Welcome back folks! Hopefully, you’ve had the chance to check out our last post (aka part one) of the Ultimate Wedding Checklist. If you haven’t, feel free to click here (Ultimate Wedding Checklist Part 1) so you can be directed back over to that part. Let’s dive right in.

Wedding Checklist Recap

In part one, we covered the first month of planning or 12 months from ‘I do’. We covered outlining a budget, determining the length of engagement, making a preliminary guest list, deciding on a theme and/or formality level, and then ended on selecting a venue and picking a date. Already you’ve accomplished so much, and I am sure you are speeding through this to-do list, so let’s dive into the 11 to 7 months before ‘I do’.

11 Months Out

1.) Choose your color palette and finalize details of your theme/vision

Remember, how you and your significant other took the time to plan out your theme and really tried to envision what your big day would look like? Now is the time to make those details become a reality. You’ve already let your dreams run wild, not it’s time to start picking out the details that are going to make this fairytale wedding come true. I’m sure you never need a reason to pull out your Pinterest app but… if you do, now’s the time!

2.) Vendors

These are some of the most important people you are inviting into your wedding. And guess what? Now is the time to find them and book those businesses you KNOW you want there on the day. People like wedding photographers, Band/DJ, Videographer, etc. If there is a catering company, you loved at your cousins wedding now you should move forward with booking a consultation. Any potential wedding element you want that will require an outside party you will want to be booking and/or researching during this month! Luckily for you this is a research heavy month with a few action steps in booking those quick to go vendors.

10 Months Out

1.) Wedding Dress Shopping

I have a confession, one of my favorite tv shows is ‘Say Yes to The Dress’. I love to see all the different gowns and to guess which one each bride will say makes her feel the most bridal. It’s a real tearjerker and lucky for your it’s dress time! Now, let me give you this little disclaimer, it’s okay if you got super excited and this is the first thing you did before even deciding on a venue. I get it, it’s the best part. So don’t fret, but if you haven’t gotten your wedding dress picked out yet, happy hunting.

2.) Block Out Hotel Rooms

If you have guests coming in from far and wide, it is often “expected” that hotel rooms are blocked out for guests somewhere relatively close to the venue. Fortunately, you decided on the venue MONTHS ago. Look at you rocking and rolling your way through this checklist.

3.) Take Engagement Photos

It’s time to take engagement photos. These are necessary for your wedding website (see #4), your save the dates, and wedding invitations. This is also a great opportunity to try out the photographer your booked for the wedding. Better to know now if you like their picture quality and/or style now than after the big day.

4.) Wedding Websites

The fourth item on the to-do list is to create your wedding website, should you choose to have one. Having a wedding website has become a fairly popular thing to do in the recent years. Where previously couples would type out all of the necessary information on long cards or directly on the invitation, more and more couples are going digital. On your website you will want to include things such as your gift registry links, COVID safety guidelines, venue address, RSVP option, FAQ, etc. Anything you may potentially want to tell your guests you can compile here, and when you send out your invitations you just have one small card with the web address or add it to the invitation itself.

5.) Start Looking At Invitations

You’ve got engagement photos and a wedding website so now is the time to go ahead and start exploring wedding invitations and save the dates. Just remember the more custom you go with your invitation the more time you will need to plan to ensure they arrive on time.

9 Months Out

1.) Officially Say Yes to The Dress

Hopefully, you’ve already done this step but if not it’s time to bite the bullet and buy that sucker. It’s important to get this done early in the event you need last minute alterations, etc.

2.) Send out Save the Dates

It’s finally time to let people know about how lucky your significant other is for choosing to marry you. Keep your save the date simple and make sure that you are giving guests ample to time to… save the date. Make sure that every guest that you intend on inviting gets one!

3.) Ask out your bridesmaids and maid of honor

Ask those select few if they would be willing to be a part of your special day in a very intimate way. There are a ton of cute ways to ask, be sure to whip that Pinterest app back out to see all of the cute “Bridesmaid boxes” people are curating.

8 Months Out

1.) Finalize your Registry

Since your registry has been added to your wedding website, now is a great time to go ahead and put the finishing touches on this list. Maybe you’ve been eye balling wine glasses and you completely forgot to add a new set to the list. Make sure you add them now!

2.) Pick Bridesmaids Dresses and Schedule a Dress Fitting

The easiest way to accomplish this and avoid bridesmaids not feeling beautiful and confident on your wedding day, is to choose a color and ask the bridal party to choose their dress style. Another option is ordering the same dress ‘bones’ and then having each bridesmaid decide on the strap configuration.

3.) Meet the Florists

Hopefully, while you were brainstorming different vendors, you came across a few florists. Well, now is the time to set up a consultation and see what they can do to make your vision come true. Most florists will have recommendations on your bouquet, the bridesmaid bouquets, etc. Be sure to listen and learn and all “flower fails” will be avoided.

7 Months Out

1.) It’s time to start planning these other parties.

You are officially seven months out (at least) and you haven’t given any thought to your engagement party, bridal shower/bachelorette shower, bachelor party, and rehearsal dinner. Start to consider the details of those events. Starting with location and ending with agenda for event.

2.) Order Rental Items

Again, you’ve been researching different vendors this whole process, so now it’s just a matter of calling those smaller vendors. For example, now is a great time to reserve your linens, dance floor, tents, etc. Make sure you do your research and ask enough questions to ensure you are getting the best for your big day.

Conclusion

That is it for now folks! You have already made it to 7 months, and I am sure time is flying by. In this post we covered everything that needs to be done from when you are 11 to 7 months away from ‘I Do.’ Your wedding day will be here before you know it, and so I hope you find this checklist valuable!

Next up is the Ultimate Wedding Checklist – Part Three