Wedding Planning Checklist – A Guide To Plan Your Dream Wedding

Wedding Planning Checklist

On their actual material days, undoubtedly, weddings appear to be highly elegant and stunning. However, behind the glitz and glam, there is a long and exhausting process of wedding planning. You’ll need to set up dates, make reservations, prepare guest lists, order food, and beverages, and prepare everything else you’ll need for the wedding.

Some money-rich couples who don’t really have the time to prepare their weddings prefer hiring professional planners to assist them. However, others do it on their own. If you also wish to plan your wedding on your own, then this post is for you.

We are sharing a Wedding Planning Checklist – A Guide To Plan Your Dream Wedding here. You can use the wedding planning checklist as a guide. This checklist will assist you in getting everything ready for your wedding and making it as colorful as possible.

Let’s take a look together at the wedding planning checklist…

In order to keep you and the people who are assisting you focused and on track, we have divided this wedding checklist into categories, with each category listing the necessary items.

Take a look…

THE WEDDING PARTY

  • Best Man
  • Maid of honor or matron of honor
  • Groomsmen
  • Bridesmaids
  • Flower Girl(s)
  • Ring Bearer(s)
  • Ushers
  • Other

WEDDING ATTIRE FOR THE BRIDE

  • Wedding Gown
  • Wedding Gown Fittings and Alterations
  • Wedding Gown Cleaning
  • Wedding Gown Ironing
  • Gown Preservation – Carrying Bag
  • Bridal Tiara & Veil
  • Bridal Footwear or Shoes
  • Intimate Apparel
  • Beauty Treatment, Hair & Make Up
  • Bridal Jewelry to be worn with the Wedding Gown
  • Accessories

WEDDING ATTIRE FOR GROOM

  • Tuxedo Suits
  • Tie or bow (matching with the suit)
  • Shoes
  • Piece of Jewelry (if any)

WEDDING ATTENDANTS OUTFITS

  • Best Man Attire
  • Jewelry
  • Groomsmen Attire
  • Jewelry
  • Maid of Honor Dress
  • Shoes
  • Jewelry – accessories
  • Bridesmaids Dresses
  • Shoes
  • Jewelry – accessories
  • Flower Girl Dress
  • Shoes
  • Jewelry – accessories
  • Ring Bearer Suit
  • Shoes
  • Religious Attire
  • Anything else? (Add if any)

PERSONAL WEDDING ACCESSORIES FOR THE BRIDE

  • Wedding Accessories Collection
  • Bridal Purse
  • Something Old
  • Something New
  • Something Borrowed
  • Something Blue
  • Sixpence for the bride’s Shoe
  • Garter
  • Tossing Garter
  • Handkerchief
  • Emergency Kit
  • Other

WEDDING STATIONERY

  • Save-the-Date Card
  • Bridal Shower Invitation
  • Bridal Shower Thank-You Cards
  • Bachelor/Bachelorette Party Invitation
  • Rehearsal Dinner Invitation
  • Welcome Dinner Invitation
  • The Wedding Invitation
  • Outer Envelope
  • Inner Envelope
  • Belly Band
  • Invitation Card
  • Reception Card
  • Directions/Map Card
  • Response Card and Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope
  • Hotel Accommodations Card (If you don’t have a wedding website and expect guests to travel to your wedding, provide an accommodation card with local hotel recommendations.)
  • Other

At the Wedding

  • Welcome Basket Tag
  • Ceremony Program
  • Escort Cards
  • Place Cards
  • Table Number Cards
  • Menu Cards
  • Favor Tags
  • Envelope Seals
  • Printed Napkins
  • Stamps
  • Others

After the Wedding

  • Thank-You Cards

ITEMS FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY

  • Wedding Bands (along with box or cushion)
  • Wedding Vows
  • Ring Bearer Pillow
  • Jewelry Gifts for Kids
  • Unity Candles
  • Other Ceremonial Candles
  • Guest Books
  • Pens
  • Religious Items
  • Gift from Groom to Bride
  • Gift from Bride to Groom
  • Gifts for Wedding Officiant
  • Honorarium for Wedding Officiant
  • Other

