Wedding planning timeline: what to book and when

Twelve months out, or as soon as you start

• Agree the total budget and who is contributing what, in numbers.
• Draft the guest list before you view a single venue. Capacity filters venues, and every cost multiplies through this number.
• Pick a region and a date, or better, a flexible window. Flexibility on the date is worth thousands.
• Book the venue, armed with the questions that surface its real price. Everything else hangs off this decision.
• Book the photographer and the band or DJ. The good ones sell out on the same timeline venues do.
• Take out wedding insurance the same week you pay the first deposit.

Nine to twelve months

• Book the registrar or church for the ceremony, and the caterer if the venue does not feed you.
• Order the dress or suits. Made-to-order outfits need six to nine months, plus alterations at the end.
• Book the florist, the videographer, and hair and makeup.
• Send save-the-dates, especially for peak season or a wedding abroad.

Six to nine months

• Reserve accommodation blocks for guests and book transport.
• Choose and order the rings.
• Book the cake maker, ideally after a tasting.
• Start the honeymoon while flight prices are still kind.

Three to six months

• Send invitations around the three month mark, with an RSVP deadline six weeks before the day.
• Do the menu tasting and settle the wine order.
• Have the hair and makeup trials.
• Give notice at your local register office for a civil ceremony in England and Wales: at least 29 full days before the wedding, and you can do it up to 12 months ahead.

The final month

• Confirm final numbers with the venue and caterer, then chase the RSVPs that never came.
• Make the seating plan late, once the numbers are real.
• Pay the balances; most fall due two to six weeks out, so this is the expensive month.
• Write a running order with phone numbers on it and send it to every supplier.
• Final fittings, and break in the shoes.

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