The Ultimate Wedding Planning Timeline: What to Do Month by Month

Wedding planning can get a little chaotic if you don’t know what the heck you’re doing (and, I mean, no one really does, because this is your first time ever doing it)! Luckily for you, I’m a Chicago wedding photographer who just happens to deal with a lot of couples who are planning weddings. And as someone who steps in to help them basically all the time… I’ve learned a thing or two about the best wedding planning timeline to follow that’s, like, not actually stressful. 

Keep reading to see the best timeline you need that’ll make wedding planning look more like date nights with your lover at your fave dive bar than wanting to rip your own and each other’s hair out because of all the stress. 

The Wedding Planning Timeline, Based on How Far Away Your Wedding Is

To make it easy, I have quick links to every section of your wedding planning timeline so that you can just start wherever you’re at: 

• 18-24 months out 
• 12-18 months out
• 9-12 months out
• 6-9 months out
• 4-6 months out
• 2-4 months out
• 1-2 months out
• 2-4 weeks out
• The day-of wedding checklist
• What to do if your engagement is shorter than 12 months

Why You Absolutely Need a Wedding Planning Timeline

I say this lovingly: if you want to actually enjoy your day… It’s not one of those things where you can just push everything to the last minute, show up, and expect it to unfold perfectly. For a day that lets you truly stay present and focus more on marrying the love of your life than where your florist is, you need a good plan. And that’s exactly where this wedding planning timeline comes into play. 

It’ll help you remember to plan all those little details that you’re probably not even thinking about (which, valid) that’ll make the biggest impact on how your day feels!! 

What to Do 18-24 Months Out From Your Wedding

Engagements are getting longer, and I’m so here for it. Since there’s not too much planning to actually do 18-24 months before your wedding, it gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy being engaged and really nail down what you want your wedding to feel like, before all the logistics come into play. 

So, I always tell my couples to start here: What do you really want this day to feel like? Energetic? A tiny dinner party? Funky disco chaos? Super low-key and minimalist? Editorial city wedding? Soft and intimate? Something totally different? 

Sit with each of these things. Whatever vibe you choose will be your guiding light throughout your ENTIRE wedding planning timeline. And that’s a fantastic place to start. 

If you’re the kinda person that’s gonna get a little antsy not having anything to do, here are a few things you can do in this timeframe: 

• Decide between a Chicago wedding and a destination wedding, based on the vibe you want. 
• Have the initial budget conversation with each other, with family, and set some realistic prices. 
• Decide on your approximate guest count. Do you want a wedding that feels like a crazy-fun party with everyone you’ve ever known, or, like, your 10 closest people? 
• Start venue research (and book now, if it’s a popular one) – you can start here! 
• Identify your top three vendor priorities. Do you want vendors who are super type A or ones who are laid-back and will have actual, real-life fun planning with you? 

What Doesn’t Need to Be on the Wedding Planning Timeline Just Yet

There’s a lot that 18-24 months before your wedding looks like, but there’s also a lot that it doesn’t look like. 

Seating chart? Nope.

Your signature cocktail name? Absolutely not.

Whether your napkins should be chartreuse or olive?? Babe, go to dinner with your fiancé. 

What to Do 12-18 Months Out From Your Wedding

12-18 months out is where planning really starts. This is where you start to fit the little puzzle pieces that are your brain, your Pinterest board, and your general energy all together to get a concrete plan in motion. 

Here are the things to focus on:

• Book your venue. This is one of the first big pieces because your venue affects your date, guest count, logistics, and honestly, the entire feeling of the day. 
• Hire your planner/coordinator. Trust me. 
• Book your photographer (hiii)!! Here’s how to choose the perfect one for your day. 
• Book a videographer, if desired. I’m always pro-videographer.
• Start dress/outfit shopping to give yourself plenty of time for any customizations, alterations, and potential delays. 
• Research hotel blocks for any out-of-town guests near your wedding venue. Pro tip: check your venue for things like transportation, parking, and walkability to help you decide on a venue. 
• Start engagement-session planning. Here’s a guide on the best season to take your engagement photos in Chicago!! 

What Doesn’t Need to Be on the Wedding Planning Timeline Just Yet

It’s fine to start thinking more about some of the little things here, but you still don’t need to focus too much on things like day-of timelines, who’s going to do a toast, and what shoes you’re going to wear. It’ll all come later, I promise, babe. 

