2 Years Wedding Planning Timeline – 24 Months Wedding Checklist

Yaay, you are engaged…congratulations! Now that you are engaged it’s time to start the wedding planning process.

While some people like to wait until few months to the wedding before starting with wedding planning others like to start a year or two in advance as this will give them enough time to spread out the wedding tasks without feeling stressed.

If you are planning on having your wedding within 24 months after the proposal, here is a comprehensive 2 years wedding planning timeline template for you to use in planning the wedding.

Comprehensive 2 Years Wedding Planning Checklist

2 Years Wedding Planning Timeline: 24 Months Before

Share the good news: Tell family and friends about your engagement. You can also share the news via your social media handles if you wish.

Create a wedding planning folder: Create a wedding planning folder with planning, budget, guest list, decorations and timeline checklists (you can use our wedding planning binder).

Insure engagement ring.

Choose wedding date range: Get together with your fiancé and choose a range of wedding dates.

Decide on the kind of wedding you want: Decide on the style of wedding you want; whether religious, traditional, civil etc. Also decide on the location, time guest and wedding party size.

Open a wedding gifts registry: If you plan on having an engagement party, this is the right time to open a wedding registry so guests who decide to bring a gift to the engagement party can buy gifts from the registry.

You can open an Amazon wedding registry. Amazon has a large selection of products, a 180 day returns policy and most guests shop on the site so it will be easy for them to navigate through the site.

Start researching wedding officiant: Start researching wedding officiant; if you are having a religious ceremony meet with your religious leaders and ask questions about the ceremony e.g. can you choose your songs or readings etc.

Draft guest list: Draft wedding guest list with input from both families.

Set wedding budget: Set your wedding budget and who pays for what. You can also talk with your family to see how much they are willing to contribute to the wedding.

Start a wedding savings account.

Research marriage legalities: Start researching information about marriage legalities, marriage license requirements and residency requirements if you are getting married abroad.

Research honeymoon destinations: Start researching honeymoon destinations and flights.

2 Years Wedding Planning Checklist: 18 Months Before

Get on Pinterest: Get on Pinterest and start looking for inspiration for the wedding. Create boards for the wedding and start saving ideas you like to those boards.

Throw an engagement party: Have an engagement party if you want one.

Order thank you cards for engagement party.

Start researching wedding venues: Start researching possible wedding venues for the wedding. You can start the wedding venue research online, don’t forget to read reviews.

Choose your wedding party: Choose the wedding party and inform them.

Check officiant availability: Check that your officiant or clergy will be available on your potential wedding dates.

Start researching wedding stationery: Start researching save the dates, invites and thank you cards. Zazzle has a large selection of wedding stationery at affordable prices.

2 Years Wedding Planning Timeline: 14-16 Months Before

Start researching wedding planners.

Start researching photographers.

Start researching entertainer/DJ.

Start researching florist.

Start researching caterer, bar service, baker and other suppliers you need.

24 Months Wedding Planning Timeline: 12 Months Before

Decide on a wedding theme: Decide on your wedding theme and color palette.

Build wedding website: Build your wedding website and have it running. Remember to include details about the registry on the website.

Start dress/suit hunting: Start researching wedding dresses/suits and book visits to try on dresses/suit.

Book wedding planner: Decide if you want to go the DIY way or if you need a wedding planner. If you are going with a wedding planner now is the time to choose and book one.

Draft final wedding guest list.

Fix wedding date: Pick a wedding date from the date range you chose before.

Book your wedding officiant.

Interview wedding vendors: Start interviewing wedding vendors and other suppliers.

Narrow down venue options for wedding ceremony and reception.

Send save the dates: Order and send save the dates to guests.

24 Months Wedding Planning Checklist: 10-11 Months Before

Buy wedding dress: Buy wedding dress, buying the wedding dress early gives more time for dress fittings.

Book venue: Book venues for both the wedding ceremony and reception.

Have an engagement shoot: Once you’ve chosen a photographer consider having an engagement shoot.

Decide on wedding party attire: Get with the wedding party and decide on their attire.

