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WELCOME!

I’m Meg Keene.

I founded A Practical Wedding in

2008 based on a

simple idea: wedding planning

doesn’t *have* to be torture.

😭😍 Almost a decade later, we’ve

helped over 30 million couples plan

authentic weddings (without

blowing their budget), and grown

into a kickass digital community

centered around intersectional

feminism (with a side of glitter).

To help you along the way, I’ve written not one,

but two books—“A Practical Wedding” and “A Practical Wedding Planner”—

which function as the emotional and logistical guide to help you through

wedding planning. (Think of them as your wedding planning road map,

security blanket, and defensive shield against anyone who tries to make your

wedding about them.)

My team and I designed this checklist to get your started on your planning

journey, but there’s tons more on our site: apracticalwedding.com/engaged

Good luck, and may the odds be

ever in your favor.

APW’S WEDDING PLANNING

CHECKLIST

WHEN YOU’RE NEWLY ENGAGED

❏ You’re engaged! Have some bubbly and bliss out

❏ Tell people the big news

❏ Avoid jumping right into planning if you can possibly avoid it:

just enjoy this recent change!

❏ Pick up a copy of the APW Book and the APW Planner (but

don’t start

❏ Sit down and figure out what your wedding priorities are

❏ Come up with a wedding mission statement

❏ Sign up for APW’s wedding planning email list, so you have a

built-in wedding BFF

❏ Have an engagement party, or a super casual engagement

toast

❏ Decide if you want to elope, and ditch the rest of this list

(really!)

12 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Launch your master plan binder, notebook, or Google Doc

❏ Check out the APW Wedding Planning Spreadsheets and

start customizing them

❏ Sit down and have your first (of many) guest lists chats (and

don’t forget to ask your parents for their list)

❏ Figure out your target wedding budget

❏ Narrow your venue search (ceremony and reception) to your

favorite options

❏ If you want (and can afford) a wedding planner, find one that

you share your wedding values

11 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Begin touring your preferred reception and ceremony

venues (ask questions!)

❏ Book a venue

❏ Begin your wedding photographer search: set-up meetings,

and book

10 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Start shopping for wedding attire. Make appointments at

bridal and clothing shops as needed. Remember traditional

wedding dress shops will have long lead times on ordering

dresses

❏ Research what kind of food you want to have, and begin to

interview and book caterers

❏ If you don’t want a caterer, start to look into self-catering or

haing a potluck wedding

❏ Once you’ve booked your wedding photographer, shoot

engagement photos (especially if you’re using them for save

the dates)

❏ Finalize your guest list before sending Save the Dates. Hot

tip: our spreadsheets can help you do this

❏ Create a basic version of your wedding website, especially if

you want to include it in your Save the Dates

❏ Design and order your Save the Dates

9 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

❏ Send your Save the Dates

❏ Research wedding invitations and associated paper goods

❏ If you want to DIY your wedding invitations, come up with a

plan now

❏ If you can afford a Day of Coordinator, hire one. If you can’t,

ask a friend to be your wedding stage manager

8 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

❏ Check out local florists and make appointments

❏ Decide what kind of music you want to have. Do you need a

DJ? A band? A DIY music plan? (Psst: check our APW’s

wedding playlists)

❏ Begin thinking about your officiant: who will it be?

❏ Daydream about wedding cakes, and discuss what kind you’d

❏ If you want wedding showers or parties, peruse these ideas,

and ask a friend if they’ll plan it for you

7 MONTHS BEFORE THE WEDDING

❏ Book a florist, if you’re using one (Here are tips!)

❏ If you’ve decided on a band or DJ, book one now

❏ If you want a videographer, book one now

❏ Research hair and make-up artists if needed

❏ Begin researching honeymoon destinations (because you

KNOW you need a beak)

6 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Think about rehearsal dinner options

❏ Start to plan any extra events associated with the wedding

(after party, brunch, welcome party)

❏ Finalize your guest list (we have spreadsheets for that!)

❏ Set up a meeting with your officiant to discuss the ceremony

and start marital counseling (if relevant)

❏ Start thinking about your vows and ceremony plan

❏ If you’re having a friend officiate your wedding, now is a

good time to ask them about doing so

❏ If you’re not having a friend officiate your wedding, make

sure you’ve booked someone (or the church/shul/mosque/

temple)

❏ Set up your wedding registry

❏ Have a meeting with everyone who is helping (or start

sharing those Google Docs!) and make sure they all

understand what is expected

❏ Find a baker for your wedding cake, and if you can schedule

cake tastings, do so

5 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Book that honeymoon!

❏ If someone in your wedding is wearing suits, start figuring

out if you want to rent or buy

❏ Check out wedding rings and decide what you want

❏ Decide if you need party rentals, and figure out what you

need and put together an order (adjustments can be made

later, so book now!)

❏ If you need a wedding tent, research and reserve one

❏ Schedule your hair and make-up trials, if you’re hiring a

stylist (also make sure you coordinate with your wedding

parties or friends)

❏ Reserve hotel blocks for your wedding

❏ Make wedding night reservations as needed

4 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Finalize rehearsal dinner and book anything you might need

to still book

❏ Buy your wedding rings

❏ Order wedding invitations and stationery (tip: check out our

post on wedding invitation wording

❏ Make sure your passport is up to date if you’re leaving the

country for your honeymoon

❏ Book wedding transportation

❏ Create a spreadsheet for RSVPs and guest list addresses

❏ Talk to whoever is planning your bachelorette party and/or

any wedding showers, send them to APW for tips

3 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Address and mail your wedding invitations (double check the

postage!)