What to Do 9-12 Months Out From Your Wedding

Somewhere around this time, people are probably gonna start asking how many bridesmaids you’re having, who’s walking whom down the aisle, and whether you’ve decided on having a bouquet and garter toss. Here’s my advice: you do not need answers just because Aunt Carol is curious. Promise. Here’s what you should actually be looking at 9-12 months before your wedding:

• Booking a florist who can bring your Pinterest board to life. Hellooo, calla lilies. 
• Booking a DJ and/or band. Pro tip: a live band for the ceremony and cocktail hour, then a DJ for the reception is always a super fun combo. 
• Deciding on a caterer and bar service, and trust me, doing tastings is SO fun when you’re a foodie like me. 
• Choosing (and buying) your save-the-dates. 
• Creating a wedding website. Which also means adding that KitchenAid mixer you’ve been eyeing to your registry. Score. 
• Taking engagement photos. Bonus points if it’s at one of my fave Chicago engagement photo locations. 
• Start thinking about a ceremony format, like if you want ushers, a long ceremony, or even a separate ceremony at the courthouse beforehand. Your wedding gets to be literally whatever you want. 
• Decide whether you want a wedding party, and ask them if so! Bridesmaid proposals are SO fun. 
• Start honeymoon planning with simple things, like where you want to go and when. 

What Doesn’t Need to Be on the Wedding Planning Timeline Just Yet

A lot of people want to jump ahead here, but this is your sign that you don’t need to start getting wedding dress alterations, worrying about traffic and transportation, or choosing exact bridesmaid dresses quite yet. Your schedule is already pretty packed during these couple of months, so focus on those priorities!! 

What to Do 6-9 Months Out From Your Wedding

You’re probably around the halfway point here, so this is when things start to get super exciting. And kind of hectic. That’s why we have this wedding planning timeline, though. So that the hectic parts feel wayyy easier. Yep, you’re welcome!! 

• Send save-the-dates (preferably around the 8-month-out mark). 
• Start looking for invitations and stationery. Stationery is kind of a sleeping beast, because you don’t realize that it’s save-the-dates, menus, programs, invitations, place cards, and any other extra details you love. 
• Book someone for rentals and design that’ll make you feel like you’re walking into your Pinterest board.
• Book a hair and makeup artist. Pro tip: book someone that you get along with well, because you’ll be spending your entire wedding morning with them. The energy needs to be good!! 
• Figure out transportation for you and your wedding party. If your ceremony, portraits, and reception are in different neighborhoods, now is when we start taking traffic seriously. “It’s only 15 minutes away” is one of Chicago’s favorite lies. 
• Start welcome-party/rehearsal dinner planning. If you’re having a wedding weekend, I love that for you. Now’s the time to get that welcome party venue booked and get some ideas for it rolling. 
• Book guest accommodations or a hotel block for out-of-town guests to easily plan their travels!! 
• Start considering portrait locations and discussing a photo timeline with your Chicago wedding photographer. My guide to creative Chicago wedding photos will basically be your saving grace here. 

What Doesn’t Need to Be on the Wedding Planning Timeline Just Yet

Final family photo list? Later.

Weather forecast? PLEASE later. We’ll get there, loves. 

What to Do 4-6 Months Out From Your Wedding

If the whole wedding planning timeline before this point has felt like “start planning this,” or “talk about what you want this to look like,” now’s the time when you’re actually finalizing things and making big decisions. Don’t worry, people can do hard things!! 

• Finalize your ceremony structure and plan. 
• Decide whether you want to do a private first look and vows, or save it for the aisle/ceremony moment. 
• Order your wedding bands. 
• Now you get to choose your shoes. Finalize your whole look and get any accessories or extras ordered. 
• Schedule your alterations for your wedding looks!! Getting snatched in your dress is one of the most fun parts. 
• Finalize details for your rehearsal dinner and/or welcome party. 
• Create a rough-draft reception flow. Do you want a special entrance? What special dances do you want? Do you want toasts? Before or after dinner? Just start considering here, babes. 
• Think about family photo priorities. You don’t need a full-on list just yet, but start thinking about who you’d like in your family portraits. 

What to Do 2-4 Months Out From Your Wedding

Okay, 2-4 months out?? It’s go-time. It’s getting fun, and the pressure is kind of on. Don’t let it stress you out, because this is when you start to get excited. 

Here’s what to focus on to make things run smoothly: 

• Send your invitations (and hope and pray that people actually start RSVPing). 
• Final tastings for cake, food, signature cocktails, etc. And just know that I’m so jealous. 
• Finalize rentals and design for the whole day. 
• Start a seating chart. Pro tip: don’t put your crazy uncle John next to someone who will get him going. That’s the whole point of the seating chart. 
• Finalize a timeline with your planner + photographer, and confirm any meaningful priorities with them. And this doesn’t mean to send me 74 Pinterest photos. It means that I need to know the names of people you want in pics, any tense family dynamics, or any special moments that you definitely want documented. 
• Create a music plan with your DJ. Maybe it’s that you want 0 line dances on the reception playlist, and instead, a bunch of Fleetwood Mac songs. Obsessed. 
• Do your final attire fittings!!  