FLOWERS FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY

  • Bride’s Bouquet
  • Bride’s Floral Crown or Hair Flowers
  • Maid of Honor Bouquet
  • Bridesmaids’ Bouquets
  • Flower Girl’s Basket
  • Flowers for Moms
  • Tossing Bouquet (For the Bouquet Toss at the Reception)
  • Groom’s Boutonniere
  • Corsages and Nosegays
  • Other Boutonnieres

Ceremony Flowers

  • Entryway or Welcome Table Arrangements
  • Altar or Chuppah Arrangements
  • Pew or Chair Arrangements
  • Flowers for Aisle Decorations
  • Tossing Petals for Guests

WEDDING CEREMONY LOGISTICS

  • A Ceremony Venue
  • A Wedding Officiant
  • A Ceremony Structure
  • An entrance order for the wedding party
  • Ushers to help seat guests
  • Transport for the wedding party
  • An exit plan (Is there going to be a receiving line, a confetti toss, and so on?)

WEDDING CEREMONY VENUE

  • Chairs for the bride and groom
  • A table (or altar) for the wedding officiant
  • The Readings
  • Chairs for guests
  • Space for an aisle
  • Electricity sources
  • Fans or Heating or umbrellas as per the wedding season
  • Ceremony readings
  • Church readings and prayers
  • People to read
  • A step for any child readers
  • A podium and/or microphone
  • Parking for the guests (Don’t ever miss to see it in advance)

MUSIC AT THE CEREMONY

  • Musicians/Soloist/DJ
  • Prelude
  • Microphones/amps/a PA system
  • DJ or Someone to play any pre-recorded music
  • A processional song for the wedding party
  • A processional song for the bride
  • A recessional song for the couple
  • Music (for signing the registry)
  • Additional Music

THE DECOR & DETAILS FOR THE CEREMONY

  • Ceremony programs (and a person to distribute them)
  • Welcome board or sign
  • Ceremony backdrop
  • Flowers – entrance flowers, altar flowers, pew ends
  • Baskets, petals, or signs for flower girls and page boys
  • Tissues
  • Confetti (and person to coordinate the toss)
  • Candles (including a unity candle)
  • Matchbox (if required)
  • Candle Holders
  • Aisle Runner
  • Pew Bows and Ribbons
  • Ceremony Symbols (hand-fasting ribbon, sand, tree planting, gifts for a church ceremony etc.)
  • Drinks or Snacks (for post-ceremony celebrations)

ITEMS FOR THE WEDDING RECEPTION

For the Bride

  • Garters
  • Bridal Purses

Reception Logistics

  • Guest Book & Pen
  • Champagne Goblets/Flutes
  • Cake Tops
  • Cake Server Set
  • Table Covers
  • Table Centerpieces
  • Chair Covers and Decorations
  • Ice Sculptures
  • Bar
  • Catering
  • Music
  • Flowers
  • Photographer
  • Videographer
  • Entertainment
  • Gifts for Family
  • Gifts for attendants
  • Wedding Favors
  • Games, Coloring Books etc.., for Kids
  • Candles
  • Ribbons & Balloons
  • Decorations
  • Rentals
  • Other

Reception Flower Arrangement

  • Centerpieces
  • Reception Flowers
  • Cocktail Table Arrangements
  • Bar Arrangements
  • Escort Card Table Arrangements
  • Centerpieces
  • Newlyweds’ Chair Decorations
  • Wedding Cake Flowers
  • Cake Table Arrangement
  • Memorial Table Flowers
  • Lounge Area Arrangements
  • Buffet Table/Food Station Arrangements
  • Powder Room Decorations
  • Getaway Car Arrangements
  • Other

LIST OF THE GIFTS

  • Personalized Gifts
  • Engravable Gifts
  • Gifts from Groom to Bride
  • Gifts from Bride to Groom
  • Gifts for Parents
  • Gifts for Grandparents
  • Gifts for Kids
  • Gifts for siblings
  • Gifts for Best Man
  • Gifts for Maid of Honor
  • Gifts for Wedding Attendants
  • Gifts for Out of Town Guests
  • Gifts for Wedding Officiant
  • Honorarium for Wedding Officiant
  • Tips for Service Providers
  • Other (If Anything Left)

