How to plan a wedding
Quick answer
To plan a wedding, set your budget and guest count first, then book the venue — it locks your date and drives every other vendor. Book photographer, caterer, and music next, send invitations about eight weeks out, and confirm the final headcount in the last month.
The month-by-month timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 12+ months out | Set the budget and guest count, lock the date and region, decide the vibe, draft the guest list, and book the venue — it drives every other date. |
| 9–11 months out | Book the highest-demand vendors: photographer, caterer, band or DJ, and florist. Book the officiant and send save-the-dates. |
| 6–8 months out | Book videographer, cake, hair & makeup, and transportation. Reserve a room block and order invitations. |
| 4–5 months out | Finalize the ceremony order, book rentals, schedule the hair & makeup trial, and order favors. |
| 2–3 months out | Mail invitations (about 8 weeks out), do the catering tasting, buy the bands, and start alterations. |
| 1 month out | Confirm the final headcount, build the seating chart, confirm timing with every vendor, and pick up the marriage license. |
| Week of | Give final meal counts to the caterer, send the day-of timeline to everyone, and pack an emergency kit. |
The two tools you actually need
Start with the wedding budget calculator to split your total across the categories, then work the vendor checklist so nothing slips.
Skip the 200-step checklist
Bridezilla builds this exact timeline for your date, chases every deadline, and drafts the vendor emails — you just approve. See how it works →
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I start planning a wedding?
Most couples plan over 9 to 12 months, and the venue should be booked first because it locks in your date and drives every other vendor. Shorter engagements work too — you just compress the early phases.
What should I book first?
Book the venue first. It sets your date, capacity, and budget anchor, and the highest-demand vendors (photographer, caterer, band) book up around the same date, so secure those next.
Can I plan a wedding without a planner?
Yes. A clear timeline, a budget breakdown, and a vendor checklist cover most of it. Bridezilla does that work for you and drafts the vendor emails, so you get a planner's output without the planner's fee.