Starting Your Wedding Planning Journey
Congratulations on your engagement! Now it’s time to start planning your dream wedding. With so many details to think about, this guide will help you through every step of the process, making it easier to bring your vision to life.
To help you stay on track with your finances, check out our Wedding Budget Calculator to plan your budget effectively.
Getting Started: Your First Steps in Wedding Planning
1. Wedding Budget
Establishing a budget is one of the first steps in the wedding planning process. Sit down with your partner and discuss how much you’re willing to spend on the wedding. Allocate funds across essential categories, like the venue, attire, catering, photography, and decor.
2. Mood Board and Color Palette
A mood board or color palette will be a valuable reference for coordinating with vendors. Pull together colors, themes, and textures that reflect your vision, as this will help you make cohesive design decisions.
Check out our Pinterest boards for some ideas!
3. Will You Use a Wedding Planner?
Assess if you need a full-service wedding planner or prefer to handle most planning yourself. A wedding planner can manage everything from booking to coordinating on the wedding day, which can save you time and reduce stress. If you’re confident in negotiating, handling payments, and organizing timelines, a partial planning service might be a better fit, and save you some money!
4. Priorities: Wedding Date vs. Venue
When planning your wedding, the first key decision is whether to prioritize a specific wedding date or your dream venue.
Wedding Date—If the date has sentimental value, like your anniversary, be sure to look for venues that are available on that special day.
Wedding Venue—Conversely, if a particular wedding venue is your top choice, book it early—sometimes even two years in advance! Ask the venue about all details, do they provide in-house catering and bar services? Does the bar service allow shots? What does the venue close at? These are some questions you may need to ask for an enjoyable night. Many banquet halls wrap up around midnight, which might limit your celebration.
5. Consider Wedding Insurance
Wedding insurance can provide coverage for unexpected events, especially for destination weddings. Insurance may cover a certain amount per vendor if something were to happen and your wedding need to be rescheduled. Consider your options based on your venue and wedding vendor specifics.
Wedding Planning: 10-12 Months Before
6. Guest List
Begin by creating a preliminary guest list. Include everyone you and your partner want to invite, considering the capacity of your chosen venue and your budget.
Once your guest list is drafted, gather addresses for all invitees. This will streamline the process when it’s time to send out invitations or save-the-dates, ensuring no one is left out.
7. Wedding Invites and Websites
Hire a Designer for Invitations
Invest in a designer for your wedding invitations to ensure a cohesive look. Consider matching designs for other stationery, such as dinner menus, bar menus, name tags, and seating lists.
Plan an Engagement Photoshoot
Schedule an engagement photoshoot to capture some moments of you and your partner. Your wedding website is a great opportunity to share these images!
Create Your Wedding Website
Decide whether to use a free wedding website or invest in a custom domain, like www.nateandkate.com. Custom domains add a more elegant touch.
If you’re a bit tech-savvy, platforms such as Bluehost, which runs WordPress, can be quite cheap, as they currently have an offer of 70% off at $2.99/month!
Which ever route you decide to go, be sure to include essential details like wedding date and location, timeline of the day, and consider adding a QR code on your invitation for easy access to your website. Wedding websites make it easy to update your guests with relevant information.
Send Save-the-Dates or Invitations
We recommend sending out your save-the-dates or invitations 10–12 months in advance for destination weddings and 7–8 months in advance for local weddings. This gives your guests ample time to prepare and RSVP.
8. Wedding Registry & Honeymoon Planning
Set Up a Gift Registry
Establish whether or not you will use gift registry to guide your guests toward useful wedding gifts. This helps make sure you don’t get 3 of the same blenders.
Plan Your Honeymoon
Decide whether to have a honeymoon, especially if you’re having a destination wedding—consider incorporating it into your trip. Book flights and accommodations early to secure the best deals, and check if your passports need renewal to avoid any last-minute issues.
9. Key Vendors for Your Wedding
Here are some of the key wedding vendors that every wedding needs. Be sure to explore our vendor guide, where you can search vendors or venues by location and even the finer details!