RECEPTION MUSIC & DANCES

  • Musicians/Soloist/DJ
  • First Dance
  • Mother – Son Dance
  • Father – Daughter Dance
  • Father – Daughter Dance
  • Cutting Of The Cake
  • Tossing the Bouquet
  • Tossing the Garter
  • Group Dances
  • Dances for Kids
  • Other

PHOTO & MEDIA

  • Newspaper Announcement (If required)
  • Wedding Web Site
  • Videographer
  • Photographer
  • Film & Developing
  • Photo Albums
  • CDs & DVDs
  • CD DVD Cases
  • Photo Framing
  • Other

FOOD & BEVERAGES & HOSPITALITY

  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
  • Pre-Reception Snacks
  • Bridal Shower Brunch/Lunch
  • Bar
  • Non-bar Beverages
  • Wedding Cake
  • Ceremony Site
  • Reception Hall
  • Reception Dinner
  • Guest Accommodations
  • Other

VENDORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

  • Wedding Officiant
  • Wedding Coordinator or Wedding Planner
  • Bridal Makeup Artist & Hairstylist
  • Groom’s Salon Artist
  • Decorator
  • Florist
  • Bartender
  • Wedding Caterer
  • Wedding Photographer
  • Wedding Videographer
  • Wedding Cake Baker
  • Ceremony Location Manager or Owner
  • Reception Hall Manager
  • Ice Carver
  • Musicians/Soloist/DJ
  • Babysitter or Kids Supervisor
  • Rental Agent for Wedding Reception Needs
  • Travel Agent (Who will handle your ticketing and travel needs in case of a destination wedding or out of the town wedding)
  • Local Transporter (to arrange for your and your guests’ transport from ceremony hall to reception hall)
  • Hotel Managers (For your and your guests’ accommodations)
  • Emcee (If you hire someone to handle your wedding and keep the show going ☺ ☺)
  • Limo Driver
  • Entertainer
  • Calligrapher
  • Specialists
  • Other

PRO TIP #1. Don’t miss to save your wedding vendors’ Contact Information. It will make communicating with vendors a breeze for all.

PRO TIP #2. Place the following information next to each item mentioned above: who paid for it, who is in charge of it, the date it was completed. It will help you keep track of who paid for what.

Now the wedding planning checklist is done, it’s time to shed some light on the things that you’ll require to the after your wedding.

Here we go…

DON’T MISS TO:

    • Obtain a marriage license.
    • Obtain Your Passport.
    • Get Your Visas.
    • Arrange for Blood Tests.
    • Head to your Honeymoon Destination…

Notify the following of your name and address change:

  • The Banks in which you have your accounts
  • Credit Card Agencies
  • Utility companies
  • Your Insurance Companies
  • Your employer
  • The post office
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Social Security
  • Professional Associations (If Any)
  • The Registrar of Voters
  • The DMV – car registration
  • The military
  • Schools or Academic Institutions
  • Others (If Any)

Putting it all together…

Undoubtedly, preparing for your wedding is not an easy task. Your wedding planning adventure can become a snap if you keep the checklist as mentioned above handy. Keep in mind that planning for your big day should be enjoyable and memorable.

The time between your engagement and your wedding day marks the start of your married life together. Both you, the bride and groom, have decisions to make and duties to perform in order for your wedding day to be everything you’ve imagined. Whether referred to as a map or a guide, the aforementioned wedding planning checklist might be extremely beneficial to you. It can be used as a roadmap to follow. It will make your trip from engagement to marriage more pleasurable and remarkable, which you will remember for the rest of your life.

We guarantee that with this checklist in hand, organizing your wedding will be effortless and joyful. For complete ease, just print it out, fill it out, and make copies of it to hand over to the person in charge of your wedding. You can even consider keeping it as a wedding planning memento to look back on pleasantly as you travel down memory lane.

Happy Wedding… ☺ ☺

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy!!