The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist

Select your caterer, cake, floral and decor team, and your videographer.

Choose your wedding dress. “It is also a good time to chat with your bridal party about their fashion, especially if they are going to shop ready-to-wear in a certain palette,” Cole says.

Send out the save-the-dates at the six month mark (or even earlier). “Save the dates should be mailed no later than six months. In today’s era, I am seeing save the dates being mailed and wedding websites shared much earlier, around 9 months,” says Cole.

3-6 months out

“This is the time to bring it all to life and make final decisions!” Cole says.

Schedule your menu tastings.

Plan your table presentation. “This is where you get to see a sample table and sign off on the overall vision,” Cole explains.

Design and taste your cake.

Finalize invitations and send out your invites around three months before the wedding. “This will allow plenty of time for replies given the slower mail system. Digital RSVPs are totally fine too, but I do recommend going all paper or all digital,” Cole says.

2 months out

“Focus on your health and beauty!” Cole says.

Consider your skincare plan.

Chat about the personal touches of the weekend. “The personal touches may include narrowing in on your set list for the band, any special dances, your ceremony, and who will be toasting during the weekend events,” says Cole.

Schedule your final fittings. “It is best to have your last fitting within two or less weeks of the wedding,” Cole explains.

1 month out

Sign off on your wedding run of show. “It is critical to go through this exercise so not only you, your family, and bridal party know what is going on, but to be sure your creative and vendor team are all on the same page,” says Cole.

Make sure you have your marriage license and your officiant has everything they need to legalize the marriage.

Plan to make all of your final payments. (“So the finances are out of the way before your wedding week,” Cole reasons.)

Finalize your seating for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Cole says to also remember “to communicate any allergies to your planner and caterer.”