12 Month Wedding Planning Checklist – Free Printable
This free 12 month wedding planning checklist is the perfect tool for keeping you organized and on track for the big day!!
If you’ve found my page, I’m guessing that you recently got engaged or are thinking about getting married, so I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!
As a recent bride myself, I know that planning a wedding can feel really daunting. It’s an exciting (but also hectic) time! There are just so many things to research, decide on, and pay for. Sometimes there are so many things you are trying to keep track of, it kind of makes your head spin.
But don’t worry!
This wedding planning checklist is a tool that can help you feel in control and top of everything, no matter how many things you are trying to keep track of.
Now I know how eager you are to get started, so let’s jump right into it!
Why You Are In the Right Place
Unlike the big wedding websites, I am not here to sell you ceramic pots or tell you that you need 7 sets of dinner plates. Instead, I am a real girl who really planned her wedding all by herself and wants to help other brides-to-be! Because I was 100% on my own in the planning process, I sought a ton of resources, advice from others, and honest feedback. I gathered my information through friends, family, the internet, and (of course) trial and error!
I’ve tried to document all the major things I have learned along the way. This has been the inspiration for posts such as Tips for Saving Money on Your Reception, 50 Bachelorette Party Snack Ideas with Names, How to Create the Best Wedding Registry Online, and How to Start Wedding Planning.
Along the way, I have learned A TON, had a lot of fun, and been really stressed sometimes haha (Brides get it). So, don’t worry if you don’t know anything about wedding planning timelines. In this blog post, I have included a free printable wedding planning checklist, tips for managing your time, and tons of other wedding inspiration!
Wedding Planning Checklist PDF
This 5 page wedding planning checklist lays out all the things you need to get done in a 12 month timeline! It feels like most weddings these days are following a similar timeline to this, so I figured this length of time would be the most helpful for the most people.
However, don’t stress too much if you are on more of a time crunch. I planned my wedding ALL BY MYSELF in 6 months. No wedding planner. No day-of coordinator. Just little old me with my lists, calendar, and spreadsheets. And if I can do it, you can too!
Since I did wedding planning the hard way, I am here to make your wedding planning journey that much easier!!
I hope that you love this wedding planning checklist as much as I do. To build it, I adapted this checklist by The Knot. I tried to make a cleaner, simpler look while adding in my own touches.
Now, let’s get you set up with everything you need to plan ‘the big day’ that you will cherish forever!!
The Early Stages : Planning and Prep
Page 1 of the wedding planning checklist goes over all the items that require the most advanced notice and preparation. During these first six months, you want to do a lot of research into wedding venues, vendors, photographers, and potential wedding colors, decor, and styles.
So while your fiance may be your favorite person right now, you’re going to want to make research your BEST FRIEND for a while. Do all kinds of research. Talk to recent brides in your area, make a Pinterest vision board, read vendor reviews, and try to find others who are in a similar boat as you.
As you define what wedding budget you will use, the research you have down will help you narrow your priorities and big ticket items. What do you care about most? Maybe it’s having a destination wedding, big floral arrangements, or wearing your dream wedding dress.
No matter what, this is the time to talk with your partner and determine the aspects of your wedding that matter most to you! It may feel like a lot, but just trust the process!!
The Middle Stages : Go and Do
As you get down to the last 6 months before your wedding there are a LOT of action items. You’ve spent countless hours researching and planning, and even booked your most important wedding costs. Now, you get to look at your remaining budget and see how you can work with it make everything else happen!
Word of advice: STICK TO YOUR BUDGET AT ALL COSTS! You’ll thank me later. 😉 I know it can be difficult at times to keep track of everything during this period. It’s stressful. You have a lot of final payments to be made, purchases that occur, and items on the to-do list.
BUT, that is exactly why you’ll love using this wedding planning checklist. It can help you ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
So instead of getting anxious, think about all that this period has to offer.
This is the time for sending invites, communicating with guests, updating the bridal party, throwing pre-wedding celebrations, AND getting super excited for your wedding day!
The Final Countdown : Last Minute Touches
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations!! Your wedding is just around the corner, and I am so excited for your special day. I hope it is everything you dreamed it would be AND MORE!
The day before your wedding is a whirlwind. There are a lot of final things to clarify, communicate, and check on. Because of that, I’ve added a little notes section to this page. Any last minute thoughts you have can go here, ensuring that you have a seamless wedding day.
After 12 months of prep, your marriage ceremony and wedding reception are nearly here. My biggest advice is to go into the day remembering the true reason you’re getting married. With all the effort you’ve put it, it can be easy to turn into a bridezilla that freaks out about even the slightest inconvenience. Resist the urge.
You and your partner will have a much better experience if you can trust those around you to take care of any issues that come up. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just remember the love you have and why you are getting married. I promise that if you focus on that, the day will be amazing no matter what happens.
A Place for All Your Ideas
You thought I was done didn’t you? NOPE!
This page is meant to be a home for your ideas as you do wedding planning research. I put it near the back, but it’s actually meant to be used with page one. Why? Sometimes you just need to put your ideas down on paper.
Sure, you probably have a digital version with pictures and links, but sometimes it’s nice to write things down too. This page is for my girlies who love to sketch and take notes.
Wedding Journaling
This final page of the wedding planning checklist is a place for you to record your thoughts and feelings on your big day.
Here are a few suggestions for how you could use it: You could write in it as you get ready in the morning, right before going to the venue, or even after the reception party is over. Whatever works best for you!
There’s no write or wrong way to journal about your wedding. I just wanted to include this, because the day truly is a blur. It is beautiful and energy filled, and you want to hang on to every moment of it.
This journal entry page is a place for you to express your emotions, take time for yourself, and write down the tiny moments you don’t want to forget. This is something I really wish I had thought to do on my wedding day, so hopefully it helps you.
Happy wedding journaling!! (And happy wedding in general!)
In case you missed it, here’s the link for my 12-month wedding planning checklist one more time!
More Wedding Planning Help!!
I got married last year (YAY!!), and I made sure to write down all my tips and tricks for wedding planning as I went through the process. Here is my best advice for planning a seamless, beautiful wedding day to remember!
- How to Create the Best Wedding Registry Online
- How to Start Wedding Planning
- Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception
- The Best Wedding Gift Ideas for Friends
And if you’re planning a bridal shower or bachelorette party, you are going to LOVE these free games and party inspiration posts!
- 50 Bachelorette Party Snack Ideas with Names
- “Would She Rather” Bridal Shower Game – Free Printable
- “He Said, She Said” Bridal Shower Game – Free Printable
- Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt
Don’t Leave Just Yet
Here at Events to Celebrate, my whole goal is to help real people plan for their kids’ birthday parties, life events, and holidays! Life is crazy. I GET IT. You don’t have endless time OR money to spend on parties, but you still want to help your guests have a great time. I’m here to help give you tips, tricks, and ideas for celebrating life on a budget.
As a mom, you want to do it all. You want to make your family happy and create special memories. My brand is all about creating special moments with those you love. The kind of moments that you will look back on years later and wish you could relive! So, if that’s something you’re interested in, stick around! I have an email list you can sign up for, so you don’t miss my future party ideas!
