The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist: A Month-by-Month Timeline
May 20th 2026 by Kelly Balfa
Most wedding checklists are written by people who haven’t planned weddings at scale.
We have. Since 2015, we have helped style flowers for more than 50,000 weddings. We have seen what trips couples up at month 7, what gets forgotten at month 2, and what nobody warns you about the week before your wedding.
This checklist is built from all of it. Save it. Print it.
Work backward from your wedding date.
Here is what makes this guide different from the others you have read today:
- A month-by-month plan that uses real lead times, not editorial guesses.
- A florals layer at every milestone so flowers stop being the thing you forget.
- Honest cost numbers pulled from 10 years of orders.
- A printable PDF version so you can take it offline.
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Three things to do this week
Before you open one Pinterest tab, lock these three things in. Every step below assumes you have done them.
1. Set your wedding budget
Every other choice flows from this number. Guest count. Venue. Vendors. Flowers.
The average US wedding now costs around $30,000 to $35,000. Pick the number that fits your life, not the one you think you are supposed to spend.
Flowers usually run 8 to 10 percent of your total wedding budget. See our full cost guide for a real breakdown.
2. Decide your vision
You do not need a theme. You need three words you can say to a vendor.
Modern and clean? Garden and romantic? Coastal and relaxed? Traditional and elegant?
If you are stuck, browse our 20+ collections. Each one is a full style direction. Each one is named (Millie, Kate, Lucy, Eloise, Charlotte, Taylor, Audrey, and more) and shown in real weddings.
3. Lock your guest count range
”60 to 80” is enough.
This number drives venue size. It drives catering. It drives how many bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces you will need.
Done? Onto the timeline.
12+ Months Out: Set the foundation
This block is where the four or five biggest decisions happen. Get these right and the next 11 months are mostly execution.
Lock the budget and decide who is contributing
Have the family money talk now.
If parents are helping, find out how much. Find out if it comes with strings.
Build a simple budget spreadsheet. These 11 categories cover most weddings:
- Venue
- Catering
- Photography and video
- Attire
- Florals
- Music
- Stationery
- Rings
- Transportation
- Gifts
- 10 percent contingency (do not skip this)
Decide if you are hiring a wedding planner
If you can afford a full planner, hire them now. They pay for themselves in better vendor pricing and ten months of avoided mistakes.
If you cannot, plan to hire a day-of coordinator at month 4. Even on the tightest budget, do not try to run your own day-of timeline.
Tour wedding venues
Venues are the single biggest decision you will make. They set your date, your guest cap, your look, and roughly half your budget.
Tour at least 3, in person, with a tape measure. Ask:
- What is included? What is extra?
- What is the rain plan?
- What is the noise rule?
- How late can the bar stay open?
Build your initial guest list
An A-list and a B-list spreadsheet. The A-list is non-negotiable. The B-list only gets invited if A-list RSVPs leave space.
Insure your engagement ring
Most home and renter policies cap jewelry at a low limit. Get a separate rider. Five minutes. Cheap. Saves you if anything happens before the day.
Florals this Month:
Pick your direction: fresh florist or rental silk.
Fresh florists book 8 to 12 months out. They need an in-person meeting and design lock by month 4 to 6.
Renting silk through SBBlooms can be ordered as late as 1 month before your event. Closer to your date means fewer collections still available.
If you are even a little curious about rentals, browse our 20+ collections and read how flower rentals work. The whole logistics piece takes 90 seconds to read.
11 Months Out: Lock the date and book lead vendors
Venue is set. Now book the vendors who fill up first.
Finalize your wedding date
If your venue offered options, pick the date with the best mix of weather, family schedules, and your work calendar. Skip major holidays to avoid extra costs for you and your guests.
Book your photographer and videographer
Your photographer is the single most important hire after the venue. Photos are the only thing you keep from the day.
Look at full galleries, not highlight reels. The full gallery is what your wedding will actually look like.
Videographer is optional. If your budget allows, book one now.
Book your DJ, band, or musicians
Music sets the energy of every part of your day.
A great DJ runs the room. A bad band kills the dance floor. Watch a video of them in their actual element, not a polished pitch reel.
