Planning a Wedding: The Ultimate Planning Calendar & Checklist

Having a structured wedding planning calendar is the key to a stress-free journey leading up to your wedding day. Whether you want to plan digitally or prefer the feel of pen and paper, we have the tools to help you keep track of every detail. After all, planning a wedding should be one of the most enjoyable periods of your life, and with the right wedding planning, stressful moments are transformed into pure joy.

Your wedding day is sure to be one of the most memorable days of your lives – a day to cherish and recount to your children and grandchildren. Whether you’re dreaming of a simple barefoot ceremony on the beach or a grand church wedding, the most important thing when planning your wedding is that it turns out exactly as YOU want it to.

By setting a clear timetable and checklist, you’ll avoid the panic of forgetting those small but important details. This makes it much easier to divide the tasks between you, enlist the help of friends and family, and, above all, spread the costs so you don’t have to make all the major purchases in the same month. Discuss your priorities thoroughly at an early stage, so that you’re both planning for exactly the same day. Then it’s just a case of getting on with it!

Twelve, nine or perhaps just two months to go? Whatever stage you’re at, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you plan your wedding. Below you’ll find your step-by-step wedding checklist, packed with advice and checklists for your big day.

12+ months to go: Start planning your wedding well in advance

The first year is all about the big dreams and the most crucial bookings. The earlier you start, the greater the chance you’ll get exactly the wedding you’ve pictured.

Set your budget: This is by far the most important step before you book anything. Decide how much the wedding can cost and how you’ll finance it.
Choose a date and season: Will it be a romantic summer wedding, or does the magic of winter appeal to you?
Draw up a provisional guest list: The number of guests will determine your choice of venue.
Book the wedding venue and church/ceremony location: The most popular venues are often booked more than a year in advance.
Create a digital mood board: Start gathering inspiration for colour schemes and styles on Pinterest.
Tips along the way: Are you thinking of holding the whole celebration abroad? Organising a celebration from afar requires a bit of extra planning.

Read our 5 tips for a successful and unforgettable destination wedding abroad.

9–6 months to go: The details are starting to take shape

Now the foundations are in place, it’s time to start booking the creative suppliers. Planning a wedding now means you’ll start looking more closely at the style and the details.

Find your wedding outfits: It can take several months to have a wedding dress or suit made to measure and altered.
Book a photographer and videographer: Photographs will be your absolute best memories of the day. Once you’ve decided on the date and venue, it’s a good idea to contact your chosen photographer as soon as possible, as the best ones are often fully booked a year in advance. Whether you’re after a full day’s coverage (so-called lifestyle photography) or just traditional portraits during the ceremony, it’s best to book well in advance. A fun tip when planning your wedding is to place disposable cameras or Polaroid cameras on the tables so that your guests can help document your big day!
Choose your bridal party: Ask your prospective bridesmaids and groomsmen if they’d like to stand by your side.
Send out ‘Save the Date’ cards: This is particularly important if you’re getting married in the height of summer or planning a destination wedding.

4–3 months to go: Invitations and logistics

Now the wedding planning really kicks into gear. It’s time to invite your guests and finalise the fixed items on the programme.
Send out the official invitations: Make sure to include the RSVP deadline, dress code and information about any allergies.
Book a florist and a cake maker: Decide on the style of the bridal bouquet and sample the wedding cake.
Start planning the schedule: How will the day unfold? When should the ceremony begin and when will the starter be served?
Order wedding rings: Bear in mind that it may take time if the rings are to be engraved or made to order.

2 months to go: The countdown has begun

With just two months to go, it’s time for a thorough review of your wedding checklist. Now it’s all about the administrative tasks and the final tweaks.
Apply for an examination of impediments to marriage: This is done through the Swedish Tax Agency and is valid for 4 months. You can easily apply for an examination of impediments to marriage online via the Swedish Tax Agency. Without an approved examination of impediments to marriage, you cannot get married!
Finalise the menu and catering: Have a final meeting with the kitchen staff or your catering partner.
Do a trial run: Book an appointment with your hairdresser and make-up artist to try out your wedding hairstyle and make-up.

1 month to go: The final sprint

When planning a wedding, it’s during the final month that everything falls into place. Try to delegate as much as possible. Try to delegate as much as possible to your bridesmaids, groomsmen and toastmaster so that you can enjoy yourselves.
Finalise the seating plan: Once the RSVP deadline has passed, it’s time to put together the big jigsaw puzzle that is the seating plan.
Practise the wedding waltz: Or simply the song you’ve chosen for your first dance.
Break in your wedding shoes: Walk around in them at home so you avoid blisters on the big day.
Draw up a detailed schedule: Distribute this to all suppliers, toastmasters and coordinators.

10 details you mustn’t overlook on your wedding day

Many couples focus so much on the big picture that the small, yet oh-so-important, details get overlooked. Here’s a quick checklist of things that’ll save the day:

• First-aid kits for the toilets: Leave plasters, headache tablets, mints, safety pins and hairspray in the guest toilets.
• Water and snacks during the preparations: It’s easy to forget to eat amidst all the excitement in the morning.
• Umbrellas: Have a backup plan with stylish, transparent umbrellas in case the weather gods decide to send some rain.
• Cash or a Swish number: For any payments or late-night snacks.
• A designated gift coordinator: Someone to look after envelopes and parcels throughout the evening and lock them away in a safe place.
• Spare shoes (for the dance floor): A handy tip when planning a wedding is to pack a pair of comfy trainers or ballet flats for the bride for when her heels start to hurt in the early hours.
• Mobile phone chargers: Appoint a bridesmaid or groomsman to carry a power bank in their pocket so that no important guest is left with a flat phone.
• Who’ll take care of the leftovers? Decide in advance who’ll pack up any leftover cake, late-night snacks or decorations once the party’s over.
• A copy of the schedule in your pocket: Give a printed version of the schedule to the toastmistress and the maître d’ so they can coordinate the catering and speeches.
• Time just for the two of you: Set aside 10 minutes straight after the ceremony where you can slip away completely on your own, have a glass of bubbly and simply take in the fact that you’re actually married now.
  Remember the most important thing of all: in the final days before the wedding, you as the bride and groom shouldn’t have any tasks scheduled at all; just try to take it easy, relax and get some rest. Because, at the end of the day, getting married is absolutely brilliant fun!

Remember that wedding planning should be fun. If it feels overwhelming, stop and take a breather. Feel free to read our top expert tips on how to plan a stress-free wedding and keep the romance alive throughout the whole process.