Bridal Planning
Guide
We want your wedding planning experience to be fun & exciting! Our bridal planning guide will help you stay on track in planning and provide you with expert wedding tips and tricks!
We are here to be your expert's in planning the wedding of your dreams. If you need assistance, contact us with any questions!
- XoXo, Bridget
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Planning Timeline
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.
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.
Celebrating with a destination wedding? Follow the same layout below.
Click the links below for information on each type of vendor or task, like questions to ask and insider tips!
Our recommended vendors list is available here.
Bridal Planning Guide
Budgeting
Estimated Guest Count
Decide on City & season
Photographer
(10 Months)
Book Engagement Photos (10 months)
Wedding Dress Shopping
Florist & Decor
Catering
(8 Months)
Order Wedding Dress
order & send Save the Dates (6-8 months)
Start A Wedding Website
Wedding Registry
Start shopping for Bridesmaids Dresses
Entertainment
Videographer
(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
(5 Months)
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Reception
Next Day Brunch
Order Bridal Accessories
Guest Favors
Wedding Day Signage
(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)
prior to our final timeline meeting, you will receive several questionnaires to complete. These will help us build your wedding day timeline and events.
(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
(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
(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
(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
(1 Week)
Pack all wedding day checklist items
(2 Days)
Deliver out of town guest wedding bags to hotels
pack overnight bag for night of wedding
Whats in our Emergency Kit?
After the wedding :
1 Day
Send in wedding bouquet for preservation
(2 weeks After)
send in marriage license
(1 month)
(2 months)
Send thank you notes
