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Wedding planning checklist, month by month.
A real wedding planning checklist looks like a sequence of decisions, not a single megalist. Here's the order — month by month — from 12 months out through the day after. Use the print button for a paper copy.
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12 months out
Foundation. The three constraints.
Set the foundation. The three constraints (budget, guest count, season) drive every decision downstream — lock them before you shop for venues.
Total budget
Talk to anyone contributing financially.
Rough guest list
Phone numbers and addresses.
Season picked
Date follows your venue.
Three venues toured
Including one you're unsure of.
10 months out
Book the two highest-impact vendors.
The photographer and the caterer set the visual and gastronomic tone of the day — book them while the choice is still wide.
Photographer + video
Highest emotional ROI after venue.
Caterer (if not venue)
Many venues bundle. Confirm.
Band or DJ
Band ≈ 3× cost of DJ.
Engagement photos
Optional but useful for save-the-dates.
8 months out
Save-the-dates + rest of the vendor team.
Send save-the-dates and finalize the rest of the vendor team. Hotel block early — desirable rooms book up.
- Send save-the-dates with link to your wedding website
- Book florist
- Book officiant
- Book hair + makeup
- Book transportation
- Reserve hotel block for out-of-town guests
6 months out
Wedding website done. Honeymoon planned. Invitations ordered.
The wedding website should be done by now. Start planning the honeymoon. Order invitations.
- Order invitations + RSVP cards (or set up online RSVP)
- Plan + book honeymoon
- Register for gifts (or set up the registry link cards)
- Order wedding rings
- Plan the rehearsal dinner
- Confirm wedding party + their attire
3 months out
Tighten details. Shot list. Walk-through.
Tighten the details: shot list, day-of timeline, vendor confirmations.
- Send invitations (8-10 weeks before wedding)
- Send shot list to photographer
- Draft day-of timeline + share with vendors
- Order favors (if any)
- Final dress fitting + alterations
- Final vendor confirmations + venue walk-through
1 month out
Lock the seating chart. Final headcount.
RSVPs should be mostly in. Lock the seating chart. Final headcount to caterer.
Final headcount
To caterer 1-2 weeks pre-wedding.
Seating chart locked
Per-chair if you can.
Place-cards printed
Per table, with meal pick visible.
Final balance pays
Most vendors due now.
Week of
Stop planning.
Stop planning. There's nothing left you can change. Pack, sleep, eat.
- Hand day-of timeline to your point of contact
- Pack a bridal emergency kit
- Confirm transportation pickup times
- Welcome bags for hotel-block guests
- Rehearsal + rehearsal dinner
- Sleep early the night before
After the wedding
Thank-you notes, gallery, archive.
Thank-you notes within 3 months. Photographer gallery review. Honeymoon. Then archive.
- Thank-you notes within 3 months
- Photographer gallery review + final delivery
- Return rentals (suit, etc.)
- Change name (if applicable)
- Export your wedding data from LOML for the archive
- Anniversary calendar reminder
Common questions
The short version.
Is there a one-page printable version of this checklist?
Yes — print this page directly from your browser (Cmd+P or Ctrl+P). It's formatted to print cleanly with one section per page block.
What if I only have 6 months to plan?
Compress the 12-month version: do the first three months' work in the first 2 weeks (constraints, venue, big vendors), then everything else as scheduled. Doable but tight.
What if I have less than 3 months?
Focus on three things only: a venue with availability, a photographer, and a caterer. Everything else can be scaled down. LOML's planner brain can help triage when to compromise.
Do I need a wedding planner or a day-of coordinator?
If you're over 100 guests or juggling 6+ vendors, a day-of coordinator ($1-2K) is genuinely worth it. LOML handles the planning side; they handle the actual day.
Can I customize this checklist for my wedding?
Yes — sign up for LOML and the planner brain auto-generates tasks based on your real wedding date, removing items that don't apply and adding ones that do.
What's the most common mistake couples make?
Falling in love with a venue they can't afford for a guest list that doesn't fit. Lock budget and guest count first; venue second.
Plan your wedding with LOML.
Budget, guest list, RSVPs, seating, website, and the AI co-planner that actually does things.
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