Free Wedding Planning Guide for Brides

A Simple Wedding Preparation and Planning Timeline for the Busy Bride


Wedding to-do lists, checklists, timelines, and even wedding planner binders - they all have the same thing in common and that is a ton of work. Kidding aside, wedding planning in these modern times have become such a complicated, long-term, gigantic feat which seems impossible to tackle alone yet might be too intricate when delegated to the wrong people.

Breaking down the wedding elements into smaller, manageable chunks might be more convenient for the busy brides-to-be, especially those with full-time jobs and multiple responsibilities at work and at home. Keep in mind that each wedding is different and each bride’s approach to the task might also be different as well.

12 months or more before the wedding. Tackle the basic details of the wedding day itself and all other important aspects.

• Decide on the date that is realistic for everyone.
  
  
• Agree on a budget, along with this discussion comes the topic of the number of guests, the wedding style or theme, and the venue or area of the ceremony and reception.
  
  
• Look for vendors, should you hire a wedding planner? a videographer? a caterer?
  
  
• Book the marriage officiant.
  
  

9 months before the wedding. Next elements are about the bridal party and the basic services needed for the wedding day.

• Send out RSVP and inform the bridal party members.
  
  
• Book all venues and wedding vendors.
  
  
• Do the engagement shoot, if preferred.
  
  

6 months before the wedding. For the bride, it is her last chance to be able to experiment with her hair or try any experimental beauty treatments. Any unfortunate effects beyond this time might end up into the prized wedding portrait and further stress on her part.

• Dive into building the wedding registry.
  
  
• Finalize and send out the wedding stationery.
  
  
• Tackle concerns regarding the honeymoon and the rehearsal dinner.
  
  
• Visit the makeup artist and hair stylist to do test looks.
  
  

3 months before the wedding. Try to get as much details done as possible at this point as everything is still manageable, especially when talking about stress and cold feet.

• Secure the transportation and book hotel rooms for the preparations.
  
  
• Start writing thank you notes as the gifts start coming in.
  
  

1 month before the wedding. No looking back, this time is great for finalizing all vendors and finishing with all the legal and monetary concerns for the wedding day.

• Process all legal paperwork such as marriage license, change of name and of address.
  
  
• Get the final guest count and confirm the number with all vendors involved.
  
  

• Send the final payments to all wedding vendors and services.
  
  
• Make a seating chart or seating plan, if needed.
  
  
• Last chance for the bride’s hair trim and hair color.
  
  

1 week before the wedding. The main objective is to keep everyone informed and to make sure everything is in its place on the big day.

• Confirm all details with vendors and take note of everyone’s arrival times.
  
  
• Delegate small wedding tasks, like picking up the flowers, welcoming the out of town family members, keeping the rings, etc.
  
  
• Meet with the bridal party and give them the wedding day timeline.
  
  
• Prepare tips for the wedding vendors.
  
  
• Pack for the honeymoon.
  
  
• Book a spa treatment for the bride and groom for the day before the wedding.
  
  

Crystal Vandegrift is the owner of Crystal Image Photography a VA, D.C. and MD wedding photography provider. Contact us for more information about photographing your wedding.