Whether you are starting your wedding planning 2 years or 6 months before the wedding day, we recommend the same approach. Tackle the planning one step at a time. This will help you stay calm and avoid feeling overwhelmed during the planning process. We've planned a destination wedding in 3 months, using this guide below (whew, we did it!). There's no hard and fast rule on when you have to plan each of these items (with a few exceptions). We have noted suggestions on details that are more sensitive to time (like ordering your dress in time to allow for alterations). If you work better on a specific timeline, use the parentheses as a guide. 

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These items are listed in order of how they should be tackled. There are some exceptions: for example if your dream photographer is more important to you than the ideal venue, you'll want to book the photographer first, before deciding on the venue to ensure their availability. 

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Celebrating with a destination wedding? Follow the same layout below. 

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Click the links below for information on each type of vendor or task,  like questions to ask and insider tips! 

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Our recommended vendors list is available here.

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Bridal Planning Guide

 

Budgeting

Estimated Guest Count

Decide on City & season

Venue 

Photographer

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(10 Months)

Book Engagement Photos (10 months)

Wedding Dress Shopping

Florist & Decor

Catering

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(8 Months)

Order Wedding Dress 

order & send Save the Dates (6-8 months)

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Start A Wedding Website

Wedding Registry

Start shopping for Bridesmaids Dresses 

Entertainment

Videographer 

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(6 months)

Order Invitations (6 months:  6-8 weeks for design, 1 month for print)

Wedding Shoes & backup flats

Update Wedding Website

Create a "locals" guide of your favorite places near guest room blocks

Officiant

Start thinking about your wedding ceremony elements

Rentals

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(5 Months)

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Reception

Next Day Brunch

Order Bridal Accessories

Guest Favors

Wedding Day Signage 

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(4 Months)

Order Menswear 

Order Bridesmaid Dresses (6-8 weeks to come in, 1+ Months for Alterations)

Attend pre-marriage counseling (if required)

Write vows (if applicable)

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prior to our final timeline meeting, you will receive several questionnaires to complete. These will help us build your wedding day timeline and events. 

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(3 Months)

Send Wedding Invitations (3 Months)

Order Wedding Day Signage

Upload all vendor contracts to our shared dropbox folder

Notify hotel hosting room block if you are doing guest welcome bags

Decide what you'd like to do with wedding reception flowers

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(60 Days Prior to Wedding Day)

Final timeline Meeting with Bridget Davis Events

Apply for Marriage License

Order items for out of town guest wedding bags

Final alterations meeting 

Collection of RSVPs - (Use the Excel Sheet in Dropbox we've created for you!)

Begin placing guests on seating chart

Flower preservation order

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(30 Days Prior)

Break in your wedding shoes

Submit any changes (other than guest count) to caterer, ie: layout, linen colors, napkin fold

Track down unknown Guests (29 Days)

Submit final count to florist 

Finalize Seating Chart/ placecards / escort cards & send to print (2-3 Weeks)

Prepare out of Town Guest Welcome Bags

Men's final alterations if purchasing suits

Hang dress out of bag in a safe place where the wrinkles can fall out

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(2 Weeks)

Men Try on their tuxes from Black Tux/ alterations (2 weeks) /pick up tux from local rental (1 week)

Try on wedding dress one final time to ensure it fits flawlessly

Final Guest Count & meal choices submitted to caterer (1-2 weeks)

Place-card/ Escort Card Print

Reach out to any family or friends involved in large formal photos 

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(1 Week)

Pack all wedding day checklist items 

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(2 Days)

Deliver out of town guest wedding bags to hotels

pack overnight bag for night of wedding

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Whats in our Emergency Kit?

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After the wedding :

1 Day

Send in wedding bouquet for preservation

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(2 weeks After) 

send in marriage license

(1 month)

(2 months)

Send thank you notes

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