Photographers and Videographers
Book your photographers and videographers early, as many couples reserve highly sought-after professionals well in advance. This ensures you secure the best talent for capturing your special day.
Catering and Bar Service
Consider the type of meal you want for your reception. Does your venue provide catering? Do you prefer plated courses or family-style service? Is alcohol and bar service included? These may be some questions to ask when communicating with catering businesses. Lastly, don’t forget to request a menu tasting to finalize your meal choices.
Related Read: Check out our article on Types of Wedding Catering to choose the perfect style for your event.
Florists
Collaborate with a wedding florist to discuss your vision, including styles and color palettes for your floral arrangements. Remember those mood boards we made? Now is the time to put them to use!
DJ or Live Music
Decide on the type of entertainment you’d like for your wedding—DJ, band, or solo musician. Consider having live music during the ceremony or cocktail hour, as it can enhance the atmosphere and create memorable moments.
Officiants
Determine whether you want a symbolic or legal ceremony, as this will influence your choice of officiant. The officiant’s personality can significantly impact the vibe of your ceremony, so we recommend to schedule a video call to get to know them and discuss the details.
10. Attire for Your Wedding
Wedding Dress
Start your search for the perfect wedding dress 6 to 9 months in advance, especially if you plan to have a custom gown made. Keep in mind that alterations can take time, so allow for a comfortable fitting schedule.
Wedding Suits
Decide whether you prefer an off-the-rack suit or a made-to-measure option. While off-the-shelf suits can be more budget-friendly, a tailored suit will provide a flawless fit. Suit Supply is our recommended choice, with stores all over Canada, for made-to-measure suits, offering options under $1,000 that ensure you look your absolute best on your special day.
Depending on the season and temperature you may want to sway from the classic black suit look. Check out suit styles for every season on our recent blog post!
Wedding Planning: 6-9 Months Before
11. Additional Vendors and Details
Wedding Cake & Desserts
Select a wedding cake baker and schedule a cake tasting to find the perfect wedding cake. If you still need additional desserts, inquire about the baker’s other offerings to enhance your dessert table.
Hair and Makeup
Take time to research and book wedding hair stylists and makeup artists who can help you achieve your desired look on your big day.
Wedding Bands
Start shopping for wedding bands early, as you’ll need them for the ceremony. Explore styles that fit the vibe of you and your partner.
12 .Finalize Guest List and Invitations
Finalize your guest list and send out invitations with all the essential details. Consider including a QR code linked to your wedding website for easy access to information.
13. Wedding Party Attire
Decide on the attire for your wedding party. Determine whether you want your bridesmaids and groomsmen to match exactly or simply coordinate in the same color. Explore bridal shops or suit retailers to find the perfect options.
Extra Outfits
Think about any additional outfits you might need, such as for the rehearsal dinner or honeymoon. Shopping early ensures you have everything ready for your celebrations.
14. Guest Hotels & Transportation
Determine if you need to reserve room blocks for your out-of-town guests. Booking these accommodations in advance can help ensure everyone has a place to stay close to the wedding venue.
15. Wedding Party Transportation
Consider arranging transportation for the bridal party on the wedding day. Whether you opt for a limo, party bus, or another vehicle, ensure everyone arrives safely and on time.
16. Childcare Options
Plan for childcare if necessary, either for your own children or those of your guests. This can help ease the stress of the day, allowing you to focus on planning a seamless wedding day. (Hint: A partial wedding planning service may help with this!)
Wedding Planning: 3-5 Months Before
17. Ceremony
Details & Traditions
Finalize all ceremony details with your officiant to ensure everything runs smoothly on the big day. Discuss the structure, readings, and any personal touches you want to include.
Drafting Your Vows
If you plan to write your own vows, begin drafting them now. This is a meaningful way to personalize your ceremony and express your love for one another.
18. Wedding Favors
Decide if you’ll be providing wedding favors for your guests. Consider thoughtful options that reflect your style as a couple and thank them for celebrating with you.
19. Confirm Rentals & Decor
Verify all the rentals you’ll need for your wedding day. Check with your venue to see if they provide tables, chairs, and linens, or if you will need to rent furniture and decor. This ensures you have everything necessary for a beautiful setup.