Decide your wedding party
Bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower kids, ring bearer, MOH, best man. Ask in person if you can.
Tell them upfront what they will spend (party costs, attire, travel). Surprises here cause real friction later.
Florals this month
Going fresh? Start meeting florists. Aim to book by month 9. Bring photos, your colors, and your venue floor plan.
Going rental? Take this month off for florals. We are built so the choice can wait.
10 Months Out: Wedding dress and travel logistics
Start shopping for your wedding dress
Most bridal salons need 6 to 9 months for ordering and alterations.
Try on at 2 or 3 boutiques. Bring one or two people whose opinion you trust. Resist the urge to buy on day one unless the dress is The Dress.
Reserve hotel room blocks for guests
Block 1.5 times the rooms you think you will need. Use 1 or 2 hotels near the venue. Negotiate a discount code.
Build your wedding website
This is the hub for your guests. Date, venue, hotels, registry, dress code, RSVP, FAQ.
Most platforms are free. Do not overthink the design. Do overthink the FAQ.
Schedule engagement photos
Use the same photographer you booked for the wedding. It is a low-pressure way to learn how you photograph together.
You will use the photos for save-the-dates.
Start browsing invitation suites
You will order in months 5 or 6. Browsing now means you will know what you want when it is time.
9 Months Out: Save-the-dates and registry
Send save-the-dates
Mail 6 to 8 months before the wedding. Mail 10 to 12 months before for destination.
Save-the-dates lock in the date and point guests to your website. They replace the ”are we still on for June?” texts.
Buy your wedding dress
Order it now to leave time for fittings. Most gowns need 2 fittings minimum. Often 3.
Set up your wedding registry
Pick 2 or 3 platforms. One big-box. One specialty. One cash or honeymoon fund.
Stock with a wide price range. Guests want to give a real gift, not the only $14 item left.
Florals this month
Going fresh? This is your deadline to book your florist. Sign the contract. Pay the deposit.
Going rental? Order a Preview Pack. $50, refundable as a $20 credit toward any rental order over $65.
The Preview Pack is the best way to settle the ”will silk really look real?” question. Two real arrangements arrive at your door within a week. Hold them. Photograph them. Then decide.
8 Months Out: Stationery, registry, pre-wedding events
Plan your engagement party
Optional. Hosted by family or by you. Casual or semi-formal. Do not overthink it.
Lock in the rehearsal dinner venue
Smaller and simpler than the wedding. Most couples host 20 to 40 people the night before.
Order bridesmaid dresses
Allow 4 to 6 months for ordering and shipping.
Pick a color palette. Let bridesmaids choose dress styles within it. The mismatched look photographs beautifully and respects different body types.
Hire your officiant
Religious officiant. Civil officiant. Or a friend with a one-day certification.
If a friend, register them with the state now. Every state has different rules.
Start honeymoon planning and check passports
Passports take 6 to 8 weeks to renew. Longer in peak season. If you need one, apply this month.
7 Months Out: Finalize remaining vendors
By the end of this month, your full vendor team should be locked.
Book what is still open
Cake or dessert table. Transportation. Photo booth. Lighting. Day-of stationery. Late-night snack.
Order wedding cake or arrange dessert
Schedule tastings at 2 or 3 bakeries. Pick flavor, design, and delivery time. Most bakeries deliver morning-of.
Arrange transportation
Shuttles for guests if hotel-to-venue is more than 10 minutes.
Limo or specialty car if you want one. Book transportation for the wedding party, not just yourselves.
6 Months Out: Florals, hair and makeup, prep
This is the design block. Big creative choices. Plus the personal prep nobody talks about.
Book your florist OR finalize your rental order
If you have been working with a florist, this is when design lock happens. Final flowers, colors, vase counts.
If you are renting through SBBlooms, browse:
Choose your color palette
Lock in 3 to 5 colors. Include one neutral.
This palette drives invitations, attire, florals, decor, and signage. Stuck? See 5 timeless wedding color schemes.
Book your hair and makeup team
Book the artist for you. Book the artists for your wedding party. Schedule a hair and makeup trial for month 2 or 3.
