Your wedding planning journey starts here! Follow along to learn how to create your wedding timeline, and get everything done in time for the big day!
written by Tanya Viljoen
One of the very first things you need to do when planning your wedding is to create your own wedding timeline, so that you can see how much time you have to plan your wedding.
It also gives you more insight into what needs to be planned and organized, and which tasks you can delegate to your bridal party or wedding planner.
In this post we look at how you can create your own wedding timeline in detail (the steps mentioned above), as well as some wedding timeline tips. We have also added a free wedding day timeline template pdf which you can download at the end of this post.
The wedding timeline consists of your master wedding checklist, divided up into timeline sections before your wedding day. It makes it easier to plan your wedding this way, because you will know exactly when something should be planned, booked or reserved for your wedding day.
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How to create your own wedding timeline
Here’s the truth about wedding timelines: There is no correct one. It all depends on what type of bride you are, or as a wedding planner, what type of bride you will be working with. The time frame which is set before the wedding takes place also plays a role.
Also, the budget available for the wedding and what the bride wants to include on her wedding day, will be deciding factors too.
You will have to decide what to include on that day before deciding on the timeline. (Don’t follow a timeline that you found on Pinterest, or another website, for a wedding with a horse and carriage, lobster and caviar on the menu, an ice sculpture and a gazillion spa appointments for the bride and her bridesmaids – unless of course you have that kind of wedding in mind and an infinite budget!)
Rather create your own wedding timeline, based on your research of other timelines out there. You should be able to get a clear idea of when what needs to happen before the wedding. Use your wedding planning checklist, then add due dates next to items on your checklist. From here on, you can group dates together and plan your wedding in a stress-free way.
4 Easy Steps to create your own Wedding Timeline
We have broken this task up into steps, so that you can easily create your own wedding timeline. Remember, your timeline will serve as your wedding planning guide. Feel free to use our free downloadable wedding timeline as a guideline to create your own.
Step 1: Make a List!
Create a list of things you wish to include at your wedding. Remember, this list is not set in stone, so you can always add something later or take something away until you are happy with it. To get you started on your list: you definitely need a venue, dress and flowers.
Now keep on adding things to your list. Think about the budget at a later stage, as this will be the final step of determining what needs to get done to plan your wedding day. Your wedding planning checklist will form the base of your timeline, and help you to map out when to do what.
Alternatively, you can do some research for a decent wedding checklist, which will form the base of your list – it helps to have something to work from, in stead of starting with a blank piece of paper. Play around with different ideas which you want at your wedding.
If you are using Pinterest for wedding inspiration, create a board for each theme or aspect of your wedding. For example, create boards for ‘stationery’, ‘guest favors’, ‘kiddies table’ and so on.
Step 2: Choose 3 Wedding Dates
*Note: If you already have a wedding date, you can happily skip this step!
Decide on 3 possible dates for your wedding. Take a blank page, or, create a table in Excel or Word and divide it into 3 columns.
In each column, write the date, and list reasons for why you are choosing that date. Then decide on your final, definite date.
(Worst case: you can always move the wedding day up to a later date, but avoid moving the date closer – disaster will strike..)
Also Read:
Step 3: Plan your Wedding Budget
Your wedding budget is the ultimate deciding factor in what you can and want to include at your wedding. If you simply cannot afford something, you need to either take it off the list, or make an alternative decision.
We have written the perfect post to help you plan your wedding budget, and how to avoid overspending when you simply cannot afford to. Read it here.
If you need more help in planning out your wedding budget, the Wedding Budget Planner Kit will help you to do so. Simply print out and use these sheets to help you manage your wedding budget successfully.
Step 4: Create your Wedding Timeline
In this final step, you can now start creating your own timeline.
Work out the amount of months and weeks left from now up to the wedding day and use your list to see what you should do first. If you can delay some of the planning aspects, move them around a bit.
There are some things, though, which should be first on your timeline, rather than later. For example, your wedding venue, photographer and DJ should be booked way in advance, to avoid disappointment at a later stage. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, your wedding budget should be next on the list – because this is a super important part of planning a successful wedding.
The Groom's Wedding Timeline
Groomies, listen up! Don’t think that you can simply sit back and wait for instructions from your bride or the wedding planner…
You also have many duties and tasks to check off your wedding to do list! Some of these tasks include grooming, selecting your bridal party members, making life-changing speeches and the list goes on…
Do yourself a huge favor and head over to iManscape for a groom’s guide to weddings…
Also Read:
Wedding Timeline Tips
Make sure EVERYTHING is included
You don’t want to be six months down the line and suddenly realize you missed organizing the wedding cake, or the flowers, or the dress! In order to be sure that you have included everything on your wedding checklist, don’t rush it.
Take your time in planning out your checklist and really think about what you want and what your budget will allow. Do thorough research on everything you think you will include on your list.
Keep track of everything, no matter how small
Don’t try to remember everything, because you won’t. Write it all down, even the smallest detail. Maybe a supplier phoned you while you were busy at the bank, make a note of it and follow up with them. It might be urgent.
And remember, some things you need to plan have more than one aspect. For example, if you are giving guests a small box with chocolates and a “Thank You” tag attached to it, you will have to make time to locate those things. And more often than not, these things will all be available at different stores…
The handiest thing you'll need is a calendar
Take it with you, everywhere you go. We find that having a large calendar laid out in front of us enables us to plan better. You can see the whole picture of what needs to happen when.
So, why do you need a calendar and a wedding timeline? Isn’t not enough to just “know” when three months has passed, or how many weeks you have left before the wedding. Keeping track of your wedding timeline, day by day, will help avoid mishaps in planning your wedding.
If there is space on your timeline, however, you can write the due dates next to the items listed.
Take it with you, everywhere you go. We find that having a large calendar laid out in front of us enables us to plan better. You can see the whole picture of what needs to happen when.
So, why do you need a calendar and a wedding timeline? Isn’t not enough to just “know” when three months has passed, or how many weeks you have left before the wedding. Keeping track of your wedding timeline, day by day, will help avoid mishaps in planning your wedding.
If there is space on your timeline, however, you can write the due dates next to the items listed.
Time flies
And before you know it, your wedding day is next week!
Calculate the days and hours left to finalize everything before your big day. You don’t want to have the “Oh, I still ‘got time” mentality and then run out of time to make final arrangements with suppliers…
It’s just way easier and less scrambling to plan your dream wedding in two months, rather than two weeks…
The Wedding Checklist
If you have been around Pinterest with all of your wedding planning ideas, then you have probably heard about the wedding checklist already.
The wedding checklist contains a detailed list of all the things that needs to be done before your wedding day. The great thing about the wedding timeline, is that it can be used as your wedding checklist – just make sure you have included everything you need for your wedding.
Wedding Ideas
If you are passionate about planning your perfect wedding, then you probably have a treasure trove full of wedding ideas that you want to explore.
You can add all of these wedding ideas to your wedding timeline checklist, too. Just make sure you settle on a definitive plan and one theme for your wedding, before you start planning all the details.
Remember to grab your free printable timeline here! You can use it as a printable wedding planner, or use it as a guideline to create your very own!
by Tanya Viljoen
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tanya Viljoen has been an active contributor and planner in the wedding industry since 2016. When not writing educational content for brides and wedding professionals, she can be found designing printables for her Etsy shop, TWCprintables. Keep up with her on Instagram.