Free wedding checklist + recommended apps

Wedding planning is no joke, but if you’re organized, ready to work and not afraid to ask for help, there’s no reason you can’t pull off a perfect day — with flair!

There are several wedding checklists you can find around the internet, but we’ve pulled together the comprehensive list below to help you think through the majority of the details (and maybe even more than you need!). Plus, feel free to scroll right by the checklist if you’d rather do this all on your phone. We’ve wrangled the best free wedding apps the internet has to offer and compiled a handy list you’ll rely on for the next 12 months! Happy planning!

12 months

  • Choose a date
  • Decide on your budget
  • Choose a wedding style
  • Choose your wedding party
  • Create your wedding website
  • Begin creating your guest list
  • Explore ceremony and reception venues
  • Start assembling your team of wedding professionals: planner, photographer, videographer, caterer, florist and musicians
  • Get engagement photos taken
  • Create your Save the Date

10-11 months

  • Choose bridal party attire and accessories
  • Reserve ceremony and reception venues
  • Book officiant
  • Hire photographer, videographer, caterer, DJ/band, florist and planner
  • Mail your Save the Dates
  • Purchase wedding dress, veil and undergarments

8-9 months

  • Find 3 hotels (at different price points for out of town guests)
  • Browse wedding invitation designs and coordinating stationery for programs, menus, etc
  • Refine guest list
  • Create gift registries
  • Begin planning honeymoon
  • Shop for bridesmaid dresses

6-7 months

  • Explore wedding day hair and makeup styles
  • Meet with officiant to discuss plans for ceremony
  • Reserve rentals: chairs, linens, lights, etc
  • Choose cake style and schedule tastings
  • Decide on groomsmen attire
  • Order bridesmaid dresses
  • Personalize and order a sample wedding invitation
  • Hire ceremony musicians
  • Book transportation to and from venues
  • Purchase wedding bands
  • Order wedding invitations and thank you cards (unless you plan to use a wedding photo)

4-5 months

  • Choose flowers for wedding party, attendants, venues, cake, etc
  • Schedule dress fittings
  • Book honeymoon flights and hotels
  • Book room for wedding night
  • Order wedding cake
  • Plan welcome baskets for out of town guests
  • Prepare play (and do not play) lists for DJ/band
  • Finalize wedding guest list
  • Assemble rehearsal dinner guest list
  • Book rehearsal dinner venue
  • Order/create rehearsal dinner invitations
  • Order cake

3 months

  • Finalize honeymoon plans and ensure all documents are in order
  • Plan ceremony and reception seating
  • Experiment with hair and veil with stylist
  • Finalize readers and readings
  • Purchase toasting flutes, serving pieces, guestbook, flower basket and ring bearer pillow
  • Finalize reception menu
  • Order/create menu cards
  • Order wedding favors
  • Attend premarital counseling

2 months

  • Mail wedding invitations
  • Develop system for organizing RSVPs
  • Begin writing vows (if you’re creating personalized ones)
  • Review ceremony details with officiant
  • Lay out the content for wedding programs
  • Apply for marriage license: consider ordering an extra
  • Finalize seating arrangements
  • Finalize playlists with musicians
  • Finalize fittings for wedding party and parents
  • Create wedding day timeline and send to all vendors, officiant, and wedding party
  • Write out honeymoon travel itinerary for family at home
  • Decide on “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”
  • Book spa and beauty treatments for you and the bridal party
  • Book wedding day transportation
  • Purchase gifts for attendants
  • Order or create your wedding day program

1 month

  • Call vendors to confirm date, times and location
  • Confirm honeymoon reservations
  • Pack for honeymoon
  • Pick up wedding rings
  • Pick up marriage license
  • Final dress fitting (with shoes and undergarments)
  • Write thank you notes as gifts are received
  • Purchase wedding day gift for your fiancé/fiancee

2 weeks

  • Follow up with guests who have not RSVPd
  • Give final count to caterer
  • Update registries
  • Begin breaking-in wedding shoes
  • Make arrangements for the caring of pets and plants while on honeymoon
  • Send playlists to DJ/band/ceremony musicians
  • Get final haircut and color
  • Delegate wedding day duties: gift table, guestbook, etc
  • Delegate someone to return tuxes, rentals and tend to wedding dress
  • Send directions/addresses to wedding day limo/transportation driver

1 week

  • Prepare final payment to vendors plus cash tips for service personnel
  • Give readers their scripts
  • Give photographer and videographer your image and video requests
  • Lay out wedding clothes
  • Prepare wedding day emergency kit
  • Get spa treatments for you and your bridal party

The day before

  • Deliver welcome baskets
  • Get mani/pedi/massage
  • Attend wedding rehearsal
  • Get to bed at a decent time
  • Write a letter to your future spouse to go along with your wedding morning gift

Wedding Day

  • Eat a good breakfast
  • Allow yourself plenty of time to get ready
  • Give wedding rings and officiant fee to best man
  • Relax, smile and soak in every moment

Beyond the wedding

  • Ensure tuxes and rentals have been returned
  • Get wedding dress to cleaners and preservationist
  • Send thank you cards

Looking for even more detail? Try this ultimate planning guide from Real Simple.
Planning in 6 months or less? Try this planning guide for a shorter timeline.

The Best FREE Wedding Apps on the Internet
Appy Couple
WedHappy
Our Wedding Planner
Wedding Planner LadyMarry
Wedding LookBook by The Knot (Ideas)
The Knot Wedding Planner (Planning)
Evernote (Note taking)

And for all other details like honeymoon travel planning, weather, unique wedding party gifts, etc. refer to this great link!