Pre-wedding to-do list

Take a look at our simple wedding planning template and the steps you need to take when planning your wedding.

What to do after engagement?

When you get accustomed to that beautiful ring and your emotions have cooled down a little (after all the congratulations), you can start planning your wedding. Grab something good to drink or eat and try to agree with your partner on the following things:

• Do you want to have a destination wedding?
• Do you want a church wedding?
• Do you want the ceremony to be indoors or outdoors?
• How many guests will be invited?
• What is your preliminary wedding budget (including a 10-20% cushion)? Who are the primary contributors?
• What will the wedding date be?

11 months before the wedding:

Have your parents meet, if they haven’t already
Choose a location for the wedding ceremony
Start thinking about the style of the wedding dress
Decide whether or not to sign a prenup
Will you hire a wedding planner? If so, now is the time. Otherwise, you can use various online wedding planners and applications.

10 months before the wedding:

Finalize your wedding date and find out what needs to be arranged
Start compiling a guest list
Choose your wedding’s color scheme

9 months in advance:

Choose a wedding dress
Pick the music for the ceremony and hire a band/DJ for the reception

8 months before the wedding:

Create a schedule for your wedding day, avoiding too much downtime
Book a reception venue
Choose bridesmaids/groomsmen and introduce them to each other
Send engagement announcements or Save-the-Dates

7 months to the wedding:

Choose the customs and traditions you wish to include in your wedding
Choose the floral decorations
Book a photographer, videographer, and catering

6 months in advance:

Make a list of wedding gift wish list items
Arrange transportation/accommodation for out-of-town guests
Design invitations
Arrange the rental of chairs, tables, lighting, decoration…

5 months before the wedding:

Choose your honeymoon destination
Do a cake tasting and order the cake
Try the food for your selected reception venue and choose the wedding day menu (make any special dietary requests for your guests - vegetarian, gluten-free,…)

4 months before:

Choose the groom’s outfit
Tell the best man, maid of honor, and/or bridesmaids what colors you want them to wear
Choose accessories for the wedding dress

3 months in advance:

Get wedding rings
Book a hairdresser and make-up artist
Plan an accompanying wedding program
Draft a schedule for the wedding reception

2 months in advance:

Schedule transportation to the ceremony and reception
Choose who will be in charge of making sure the day runs smoothly
If needed for the honeymoon, make sure passports are current
Send invitations
Go through all the details of the ceremony with the wedding officiant/priest

6 weeks before the wedding:

Arrange time off work for yourself and others
Create a detailed schedule of the day, send it to the vendors
Buy decorations for the ceremony and reception
Find parking near the location of the ceremony and reception
Hire any additional staff/catering

4 weeks before the wedding:

Confirm the final guest count for the reception
Do wedding makeup and hair trials
Plan for the wedding toasts/speeches

3 weeks before the wedding:

Have a bachelor/bachelorette party
Make sure you have all the accessories for your dress
Make a playlist for the ceremony and reception
Have your final meeting with the makeup artist and hairdresser

2 weeks before the wedding:

Contact guests who did not respond to invitations and confirm the number of guests
Print schedules and place cards for the table
Agree with the photographer on the type of shots you want
Purchase accessories for the photo booth
Confirm the drivers know where they are going
Start breaking in wedding shoes
Arrange someone to take care of your flowers and pets during the honeymoon
Have your engagement ring cleaned and polished by the jeweler
Prepare an emergency bag - band aids, safety pins, spare nylons, tissues, etc.

One week in advance:

Put money in designated envelopes for different vendors
Have your final wedding dress fitting
Confirm with the photographer, musicians, and other vendors by phone
Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure, facial
Get plenty of rest

What to do the day before the wedding?

What to do the day before the wedding?
Take time off work
Pick up your clothes
Pack some comfy clothes to change into after the reception
Prepare documents (Driver’s license/ID card, birth certificate, divorce papers, etc.)
Pick up the cake and desserts
Spend the evening together and relax

The wedding day is here! Do not forget to:

Pick the flowers up
Decorate the car
Say thank you to everyone who has helped you with the planning
Have breakfast

The wedding is over, you have the time of your life, and so did everyone else. But the to-do list is not finished yet.

What should you do the day after the wedding?

Return everything borrowed
Make sure everything is paid for
Say thank you to guests and family
Have your wedding dress cleaned
Arrange transport of the wedding gifts

A wedding is one of life’s most beautiful moments, so print photos that will remind you of that day even when everything does not go according to plan. Every woman loves seeing how beautiful she looked like a bride!

If you want to have wedding photos printed or create a wedding photo book, do not hesitate to check out Squared.one. It can all be done quickly and easily in our photo lab. If you want more inspiration, check out the fresh ideas in our magazine.

Visit the wedding section of magazine