Planning a wedding on your own is no easy task. We are here to help! Everyone’s big day is SO different and a detailed checklist really depends on each couple’s wants and needs for their day. BUT we are here to give you a simple but helpful checklist to guide you through the crazy process to get your big day to unfold perfectly.

12 months out-

★    Decide on a budget: this will help determine all of the factors of your wedding planning so deciding on your budget early on will save so much stress!

★    Choose your venue and date: having a flexible date will make finding your venue worlds easier. Finding a venue and a date go hand-in-hand!

★  Hire your major vendors: Vendors such as your caterer, florist, coordinator, photographer, DJ, and venue, all book super far in advance. To get the vendors you love, you have to work fast!

10 months out-

★  Start looking for the dress- It may seem early but on average it takes about a month to find the perfect dress, it takes roughly 4 to 5 months to get the dress in, and there are usually 2 to 3 months in between your first fitting and final fitting during alterations. This also allows for a nice time cushion just in case!

★  Begin designing your theme, save-the-dates, and invitations- These will need to be sent out about six months and three months in advance so starting early will give you time to go through all of the different color scheme options, create vision boards, and decide on the theme/vibe you want your end goal to be!

★  Take engagement pictures- Lots of couples love to use their engagement pictures in their save-the-dates as well as their invitations. Getting these pictures done will be something to cherish all throughout your marriage as well as to send to loved ones.

8 months out-

★  Register- Begin adding to your registry! This will allow family and friends the option of getting your registry items for holidays, birthdays, and showers!

★  Select and purchase bridesmaids dresses- This process doesn’t take as long as picking and purchasing your wedding dress but they still take about four months to come in and two months for alterations. Having a time cushion and not needing it is always better than wishing you had a cushion!

6 months out-

★  Pick out lighting and rentals- By this time you should have a pretty good vision for what you want your special day to look like. Picking out details will help your vision come to life!

★  Hire your officiant- Whether it’s your pastor, a family member, or a hired vendor, picking who will marry you is a big and special decision. Let your officiant know your expectations and they will handle the rest!

★  Book your honeymoon- The calm after the storm! Pick your ideal way to relax with your Hunny to recover from all of the crazy wedding stress.

★  Send out save-the-dates-

★  Book your getaway car- Pick how you will make your exit as newlyweds and how you want to be whisked away to your afterparty!

★  Order menswear- This is a much simpler process than ordering a wedding dress or bridesmaid’s gowns but it still needs to be done! The Groom, groomsmen, and any other part of the wedding party who may need menswear will need to be fitted!

4 months out-

★  Order wedding bands- Depending on where you choose to buy your bands, you can usually expect to wait a month or two for them to come in. But again, with the time cushion, receiving your bands a month or two before the wedding is definitely not a bad thing!

★  Choose your cake- At this point in the planning process, your wedding vision should be coming together as a whole with all of your details falling into place. Creating a bomb cake design in advance will help bring your theme, color scheme, and style altogether.

★  Beauty trial run- This. Is. So. Important. Having a trial day with your hairstylist and makeup artist could make or break the look you are going for. This will give you a chance to put your stylists’ skills to the test and make sure that the HAMU you saved on Pinterest actually looks the same on you as it does in your head.

3 months out-

★  Send out invitations- This will give your guests a good amount of time to return their RSVPs and make travel plans, buy gifts, etc. for your wedding.

★  Plan your menu- At this point your caterer should have asked you to come in for a tasting. You should begin to talk about what you want your menu to be as well if you want any appetizers, one or two entre options, or any additional desserts in addition to your cake.

1 month out-

★  Pay the remaining balance to vendors- At this point, you should be attending your 30-day out meetings with your vendors! Making final decisions and updating your wants and needs. At this point in the process, finishing up all of your payments and stashing tip money away is important.

★  Create your seating chart- Deciding who will sit where is a chaotic process as RSVPs roll in late or last-minute cancellations come up. Getting at least an outline of your potential seating chart will relieve a lot of stress.

Week of the wedding-

★  Pack- Pack for your honeymoon earlier in the week and not last minute! This will get it off your checklist and cut the likelihood of forgetting anything.

★  Pamper- Get your hair trimmed, get your nails done, get your tan on!

★  Practice- Go over your vows so you are practiced and ready to go on your day!

THE DAY

★  Sleep- Go to sleep early the night before and wake up as late as you can! Beauty sleep is a thing, people! It will be a long, crazy, amazing day and you don’t want to be sleepy.

★  Eat- Eat, eat, eat! Getting nutrients on your wedding day is SO important. You will look and feel your best without feeling drained.

★  Soak it in- Try to take at least 15 minutes with your new lover to soak in being MARRIED! Slowing down through the excitement will be well worth it.