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Everything you need to learn how to plan a wedding. Free wedding planning guides, tools, and advice from wedding planning experts. Planning a wedding
- Printable Wedding-Planning Checklist
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We're about to present a lot of wedding-planning intel, including an itemized month-by-month to-do list that also doubles as a timeline. Pin, print, or screenshot our handy wedding-planning checklist, below, so you have access to all of this must-know information as you cycle through this process.
Insure the Engagement Ring
While this is technically a pre-wedding-planning activity, it deserves special mention. We suggest purchasing insurancefor that precious new bling as soon as you come down from that post-proposal high—unless your fiancé already took care of it before the big debut, of course.
Determine Your Budget
It's time to do the math and crunch some not-so-fun numbers. Before you can start anything, you have to figure out who's paying for what and determine your wedding's bottom line. From there, you'll want to break down said budget—what's a priority and what's not?—and start allocating funds accordingly. (A little market research here comes in handy.) And since these numbers willchange as you plan, it's smart to start a detailed spreadsheet from the get-go. This will help you keep track of spend...
Make a Guest List
If only you could invite any and everyone, right? Chances are, you can't, which is why you have to put a cap on dishing out invites. When deciding your headcount, consider your budget (how many guests can you really afford to host?) and your venue (how many people does it fit?). Also, who's paying for what? From there, figure out how you're going to divvy up the list. If you and your partner are footing the bill, assume that you'll get 70 percent of the invites while both sets of parents will...
Choose a Color Palette and Start Thinking of Your Overall Design
Pull up your Pinterest boards, people. It's finally time to gather inspiration, select a color palette, and create a mood board. There are so many ideas out there, so take your time with this part of the process—and don't forget to take a step back if you feel overwhelmed.
Hire Vendors Who Book Up Quickly, Including Your Photographer, Band, DJ, and Videographer
These are the people who will make your night fun—and all those memories last forever. Do your research before you hire, ask all the right questions, and maybe even dateyour photographer by having them take your engagement portraits. Seriously, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Start Shopping for Your Wedding Dress
You may know exactly what you want or you might not, which is okay, too. To get you started, here's check out our ultimate guide to dress shopping. Also, consider visiting these places in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City—because finding a gown may be a matter of trial and error, but finding a salon shouldn't be.
Book Hotel Room Blocks for Guests
It's a thoughtful gesture to block out rooms (and secure a discounted rate) for your guests. Before you create a room block at random, check out our comprehensive guideon the subject to ensure your family and friends have the right accommodations.
Create Your Wedding Website
Get your site running now because you'll need to put the URL on save-the-dates next month. Follow our top rules and make it pretty using one of our favorite wedding websites.
Buy Your Wedding Dress
It's time to say "yes" to the dress if you want to avoid rush fees. If you can place your order even earlier, that's preferable.
Send Save-the-Dates
Let everyone officially know when and where you're making it official. And remember: Everyone who gets a save-the-dategets a wedding invite. No exceptions.
Register for Gifts
Involve your better half in this one—after all, you two are building a life (and home) together. When registering, it's smart to ask for staples—like sheets, pots, pans, and so on—but it's even more genius to think about what you really want. Are you adventurers? Aspiring chefs? Charity givers? Consider your hobbies and tailor the registry to your soon-to-be-married lifestyle.
Select the Bridesmaids' Dresses and Bridal Party Accessories and Schedule Fittings Within the Month
After browsing for initial research, invite your bridal party to come shopping with you—assuming they live close by, of course. It will be helpful to see them in the attire, and you could even ask how they feelin the options you're considering. They have to wear it in front of a crowd of hundreds, after all. Keep accessories in mind while you're at it.
Meet With Potential Florists
Much like hiring other vendors, you want to be in tune with your florist, as well. To find the right professional, we suggest polling friends for recommendations, scrolling through Instagram inspiration, and asking your wedding planner or venue coordinator who they recommend in the area. It's important that you find someone who is able to deliver on your vision and budget.
Book the Rehearsal-Dinner Venue
Traditionally, the groom's family pays for the rehearsal dinner so treat this as an opportunity to oblige your future mother in law if that's the case. With that said, you still have say in the theme of this party and where it should happen (an that's especially true if you're footing the bill yourself). We love the idea of hosting a family-style dinner at your favorite restaurant or opting for a casual celebration like a clambake or backyard BBQ. Read thisbefore you start hashing out the det...
Hire the Ceremony Musicians
If you're hoping to enlist the talents of a three-piece band, now's the time to make it official. As for the actual music, we say the more personal the songs are to you, the better.
Order Rental Items, Such as Specialty Chairs, Linens, Draping, Lounge Furniture, and the Dance Floor
You may think of these as extras, and we beg you to change this way of thought. Great rentals essentially act as the bones of your wedding-day decor. Conclusion: Don't skimp on upgraded chairs and cozy lounge furniture (your guests will thank you) if your budget allows for it.