Wedding Planning: 1-3 Months Before
20. Finalize Menu with Caterer
Finalize your menu with the caterer, including food, drink, and bar menus, if they are handling the bar service. This will help ensure a smooth dining experience for your guests. You may want to relay this information to your stationery designer if you are looking to have dinner menus and bar menus made as well!
21. Create a Wedding Day Schedule
Develop a detailed wedding day schedule. Outline the timeline for guest arrivals, ceremony start times, reception activities, first dance, cake cutting, and other important moments.
22. Dance Practice
If you’re planning to take dance classes or want to practice your first dance, now is the perfect time to start. Practicing together will help build confidence and make your moment on the dance floor even more special.
23. Pre-Wedding Events
Bridal Shower and Stag and Doe
Determine whether you will host a bridal shower, stag and doe, or both. Finalize the venue, date, and guest list, and consider themes or activities that reflect your style as a couple.
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Plan for bachelor and bachelorette parties by discussing ideas with your bridal party. Choose locations and activities that everyone will enjoy, and ensure all invited guests are informed of the details, such as dates and accommodations.
24. Finalize Details
Confirm Details with All Vendors
Reach out to each vendor to review the details of their services and confirm your expectations. Discuss timelines and any special requests to ensure everything runs smoothly on your wedding day.
Communicate Photography and Videography Needs
Share a list of “must-take” shots with your photographer and videographer to capture the moments that matter most to you. This ensures they understand your vision and can plan accordingly.
Finalize Music Selections
Discuss your music preferences for key moments—such as the ceremony, entrance, and first dance—with your DJ. Confirm specific songs or styles to create the atmosphere you desire.
Wedding Planning: 2-4 Weeks Before
25. Finalize Seating Chart
Reach out to guests who haven’t responded to your invitations to confirm their attendance, then adjust your seating chart based on the final RSVPs. This ensures you’re prepared for seating, food, and other logistics while accommodating any last-minute changes.
26. Speeches & Personal Touches
Confirm Speeches and Timings—Check in with those who will be giving speeches to confirm their participation and the timing of their remarks. This will help you create a cohesive flow during the reception.
Finalize Your Vows—Make any final edits to your vows and decide on personal touches you want to include in the ceremony. This is your opportunity to express your love and commitment in a meaningful way.
27. Beauty Preparations
Book beauty appointments in advance for services like spa days, hair, and nails to ensure availability. Consider scheduling trial runs for your hairstyle and makeup to finalize your look and build confidence for your wedding day.
Wedding Planning: Final Week
28. Share Final Number of Guests
Send the final guest count to vendors like your caterer to ensure everything runs smoothly.
29. Practice Your Vows
Go over your vows a few times to feel confident and prepared for the ceremony.
30. Prepare a Wedding Day Emergency Kit
Pack essentials like safety pins, pain relievers, mints, and a small sewing kit—anything that can help quickly solve minor issues.
Related Read: We have outlined all the essential products you may not have thought about in our recent blog post!
31. Settle Outstanding Balances
Confirm all vendor payments and prepare any checks or tips for the big day to avoid last-minute stress.
32. You’ve Made It!
All the planning, organizing, and decisions have brought you to this moment. Now it’s time to step back, relax, and let everything fall into place. Enjoy every second of your big day—it’s finally here!
Wedding Planning Doesn’t Have to be Stressful
As you wrap up your wedding planning, remember that staying organized and within budget is key to a smooth and stress-free experience. By following this guide, you’ve taken the right steps toward creating the wedding of your dreams. To ensure your budget stays on track, don’t forget to use our Wedding Budget Calculator to make sure you’re covering all your expenses.
Looking for the perfect vendors to bring your vision to life? Explore our Wedding Vendor Directory to find top-rated professionals across all categories, from photographers and florists to venues and caterers. Whether you’re looking for specific services or just browsing for inspiration, our comprehensive directory can help you find the best options to make your wedding unforgettable.
By using these helpful tools and resources, you’ll be well on your way to planning a wedding that’s both beautiful and within your budget.
