Your Wedding Countdown Cheat Sheet

Part of the fun of being a bride is when you want to actually rip all of your hair out…..while screaming…..and lighting everyone on fire. Just kidding, you’ll still be vain enough that you won’t touch your hair. Anyhow, if someone is on your ass about how you aren’t planning fast enough, then here is a little planner telling you when you should book things. Then you can throw it in their face and yell that you’re doing things on time lol.

At twelve months before, you have to start doing stuff. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You should book your venue, make your guest list and start getting addresses, plan your engagement party and register somewhere or make a wedding site registry.

1- Book Venue
2- Draft Guest List
3- Engagement Party
4- Register

At ten months you need to choose an officiant to marry you. If you want Elvis to read those vows then nows the time to book him. If you haven’t selected your bridal party then it’s time to pull that band aid off as well. Choose your vendors for all of your pretty wedding attire and decor and take your engagement photos. While you’re getting those done book your wedding photographer and photo booth so that you can make sure that they aren’t booked for your day.

1- Pick An Officiant
2- Select Bridal Party
3- Choose Vendors
4- Take Engagement Photos
5- Book Photographer And Photo Booth For Wedding

Eight months before is when shit starts to get real. This is where you should order your dress, talk to hotels for guests to stay there, have a cake tasting and choose your wedding cake, and begin your hair and makeup trials. I know that you’re thinking that it’s early for hair and makeup, but that thinking is how you end up with tight curls when you wanted beachy waves. It’s better to be prepared. Plus it’s something you won’t have to panic about later.

1- Order Your Dress
2- Block Hotel Rooms For Guests
3- Cake Tastings And Order Cake
4- Begin Hair And Makeup Trials

Hello six months before the wedding! Feeling panicky yet? Well if you haven’t done ANY of the things I’ve already discussed, then I would be too lol. Now is the time to send out your save the dates, book your honeymoon, order bridesmaids dresses and purchase wedding bands. If you plan on having a social, then this would be the time to start planning and booking for that. Everyone does a social differently but it’s usually a couple of months before the wedding. So whether you plan to have it two to four months before, then it would be a good idea to start planning that now.

1- Send Save The Dates
2- Book Honeymoon
3- Order Bridesmaids Dresses
4- Purchase Wedding Bands
5- Get Social In Order

Four months is when you have to wrangle your soon to be husband and his groomsmen. They need to choose their attire and get fitted. Have fun with that one. It’s about as fun as bathing a cat. Plan your rehearsal dinner and make sure that the people who are supposed to be attending know about when and where it is. Confirm your vendors, and last but not least choose a final hair and makeup style now that you’ve had enough time to decide on what you’re going for.

1- Select Groomsmen Attire
2- Plan Rehearsal Dinner
3- Confirm Vendors
4- Decide On Final Hair And Makeup

At two months, if you haven’t mailed your invites then do it. Do it now! You need time for people to be able to reply. Write and decide on your vows. I know that it seems early, but this way if you think of something genius that you had left out, then you can easily add it. Purchase your wedding day accessories like shoes, jewelry and your veil. That way you can try them on with your dress during your final dress fittings. Lastly, confirm your wedding day transportation. If you don’t, you’ll be that bride that saw herself arriving in a limo and instead will be pulling up in a pick up truck. You can never be too prepared.

1- Mail Invitations
2- Write Or Decide On Vows/Ceremony
3- Purchase Day Of Accessories
4- Confirm Day Of Transportation

Six weeks before! Make sure that you have all of your papers in order and take your butts down to apply for your wedding license. Besides that, get everything printed that you need to. Place settings, menu cards, ceremony program ect. Everything you need printed should be taken to get done.

1- Apply For Marriage License
2- Get Everything Printed

Now it’s time for a little fun. One month before is when you should have your bachelorette party and bridal shower planned. You’ve worked so hard to get everything in order that it’s time to start getting excited about your big day.

1- Plan Bachelorette
2- Plan Wedding Shower

At two weeks it’s time for your final dress fitting aka the chocolate stops here. Your bridal salon should have any wedding party dresses done as well. Give your photographer a list of shots you want taken. The day of will be busy as balls for you and I can guarantee that you will forget at least three of the photos that you wanted taken. Best to just discuss it with them so that they are prepared. Also, go over your music choices with your band or DJ. Give them the list of songs that you will be walking in to, dancing with the groom to, and that the wedding party will be dancing to. If you don’t, then you’re taking the chance of them not having the songs there at all.

1- Final Dress Fitting
2- Give Shot List To Photographer
3- Review Music With DJ Or Band

Ok, one week is final head count time. How many people are coming in total. Once you finalize who will be there and who won’t, then finalize your seating chart. Also, get your facials and any waxing you plan on doing done now. Heaven forbid you get a rash or reaction. This way your skin has time to heal before your actual wedding day.

1- Final Head Count
2- Finalize Seating Chart
3- Get Facials And Waxing

If you want a spray tan, then get in there and get it done. Then the color will be at the perfect hue for you. Have your nails done in the color that you’ve chosen and wrap your bridesmaids and groom gifts. You’re almost there now.

1- Spray Tan
2- Have Nails Done
3- Wrap Bridesmaids And Groom Gifts

It’s the day before. Try to calm down and enjoy yourself at your rehearsal dinner. Pass out your bridal party gifts, have a glass of some wine and some laughs and try to get some sleep. You don’t want to be tired.

1- Rehearsal Dinner
2- Pass Out Bridal Party Gifts