Hire a Lighting Technician
The most important detail couples often forget about is lighting. Seriously, the bulbs and candles you select are what will ultimately light your perfect venue, make your photos just right, and keep the party going—even after the sun sets. Here are some bright ideas and picture-perfect candle displays.
Book Transportation for Guests, If Needed
How do you know if it’s needed? Consider your venue’s parking situation, guests’ access to car services or public transportation, and the cost you’re asking them to incur. A good rule of thumb: If it’s going to run them $20 or more—especially if you’ve already asked them to travel for a destination wedding—consider a shuttle bus. Or, some car services, such as Uber, allow you to book rides on others’ behalf.
Book the Newlyweds' Transportation
Time to think about you two. Whether you’re into getting into a stretch Escalade limo, or all about hopping on a tandem bicycle—get around in a style that’s all your own with these creative transportation ideas.
Book the Honeymoon
Traditionally, wedding etiquette states the groom plans a surprise honeymoon for the bride, but if you're tag-teaming the honeymoon strategy, try to have things semi-sorted out by this five-month mark. That means being on the same page about budget, timing, travel arrangements, and a semblance of an itinerary. You don’t have to schedule every minute, but each of you should share the most important takeaways you want from this trip, and act to ensure those activities will happen. Then, grab ou...
Have Your Final Tasting With the Caterer
At this point, you’ve asked your caterer to talk through the most important planning questions. Now it’s time to taste what they’re really made of. The tasting has become increasingly important as more and more couples choose to customize everything from their signature cocktails to their desserts. If you’re nervous about heart eyes obstructing your taste buds’ judgment, bring your planner or consultant. They’ve likely attended dozens of tastings and will be your clear-eyed troubleshooter, pa...
Choose Your Cake
We’ll hit you first with the inspiration: Check out these gorgeous photos and delicious flavoring descriptions. Now, you and your partner should settle on a look and flavor profile that you both love. Don’t stress about pleasing every one of your guests. This is your cake as a couple. (You can also consider a groom’s cake.) Got the cake(s) decided? You need a baker. Find a reputable one who’s available on your date, and happy to take on your dream design for an equally dreamy price. (Ask them...
Buy Wedding Bands
Does your fiancé (or you) know the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding band? Read up, and then look through some of our favorites. (And don't forget to purchase insurance for these, too.)
- Hannah Nowack
- 4 min
- Take Stock of Your Wedding Planning To-Do List. While the 50 steps we've outlined here paint a broad picture of how to plan a wedding, we also have a nuts-and-bolts comprehensive planning checklist for once you're ready to really dig into the details and minutiae.
- Utilize Technology to Help With Wedding Planning. What's better than a wedding planner in your pocket? The Knot App, which is completely free, is just that.
- Find Your Wedding Vision. Before you dive into too many of the big decisions connected to your wedding plans, we recommend thinking about the big-picture vision you have for your wedding day.
- Gather Inspiration to Match Your Vision. After taking The Knot Style Quiz and identifying the general vibe you envision, start to gather wedding inspiration that aligns with your chosen aesthetic.
Apr 6, 2024 · Checklists will guide your wedding planning process day to day. Use a detailed wedding checklist that includes every task, from booking vendors to final fitting appointments. Break these tasks down further into a wedding to-do list for added manageability.
Apr 20, 2023 · Backed by wedding planners, read our expert guide on wedding planning tips and tricks to make creating your big day a dream come true.
- Know ahead of time if your wedding date falls on the same day as a trade conference, charity walk or other local event that could affect traffic an...
- Request an extra hour for cocktails or for your band to throw in that Frank Sinatra sound-alike before you sign on the dotted line. Most vendors wo...
- In a three-ring binder, compile all your correspondences with vendors, notes you make during meetings, and photos or tear sheets from magazines you...
- Your wedding budget should follow this formula: 48 to 50 percent of total budget to reception; 8 to 10 percent for flowers; 8 to 10 percent for att...
- You have four choices: You can welcome children with open arms; you can decide to have an "adults only" wedding; you can include immediate family o...
- Put together a wedding planning schedule and do things one by one, in a logical order, so you don't take on too much too fast and end up with every...
- Make sure guests know where they're going. As easy as online map programs are to use, sometimes the directions are wrong or there's a quicker, less...
- You can check your state's license requirements online, but confirm with a call to the county clerk's office to see when they're open. Even if it's...
- Make sure your guests can both see and hear from their seats. If people are seated farther than 15 rows back from your ceremony altar or podium, co...
- When it comes down to the last month of your planning (and when you're particularly harried) look at your mile long to-do list and cut three things...
Sep 1, 2023 · Here, we list out 44 actionable steps to help you plan your dream wedding. Clear up the confusion and organize a day you’ll never forget using this guide.
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Dec 8, 2020 · Just got engaged and not sure where to start? Here's our how to plan a wedding step-by-step guide to make it as simple and straightforward as possible, so you can keep stress at a minimum.
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related to: the perfect wedding guideOur customizable list and tools makes wedding planning easy. We're here for you! Choose from 600+ designs. Add your wedding details & integrate your registry.