Wedding planning checklist: from twelve months before
A wedding comes with lots of tasks, but none of them is hard if you tackle it at the right time. This checklist sorts them by month — from the budget a year before to the thank-yous afterwards.
The checklist month by month
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12 months before
Set the budget and roughly estimate the number of guests. Choose your preferred date, enquire about the venue and the registry office or ceremony location — popular dates get booked up early. Ask your chosen maid of honour and best man.
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9 months before
Book the photographer, music and catering. Write the guest list and send out the save the date. If guests are travelling from far away: reserve accommodation.
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6 months before
Choose the dress and suit, order the rings, plan flowers and decorations, book the honeymoon. Talk to the maid of honour and best man about the hen and stag parties.
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3 months before
Send the invitations, decide on the menu, prepare the place cards and seating plan. Go through the order of the day with the venue and suppliers, and think up photo tasks for your guests.
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1 month before
Chase up RSVPs, have the final fittings, sort out speeches and the programme. Check the tech: big screen or projector, music, the upload page for your guests' photos.
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In the final week
Send the order of the day to the maid of honour, best man and suppliers, put out the table cards with the QR code, test the upload once. Then: let go and celebrate.
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After the wedding
Save your guests' photos and videos, write thank-you notes, pay the invoices.
Guest list and RSVPs
Keep the guest list with the number of people per entry — one entry is enough for a family. Mark who has said yes or no, note tables and special requirements, and tick off the thank-yous after the wedding. When guests reply on your save the date page, you can add their answer with one click.
The budget
Set an overall budget first, then divide it between items such as the venue, food, photographer and outfits. For each item, note what is planned and what has already been paid — so you can see at any time what is still available. A buffer for the unexpected saves you stress.
The order of the day
An order of the day with times helps everyone: you, the maid of honour and best man, and your suppliers. An example:
- 14:00
- Ceremony
- 15:00
- Drinks reception
- 18:00
- Dinner
- 20:30
- First dance
- 22:00
- Cake cutting
- 23:00
- Party
With weddingphotos.live, your guests see the order of the day on the upload page, with the next item at the top — and on the big screen.
The hen and stag party
The hen or stag party is usually organised by the maid of honour or best man, a little while before the wedding. In the planner, the bride and groom each get their own area with a template, their own guest list and their own budget — and, if they like, their own photo stream, separate from the wedding.
What the weddingphotos.live wedding planner can do
- A checklist from twelve months before, with a template and your own tasks; the planner works out the deadlines from your wedding date
- Tabs for the celebration, the organisation and both hen and stag parties
- A timeline for every task, with individual steps and dates
- A guest list with RSVPs, tables and thank-yous; a budget with planned and paid amounts
- The order of the day — on your guests' upload page and on the big screen
- Free and without a stream; with a stream, the table card, upload test and photos lead straight to it
Common questions
When should you start planning a wedding?
About twelve months before. Venues and registry offices are often booked up early for popular dates; with a year's lead time there is enough time for everything else.
What should you decide first when planning a wedding?
The budget and the number of guests. Both decide which venue is right — and the venue decides the date.
Do I need a stream for the wedding planner?
No. The planner and the save the date belong to your account and are free. You only need a stream for the celebration itself — for the upload page, table card and big screen.
Can I also plan the hen or stag party with it?
Yes. The bride and groom each have their own area with a template, guest list and budget — and, if they like, their own stream for the photos.