Planning your wedding can be so exciting. There is so much to do and keeping up with it can be difficult at times. The list of tasks and to-do's seem to be ever-growing and never-ending! As a worldwide wedding photographer, I know how hard it can be to keep it all organized. It's so important to stay organized and on top of everything to ensure that every detail gets handled, but it can be overwhelming if you don't have a good place to start. My Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist will simplify your wedding to-do's all in one place. Keep this checklist handy for easy reference and check back every few months to ensure you're on target for the big day.Good luck!

15 Months Before Your Wedding

Insure your engagement ring
Set up a wedding website
Start a Pinterest board
Start planning your guest list to get a good idea of numbers
Start your wedding budget
Choose your wedding date or season
Begin looking at venues
Choose a wedding theme
Host an engagement party

1 Year Before Your Wedding

Book your officiant
Hire a wedding planner (if necessary and budget permits)
Have an engagement photo shoot.
Choose your wedding party
Choose your color scheme
Plan and budget for your honeymoon
Order your passport if you plan to travel for your honeymoon
Start wedding dress and bridal party shopping
Start researching your bachelor/bachelorette parties
Get started on a health and skincare routine

6-9 Months Before Your Wedding

Finalize your guest list
Hire your photographer (Questions to ask)
Book your DJ, musicians or other entertainment
Hire your florist, caterer and other wedding vendors
Order your invitations and thank you cards
Purchase your wedding dress and bridal party dresses
Send out save the date cards
Book any transportation needs and reserve hotel for out-of-town guests
Book a suite for your wedding night
Revisit your budget to make sure you’re on track and make any adjustments
Confirm any rentals you may need, including a tent, tables, chairs, linens and table settings

4 Months Before Your Wedding

Order your flowers
Book your rehearsal dinner
Decide on your hair and makeup style and book appointments with stylists
Have several tasting sessions and choose your cake and food
Start writing your vows and choose any ceremony readings
Create a schedule of the ceremony and reception activities
Schedule dress fittings for yourself and your bridal party
Purchase your rings & gifts for wedding party
Plan the menus for all your pre-wedding events

6 to 8 Weeks Before Your Wedding

Send out your wedding invitations
Start tracking RSVPs
Arrange for your marriage license
Plan any name change documents and insurance
Finalize your reception menu
Finalize any outstanding vendor bookings
Purchase favors & guest book & create a seating plan
Confirm any travel arrangements
Coordinate the details of the day with bridal Party
Purchase your wedding accessories including shoes, jewelry, veil, ring pillows, gloves etc.

1 Month Before Your Wedding

Finalize your wedding vows
Have a trial hair and makeup day & final fitting of your gown
Finish tracking and following up RSVPs
Find something old, something new, something borrowed & something blue!
Pick up your wedding rings
Start preparing DIY elements of your wedding
Prepare a shot-list for your photographer
Get a facial and continue with your skincare routine

2 Weeks Before Your Wedding

Finalize your guest list &
Give a final headcount to your reception facility, caterer etc.
Confirm all final arrangements with your vendors
Send detailed instructions to your bridal party and vendors
Make sure to including the final schedule for the ceremony and reception
Pack for your honeymoon
Provide a final song-list to your DJ/musicians
Print place cards
Prepare payment for all your vendors
Write speeches
Pick up your wedding dress

1 Week Before Your Wedding

Build emergency kit with tissues, lipstick, band aids, safety pins etc.
Check the weather forecast and make any required alternative plans
Have a spa day with your bridal party.
(Be careful about getting a facial this close to your wedding day

1-3 days Before Your Wedding

Get a manicure/pedicure
Wedding rehearsal or pre-wedding dinner
Pack all your wedding day items like your rings, shoes, accessories.
Pack your vows and your marriage license
Arrange for someone in your wedding party to transport any gifts
Arrange for someone to transport flower arrangements before & after.
Finish DIY elements and arrangements
Arrange for return of rental items
Get as much rest as possible

Ultimate Wedding Planning Checklist

15 Months Before Your Wedding

Insure your engagement ring

Set up a wedding website

Start a Pinterest board

Start planning your guest list to get a good idea of numbers

Start your wedding budget

Choose your wedding date or season

Begin looking at venues

Choose a wedding theme

Host an engagement party

1 Year Before Your Wedding

Book your officiant

Hire a wedding planner (if necessary and budget permits)

Have an engagement photo shoot.

Choose your wedding party

Choose your color scheme

Plan and budget for your honeymoon

Order your passport if you plan to travel for your honeymoon

Start wedding dress and bridal party shopping

Start researching your bachelor/bachelorette parties

Get started on a health and skincare routine

6-9 Months Before Your Wedding

Finalize your guest list

Hire your photographer (Questions to ask)

Book your DJ, musicians or other entertainment

Hire your florist, caterer and other wedding vendors

Order your invitations and thank you cards

Purchase your wedding dress and bridal party dresses

Send out save the date cards

Book any transportation needs and reserve hotel for out-of-town guests

Book a suite for your wedding night

Revisit your budget to make sure you’re on track and make any adjustments

Confirm any rentals you may need, including a tent, tables, chairs, linens and table settings

4 Months Before Your Wedding

Order your flowers

Book your rehearsal dinner

Decide on your hair and makeup style and book appointments with stylists

Have several tasting sessions and choose your cake and food

Start writing your vows and choose any ceremony readings

Create a schedule of the ceremony and reception activities

Schedule dress fittings for yourself and your bridal party

Purchase your rings & gifts for wedding party

Plan the menus for all your pre-wedding events

6 to 8 Weeks Before Your Wedding

Send out your wedding invitations

Start tracking RSVPs

Arrange for your marriage license

Plan any name change documents and insurance

Finalize your reception menu

Finalize any outstanding vendor bookings

Purchase favors & guest book & create a seating plan

Confirm any travel arrangements

Coordinate the details of the day with bridal Party

Purchase your wedding accessories including shoes, jewelry, veil, ring pillows, gloves etc.

1 Month Before Your Wedding

Finalize your wedding vows

Have a trial hair and makeup day & final fitting of your gown

Finish tracking and following up RSVPs

Find something old, something new, something borrowed & something blue!

Pick up your wedding rings

Start preparing DIY elements of your wedding

Prepare a shot-list for your photographer

Get a facial and continue with your skincare routine

2 Weeks Before Your Wedding

Finalize your guest list &

Give a final headcount to your reception facility, caterer etc.

Confirm all final arrangements with your vendors

Send detailed instructions to your bridal party and vendors

Make sure to including the final schedule for the ceremony and reception

Pack for your honeymoon

Provide a final song-list to your DJ/musicians

Print place cards

Prepare payment for all your vendors

Write speeches

Pick up your wedding dress

1 Week Before Your Wedding

Build emergency kit with tissues, lipstick, band aids, safety pins etc.

Check the weather forecast and make any required alternative plans

Have a spa day with your bridal party.