Wedding Planning Timeline
What to do at 12, 6, 3 months and 6 weeks — plus the three things that most often slip.
The 12-month backbone
- 12+ months out
Set the total budget and the guest-count target; book the venue; agree the date. - 10–12 months
Book photographer, band or DJ, and the officiant. Start the dress search. - 8–9 months
Send save-the-dates. Book florist, catering details, hair and make-up trials. - 6–7 months
Choose and check the hashtag (see our guide). Order invitations; book transport and hotel block. - 4–5 months
Send invitations with an RSVP date two months before the wedding. Confirm readings and toasts. - 3 months
Final dress fitting, menu tasting, ring resizing, write your vows. - 6 weeks
Chase missing RSVPs, confirm final numbers with catering, print signage and hashtag signs. - 2 weeks
Send the vendor timeline, hand out the day-of contacts, pack the emergency kit. - 1 week
Re-check the hashtag one last time; give the photographer the shot list. - Day before / day of
Rehearsal, then hand everything to your coordinator — nothing new gets decided on the day.
Adjust to your season and venue availability — this is a sequencing guide, not a deadline you can fail.
What actually goes wrong
- RSVP slip. Always chase by phone the week after the deadline; assume 5–10% will not reply on time.
- Signage printed late. Hashtag signs and menus are cheap but need print lead time — our sign generator makes the file in a minute, printing takes longer.
- Vows left to the night before. Write them three months out and revisit monthly; our wording tool helps with structure.
What this tool does
- Free, no signup, one-click copy — everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
- 40+ ideas in one run — from two first names, a shared surname and the wedding year.
- Grouped into four sets — name mashups, puns & wordplay, classics, and date-based options.
- Copy all / Download — grab one tag, or export the whole list as a text file for your planner or printer.
- “IG” check link — every tag links straight to Instagram's tag page so you can see with one click whether it is already in use.
- 500 surname pages — ready-made ideas for the most common surnames.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should we start planning?
Twelve months is comfortable for most venues and vendors; six months is workable if you are flexible on date and venue.
When should invitations go out?
Eight to twelve weeks before the wedding, with an RSVP deadline two months out so you have time to chase.
Do we need a day-of coordinator?
If you have no dedicated person, yes — someone who owns the timeline so you are not the one being asked questions.
What should be done the week before?
Nothing new. Confirm numbers, hand over the timeline, and re-check your hashtag on Instagram.
Updated 2026-09-26