Five Phases for Planning Your Wedding
If you are planning your own wedding, and maybe bringing in a coordinator in the end, it is still necessary to have a road map. Breaking down your wedding planning into five phases can help take the stress away. You want wedding planning to be fun!! You should be able to enjoy every step leading up to your big day.
Phase One-Planning
The first step is to build the foundation for your wedding. These are the elements that need to be taken care of first because they get booked quickly and may not be available for your wedding day. Checklist for this phase:
Your ceremony and reception venue (s)
Your photographer
Your videographer
Guest List
DJ and/or Band
Ceremony DJ or Musicians
Cocktail hour DJ or Musicians
Caterer
Cake Baker
Wedding Transportation
Your Officiant
Hair and Makeup
Hotel Room Blocks
Your Wedding website
Start planning your honeymoon arrangements
Phase Two-Design
This is where all the details come in. You can now find vendors that will bring your wedding to life. Create your vision board or Pinterest board and share those with your creative vendor team. Checklist for this phase:
Florist for your ceremony and reception
Any custom rentals you are bringing in. This may include special linens, dishes, furniture, tables, chairs, heaters, etc
Custom lighting. This might include lights for an outdoor evening reception, uplighting for an inside reception, or even your monogram projected on the wall or dance floor
Invitation Suites. Your invitation sets the tone and style of your wedding. It is definitely the first impression, but that doesn't mean you have to go out of your desired budget to have beautiful invitations. Side note: Always get them weighed and measured for proper postage as soon as you get a sample
Extra details include: choosing attire for wedding party including children, wedding bands, guest book and pen, toasting glasses, favors, etc
Phase Three-Coordination
If you are hiring a planner for “Month Of” coordination, also known as Day Of or Wedding Management, then this is where they would come in. This phase should actually be close to three-four months out from your wedding date. A planner will go over everything you have so far to see what may still need to be done and get all of the vendor information from you. This is also where you follow up with your vendors on any pending details. Checklist for this phase:
Send your music choices for ceremony and reception
Review your guest list and send out the invitations. Track responses as they come in.
Decide where you will be getting ready on your wedding day
Find out who is getting hair and makeup done (Bridesmaids)
Follow up with your officiant regarding ceremony details
Order any signs for your ceremony or reception
Order gifts for your wedding party and each other
Arrange welcome gifts if you have hotel room blocks for out of town guests
Start working on your wedding day timeline
Plan your rehearsal dinner
Finalize your wedding day programs
Confirm guest count with your caterer, they usually give you an assigned date
Make sure groomsmen are fitted for their tuxes by their due date
Confirm vendor specific dates with all vendors
Get marriage license 2-4 weeks ahead
Phase Four-The Production
This is the final week of your wedding. All the hard work comes together for a major celebration! Checklist for this phase:
Send out final timelines to your vendors and family members that may need one
Prepare unpaid vendor balance payments due on the wedding day along with any cash gratuities in marked envelopes. These can be given at your rehearsal or on the wedding day
Deliver wedding welcome gifts to the hotel 1-2 days before
Arrange for someone, if you do not have a planner, to pick up your personal items for your ceremony and reception
Pick up tuxes
Get nails done
Find some time to relax and take it all in
Phase Five-Post Wedding
This is after your wedding when you should be on your way to your honeymoon! Some tasks are still left to do. You should have someone available to follow up with everyone after the wedding. Checklist for this phase:
Return any rental items left behind at the venue
Follow up with anyone who may have personal items for the couple
After your honeymoon:
Send your thank you notes
Send thank you notes and/or review your vendors
Submit all name change information and update your driver’s license and passport
Live Happily Ever After!!
About The Author
Libby Martin is the owner of Dragonfly Events OC. She is a wedding planner out of Orange County and is available to plan events in all of Southern California. She is a certified event planner through the Association of Bridal Consultants, finishing with Distinguished Honors for her detailed work. She loves helping her clients bring their creative visions to life.
