage license to the best man.
- Run through the ceremony.
- Give gifts to wedding party members and parents.
- Go to sleep early (if you can!).
DAY OF THE WEDDING
- Request specific support from your maid of honors, bridesmaids, and family members.
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated.
- Take a moment (or more) to yourself.
- You’ve checked every item off of your wedding to-do list. Relax, be present, and enjoy your wedding!