❏ Think about what ceremony extras you might need (a

chuppah, aisle runners, etc) and buy or rent them

❏ Start planning out your wedding ceremony script

❏ If you’re DIYing anything for your wedding, start now or

cross it off your list

❏ Schedule dress fittings as needed

❏ Make wedding night reservations as needed

❏ Research your local marriage license, civil union, and

domestic partnership rules

2 MONTHS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Begin working on your wedding vows

❏ Make sure everyone in your wedding parties have bought

what they’re wearing

❏ Figure out what you’re wearing to your rehearsal dinner

❏ Put together a list of what you want to pack for your

honeymoon, if you’re taking one

SIX WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Start wearing your shoes around the house as needed

❏ Make sure you’re updating your gift registry and

spreadsheets as gifts arrive, and send thank you notes now if

you can

❏ Confirm that out of town guests are set up at hotels and

lodging

❏ Figure out if you want a guest book, and make it happen if so

(also: test your pens!)

❏ Write thank you notes for your shower gifts

❏ Finalize your vows

❏ Make sure your wedding outfits are still on point

❏ Finalizing your menu with your caterer

❏ Finalize your wedding ceremony

1 MONTH BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Put together your seating chart

❏ Create your escort cards

❏ Finalize your ceremony outline

❏ Create a wedding timeline

❏ Make any necessary nail and spa appointments

❏ Confirm all vendor payments (and tip amounts)

❏ Create your wedding playlist, if you’re doing the DIY DJ

route

❏ Make sure your wedding party knows any critical

information as it pertains to the rehearsal dinner or wedding

day

❏ Give your DOC a copy of the vendor contract information,

delivery schedule, and set up times (or work with them to

gather that information)

❏ Schedule a final dress fitting

❏ Print wedding programs if you’re having them

❏ Confirm all rentals and/or adjust your rental order

❏ Sit down with your wedding stage manager or DOC and walk

through all the details for your wedding day

❏ Get a marriage license

TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Check with guests who haven’t RSVPed

❏ Confirm head counts, menus, vendor meal requests, and

delivery with your caterers and bakers

❏ Confirm your photo requests, required family, and timeline

with your photographer

❏ Make sure that everyone who is delivering something to the

wedding (rentals, flowers, etc) has a confirmed, final

timeline

❏ Send a transportation schedule to transport providers

❏ Make sure any clothing you want cleaned or pressed is taken

care of

❏ Ensure that there is a plan for wedding venue set up and

breakdown

ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Pack an overnight bag, and include: your toothbrush, birth

control/condoms, something to sleep in, an outfit for the

next day, honeymoon luggage, and your passport

❏ Get your wedding manicure/pedicure (if it’s happening at

all)

❏ Make sure a copy of your honeymoon plans is left with

family and friends

❏ Put your final payments + tips for vendors in labeled

envelopes and give this to your DOC or someone else to

manage

❏ Get your wedding day “oh shit kit” put together (aspirin,

make-up, safety pins, mints, snacks, etc

❏ Pick up your dress (if it wasn’t delivered to you)

❏ Try on your entire wedding ensemble

❏ Give all of your vendors an emergency number to call, just in

case (note: not yours!)

❏ Assign a family member to be the photographer’s point of

contact

❏ Hand over all of your planning docs (including a copy of the

vendor delivery schedule, set up times, and phone numbers)

to your wedding stage manager or day of coordinator and

take a step back to enjoy this thing!

1 DAY BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

❏ Rehearse your ceremony with your officiant and wedding

party

❏ Confirm your honeymoon transportation, airport drop-off,

etc

❏ Set your alarm (and a back-up)

❏ Print out your vows (or memorize them)

❏ Drop off your favors, menus, table plans, and place cards

with your caterer or venue

LAST MINUTE THINGS YOU MIGHT

FORGET (AKA RIP THIS LIST OUT & STICK

IT TO YOUR FRONT DOOR)

❏ Rings

❏ Vows

❏ Marriage license

❏ Dresses

❏ Suits

❏ Driver’s license

❏ Wallet

❏ Cash

❏ Passport/ID

❏ Socks, underwear, bra

❏ Accessories

❏ Comfortable shoes

❏ Tips for vendors

❏ Wedding playlist

❏ Umbrella

❏ Snacks and water

ON YOUR WEDDING DAY

❏ Make sure you pause and appreciate your family, friends,

and each other

❏ Take a few minutes every so often to breathe and focus.

Smile at your friends, give hugs, be in the moment

❏ GET MARRIED!

AFTER THE WEDDING

❏ Send out your thank you notes (to people who helped with

the wedding and for gifts)

❏ Make sure your vendors have been paid in full

❏ Follow-up and make sure you know when you’ll get your

wedding photos back

❏ Ensure that rentals, clothing, and accessories have been

returned (as needed)

❏ Toast your marriage! You did it! Now the good stuff starts for

real.