Wedding planning

What's inside

1. Set your overall wedding budget

   Break it down by category upfront: venue and catering usually eat 40–50% of the total. Keep a 10% buffer — costs almost always run over plan.

2. Draft your guest list

   Guest count drives venue choice, catering budget and banquet format — nail this down before booking anything, not after.

3. Pick a date and file for a marriage licence

   Check your local registrar's minimum notice period — it's often several weeks to a month, and popular dates get booked out fast. Confirm current rules before locking the date.

4. Book your venue

   Do this 6–12 months out — desirable dates (weekends, round numbers) get taken up to a year in advance, especially in peak season.

5. Book a photographer and videographer

   Do this 6+ months out — good ones book up a season in advance. Ask to see full wedding galleries, not just a highlight reel — that's where you spot their real weak spots.

6. Book a host / MC

   Watch full footage from a real wedding they ran, not a promo reel — judge whether their humor and pacing actually fit your crowd.

7. Book a DJ and plan the music

   Agree on more than the main set — give them a do-not-play list, plus the specific songs for your first dance and entrance.

8. Choose and order your dress or suit

   Do this 3–4 months out — tailoring and alterations take weeks, and waiting too long risks your size selling out in peak season.

9. Buy the wedding rings

   If you want engraving, budget an extra 1–2 weeks for it separately from the purchase itself.

10. Do a tasting with your caterer

    Ask for banquet-sized portions, not a special tasting plate — flavor and plating for 100 guests differ from a sample for two.

11. Order the cake

    Confirm size and tiers against your headcount ahead of time — a common rule of thumb is 100–150g per guest.

12. Plan decor and florals

    Out-of-season flowers can cost several times more — ask your florist early what's naturally in season on your date.

13. Send out invitations

    Send them 2–3 months out with a clear RSVP deadline — your final seating chart and catering order depend on it.

14. Book your honeymoon

    Flights and hotels get pricier closer to the date, and many hotels offer a honeymoon discount if you mention it when booking.

15. Do a hair and makeup trial

    Book this a month or two out so there's time to adjust the look — the wedding day is the wrong moment to try a new style for the first time.

16. Get the final fitting done

    Do it about a month out, once your weight and shape have settled — an earlier fitting risks no longer matching on the day.

17. Break in your wedding shoes

    Wear them around the house for a few hours over a couple of weeks — you'll be on your feet all evening, and stiff new shoes guarantee blisters.

18. Plan the seating chart

    Do this only after your RSVP deadline — a chart built earlier almost always needs redoing once no-shows and plus-ones settle.

19. Arrange transport and stay for out-of-town guests

    Block-book rooms at a hotel near the venue early — it's cheaper in bulk and keeps guests from scattering across town.

20. Build a minute-by-minute day timeline

    Send the final version to every vendor 2 weeks ahead — the photographer, caterer and host all need to be working off the exact same document.

21. Assign a day-of coordinator

    It shouldn't be the bride or groom — a friend, relative or hired pro who tracks the timeline and handles small fires while you actually enjoy the day.

22. Have a rain plan

    For an outdoor ceremony you need a covered backup within easy reach — settle it with the venue in advance, not on the wedding morning.

23. Prepare vendor payment envelopes

    Do this in advance and label each one by vendor name — you won't have a spare moment for cash on the wedding day, so hand this off to your coordinator.

24. Hand the rings to someone responsible

    On the day, give the rings to a witness or your coordinator ahead of time rather than holding them yourself — they're the easiest thing to misplace in the rush.

25. Prepare for a name change

    If you're changing your name, look up the paperwork ahead of time — passport, bank accounts, ID cards — the process spans multiple agencies and takes more than a day.

26. Send thank-you notes to guests

    Especially to anyone who gave a gift or helped organize — a personal note within a couple of weeks means far more than a group message.

27. Return anything you rented

    Decor, dishware, the suit, extra chairs — check your rental list and return dates so you don't get hit with a late fee.

28. Collect your photos and video

    Final editing usually takes 4–8 weeks — confirm the timeline upfront, and back the files up in two places as soon as you get them.