Planning your special day

Welcome to the Simply Weddings Family

We just wanted to reach out and extend a heartfelt thank you for choosing us to be part of such an important day.

We are thrilled to have the chance to bring your vision to life and make sure that everything runs smoothly on your wedding day.

Simply Weddings Team.

Welcome to your wedding planning journey! Planning a wedding can be a bit overwhelming. With so many details to consider, it can be easy to forget something important. That's why we've created this comprehensive wedding checklist to help you stay organized and on track as we navigate this journey.

From choosing your venue to finalizing your menu, this guide covers all the major elements of your wedding planning process. It's designed to help you prioritize tasks, and make sure you don't miss a thing.

10-12 Months Before

  • Introduce both families and officially announce your engagement.

  • Find out who pays for what and start a budget.

  • Compare calendars and select a tentative date.

  • Choose your wedding party.

  • Choose a color theme and start thinking of overall design.

  • Decide formality and overall theme.

  • Create a wedding website to share your engagement 

  • Decide if you want premarital counseling.

  • Start looking photos of wedding outfits for inspiration.

  • Begin thinking about where you want to honeymoon .

  • Visit a few potential ceremony and reception sites.

  • Create your guest list.

  • Insure the engagement ring.

  • Hire a wedding planner.

  • Book the Venue.

6-9 months before

  • Get ideas for music and interview bands / DJs.

  • Search for menu ideas and start meeting with caterers.

  • Sign a caterer and start working on your food and beverage selections.

  • Find a bridal salon and begin trying on wedding dress and veils. Bring stockings, heels strapless bra and a hair clip to each appointment.

  • Order your gown and wedding veil.

  • Select the your wedding party outfits. 

  • Research & interview wedding photography and videographers

  • Finalize contracts with your wedding photographer and videographer.

  • Book your DJ/Band.

  • Browse and purchase wedding day accessories, including shoes, lingerie, purse, earrings, cufflinks, tie.

  • Choose your celebrant and discuss ceremony ideas.

  • Start working your gift registry.

  • Select three hotels in varying prices ranges and share them with your out-of-town guest.

  • View wedding invitation styles and research proper wording.

  • Order invitations and save the dates.

  • Send save the dates .

  • Book your honeymoon.

  • Start looking at floral designs and interview florist for style and cost.

  • Finalize flower and décor ideas, and select a florist.

  • Book rehearsal dinner venue.

4-5 Months Before

  • Start thinking about cultural traditions for your wedding.

  • Look at photos to get ideas for wedding cake designs and meet with bakers to taste samples.

  • Shop for wedding rings.

  • Confirm your wedding party ordered their outfits and decide on accessories.

  • Work on your day-of stationery items: menus, bar menus, place cards, table numbers, guestbook.

  • Get ideas for wedding favors.

  • Confirm dates for bridal showers and bachelorette parties.

  • Reserve rental equipment such as chairs, tables, linens, tents, etc.

  • Research and book your rehearsal dinner location.

  • Get ideas for wedding hair and makeup.

  • Interview and hire any additional management staff and babysitters if needed.

  • Book makeup artist and hairstylist.

  • Schedule engagement session.

  • Do a hair and makeup trial (you may schedule it for your engagement photos).

  • Mail wedding invitations.

2-3 months before

  • Order wedding favors.

  • Get day of items such as unity candles, baskets, ring pillows, custom champagne flutes, custom cake cutting set.

  • Consider signing up for dance classes.

  • Find gifts for each other, your attendants, your shower hostess, and your parents.

  • Confirm tuxes have been ordered.

  • Prep for you honeymoon. Do you have everything you need?

  • Select your music for the cocktail hour and reception.

  • Check that there are enough options left on your registry and update your wedding website.

    Book a photo booth rental.

1-2 Months Before

  • Finalize ceremony readings and songs, and review with performers.

  • Meet with your celebrant to finalize the ceremony, including attendant formations.

  • Begin writing your vows, if applicable.

  • Begin writing thank you notes for bridal showers and early wedding gifts. Update your registry.

  • Prepare a photo and video must have shot list naming important family members and guest.

  • Schedule beauty treatments: facials, teeth whitening.

  • Consider wedding insurance.

  • Do a floral mock-up with your florist.

3-4 weeks before

  • Finalize your jewelry which may include something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

  • Finalize your must play and don’t play music lists and review with musicians

  • Practice your first dance wearing your bridal shoes.

  • Confirm honeymoon and travel arrangements and give loved ones your itinerary in case of emergency.

  • Call guest who hasn’t rsvp’d.

  • Pick up your wedding rings.

  • Get your marriage license.

  • Mail your rehearsal dinner invitations.

  • Pay vendors in full.

  • Create seating chart.

  • Final venue walk-through.

1-2 weeks before Before

  • Have your final wedding gown fitting.

  •  Finalize your wedding day schedule.

  • Confirm pick-up times, schedules, and addresses with your wedding-day transportation.

  • Pick up your wedding dress and make sure all your accessories are together.

  • Finalize your vows for the ceremony.

  • Get your hair colored and trimmed (Don’t wait until two days before the ceremony) 

  • Confirm final headcount.

  • Give final attendance numbers to vendors and confirm final date and time for deliverables and pick-ups after weddings.

  • Pack for your wedding night and honeymoon.

  • Create a “wedding box” to gather your ceremony accessories (Marriage license, candles, ring pillow, basket, guestbook, and assign someone to transport).

  • Prepare a “reception box” for accessories such as guest books, cameras, champagne flutes, cake toppers, etc. and assign someone to transport.

  • Prepare all your wedding favors for transportation to reception venue and assign someone to move them.

  •  Finalize your seating arrangements.

  •  Prepare place cards.

  • Confirm dates, times, location for all photo and video sessions the day of the wedding.

  • Confirm dates, times, locations with all vendors.

  • Clean your ring.

  • Clear your work to-do list so you can only focus on wedding festivities an take it all in

The night before:

  • Eat a healthy meal

  • Pack a clutch of personal items

  • Drink water

  • Get good night’s sleep

  • Put any boxes, suitcases, bags, and survival kits in one place.

  • Avoid sleeping with a bra, socks and hair ties on your wrist to avoid lines the morning of.

  • Take your dress and veil out of the bag early and have someone steam them if needed. 

The morning of:

  • Stay off your feet as much as possible.

  • Eat breakfast.

  • Relax and enjoy your day.