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Free Wedding Timeline Generator

Enter your wedding date and we'll build a personalized planning checklist counting down to the big day.

Wedding planning timeline by month

The classic wedding timeline runs 12–18 months. The first six months are about the big-ticket vendors (venue, photographer, caterer). The middle six are about details (stationery, attire, beauty). The final three are confirmations, fittings, and small purchases.

What to do 12 months before the wedding

Set your total budget, draft a guest list, choose a date, and book your venue. The venue locks in a guest count cap, which feeds every other decision. Use our budget calculator to model different budgets.

What to do 6 months before the wedding

Send save-the-dates, book hair and makeup trials, plan the honeymoon, and order your wedding cake. Use our guest list manager to track RSVPs as they come in.

What to do 1 month before the wedding

Confirm your final headcount with the caterer, get the marriage license, write your vows, and create your seating chart.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I start planning my wedding?⌄

Most planners recommend 12–18 months for a full wedding. Venues, photographers, and popular vendors book up that far in advance. Shorter engagements work — you'll just front-load the high-priority decisions.

What is the order of wedding planning tasks?⌄

Set a budget first, then a guest list, then a venue. After that come photographer, caterer, and date-locked vendors. Apparel, stationery, and rentals follow in the middle months. Final headcount and confirmations happen 2–4 weeks out.

When should we send wedding save-the-dates and invitations?⌄

Save-the-dates go out 6–9 months before the wedding (longer for destination weddings). Formal invitations go out 8 weeks before, with an RSVP deadline 3 weeks before the wedding.

Will my checklist save if I close the page?⌄

Yes — your wedding date and checked tasks are saved in your browser automatically. Sign up free to back it up to your account.

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