CHECKLIST
Complete Wedding Planning Checklist: Month-by-Month From Engagement to Wedding Day
A month-by-month wedding checklist covering every task from engagement through wedding day, organized with checkboxes, timing guidance, and notes fields for each phase.
12+ Months Before the Wedding
This phase is about locking in the high-demand vendors before dates disappear. Anything with a limited supply per date (venues, photographers, bands) must be booked here.
Budget and Vision
- Decide on a rough total budget with both partners (and any contributing family members)
- Agree on rough guest count (this drives almost every other budget decision)
- Define priorities: what is most important to you both? (Food, photography, music, flowers, etc.)
- Open a dedicated wedding savings account or track wedding spending separately
- Set up a simple budget spreadsheet or use Kaiplan's budget module
Date and Venue
- Agree on a target month or season
- Research venues in your area (start with 5-8 options)
- Tour at least 3-5 venues using a comparison worksheet
- Book your venue and sign the contract
- Confirm your wedding date
Vendors (Book Immediately After Venue)
- Research and contact photographers (view 3+ portfolios, check availability)
- Book your photographer and sign the contract
- Research and contact videographers (if desired)
- Book your videographer and sign the contract
- Research caterers (if not provided by venue)
- Schedule tastings with top catering options
- Research and book an officiant
Wedding Party
- Ask your bridal party/wedding party (have the conversations before formal invitations go out)
- Confirm wedding party participation with everyone
Notes: ______________________________________________________________
9-12 Months Before the Wedding
This phase covers the secondary vendors and the guest list infrastructure. You should have your venue locked and your date confirmed before starting this section.
Vendors
- Book caterer (if not venue-included)
- Research and book a DJ or band
- Begin florist research (look at portfolios, get quotes from 2-3 florists)
- Book florist
- Research hair and makeup artists (look at bridal portfolio specifically)
- Book hair and makeup team
Attire
- Begin wedding dress shopping (order lead times are 4-6 months for custom/designer)
- Purchase or order wedding dress
- Research attire for groom/partner and wedding party
- Order or confirm wedding party attire
Guest List and Save the Dates
- Finalize the guest list with full names and addresses
- Set the RSVP deadline (should be 3 weeks before the wedding)
- Design and order save the dates
- Mail save the dates (12 months out for destination weddings, 9 months for local)
Honeymoon
- Research honeymoon destinations and set a honeymoon budget
- Book flights, hotels, or resort packages
- Confirm passport validity (must be valid 6 months beyond return date for most countries)
- Research visa requirements if international
Logistics
- Reserve hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests
- Share hotel block information with guests when you send save the dates
Notes: ______________________________________________________________
Get the PDF
Enter your email — we'll send the full PDF to your inbox and give you an instant download here.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What is inside
What this template covers.
- Thirty-seven checklists organized by planning phase from engagement through the day after the wedding.
- Every task has a checkbox and notes field, covering vendors, legal requirements, logistics, beauty, and day-of coordination so nothing falls through the gaps.
Related wedding planning resources
Wedding Planning Checklist: Everything to Do and When
A complete wedding planning checklist organized by timeline - from 12+ months out to the week of the wedding. Know exactly what to do and when so nothing falls through the cracks.
How to Plan a Wedding: A Step-by-Step Guide
A practical step-by-step guide for planning a wedding from scratch. Set your budget, book the right vendors, and keep everything organized without losing your mind.
12-Month Wedding Planning Timeline: Month by Month
What to book and decide each month of your 12-month wedding timeline, with the sequencing logic that keeps you from doing things in the wrong order.
Free Wedding Budget Template: Quote, Deposit, Balance Tracker
Track vendor quotes, deposit amounts, remaining balances, and payment due dates — the rows your wedding app doesn't give you. Download free, no signup required.
Free Wedding Day Timeline Template (Downloadable)
Hour-by-hour wedding day schedule with buffer time built in — from getting ready through the last dance. Customize to your ceremony time and venue layout.
What to Do When a Wedding Vendor Cancels
When a wedding vendor cancels, here's how to respond fast, find a replacement, understand what compensation you can demand, and prevent it from happening.