Free Printable Wedding Checklist
This free printable wedding checklist breaks planning into nine stages, from 12+ months before the wedding to the thank-you notes afterwards — more than 50 tasks with tick boxes. Shorter engagement? Start at the stage that matches your timeline and catch up on the earlier tasks first, beginning with venue, budget and guest count.
Download the checklist
- Download: Wedding planning checklist (12 months) (PDF · US Letter, prints on A4)
What's in each stage
| Stage | Main focus |
|---|---|
| 12+ months | Budget, guest list range, date, venue, planner |
| 10–12 months | Photographer, officiant, caterer, wedding website, hotel blocks |
| 8–10 months | Attire, music, florist, wedding party, registry |
| 6–8 months | Save the dates, hair & makeup, invitations, honeymoon, transport, cake |
| 4–6 months | Final guest list, ceremony plan, rings, rehearsal dinner |
| 2–3 months | Send invitations, RSVP deadline, marriage licence, vows, fittings |
| 1 month | Chase RSVPs, final numbers, seating chart, day-of timeline |
| 1 week | Confirm vendors, final payments, delegate tasks, guest reminders |
| After | Returns, thank-you notes, name change, reviews, photo backups |
How to use it
- Print two copies — one for each of you — and agree who owns each task.
- Book the "big three" first: venue, photographer and caterer. Most other dates depend on them.
- Put deadlines in a shared calendar; the checklist tells you what, the calendar tells you when.
- Check off tasks as vendors confirm in writing, not when you first enquire.
- Six months or less? Combine the first four stages into your first month.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a wedding checklist?
Budget and guest list, venue and key vendors, attire, invitations and RSVPs, legal paperwork, the day-of timeline and seating, final payments, and thank-you notes after the wedding.
What should I do first when planning a wedding?
Agree on a budget and an approximate guest count, then choose a date range and book the venue. Almost every other decision depends on those.
How far in advance should I send invitations?
6–8 weeks before a local wedding and 10–12 weeks before a destination wedding, with the RSVP deadline 3–4 weeks before the day.