The complete wedding
planning checklist
A month-by-month timeline that covers everything from booking your venue to your final dress fitting — plus the health, relational, and stress check-ins most planners forget.
Auto-generate my checklistEvery other timeline stops at "book the florist." Ours weaves in the four things Bridebase is built around — because a wedding you're too burnt out to enjoy isn't the goal.
Bridebase tracks sleep, movement, and nourishment alongside your to-dos.
Guided prompts to keep your relationship the centerpiece — not the collateral.
One tap collapses your plate to the three things that actually matter this week.
Weekly check-ins spot rising stress and suggest what to drop, delegate, or defer.
12–18 months before
- 1Set your overall wedding budget and decide who is contributing
- 2Create a preliminary guest list to estimate size
- 3Choose 2–3 potential wedding dates (avoid major holidays)
- 4Book your ceremony and reception venues
- 5Begin researching and reaching out to photographers
- 6Start a Pinterest board or moodboard for style inspiration
- 7Discuss bridal party size and ask your maid of honour
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Have the money + values conversation with your partner before booking anything
- Only in Bridebase · Stress monitor
Set a baseline stress check-in so you can spot when planning starts to weigh on you
9–11 months before
- 1Book your wedding photographer and videographer
- 2Reserve your caterer and discuss menu options
- 3Choose your florist and discuss bouquet/arrangement vision
- 4Book ceremony musicians, DJ, or band
- 5Start wedding dress shopping and book appointments
- 6Reserve hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests
- 7Plan and book your honeymoon
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Schedule a monthly no-wedding-talk date night with your partner
- Only in Bridebase · Health & wellness
Lock in a movement + sleep routine you can actually keep for a year
6–8 months before
- 1Order your wedding dress and schedule fittings
- 2Book the officiant or start pre-marital counseling
- 3Send save-the-date cards or emails
- 4Set up your wedding registry
- 5Book transportation for the wedding day
- 6Order bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire
- 7Schedule hair and makeup trials
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Start pre-marital counseling or a guided relationship workbook together
- Only in Bridebase · Stress monitor
Review your first stress-monitor trend — cut or delegate anything that's spiking it
4–5 months before
- 1Order wedding invitations and stationery
- 2Finalize the menu and cake design with your caterer
- 3Purchase wedding rings
- 4Book the rehearsal dinner venue
- 5Finalize flower choices and delivery timeline
- 6Plan the ceremony outline with your officiant
- 7Confirm honeymoon reservations and travel documents
- Only in Bridebase · Health & wellness
Book a facial, therapist session, or whatever fills your cup — put it on the calendar
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Draft the family dynamics you're worried about so you can plan around them
2–3 months before
- 1Send wedding invitations with RSVP deadline
- 2Track RSVPs and follow up with non-responders
- 3Create the seating chart and place cards
- 4Order wedding favors and welcome bags
- 5Finalize the ceremony readings and vows
- 6Confirm vendor details and day-of timeline
- 7Book final dress fitting and pick-up date
- Only in Bridebase · Overwhelm mode
Turn on Overwhelm mode any week the to-do list feels heavier than usual
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Write your partner a letter — reconnect to the why behind all of this
1 month before
- 1Apply for your marriage license
- 2Finalize the guest count and notify caterer
- 3Confirm final headcount with venue and vendors
- 4Create a detailed day-of timeline
- 5Plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties
- 6Pack an emergency kit for the wedding day
- 7Break in your wedding shoes
- Only in Bridebase · Health & wellness
Prioritize sleep this month — protect 7+ hours like it's a vendor appointment
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Do a stress check-in with your partner — what's each of you carrying?
2 weeks before
- 1Pick up your wedding dress and confirm alterations
- 2Finalise seating chart and print place cards
- 3Confirm arrival times with all vendors
- 4Prepare vendor payments and tips in envelopes
- 5Pack for honeymoon and confirm travel details
- 6Get your nails, eyebrows, and any waxing done
- Only in Bridebase · Overwhelm mode
Switch to Overwhelm mode if the list still feels endless — only day-of essentials matter now
- Only in Bridebase · Health & wellness
Two breathwork or walk sessions this week — non-negotiable
Week of
- 1Rehearse the ceremony with the wedding party
- 2Deliver welcome bags to hotel front desk
- 3Confirm final headcount one last time
- 4Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated
- 5Pick up wedding rings and marriage license
- 6Enjoy your rehearsal dinner with loved ones
- Only in Bridebase · Relational health
Have a slow, phone-free hour with your partner before the whirlwind
- Only in Bridebase · Stress monitor
Final stress check-in — hand anything still on your plate to your MOH or planner
Wedding checklist questions
- When should I start planning my wedding?
- Most couples start 12–18 months out. That gives you time to book popular venues and vendors, set a budget, and handle the big decisions without rushing. Our checklist above starts at the 18-month mark.
- What should be on a wedding checklist?
- At minimum: budget, guest list, venue, catering, photographer, attire, music, stationery, registry, and transportation. A good checklist also tracks relational check-ins, wellness, and stress so you actually enjoy the process.
- How do I plan a wedding on a budget?
- Set your total first, then allocate by category using realistic benchmarks. Trim guest count, choose an off-peak date, and prioritise the two or three things that matter most to you. Our wedding budget planner breaks down typical US costs.
- How long does it take to plan a wedding?
- A full wedding usually takes 12–18 months to plan. Smaller or simpler weddings can be done in 6–9 months, but popular vendors and venues book up far in advance.
- Do I need a wedding planner?
- Not always. A planner is helpful for complex logistics, destination weddings, or busy schedules. For simpler weddings, a detailed checklist and a trusted point person on the day can be enough.
Want this checklist personalised?
Bridebase generates a custom timeline based on your wedding date, venue, and guest count — then tracks your stress, wellness, and relationship alongside it, and switches to Overwhelm mode the weeks you need it.
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The AI wedding concierge that handles checklists, budgets, and decisions — so you can enjoy getting married.
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