The Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline

Planning a wedding is really just a long to-do list with a deadline. Break it into months and it stops feeling overwhelming. Here's a simple timeline you can follow — adjust the spacing if your engagement is shorter.

12+ months before

This is the foundation. Nothing here is rushed, but everything later depends on it.

• Set your overall budget and who's contributing
• Draft a rough guest list — it drives every other cost
• Choose two or three possible dates
• Book your venue (it decides your date)
• Start following styles and colours you love

9–10 months before

• Book the big vendors: photographer, caterer, music
• Choose your wedding party
• Send a save-the-date so guests can plan travel
• Begin dress and attire shopping

6–8 months before

• Order or design your invitations
• Book officiant, florist, and any rentals
• Plan the honeymoon and sort documents
• Arrange transport and guest accommodation

3–4 months before

• Finalise the menu and cake
• Send your invitations — a digital invitation makes this a single link with RSVP built in
• Buy rings
• Confirm timeline with all vendors

1–2 months before

• Chase any missing RSVPs (automatic if you went digital)
• Give the venue and caterer final numbers
• Have final dress fittings
• Write your vows and a seating plan
• Confirm payment schedules with vendors

The final 2 weeks

• Reconfirm every vendor and arrival time
• Prepare tips and final payments in envelopes
• Pack for the honeymoon
• Delegate day-of tasks so you don't carry a phone

The week of

Breathe. Hand your checklist to someone you trust, and let them handle questions on the day. You've done the work — now enjoy it.

Two things that save the most time

The guest list and the invitations touch almost every other decision. Nail your numbers early, and use one tool that sends the invite, tracks RSVPs, and updates instantly if a detail changes. It also helps you keep the budget under control.

Ready for the easiest item on the list? Browse Lumi's templates and set up your invitation and RSVP in one afternoon.