The Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist: Start Your Year Off Right

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting journeys a couple will take together, but it can also feel super overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. To alleviate some of the stress and overwhelm, I’ve created this ultimate wedding planning checklist to help you navigate through the process! Whether you’re newly engaged or diving headfirst into planning, these steps will ensure you’re organized, stress-free, and ready to enjoy every moment of the journey. 😁

First Steps in Following Your Wedding Planning Checklist

1. Set Your Budget: Before diving into booking vendors or shopping for your dream dress, determine your wedding budget. Knowing your financial boundaries will guide every decision you make! Do your best to adhere to your budget when possible.
2. Choose Your Wedding Date: Think about the time of year, your favorite season, or any significant dates that mean something to you as a couple. Flexibility with dates can sometimes help with vendor availability and pricing.
3. Book the Big-Ticket Items First: My advice? Tackle the big ones early on:
   • Venue: Your venue sets the tone for your wedding and may have specific rules about catering, in-house bartending, and even decor. Make sure you understand their policies before booking other vendors.
   • Planner: A wedding planner can help you navigate the entire process, save you time, and often save you money by recommending trusted vendors. 🫶
   • Catering & Florals: These are essential components of your big day, and booking them early helps you see how much room you have left in your budget for smaller-ticket items.
4. Create Your Guest List: While this might evolve over time, having an estimated guest count will guide your decisions when selecting venues, catering packages, and choosing your floral décor.

Tips to Streamline the Wedding Planning Process

Planning doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it should be fun! 🥰 Here are some tips to make the journey as enjoyable as possible:

• Enjoy the Tours and Tastings: Make a date night out of venue tours or cake tastings. These moments are meant to be savored, so take photos, sip some champagne, and celebrate!🥂
• Tackle DIY Projects Together: Planning a wedding is a team effort. Order takeout, put on a movie, and work on your invitations or seating chart together. These small moments will become cherished memories.
• Delegate Tasks: You don’t have to do it all yourself. Lean on your planner, family, or wedding party to take on tasks like assembling favors or confirming vendor details.

Stay Organized with These Tools & Resources

Staying organized is key to keeping stress at bay. Here are a few tools and tips I recommend:

• Create a Wedding-Specific Email: Set up a new email address for all wedding-related communications. This will keep your inbox organized and ensure you never miss an important message from your wedding vendor team.
• My Etsy Shop: Check out my shop for resources designed to make your planning easier. You’ll find the ultimate wedding planning bundle with a comprehensive wedding planning checklist and more. My wedding timeline is a must-have! It covers every detail, from vendor arrival times to social media handles and weather plans.
• Apps & Tools: If you like tech, you may want to consider using apps like Trello or Asana to track tasks or platforms like Zola or The Knot for vendor management and guest list tracking.

What Makes My Checklist Different

There are plenty of wedding planning checklists online, but mine stands out because it’s tailored to include the details that truly matter. Beyond the basics of when the ceremony starts and what time dinner is served, my checklist includes:

• Social Media Handles: Stay organized with your vendors’ Instagram handles for easy sharing and tagging on your big day.
• Weather Plan: A backup plan for unexpected weather ensures no last-minute surprises.
• Vendor Meal Counts: Don’t forget to include your hardworking vendors in the meal planning.
• Minute-by-Minute Details: From the pre-ceremony prep to the last dance, every moment is accounted for so you can relax and enjoy your day.

Ready to Start Planning?

Planning your wedding is an adventure, and with the right tools and mindset, it can be one of the most enjoyable experiences of your life. With my checklist and advice, you’ll be ready to tackle everything with confidence and ease.

Don’t forget to check out my Etsy shop for the ultimate wedding essentials bundle to make your journey even smoother. This bundle includes a comprehensive wedding planning checklist, a list of questions to ask your vendors, a vendor comparison sheet, a guide to creating your registry, a venue touring guide, a list of wedding day emergency kit essentials, and so much more!

Here’s to a year of love, laughter, and the wedding of your dreams!

xoxo,
Maddie
Founder, Moments by Maddie