Begin premarital counseling
Religious. Secular. Or just a few sessions with a couples therapist. The data on long-term marriages says do this.
Florals this month
Renting through SBBlooms? You should have a working draft of your full order by the end of this month. Bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, garlands, aisle markers.
You do not have to commit yet. Edits stay open until 2 weeks before your event date.
Hero collections to start with: Millie, Audrey, Kinsley, Kate, Lucy.
You can mix and match across collections. There are no minimums.
5 Months Out: Invitations, menu, transportation
Order formal invitations
Order the full suite. Invitation, RSVP card, envelope, ceremony program, place cards. Print lead time is usually 4 to 6 weeks.
Plan your menu and final tasting
Final tasting with the caterer. Pick courses, appetizers, kid meals, dietary alternates, late-night snack.
Buy or finalize wedding bands
Allow time for sizing and engraving. Do not wait until month 2.
Begin pre-wedding beauty
Skin, teeth, hair growth. Anything cosmetic with a multi-month timeline. Start now or skip it.
4 Months Out: Details and personalization
Plan personalized details
Welcome bags. Ceremony program design. Signature cocktail. Signage. Escort cards. The details that make the wedding feel like yours.
Send shower invites
If your MOH is hosting, she runs this. If you are running it, send shower invites now for a shower 4 to 6 weeks out.
Submit Your Music Preferences
Must-plays. Do-not-plays. Be specific. ”Don’t Stop Believin’ under any circumstances” is fine to write down.
Finalize ceremony program
Order of service, readings, music, vow framework. Meet with your officiant if you have not already.
Florals this month
Renting? Book a Virtual Styling Session. 15 minutes on Calendly with a Floral Stylist. $10, refundable as a promo code afterward.
She will review your full order, suggest swaps if your palette has shifted, and confirm sizing for your wedding party.
Working with a florist? Schedule a floral mock-up for month 2.
3 Months Out: Mail invitations, write vows
Mail wedding invitations
Mail 8 weeks before the wedding. Mail 10 to 12 weeks before for destination.
Set RSVP deadline 4 weeks before. Build your RSVP tracker now.
Attend the bridal shower
Plus the run of thank-you notes that follow. Stock up on stationery and stamps.
Hair and makeup trial
Trial with the artist booked for the day. Wear a white top. Have your wedding-style hair (up vs down) figured out in advance.
Take selfies in natural light to see how the makeup actually photographs.
Start writing your vows
If you are writing your own.
First draft is for you. Second draft is what you read aloud. 60 to 90 seconds is the right length.
Brainstorm favors and welcome bags
Optional. Local snacks. A small gift. A thank-you card. Do not overspend. Most favors get forgotten.
2 Months Out: Final fittings, headcount, details
Send rehearsal-dinner invitations
Smaller list. Wedding party, immediate family, out-of-town guests. Mail or digital is fine.
First wedding dress fitting
Bring the shoes, the undergarments, and the jewelry you plan to wear.
Fittings are usually 6 to 8 weeks before. Final fitting at 2 to 3 weeks out.
Pick up your marriage license
Every state has different rules. Most licenses are good for 30 to 90 days.
Apply with enough buffer that you are not panic-driving to the courthouse the week of.
Buy gifts for your wedding party and parents
Small. Meaningful. Something they will actually use. Hand them out at the rehearsal dinner.
Florals this month
Renting through SBBlooms? Order edits are still open. Use this window to add anything you have been on the fence about. Extra centerpieces. An arch swag. Cake flowers. A toss bouquet.
Edits close 2 weeks before your event.
1 Month Out: Tighten the loose ends
RSVPs are coming in. The day is taking shape.
Follow up on RSVPs
Text or call the people who have not replied. Get final headcount nailed.
Create the seating chart
Map out tables once RSVPs are in. Use a free seating tool. Do not seat anyone next to their ex.
Confirm vendor balances and tips
Most vendors require final payment 1 to 2 weeks out. Build a payment schedule. Set calendar reminders.
Set tip envelopes aside now (see the tipping FAQ below) so you are not scrambling on the day of.
Final dress fitting
2 to 3 weeks before the wedding. Bring everything you will wear with the dress.
