WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST THE

W E D D I N G

P L A N N I N G

C H E C K L I S T

THE

P I P K I N P A P E R C O M P A N Y . C O M

W e ’ l l s h o w y o u h o w t o p l a n y o u r w e d d i n g

q ui c k l y a n d e a s i l y --w h e t h e r i t b e a d e s t i n a t i o n

w e d d i n g o r a n e l o p e m e n t .

W e ’ v e g o t y o u c o v e r e d .

P I P K I N P A P E R C O M P A N Y . C OM

I

I f y o u ’ r e p l a n n i n g a w e d d i n g t h a t ’ s a t l e a s t 1 y e a r a w a y , c o n s i d e r y o u r s e l f l u c k y !

M o s t w e d d i n g p l a n n i n g d o e s n ’ t n e e d t o b e d o n e u n t i l y o u ’ r e a b o u t 1 2 m o n t h s o u t ,

s o s i t b a c k , r e l a x a n d j u s t t a k e i t a l l i n . Y o u ’ v e g o t n o t h i n ’ b u t t i m e .

12 – 1 6 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Create your w eddin g mo od bo ard

Researc h ph otographers, f lor ists, an d c aterers

Have an engagemen t party

Tour your top ven ues an d pu t down a depo sit

B e g i n m a k i n g s o m e o f t h e b i g g e r d e c i s i o n s

9 – 1 2 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Choose your w edding party

Boo k the offi cian t

Hire the ban d, cater ers and bar ten ders

Hire the pho tographer an d video gr apher

N o w y o u r e a l l y n e e d t o s t a r t p l a n n i n g

Purc hase your weddin g dr ess

Reserv e a bl oc k of ho tel rooms

T H E L O N G E N G A G E M E N T

Laun ch your w eddin g website

A s S o o n a s Y o u G e t E n g a g e d

Come up w ith your bu dget and start s avin g

S t a r t w i t h t h e e a s y s t u f f

Create your w eddin g regis tr y

7 - 8 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Sel ect an d purc hase you r invitation s

Meet w ith the of fic iant to pl an the c erem on y

Start composi ng a day -of tim elin e

Sen d out your save the dates

Meet with and book the f lorist

Start plan ning the ho neym oon

Sho p fo r br idesmaids’ dresses

Arr ange tran spor tation

5 - 6 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Boo k the rehears al & rehear sal din ner ven ues

Boo k hair an d makeup artis ts

Purc hase weddin g s ho es an d ac cess ories

Sc hedule cake tastin gs an d order the c ake

Start gatherin g id eas in a sw ipe f ile

Make a rough draft of the gues t list

Choose a date (or 2 -3 so you hav e wiggle room)

Get en gagement photo s tak en

Final ize your guest lis t and gather a ddr esses

Start dress shoppi ng

Order save the da tes

3 - 4 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Final ize the men u an d f low ers

Choose your readings

Purc hase your lin gerie

Order weddin g f avor s

Prin t m enu cards and progr ams

Final ize the order of c eremo ny and rec eption

Sen d you r ev ent sch edule to the ven dor s

Purc hase the rings

2 M o n t h s Bef o r e

Meet w ith the pho tographer

Ask ven dors an y remaini ng question s

Have your bac helorette part y

Review the playlist with the band or deejay

Sen d out the inv itation s

Subm it n ewspaper w eddin g anno un c ement

1 M o n t h B e f o r e

Reco rd all your RSV Ps

Have yo ur last (hopefull y!) dress fit tin g

Purc hase alc ohol

Get your marriage lic ens e

Mail reh earsal din ner invitation s

Sen d as man y final paymen ts as poss ible

Create se atin g assignments

Con firm tim es fo r hair an d makeup

Email direction s to all shuttle dr ivers

Purc hase bridesm aids’ gifts

Get your hair c ut a n d c olo red

Write your wedding vow s

W e e k o f t h e W e d d i n g

Del egate smal l weddin g day tas ks

Reco nfirm arr ival times w ith vendors

Con firm detail s w ith the photo grapher

Sen d a timeli ne to the bridal party

Pick up your dress

Sen d the fin al guest c ount to the caterer

Assem ble and deliver the wel co me baskets

Break in your sho es

Pack a sui tcase for the h on eymoo n

Pack day-o f and weddin g n ight es sentials

Get a m assage to rel ieve s ome of that stres s!

