A wedding planning timeline, month by month

This assumes around a year. Plenty of weddings are planned in six months, and some in six weeks. If you have less time, do the same things in the same order, closer together. If you have longer, the only thing that changes is that you get the first stage done with less competition.

Twelve months or more

• ✦Agree a rough budget, guest count and season
• ✦Visit venues and book one
• ✦Book the registrar or celebrant for that date and place
• ✦Book the photographer, and a videographer if you want one
• ✦Look at wedding insurance, and buy it when you pay your first deposit

Nine to twelve months

• ✦Book a caterer and a bar, if the venue does not provide them
• ✦Book the band or DJ
• ✦Send save the dates if many guests are travelling or it falls on a bank holiday
• ✦Start looking at outfits. Made-to-order bridalwear can take six months or more to arrive

Six to nine months

• ✦Book the florist and any styling or décor hire
• ✦Book hair and make up, and put a trial in the diary
• ✦Book cars or transport, and the cake
• ✦Order outfits if you have not already
• ✦Plan the honeymoon if you are going straight after

Three to six months

• ✦Order stationery and send the invitations, usually around three months before
• ✦Give notice of marriage. In England and Wales you can do this up to a year before, and it must be at least 29 days before
• ✦Buy rings
• ✦Arrange a menu tasting with the caterer
• ✦Book anything extra: a photo booth, entertainment for the drinks reception, childcare

One to three months

• ✦Chase RSVPs, ideally with a deadline four to six weeks before the day
• ✦Final dress and suit fittings
• ✦Agree the running order of the day and share it with every supplier
• ✦Choose readings, music for the ceremony and the first dance

The final month

• ✦Give final numbers to the venue and caterer
• ✦Draw the seating plan
• ✦Pay any remaining balances by the dates in your contracts
• ✦Confirm arrival times with every supplier, in writing
• ✦Hand one reliable friend the list of supplier phone numbers for the day

The week of

Stop adding things. Anything not done by now is either not needed or can be done by someone else. Pack for the day and the night, give the rings to whoever is holding them, and go to bed early at least once.

My wedding counts down to your date and shows which categories are still open, so you can check this against your own list rather than a generic one.