Your wedding is the biggest day of your life. It’s also one of the most stressful days, and planning can get complicated. Luckily, we’re here to help. To take some of the stress off your shoulders, here’s a checklist of the basic tasks that must be completed to make sure everything goes off without a hitch on your big day.
Create a guest list and finalize your invites. Once you have a confirmed number of guests, it’s time to send out your save-the-dates so everyone can mark their calendars. It’s always a good idea to give your guests as much advance notice as possible to ensure that they can accommodate any needs you may have (like accessibility).
Set a budget and stick to it. Once you have a ballpark figure for your overall wedding costs, sit down with your partner and determine what’s most important to both of you. This might be the venue or a specific wedding date, locking down a photographer or band, or a certain menu item. Prioritize these aspects and be willing to compromise on the rest. And remember to account for any unforeseen fees or upgrades that might come up—it’s usually best to have 10 to 15% of extra money on hand for these unavoidable expenses.
Choose a theme for your wedding. Whether it’s a few specific colors or an overall aesthetic you want to design your event around, having a central concept will make it easier to make decisions and make the big-picture plans that will bring your vision to life.
Decide on gifts for your wedding party, parents, and other loved ones. This is a fun and thoughtful way to thank your guests for their support and contribution to your special day!
Buy any wedding accessories and décor that you’ll need, like a unity candle, cake servers, or a guest book. You’ll also need to purchase any items you want to keep as mementos, such as your invitation or a table number.
Organize and clean your house, if needed. It’s a good idea to have a cleaning crew on call the day after your wedding, or enlist the help of your MOH or a trusted friend to tackle the task for you.
Go through the official marriage license process. This varies by state, but you’ll likely need to present identification, pay a fee, and fill out some paperwork. It’s a good idea to start this early so that you can get it done before the wedding and avoid any surprises or last-minute hiccups.
Hunt down anyone who hasn’t RSVP’d yet and give your caterer/venue a final guest count. It’s also a good idea to create a seating chart or place cards at this point.
Enjoy your wedding! Now that you’ve checked everything off your wedding to-do list, it’s time to celebrate with friends and family. And don’t forget to savor a few moments of quiet together as a newly married couple! You’ve earned it.