Pay vendors in full
Most contracts have final payment due 14 days out. Pay early to avoid a missed transfer.
Florals this month: important deadline
Renting through SBBlooms? Order edits cut off 2 weeks before your event date. After that, no changes. You can still place a new order for additional items if available.
We do this so we can prep, photograph, and ship every order with the quality we want at our own weddings.
Have not ordered yet? This is your window. Browse our collections before the cutoff.
2 Weeks Out: Confirm everything, build the day-of timeline
Confirm all vendor timing
Send a one-page timeline to every vendor. Their arrival time. The contact at the venue. Load-in instructions. Confirm receipt.
Give your photographer the shot list
Family formals (the most-skipped shots). Key candid moments. Ring shots. Dress detail shots. Must-have group shots.
Do not list more than 30. Over-listing means under-shooting.
Final headcount to caterer
Lock the number. Most caterers will not let you reduce after this point. Most will let you add.
Pack the day-of emergency kit
Some of what to include:
- Bobby pins and safety pins
- Double-sided tape
- Stain remover
- Snacks and water
- Deodorant
- Blister bandages
- Sewing kit
- Tylenol
- Phone charger
- Breath mints
- Extra pair of flats
Hand it to your MOH or planner.
Touch base with your planner
Final walk-through of the day-of timeline, vendor list, family contacts, and any last-minute changes.
Florals this month
Renting through SBBlooms? Your order is locked. The remaining 50 percent balance auto-charges when your order ships (usually up to 10 days before your event). Watch for shipping confirmation.
Your flowers will arrive at your door 3 days before your wedding via FedEx.
Traveling for the wedding? Ship to the venue, the hotel, or a trusted person in town. Not your home if you will not be there.
The Week of the Wedding
Plans are locked. Your job this week is to receive things, confirm things, and trust the team.
Final venue walk-through
If your venue allows, do a quick walk-through 2 or 3 days before.
Distribute the day-of timeline
Send the final timeline to wedding party, immediate family, and every vendor. Print 5 copies and bring them in the emergency kit.
Pick up your wedding dress
Pick it up 2 or 3 days before. Try it on once with shoes and undergarments. Hang it somewhere it will not get crushed.
Receive your SBBlooms rental box
Your box arrives 3 days before your wedding.
Open it the same day. Check the inventory list. Let everything breathe at room temperature for a few hours so any compression from shipping relaxes.
Gently fluff arrangements and bouquets, if needed. Instructions are in the box. No assembly required.
Anything off? Call us at 1-844-879-6222 right away.
Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Walk through the ceremony with your officiant and wedding party the night before. Rehearsal dinner follows. Hand out wedding party gifts. Go to bed at a reasonable hour.
The Day Of the Wedding
Short, calm, and focused. Trust your team.
Final getting-ready checklist
- Eat a real breakfast
- Drink water
- Wear a button-down so you do not pull anything over your hair
- Have music going
- Phone in airplane mode for the ceremony
Hand off rings, license, vows, and tip envelopes
Best man holds the rings.
MOH or planner holds license, vows, and tip envelopes. Each tip envelope labeled by vendor.
Trust the timeline
Your planner runs the day. You do not have to think about timing. Be present.
Eat dinner. Drink water. Dance.
In that order.
Couples consistently say they did not eat enough on their wedding day. Eat. Drink water between drinks. Dance more than you think you should.
After the Wedding
Return SBBlooms rentals next business day
Drop your box at any FedEx the next business day after your event, or schedule a pickup at a convenient location. Use the prepaid return label inside the box.
Lost the label? Reprint it from your account.
That is it. No vase to dispose of. No compost run. No ”what do we do with all these flowers.”
Send thank-you notes within 2 to 3 months
Handwritten. Even short. Even imperfect. Mention the specific gift. Fill out 5 a day until you are done.
Preserve your wedding dress
Most preservation services should be used within 6 months. Many bridal salons offer this as an add-on.
Begin name-change paperwork
Order certified copies of your marriage license. Update Social Security first. Then driver’s license. Then everything else (passport, banks, employer).