Meet with caterers: Meet with caterers and pick the meal courses for the reception.

Research wedding and make-up artists and narrow down your options

2 Years Wedding Planning Timeline: 7-9 Months Before

Start a fitness/workout regimen: Register with a fitness class and create a fitness regimen. If you are working on a budget, you can get affordable fitness instructors on Fiverr.

Reserve a block of room for out-of-town guests.

Book wedding night accommodation.

If wearing an heirloom gown, clean and schedule alterations.

Select Tuxedo: Partner selects tuxedos and/or book alterations if needed.

Book wedding party attire: Decide on outfits for the wedding party and book fittings if needed.

Book honeymoon location: Decide and book honeymoon location and flight.

Book hairstylist and make-up artist: Have trial sessions with shortlisted hairstylist and make-up artists so you can pick and book the ones you like.

If you are getting married at home, talk to a gardener about landscaping.

6 Months Before

Order accessories: Order wedding rings, shoes and other wedding accessories.

Order wedding invitations and thank you cards.

Confirm venue and rentals booking.

Book transportation: Book transportation for guests, your parents and yourself.

Book all other vendors.

4-5 Months Before

Confirm that each bridesmaid and groomsman has ordered his/her attire.

Book rehearsal dinner space: Plan rehearsal dinner, book space and order invitations.

Attend first dress fitting for your wedding dress.

Order your wedding bouquet.

Register for a marriage class: If you’re having a religious wedding, you might be required to attend pre-marriage counselling or classes.

Draft wedding program information: Decide on the order of the ceremony and reception, and draft wedding program information.

Start writing vows: If you are writing your own wedding vows you should start writing it. If you are writing your own vows and you can’t just seem to find the right words or a way to put the words together to say you can hire a professional to help you with the wedding vows and bring the words to life.

Buy gifts for wedding party: Buy gifts for groom, wedding party and your parents as a show of gratitude.

Purchase accessories for wedding party.

3 Months Before

Decide on cake design, flavor and style: Go cake tasting with the groom and decide on cake design, flavor and style.

Decide on menu: Schedule a tasting with your caterer and confirm menu, dessert, beverage and bar options.

Attend bridal shower: Attend bridal shower, write and mail bridal shower thank you cards.

Mail wedding invites: Send out your wedding invitations.

Create song playlists: Create a wedding songs playlist for the ceremony and reception.

Order wedding favors: Order wedding favors for guests. If you are making and not buying favors, now is the right time to make it.

1-2 MONTHS BEFORE

Get your marriage license.

Attend dress fitting: Attend the final dress fitting, this is especially important if you are having your dress custom made.

Draft seating chart: Draft seating chart and order place cards.

Assign people who will be in charge of the toasts and readings at the wedding.

2-3 Weeks Before

Update caterer with final guest count: Update caterer with final guest count and meal preferences.

Pack an emergency kit for the wedding day.

Assign wedding day responsibilities: Assign wedding week and wedding day responsibilities to members of your wedding party e.g. clean up, return of rental equipment.

Have final meeting with photographer, videographer and officiant. You should discuss the style of photography and poses you want.

Make final arrangements for your honeymoon.

Prepare your toast: Prepare your toast, if you are giving one.

1 Week Before

Schedule groom’s haircut: Schedule an haircut for the groom.

Confirm transportation: Confirm transportation arrangements for wedding ceremony and reception

Confirm delivery with vendors: Confirm the time of vendor delivery and arrival.

Have cash at hand to pay the suppliers on the wedding day.

1-2 Days Before

Drop off menus: Drop off menus, place cards, favors, table plans etc. with the wedding coordinator.

Have rehearsal dinner: Have a wedding rehearsal with the wedding party, followed by a rehearsal dinner.

Drop off ceremony accessories: Drop off ceremony accessories at ceremony site.

Provide each wedding supplier with a contact for the day of the wedding.

Provide the officiant of the wedding with the marriage license.

Prepare Gifts: Prepare gifts for groom, wedding party and parents for the wedding day.

Day Of

Have fun at the wedding.

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