Write a n ote to the groo m

Get a m anicur e an d pedic ure

Con firm any w eather -r elated backup plan s

Purc hase thank you cards (fo r early gifts)

5 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Order your in vitation s

Start sho pping for gro om’ s attire

Have an en gagemen t party

Tour your top ven ues an d pu t down a depo sit

Choose your w edding party

Boo k the offi cian t

Hire the ban d, cater ers and b ar ten ders

Hire the pho tographer an d video gr apher

Purc hase your dress, shoes and acc esso ries

Reserv e a bl oc k of ho tel roo ms

Laun ch your w eddin g website

Create your w eddin g regis tr y

4 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Boo k hair an d makeup artis ts

Meet w ith the of fic iant to pl an the c erem on y

Start composi ng a day -of tim elin e

Meet w ith and book the flor ist

Start plan ning the hon eymoon

Sho p fo r br idesmaids’ dresses

Arr ange tran spor tation

Boo k the rehears al & rehear sal din ner ven ues

Sc hedul e c ake tastin gs an d o rder the c ake

A s S o o n a s Y o u G e t E n g a g e d

Create your w eddin g m ood bo ard

Make a rough draft of the gues t list

Choose a date

Get en gagement photo s tak en

Final ize your guest lis t and gather a ddr esses

Sen d out your save the dates

Start shopping for your wedding dress

Boo k fl ights and hotel for the hon eymo on

3 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Write your vo ws

Get your marriage lic ens e

Final ize the men u an d f low ers

Choose your readings

Purc hase your lin gerie

Order weddin g f avor s

Prin t m enu cards an d pro grams

Final ize the order of c eremo ny and re ceptio n

Sen d you r ev ent sch edule to the ven dors

Purc hase the rings

T H E S H O R T E N G A G E M E N T

T h i s c h e c k l i s t i s f o r t h o s e o f y o u r p l a n n i n g a w e d d i n g i n 6 m o n t h s o r l e s s .

A l t h o u g h s h o r t e n g a g e m e n t s r e q u i r e h a r d w o r d a n d a l i t t l e m o r e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a n

l o n g e r e n g a g e m e n t s , t h i s c h e c k l i s t h e l p s y o u h i t a l l t h e k e y d a t e s a n d m i l e s t o n e s

y o u n e e d t o m a k e y o u r b i g d a y g o o f f w i t h o u t a h i t c h .

Come up w ith your bu dget and start s avin g

2 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Meet w ith the pho tographer

Ask ven dors an y remaini ng question s

Have yo ur bachel orette part y

Review the playlist with the band or deejay

Sen d out the inv itation s

Subm it n ewspaper w eddin g anno un c ement

1 M o n t h B e f o r e

Reco rd all your RSV Ps

Have your l ast (h opeful ly! ) dr ess fit ting

Purc hase alc ohol

Get your marriage lic ens e

Mail reh earsal din ner invitation s

Sen d as man y final paymen ts as poss ible

Create se atin g assignments

Con firm tim es fo r hair an d makeup

Email direction s to all shuttle dr ivers

Purc hase bridesm aids’ gifts

Get your hair c ut an d c ol ored

Wri te your w edding vow s

W e e k o f t h e W e d d i n g

Del egate smal l weddin g day tas ks

Reco nfirm arr ival times w ith vendors

Con firm detail s w ith the photo grapher

Sen d a timeli ne to the bridal party

Pick up your dress

Sen d the fin al guest c oun t to the c aterer

Assem ble and deliver the wel co me baskets

Break in your s hoes

Pack a sui tcase for the h on eymoo n

Pack day-o f and weddin g n ight es sentials

Get a m assage to rel ieve s ome of that stres s!

Write a n ote to the groo m

Get a m anicur e an d pedic ure

Con firm any w eather -r elated backup plan s

Purc hase thank you c ards (fo r ear ly gif ts)

Destination weddings require a little more planning and smidge more organization than traditional, close-to-home

weddings. Be sure to give yourself extra time (and a little wine!) to get everything done with as little stress as possible.

12 – 1 6 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Create your w eddin g mo od bo ard

Researc h m arriage requiremen ts in your lo cation

Have an en gagemen t party

Con tract a weddin g v enue & s chedule a visit

9 – 1 2 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Choose your w edding party

Wor k w ith your loc atio n to find a c aterer

Order save the da tes

Con tract a photographer an d video grapher

Purc hase your weddin g dr ess

Reserv e a bl oc k of ho tel roo ms

Laun ch your w eddin g website

Create your w eddin g regis tr y

7 - 8 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Sel ect an d purc hase you r invitation s

Sel ect an offician t

Start composi ng a day -of tim elin e

Sen d out your save the dates

Reserv e block of hotel r ooms f or guests

Sho p fo r br idesmaids’ dresses

5 - 6 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Make arran gemen ts f or rehear sal dinn er

