12-18 Months Before the Wedding
- Determine your budget. The first step in planning any wedding planning checklist is to determine how much you can afford to spend. This will help you to make decisions about the venue, caterer, florist, and other vendors.
- Choose your wedding date and venue. Selecting your wedding date and venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the planning process. Consider the time of year, the number of guests, and the style of wedding you want.
- Hire a wedding planner. For the sake of your own sanity, consider hiring a wedding planner. They can help you with every aspect of the planning process and ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly. No one likes to spend their wedding day running around making last minute decisions you meant to take care of before wedding day.
- Create your guest list. Your guest list will impact your budget, venue, and catering decisions. Start by creating a rough list of guests and then whittle it down based on your budget and venue capacity.
- Hire a photographer. You’ll want to choose one you fit and connect with so that your wedding photos will look the way you want them to
- Schedule your engagement photography session. If it’s the busy season, your photographer’s calendar might book out well in advance. An engagement session will give you both some practice in front of the camera before wedding day. It also gives you an opportunity to hang out with your wedding photographer so you can head into your wedding day already feeling comfortable with each other.
- Choose your wedding party. Decide who will be in your wedding party and ask them to be a part of your special day.
- Order and send your save the date cards. Many couples who live and are getting married in Colorado have family that comes in from out of town for their wedding. If that’s the case for you, you might want to consider sending these on the sooner side. Your guests will appreciate having a lot of time to plan.
6-12 Months Before the Wedding
- Choose your wedding dress/suit. Start shopping for your wedding attire early to ensure that you find exactly what you want. If you’ll be in a dress, you’ll also need to schedule fittings and alterations.
- Plan your ceremony: Decide on the type of ceremony you want, and start planning the details, such as the officiant, music, and readings.
- Book your hair and makeup artist. Check out their social media accounts and website to get a good feel for their style. You’ll also want to book a hair and makeup trial before your wedding day, as well.
- Hire a florist. You should have a general idea of your budget and the look and feel you’re going for when you reach out to florists.
- Order a sign in book featuring your engagement images. This is a book your guests can write in at your wedding. Many couples like to have a book featuring their engagement photos that their guests can write well wishes next to.
- Book your accommodations: Reserve accommodations for you and your guests, especially if you’re having a destination wedding.
- Register for gifts: Create a wedding registry to make it easy for your guests to choose the perfect gift.
- Hire a transportation service. Arrange for transportation for you and your guests, such as a limo or shuttle service.
3-6 Months Before the Wedding
- Send out invitations. Send out invitations to your guests, including all the details about the ceremony and reception.
- Schedule hair and makeup trials. Book hair and makeup trials for yourself and schedule appointments for your wedding party on the day of your wedding.
- Finalize details with vendors. Confirm all the details with your vendors, including the menu, flowers, and music.
- Plan your honeymoon. Plan your honeymoon, including booking flights, hotels, and activities.
- Purchase wedding rings. Choose your wedding bands and purchase them.
- Finalize your wedding party attire. Make sure your wedding party has their attire and has been fitted for their outfits.
- Treat yourself. Get a facial and/or a massage and get ready for the wedding fun to begin!
2-3 Months Before the Wedding
- Get your marriage license. Apply for your marriage license and ensure that all the legal requirements are met.
- Finalize seating arrangements. Create a seating chart for your reception and finalize your table settings.
- Communicate family formal portrait lists. These are the photos we’ll take with family usually after the ceremony. I usually try to photograph around 10 or less groups, which usually takes around 20 minutes.
- Schedule a final dress fitting. Schedule a final dress fitting to ensure that your wedding dress fits
The Week of Your Wedding
- Steam or press your wedding attire. You might want to do this beforehand and bring your steamer with you on your wedding day, too, just in case. Steaming beforehand will save you time on your actual wedding day. Your clothing might still get a little wrinkled, but fixing the wrinkles is way easier than steaming the entire dress on the morning of your wedding.
- Schedule self-care. Mani-pedi, eyebrows, lashes, and a massage.
- Check the weather every minute!
Planning a wedding in Colorado can be a daunting task, but with the right team and making sure you stay on top of planning, it can be a seamless and enjoyable experience. From choosing the perfect venue to hiring vendors and creating a timeline, following a well-organized checklist can help ensure that your big day is everything you dreamed of and more. Happy planning!
