Early wedding planning tips for a smooth start

Feeling overwhelmed about where to start planning your wedding? These early wedding planning tips will guide you through prioritizing key tasks so you can plan your day stress-free.

Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming—where do you even begin? With so many decisions to make, it’s easy to feel lost in the excitement and chaos. But don’t worry! The key is to focus on the most time-sensitive tasks first, while letting other details fall into place later. To help you get started, here are some early wedding planning tips to tackle as soon as you’ve said “yes!”

Things to do right away

Find your venue

Your venue sets the tone for your entire day—and choosing one locks in your wedding date. Start by touring a few locations, comparing packages, and envisioning your celebration in each space. Once you’ve found the one, book it! Many other decisions will depend on knowing your venue and your date.

Book your big-ticket vendors

After securing your venue, focus on booking your key vendors. This includes your photographer (hi, let’s chat!), caterer (if the venue doesn’t provide food), florist, and officiant. Popular vendors often book up a year or more in advance, so the earlier you reserve your dream team, the better!

Create a guest list

Drafting your guest list early helps with so many aspects of planning, from choosing the right venue to budgeting. It doesn’t have to be perfect at this stage—just aim for a solid draft that includes your must-invites.

Send save-the-dates

Once you’ve finalized your date and venue, it’s time to let your guests know. Sending save-the-dates ensures your loved ones can plan ahead, especially those who need to travel. Aim to send them about a year in advance, or as soon as you know your date.

Set a budget

Before diving into the fun details, sit down and outline your budget. Knowing what you’re working with will guide all of your decisions and help you allocate funds to the aspects of your day that matter most.

Start brainstorming your theme

While you don’t need to finalize every décor detail, having a general idea of your wedding vibe—whether it’s rustic, modern, elegant, or whimsical—can help guide other early decisions, like invitations or attire.

Research local marriage licence requirements

Every region has its own rules about marriage licences. Look into what’s required for your area so you’re prepared when the time comes to apply. You don’t need to do this right away, but knowing the process can help you plan accordingly.

Things that can wait

Dress shopping

While shopping for your wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts of planning, it’s not something you need to do immediately. Aim to start 6–9 months before your wedding. Ordering a dress too early could mean fit issues down the line if your body changes.

Sorting out the décor

You don’t need to finalize your décor details right away. While it’s helpful to have a rough idea of your colours and overall aesthetic for planning purposes, you can hold off on gathering specific pieces until a few months before the big day.

Crafting your timeline

Your wedding day timeline doesn’t need to be set in stone right away. Once you’ve booked your vendors, they’ll help you fine-tune the schedule. For now, just make a general outline of the day’s flow. Be sure to check out my blog on creating your wedding day timeline for some helpful tips!

Booking beauty services

Although it’s good to research hairstylists and makeup artists early, you don’t have to book trials or solidify your look until closer to the big day. Just make sure you’ve secured your top choice by the 4–6 month mark.

Choosing favours

Favours are a nice touch but aren’t essential to decide on right away. Leave this task for the last few months, once you have a clearer idea of your budget and guest count.

Finalizing your menu

If your venue or caterer requires menu selections, you’ll usually have plenty of time to decide. Take this opportunity to try different options, consider dietary restrictions, and have fun with the tasting process.

Take it one step at a time

Planning a wedding is like assembling a puzzle—you don’t have to complete it all at once. Start with the foundational pieces, like your venue and vendors, and build out from there. By tackling tasks in a prioritized order, you’ll avoid unnecessary stress and ensure you’re not scrambling as the big day approaches.

Remember, planning your wedding is supposed to be fun! So, take a deep breath, enjoy the process, and don’t hesitate to reach out to trusted vendors (like me!) for guidance along the way. Let’s make your wedding day unforgettable!