How to Plan A Wedding: An 18-Month Step-by-Step Guide
Congratulations, you're engaged! 🥳 💍 Whether you’re like a bottle of pop with excitement or feeling a little overwhelmed, planning a wedding can be a big task. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you break it down step by step with all the nitty-gritty details (hello, legalities and last-minute checklists) to make the journey smoother and more fun.
This 18-month timeline is your roadmap, designed to help you stay organised and stress-free. It’s for every couple, no matter who you’re marrying, and includes practical advice for first-timers and those who love a structured approach.
18 months to go: The foundations
This is the start of your wedding journey. Exciting! This is where you’ll make the big decisions and set the tone for everything to come.
Set a budget: Talk with your partner (and any family members contributing) to determine what you can spend. Knowing your budget early will help you prioritise what matters most.
Decide on a wedding style: Are you thinking intimate and rustic? Maybe bold and glamorous? There are so many different styles of weddings, so choosing one that best represents you and your partner as a couple can be tricky. Once you’ve chosen a style though, it’ll help to guide the rest of your choices.
Create a guest list: It doesn’t have to be final, but having a rough idea of numbers will help you choose your venue.
Book your venue: Popular venues can book up 18–24 months in advance, so act quickly if you’ve got your heart set on one. The venue’s availability will also help you set a date, which will be needed for the rest of your planning.
Research marriage licenses and giving notice:
In the UK, you need to "give notice" at your local registry office at least 28 days before your wedding date (but no more than 12 months before). This involves an interview of sorts for each of you. This is to make sure you’re getting married willingly among other things.
Both of you must attend the appointment and bring ID (passport or birth certificate) and proof of address. If either of you is divorced or widowed, you’ll need supporting documents like a decree absolute or death certificate.
The notice is displayed publicly for 28 days to allow for objections (it’s rare, don’t worry!).
For religious ceremonies or special circumstances, check specific requirements with your officiant or venue.
12–15 months to go: Assembling the Dream Team
You’ve laid the groundwork, so now it’s time to build your wedding squad!
Hire your photographer: Wedding photographers book up quickly, so secure yours early. Look for someone whose style you love and who makes you feel comfortable. I highly recommend having a video call or a face-to-face chat to see if you vibe with them before booking them, and to ask any questions you might have. Not sure what to ask? Check out my blog post about what to ask a photographer before booking them.
Book key vendors: Start researching and booking your caterer (if the venue isn’t supplying the food), florist, entertainment, and videographer (if you’re having one).
Outfit shopping: Who doesn’t love a bit of retail therapy? It’s time to start looking for your wedding dress or suit. It’s not too early! Wedding attire often takes months to arrive and may need alterations.
Consider guest accommodation: Some wedding venues include some rooms in your wedding package. If you’re keen to pay for your guests' accommodation, discuss this with your venue. However, some venues have no accommodation included in the package, or have no rooms on site, so if you’re expecting out-of-town guests, reserve a block of rooms at a nearby hotel.
9–11 months to go: Details, details, details
The big pieces are falling into place, and now you can start to personalise your day. AKA, the fun bit.
Save the date: Send out save the dates, especially if your wedding is during peak season or a destination affair. These could be traditional and printed, an email, or even a text message. Whatever your style, go with it.
Plan the ceremony: Work with your officiant to design a ceremony that feels meaningful to you. If you want a beautiful number sung by a musician or a poem read by a loved one, this is the time to discuss it. Some couples hate the idea of standing in front of a group of people, so it’s also perfectly ok to keep it as short as possible so that you can get to the food, drink and celebrations!
Think about decor: If you’re like me, you’ve probably already got this planned out in your head or on numerous Pinterest boards. If not, it’s time to start gathering ideas for flowers, table settings, and overall vibes. Pinterest boards are your friend, and may be your new obsession if it isn’t already!
Side note - don’t pressure yourself to achieve a Pinterest perfect wedding. The photos on there are often either a small snippet of someone’s decor or day, or is completely staged for a styled shoot. Just do you and stick to your budget! The day will be perfect no matter how the decor looks.
Transportation: Arrange how you, your wedding party, and guests will get to the venue.
6–8 months to go: Time to fine-tune
Invitations: Similar to the Save the Dates, choose your medium (printed, digital etc) and get those invites out. Include RSVP details, dietary requirements, and accommodation info if needed. You might opt for a wedding website to make everything easier - Hitched have a great article about this!
Menu tasting: Finalise your food and drink choices with your caterer/venue.
Book hair and makeup artists: Schedule a trial to make sure you’re happy with the results. If you’re not happy, make sure you give them feedback. It helps to be able to show them examples of what you’re looking for. Again, Pinterest will be your friend here.
Plan the honeymoon: If you’re jetting off, now’s the time to book your flights and accommodation. It’s always nice to have a holiday to look forward to, but it’s even more exciting knowing you’ll be newlyweds!
3–5 months to go: Final touches
Plan the timeline: Create a schedule for the day and share it with your vendors. Your wedding coordinator/venue will be able to help you with this.
Seating plan: Work on who sits where. This is easier once RSVPs are in, but even a rough or draft plan will help you feel organised while you’re waiting for responses.
Choose music: Finalise your ceremony songs, first dance tune, and party playlist (if your DJ isn’t doing this for you).
Wedding favours: Order or DIY some treats for your guests. They don’t need to be expensive – a scratch card, Welsh cake, tea cake, Lindt chocolate, alcoholic shot…
1–2 months to go: Crunch time
Final fittings: Pick up your dress or suit and try everything on to make sure it’s a perfect fit.
Confirm with vendors: Double-check times and details with all your suppliers. Arranging a call with your photographer to go over the details and timings of the day is a good idea.
Write your vows: If you’re writing personal vows, now’s the time to put pen to paper.
Book nail and hair appointments: If you want to get your hair trimmed, beard shaped, nails done, highlights topped up etc, get your appointments in the diary now.
1 week to go: Last-minute prep
Eeeeeeeh! It’s almost here! The final week is all about staying calm and organised. Here’s a checklist to keep you on track:
Pack for the wedding day: Include your outfits, accessories, and an emergency kit (safety pins, plasters, tissues). I recommend that each of you put all their little bits (jewellery, perfume, garter, invites, hair accessories etc) in a box so that you know where everything is, and so your photographer can easily access everything to take flatlay/detail photos.
Pack for your honeymoon: If you’re leaving right after the wedding, get your bags sorted.
Get nails and hair done: Attend any beauty treatments you booked a month or so ago.
Delegate responsibilities: Assign trusted people to handle things like paying vendors, collecting gifts, managing the timeline, overseeing the decorating of the venue etc.
Practice your speeches: If you’re giving a toast, rehearse it to ease nerves.
Confirm guest count: Share final numbers with your caterer and venue.
Pick up the marriage license: Don’t forget this crucial document!
Relax: Take a walk, meditate, or spend quality time with your partner and furbabies to unwind.
The big day: Celebrate!
Your hard work has paid off, and now it’s time to enjoy. Trust your vendors, soak in every moment, and let someone else handle any hiccups.
Planning a wedding can be a rollercoaster, but this timeline should help you to stay on track. Remember to keep the focus on celebrating your love – it’s your day, after all. Good luck, and happy planning! 🎉