Boo k hair an d makeup artis ts

Choose formal wear fo r the groomsm en

Order the c ake

A s S o o n a s Y o u G e t E n g a g e d

Come up w ith your bu dget and start s a ving

Start lookin g fo r a destin ation w edding ven ue

Make a rough draft of the gues t list

Choose a date (or 2 -3 so you hav e wiggle r oom )

Get en gagement photo s tak en

Final ize your guest l is t an d gather a ddresses

Start dress shoppi ng

Sel ect an on -site weddin g pl anner

Boo k fl orist an d m usicians

Begin res earching hon eymoon loc ation s

T H E D E S T I N A T I O N W E D D I N G

3 - 4 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Final ize the men u an d f low ers

Choose you r readin gs

Purc hase your lin gerie

Order weddin g f avor s

Purc hase the rings

Final ize the order of c eremo ny and rec eption

Purc hase bridal sho es an d ac cess ories

Boo k airfare for your wedding

2 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Come up w ith the rec eption pl aylist

Purc hase reception dec oratio ns

Have your bac helorette part y

Final ize det ails w ith al l vendors

Sen d out the inv itation s

Purc hase thank you cards (fo r early gifts)

1 M o n t h B e f o r e

Reco rd all your RSV Ps

Have your l ast (h opeful ly! ) dr ess fit ting

Prepare day- of tips an d c ash payments

Get your marriage lic ens e

Mail reh earsal din ner invitation s

Sen d as man y final paymen ts as poss ible

Create se atin g assignments

Con firm tim es fo r hair an d makeup

Get your hair c ut an d c ol ored

Purc hase bridesm aids’ gifts

Write your wedding vow s

W e e k o f t h e W e d d i n g

Del egate smal l weddin g day tas ks

Do a w alk -thr ough of you r venu e

Con firm detail s w ith the photo grapher

Sen d a timeli ne to the bridal party

Con firm fl ight an d h otel bookings

Sen d the fin al guest c oun t to the c aterer

Assem ble and deliver the wel co me baskets

Get your marriage lic ens e

Pack a sui tcase for the h on eymoo n

Pack day- of and weddin g n ight essen tials

Have your dr ess steamed to rem ove wr inkles

Write a n ote to the groo m

Get a m anicur e an d pedic ure

Con firm any w eather -r elated backup plan s

Obtain passpor ts an d ge t v acc ines

Boo k an y n ec essary ren tals

Choose an d or der i nv itation s

Boo k airfare for your wedding

While you might think of elopements as being the ultimate fuss-free wedding, they still require some planning. Here are

all the things you might possibly need to do before the big day.

Put do wn the deposit on a package, if necessar y

Boo k the offi cian t

Hire the pho tographer

Create a w eddin g regis try (o ption al)

Get en gagemen t photos taken

4 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Purc hase hair and makeup suppli es

Start plan ning the ho neym oon

Ask your witn ess to be a part of your weddi ng

Boo k fl ights and hote l for the hon eymoon

3 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Start to c ol lec t ideas for hair an d makeup

Purc hase your dress, shoes and acc esso ries

Purc hase your lin gerie an d a garter

Purc hase a weddi ng gift for your spous e - to- be

Purc hase the rings

Get your marriage lic ens e (if n ot gettin g

marr ied at the co urtho use)

2 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Meet w ith the pho tographer

Have your bac helorette part y

Do a hair an d m akeup tri al r un

Reserv e your date a t the c ourthouse

5 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Start shopping for your dres s

Find your ven ue

Sen d final paymen t fo r weddin g pac kage

Order the c ake (if n ot makin g it yoursel f)

Reserv e your w eddin g n ight ho tel r oom

6 M o n t h s B e f o r e

Come up w ith your bu dget and start s avin g

Start shopping for groom’ s attire

Choose a l oc ation fo r your elopemen t

Choose a date

Make travel arr angements to/f rom the wedding

Purc hase groo m’ s attir e

T H E E L O P E M E N T

Start researchin g el opem ent packages

1 M o n t h B e f o r e

Pre- rec ord wedding music

Purc hase cham pagne

Con firm weddin g date an d tim e

Con firm date an d time w ith ph otographer

Write your wedding vow s

Get your hair c ut an d c ol ored

W e e k o f t h e W e d d i n g

Make your weddin g c ake

Pack a sui tcase for the hon eymoo n

Get a m anicur e an d pedic ure

Purc hase flo wer s

Write a n ote to the groo m

Con firm any w eather -r elated backup plan s

Break in your sho es

Pack day-o f and weddin g n ight es sentials

Try on your dress on e l ast ti me

Con firm arr ival time with your witn ess

A f t e r t h e W e d d i n g

Sen d el opemen t ann ounc em ents

Mail than k you n otes for weddin g presents

Plan a rec eption fo r fr iends an d fam ily

Shar e wedding photos with l oved on es