Order your wedding album
Most photographers deliver galleries within 4 to 8 weeks. Pick your favorites. Build the album. Back up the full gallery to two locations.
Ready to lock in your florals?
Three low-pressure ways to start.
1. Order a Preview Pack. $50, refundable as $20 credit toward any rental order over $65.
2. Book a 15-minute Virtual Styling Session. $10, refundable as a promo code.
3. Browse 20+ collections starting around $250. No minimums. No packages. Mix and match across any collection.
Frequently asked wedding planning questions
These are the questions every couple eventually asks. Pulled from a decade of customer service emails.
How long does it take to plan a wedding?
Most couples plan over 12 to 14 months. You can do it in 3 to 6 months, but you will have fewer options for venues, photographers, and florists. The main constraint is venue availability, not your own pace.
What is the first thing to do when planning a wedding?
Set your wedding budget. Every other choice flows from that number. Once the budget is locked, build a guest list and tour venues.
How far in advance should you book wedding flowers?
If you are hiring a fresh florist, book 8 to 12 months out. If you are renting silk florals from Something Borrowed Blooms, you can order from 12 months to 1 month before your event. Closer to your date means fewer collections still available.
When should you order wedding invitations?
Order formal invitations 4 to 5 months before the wedding. Mail them 8 weeks before. For destination weddings, mail 10 to 12 weeks before. Save-the-dates go out 6 to 8 months before (10 to 12 months for destination).
Can you plan a wedding in 6 months?
Yes. Prioritize venue, photographer, and florals first. Those have the longest lead times. Renting florals through Something Borrowed Blooms makes the timeline workable, since rental flowers can be ordered as late as 1 month out.
How much do wedding flowers cost?
The average couple spends 8 to 10 percent of their wedding budget on flowers. Usually $1,500 to $5,000 with a fresh florist. Renting silk florals with Something Borrowed Blooms averages 70 percent less. Full setups start around $400 to $1,500. See our cost guide for the full breakdown.
What is the difference between renting wedding flowers and buying fresh?
Fresh florals are alive on the day, smell real, and wilt within 48 hours. Premium silk rentals look real, save around 70 percent of the cost, ship 3 days before your event, and return the next business day with a prepaid label. No waste. No surprises about color or seasonal supply.
What does a wedding planner actually do?
A full-service planner manages vendor sourcing, contracts, design, timeline, and day-of execution. A day-of coordinator handles only the final 4 to 6 weeks plus the wedding day. If your budget is tight, a day-of coordinator is the higher-leverage hire.
How do I tip wedding vendors?
Photographer or videographer: $50 to $200 each. Hair and makeup: 15 to 20 percent. Officiant: $50 to $150 (or church donation). DJ or band: $25 to $50 per musician. Catering and bar staff: 15 to 20 percent of food and bar bill (often built into the contract). Transportation: 15 to 20 percent. Hand off labeled envelopes to your planner or MOH at the start of the day.
What if my wedding date changes?
Every vendor contract handles this differently. Read the fine print. With Something Borrowed Blooms, reschedules are allowed up to 2 weeks pre-event with no fee, subject to inventory. Cancellations more than 90 days out are a full refund. Within 90 days, the 50 percent deposit is forfeited.
Take the printable. Bookmark this page. Come back when you hit each milestone.
Wedding planning is a year-long project. The couples who feel calm at the altar are not the ones who memorized every detail. They are the ones who trusted the order of operations.
Whatever you decide about your florals (fresh, silk, rental, DIY), this checklist still works.
If you would rather not spend $4,500 on flowers that wilt in 48 hours, we have spent the last 10 years building exactly that alternative.
50,000+ weddings. $100M+ reclaimed in customer value. 70 percent average savings vs fresh. A process that takes the floral decision off your plate without taking the look off your wedding.
Three ways to take the next step
1. Send me the printable PDF (email capture, no spam)
2. Order a Preview Pack and see two real arrangements in your hands within a week
3. Browse 20+ collections, with no packages or minimum spend requirements. Ships to all 48 contiguous states.
Questions? Email us at info@sbblooms.com or give us a call at 1-844-879-6222. Customer service is real humans, in Lafayette, Louisiana, who have been doing this for a decade.
