After all the craziness of the past few years, anyone who’s thinking about getting married soon knows that the timeline has completely changed. Asking couples that have been married for years is just no longer helpful! In response, we’ve created this handy modern wedding planning timeline so you know exactly where you should be in your process.

Wedding planning can be fun (for those that don’t have anxiety over every thought, idea, or task that has to be done.) Hiring the right floral and event designer can help guide your planning process. He/She/They will understand all of the ins and outs, details that have to be figured out, and a beautiful aesthetic that will compliment your venue and overall style.

To help guide your planning process, Alyssa of Garden in the Pines has put together a guide for a planning timeline. This should help visualize when all of your tasks need to be completed/ vendors booked/ and when to plan your other events (such as the Bridal Shower, Bach Parties, or Engagement Party.

Let’s begin!

18-24 Months Pre-Wedding

• Announce Your Engagement (Social Media Posts, Engagement Party, Announcement Cards)

• Book Your Engagement PhotoShoot (These are beautiful to include on your ‘Save-the-Dates’)!

• Decide on Wedding Style, Total Budget, and Venue for Ceremony & Reception

• Decide on Wedding Date (Have a couple options in mind if you are DEAD-SET on a special venue.

• Create Wedding Website (there are a couple free options out there!) – Wedding websites are a great resource for your friends and family to stay current on all of the details for your upcoming event. Plus, you can create a fun keepsake to look back upon to review your memories from your time that you were engaged!

• Consult with officiant

• Begin to compile your guest list

• Start Touring Venues

• Begin researching and gathering referrals for Vendors (Floral Design, Photographer, Make Up, Hair, DJ/Band, Cake Baker, etc)

• Wedding Gown Shopping!! Gather inspiration photos to bring to your appointment!

6-12 Months Pre-Wedding

• Ask your bridal party members! Maid/Matron of Honor, Best Man, Bridesmaids, and Groomsmen. Also Flower Girls & Ring Bearers if you decide to include them.

• Finalize Guest List

• Order ‘Save the Dates’

• Shop for wedding rings

• Hire your vendors if you haven’t done so yet!

• Order your wedding gown!

• Create your gift registry!

4-6 Months Pre-Wedding

• Design and Order Invitations

• Review Menu with the Caterer

• Arrange blocks of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests (they usually offer incentive booking rates)

• Bridesmaid Dress Shopping!

• Finalize and Book Your Honeymoon Plans

• Arrange Transportation for your bridal party/ send off

• Arrange a shuttle for out-of-town guests from the hotel to the venue

• Schedule your hair & makeup trial

2-3 Months Pre-Wedding

• Finalize flower details with your floral designer (Here at Garden in the Pines we will send you an email 4 months before your event date to schedule our final design meeting where we will finalize our design details).

• Finalize ceremony details

• Address and send out invitations

6-7 Weeks Pre-Wedding

• Print ceremony programs

• Prepare song list for DJ/ Musician

• Prepare/Order Favors and Gifts for the Bridal Party

• Order Groomsmen/ Male Bridal Party Formal Wear

4 Weeks Pre-Wedding

• Apply for Marriage License

• Plan Rehearsal Dinner for close family & bridal party

• Confirm Guest List/ RSVPS

2 Weeks Pre-Wedding

• Draw Up Seating Chart

• Complete Place Cards

• Confirm Honeymoon Plans & Reservations

1 Week Pre-Wedding

• Finalize Guest Count with Caterer

• Pick Up Dress/ Formal Wear

• Seal Tips in Marked Envelopes

Post Wedding

• Send out Thank You Cards

• Order Photos/ Prints

• Leave reviews for your vendors! It goes a long way, especially if you loved working with them!

• Enjoy being newly weds!

Share Our Wedding Planning Timeline!

Spread the wealth, wedding planning is so hard, especially now.

If you’re ready to start looking for your florist, we would love to speak with you about your vision! Contact us to get started!

We hope that you found this blog post helpful! Please share in the comments your favorite part of wedding planning/ any other useful tips for the planning process!