Wedding Planning Process
Determine Your Budget
Month 12
It's time to do the math and crunch some not-so-fun numbers. Before you can start anything, you have to figure out who's paying for what and determine your wedding's bottom line. From there, you'll want to break down said budget — what's a priority and what's not? — and start allocating funds accordingly. (A little market research here comes in handy.) And since these numbers will change as you plan, it's smart to start a detailed spreadsheet from the get-go. This will help you keep track of spending and make it easy to adjust numbers along the way.
Make a Guest List
If only you could invite any and everyone, right? Chances are, you can't, which is why you have to put a cap on dishing out invites. When deciding your headcount, consider your budget (how many guests can you really afford to host?) and your venue (how many people does it fit?). Also, who's paying for what? From there, figure out how you're going to divvy up the list. If you and your partner are footing the bill, assume that you'll get 70 percent of the invites while both sets of parents will split the other 30 percent. But if mom or dad is contributing, it's the protocol to give all involved parties — your parents, your partner's parents, and you as a couple — one-third each. Next comes cutting, negotiating, and cutting some more until you reach a final number.
Hire a Wedding Planner
Again, this will depend on your budget (fair warning: most everything will), but if your funds allow, now is the time to hire the manager of your big day. A wedding planner will be your right-hand person throughout the process, and they will guide you in all decisions, from selecting a venue to tracking your budget and handling all the logistics.
Decide Formality and Overall Theme
Now's the time to sit down and have another heart-to-heart convo with your significant other. After all, the vibe of your wedding needs to be a mutual decision between the two guests of honor. To get the conversation flowing, pour a glass of wine/water/tea and ask yourselves: What’s important to us and why? What do we value? Also, know that your venue — more on that below — is going to affect all of this.
Select the Venue
You know who you're marrying. Now the real question is where will you two tie the knot? Trust us: Choosing the venue is one of the most important decisions you'll make right now. The location affects almost everything else, from how many people you invite to what kind of flowers go on the table. Chances are, it's also the biggest chunk of change you've put paid for anything before (unless you two are already homeowners). That's why you want to explore your options, visit the top contenders, and ultimately select a place that fits your guest count, style, and budget.
- Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available? Or do you have a waitlist for dates?
- How far in advance can I reserve my date?
- What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons?
- How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive, and how late can we stay?
- How much is the venue deposit?
- When do you need the deposit by?
- How do you structure the payment schedule?
- What is included in the total? Does it cover service charges, gratuity, and cleaning fees, or are those additional line items?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- When is the last possible date to make changes to our reservation?
- Do you require that we use wedding insurance?
- Do you have a list of approved or recommended vendors we can use?
- Do we have to use your approved vendors? If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in?
- Is the site handicap accessible?
- Are there noise restrictions?
- How many bathrooms are there? Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms?
- Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?
- What is the venue’s capacity?
- Do you have your own sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be rented or provided by the entertainment?
- What is the backup plan for rain or inclement weather?
- Are there any décor restrictions?
- When can vendors arrive for setup?
- Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?
- Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?
- If there is not an in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our own caterer?
- Do you have a food and beverage minimum? What are the consequences if we don’t meet it?
- Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?
- If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee?
- Who will be our point person as we plan our wedding? Who will be our point person on our wedding day, and is this person an on-site coordinator?
- Can we meet them today?
Buy Wedding Insurance
Throwing a wedding is a major financial investment, so err on the side of prudence and purchase special events insurance to protect yourself from damage and liabilities on the big day. You can apply for coverage as soon as you start planning or once you have a venue secured, but some agencies will even write up a wedding insurance policy the day before.
Select the Caterer
Your wedding is the best (and largest) dinner party of your life, but how do you feed 150 of your nearest and dearest? Well, start with hiring people you trust to deliver — whether that's the venue's in-house caterer, a preferred caterer recommended by your planner, or even your favorite taco truck. And don't be afraid to get creative with the menu. Guests will enjoy tasting your favorite cocktail just as much as Grandma's famous blueberry pie.
Choose a Color Palette & Overall Design
11 Months Out
Pull up your Pinterest boards, people. It's finally time to gather inspiration, select
a color palette, and create a mood board. There are so many ideas out there, so take your time with this part of the process — and don't forget to take a step back if you feel overwhelmed.
Hire Vendors
These are the people who will make your night fun — and all those memories last forever. Do your research before you hire,
ask all the right questions, and maybe even date your photographer by having them take your engagement portraits. Seriously, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress
10 Months Out
You may know exactly what you want or you might not, which is okay, too. To get you started, here's check out our ultimate guide to dress shopping. Also, consider visiting these places in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City — because finding a gown may be a matter of trial and error, but finding a salon shouldn't be.
Book Hotel Room Blocks for Guests
It's a thoughtful gesture to block out rooms (and secure a discounted rate) for your guests. Before you create a room block at random, check out our comprehensive guide on the subject to ensure your family and friends have the right accommodations.
Create Your Wedding Website
Get your site running now because you'll need to put the URL on save-the-dates next month. Follow our top rules and make it pretty using one of our favorite wedding websites.
Take Engagement Photos
Now is a great time to practice being in front of the camera, especially since most photographers include a session in your package. But don't fret: We have exceptional tips for the camera-shy.
Start Looking at Invitations
The wedding invitation is a guest’s first impression of your big day. That’s why you want to put your best foot forward with a personalized preview. If you're going custom, start working with a graphic designer or stationer now to create your dream suite. If you're going for a less involved route, you can wait until the six-month mark. (Invites will be sent out six to eight weeks before the big day.) Here are some of our favorite sites to look for invites.
Buy Your Wedding Dress
9 Months Out
It's time to say "yes" to the dress if you want to
avoid rush fees. If you can place your order even earlier, that's preferable.
Send Save-the-Dates
Let everyone officially know when and where you're making it official. And remember: Everyone who gets a
save-the-date gets a wedding invite. No exceptions.
