Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful things you will do in life but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our free wedding planning checklist will ensure that you don’t forget anything and that everything runs smoothly.
Free printable wedding checklist to get you organized before your wedding. The wedding planning checklist is available in three different formats: Word document, editable PDF file, and Excel. For more wedding printables see how to plan a wedding.
(12 months prior to the wedding)
This wedding timeline checklist plans every detail of your wedding starting one year before the wedding. It is available in Word, Excel, or PDF.
(Ceremony and Reception)
The wedding reception timeline plans each activity before and during your wedding ceremony and reception. The wedding day timeline template is available in Word, Excel, or as a pretty poster that you can customize online for free.
(Wedding Program)
A wedding program template lists your wedding program and adds details about the bride, groom, and wedding party. It is available as a Word document and on our online app. Both options are free.
Our free wedding planner includes a simple wedding checklist that is shorter than the lists on this page.
Printable Wedding Checklist
Wedding Checklist PDF
The PDF version with notes is editable. You can type your notes before you print. You can mark each square checklist symbol as well.
Wedding Planning Checklist Excel
This wedding planning list changes the dates according to your wedding date. Once you insert your date, the checklist changes accordingly. You can change the date at any stage.
Word Wedding Checklist Template
The wedding planning list is also available as a Word document.
Complete Wedding Checklist
These are the items included in our detailed wedding checklist, which you can download in Word, PDF, or Excel.
Up to 12 months before
- Set a date
- Get inspiration and ideas (see Pinterest and inspiration board)
- Decide on a wedding style
- Set priorities
- Set budget
- Choose wedding party
- Find a venue for the ceremony and reception
- Find a wedding planner
- Find a photographer
- Find a caterer
- Find a florist
- Find a musician
- Find a wedding dress
- Order save the dates
10 – 11 months before
- Start looking for dresses and accessories for the bride and bridal party
- Reserve a venue for the ceremony and reception
- Book a photographer
- Book a DJ/band
- Book a florist
- Book a wedding planner
- Book a caterer
- Decide on décor
- Start making a guest list
9 – 10 months before
- Plan a honeymoon
- Start looking for invitations and stationery (wedding invitations, menu cards, thank you notes)
- Start looking for favors
- Choose dresses and accessories for the bride and bridal party
7 – 8 months before
- Find two hotels for guests coming from out of town
- Create gift registries
- Start deciding on hairstyle and makeup style
- Book an officiant
- Reserve tables, chairs, linens,
- Reserve décor
- Choose cake
- Decide on menu
6 – 7 months before
- Meet with officiant
- Book cake
- Schedule tastings
- Decide on outfits for groomsmen
- Book a florist
- Book a musician
- Finalize a guest list
4 – 5 months before
- Choose flowers for the reception, party, attendants, etc.
- Order wedding cake
- Schedule dress fittings
- Book honeymoon flights and hotels
- Book a room for the wedding night
- Finalize a rehearsal dinner guest list
- Purchase or rent toasting flutes and serving pieces
- Purchase or make a guest book
- Order a flower basket
- Buy a ring bearer pillow
3 – 4 months before
- Prepare playlists for DJ/band
- Book rehearsal dinner venue
- Finalize reception menu
- Order menu cards
- Order wedding favors
- Order rehearsal dinner invitations
3 months before
- Finalize honeymoon plans
- Ensure your passports are valid if your honeymoon is abroad
- Plan ceremony
- Plan reception seating
- Experiments with hair to decide on a hairstyle
- Create RSVP list
- Book spa and beauty treatments for you and your bridal party for the week before
- Book a manicure, pedicure, and massage for the day before
2 months before
- Send wedding invitations
- Update RSVP list
- Begin writing wedding vows
- Meet with the officiant to plan the ceremony
- Apply for a marriage license
- Finalize fittings for wedding dress and wedding party
- Finalize seating
- Finalize playlists with DJ/band
- Create a wedding day schedule and send it to the wedding party, vendors, and officiant
- Get “Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue”
- Order transportation for wedding day
- Pick up wedding rings
- Buy shoes and undergarments
1 month before
- Give a copy of your honeymoon itinerary to someone at home
- Call vendors to confirm the date, time, and location
- Confirm honeymoon reservations
- Pick up your marriage license
- Update registries
- Delegate someone to return all rentals
2 weeks before
- Pack for honeymoon
- Final fitting for the wedding dress
- Makeup trials
- Follow up with guests who have not RSVP’d
- Give the caterer the final count
- Prepare wedding day emergency kit
- Break-in wedding shoes
- Send playlists to DJ/band
- Prepare payments for vendors
- Prepare cash tips for service providers
- Meet with the photographer to discuss requests
1 week before
- Get a haircut and color
- Prepare all wedding clothes
- Get spa and beauty treatments for you and your bridal party
The day before
- Get a mani/pedi/massage
- Attend wedding rehearsal
- Wedding day
- Eat a good breakfast
- Give wedding rings to the best man
After the wedding
- Return all rentals
- Get wedding dress cleaned
- Send out thank you cards
- Get photos and video
My name is
Thank you Nicole. Your guidelines have been quite helpful.
You’re welcome DeDe. I am so glad they were helpful!
Thank you for your thoughtful planning list.
A fantastic checklist guide, very helpful and easy to follow! Thank you so much, Nicole!