What to Do 1-2 Months Out From Your Wedding

OMG… It’s happening. 

• Collect RSVPs (and threaten anyone who hasn’t sent theirs in with no cake). 
• Finalize your reception seating chart. 
• Confirm arrival times with alllll your vendors. 
• Have a final timeline meeting to go over everything with your venue and coordinator. This is one of those things that puts you at a LOT of ease. 
• Get your marriage license. 
• Create a final payment schedule, and go get cash if needed. 
• Take a deep breath, pour a glass of wine, and write your vows. 
• Don’t spend a ton of time refreshing the weather app, but do create a backup bad weather plan for every moment of the day, including portraits. 
• Make sure that everyone knows where to be. It sounds silly, but it’s something that can alleviate a lot of stress. 
• Finalize a day-of point person, whether it’s your coordinator, long-distance bestie, or one of your bridesmaids. 

What to Do 2-4 Weeks Before Your Wedding

First things first: take a deep breath. Plan a date night. Soak it all in. 

Next, focus on these things: 

• Confirm your final head count with necessary vendors, so your caterer knows how many plates to make and your planner knows where everyone will be seated. 
• Final vendor confirmations for arrival times, payments, and anything else any of them need. 
• Start to pack your decor and details. Try to keep a good, organized system in mind as much as you can, so that we’re not digging through bins to find invitations and ribbon for your flat lay shots. 
• Break in your shoes. Trust me. You don’t want to be in the middle of your ceremony focusing on how bad you want to kick your shoes into the pond. 
• Have your final haircut and color now, in case there’s any sort of beauty emergency, and you need a buffer. 
• Delegate things to bridesmaids or family members. Have one person in charge of your phone, one person in charge of capturing content, and one person in charge of keeping a mimosa in your hand allll day long. 

As far as what NOT to do… You do not need to discover an entirely new tablescape aesthetic fourteen days before your wedding. I am lovingly begging you to close Pinterest. 

What to Do on Your Wedding Week

EEEEE, wedding week!! If you followed the wedding planning timeline up to this point, this week should be a breeze. Your main focuses should be: 

• Picking up your attire and having it ready to bring to the venue. 
• Packing your rings, marriage license, and other details. 
• Having envelopes nearby with your vendors’ tips. 
• Delegate calls and texts about the wedding to someone else to protect your peace when your cousin inevitably texts and says, “Wait, what time is the wedding?” Or just put your phone on DND. 

More importantly, you need to focus on taking care of yourself by not troubleshooting things that are not problems, hydrating, eating, sleeping, and enjoying seeing your people arrive. It’s your wedding week, babes! Enjoy it!! Your job is no longer to run your wedding. That’s why we made the plans ahead of time. 

The Only Wedding Day Checklist You Need

If a wedding day checklist is telling you to run around like a chicken with your head cut off and complete a bunch of tasks, it’s BS. This is the only checklist you need on the day of your wedding, trust me. 

Eat.

Drink water.

Have your rings.

Have your marriage license.

Give your phone to someone else.

Trust your vendor team.

Be with your person.

Actually look around. 

The only things I ever see my couples regret from their wedding are NOT doing those things. 

Want to see what an actual wedding-day timeline can look like? I have one in my full Chicago wedding planning guide. 

The Wedding Planning Timeline for if Your Engagement Is Shorter Than 12 Months

If You’re Planning in 6-9 Months… 

First, don’t stress. We can do this. Catch up on everything on the list before this. 

Your first priorities should be:

• Venue
• Photographer/planner
• Catering
• Guest list
• Sending save-the-dates
• Other major vendors
• Attire

THEN everything else. 

If You’re Planning in 3-6 Months… 

You have a little bit of a tighter timeline, but you can do it!! 

Focus on the priorities mentioned above, plus: 

• Sending out invitations
• Creating a flow and structure for the day
• Booking ALL vendors
• Scheduling alterations
• Finalizing your wedding day look

Wren and Rose | Chicago Wedding Photographer

Now that the logistics are covered, get to know more about me. Because I’m not just a Chicago wedding photographer who’s giving you a strict wedding planning timeline because I care wayyy too much about structure. I’m a Chicago wedding photographer who knows that a hella fun wedding day comes from a solid plan, and that the best photos come from you actually having a good time. 

Ready to inquire? Click here. Let’s plan, loves.