Congratulations! Your honey popped the question, and you said, “Yes!” Now you might be asking yourself, “I just got engaged now what?”
There’s no doubt there are millions of things going through your mind. With who and how do we share the wonderful news? When and where will we get married? Who will be in our wedding party? What will we wear? Who should we invite? Will we get married at home or head to a stunning tropical destination? Slow down, first things first!
Relax, breathe, and enjoy every second of this wonderful, loving moment. You have plenty of time to answer all these questions. After all, this is the first day of the rest of your lives together. When the hugs and kisses of celebrating settle, we’ve designed a wedding planning timeline with tips for the many milestones you’ll want to complete for your dream wedding.3
So get out your calendar, planner, and notebook and plan your big day along with us!
Destination Wedding Specialist Pro Tip: A traditional wedding at home requires more time to plan and costs more than a destination wedding. Plus, your honeymoon getaway is included.
First Steps: What to Do Immediately After Getting Engaged
Wow, reality is sinking in. You are officially just engaged. After you share the exciting news with your family and closest BFFs, it’s time to share it with the world!
Host an engagement party or bridal shower: The event could be as simple as having some pizza and beer to toast your news or a formal affair to wine and dine your guests.
Hire a Wedding Planner: Depending on the scope of your big day and your schedule, a wedding planner will help you navigate every aspect of your big day to make the process enjoyable and stress-free.
Draft a Guest List: Make a list of everyone you want to invite to your wedding. This includes researching and updating contact information for sending invitations.
Explore Wedding Venues: First, decide if you want to get married at home or plan a getaway for a destination wedding. They both are options for you to discuss.
Destination Wedding Specialist Pro Tip: A destination wedding is more affordable than you might think. It’s actually less expensive than a traditional wedding at home. Our team has helped hundreds of couples design incredible budget-friendly, all inclusive destination weddings and is here to help you too.
Traditional At-Home Wedding Timeline
9 – 12 + Months Before Your Wedding
This is an exciting and very important time to start booking vendors and getting the word out about your big day. Act right away because you want to secure the venue at least nine to 12 months out.
Book Your Vendors: Researching, selecting, and booking a venue and vendors is key between nine and 12 months before your wedding. You might have to sign a contract and pay a deposit to guarantee and secure availability.
Take Engagement Photos: Celebrate your engagement with photographs that you can use on your Save-The-Date mailings, bridal shower, and engagement announcements.
Go Wedding Dress Shopping: Have fun shopping for the perfect figure-flattering wedding dress, veil, and shoes. You may have to order your dress and have it altered when it arrives. This takes ample time.
Send Save-The-Dates: Give your potential guests plenty of time to add your wedding day to their calendar and make arrangements to attend with Save-The-Date mailings.
RELATED: Your Destination Wedding Planning Checklist
6 – 9 Months Before The Wedding
The countdown is on and so is the excitement and fun. Engage your family and friends with the following activities and events:
Plan Wedding Weekend Events: Design your wedding weekend as a fun and festive experience including:
- Rehearsal Dinner Celebration
- After Wedding Party and Reception
- Post Wedding Brunches & Activities
Book Guest Accommodations & Transportation: Book a nearby hotel block of rooms for your guests. If your ceremony is located separately from the reception or if there is limited parking, book transportation for their convenience and safety.
Order Wedding Party and Family Attire: Provide guidelines like color and style to your family and wedding party. Either ask them to order their attire or give you their specific information for you to order for them.
3 – 6 Months Before The Wedding
The countdown continues as your big day approaches. Reality sets in as you attend to even more important details:
Order Invitations and Schedule Delivery: Select an invitation and RSVP card that is similar to your wedding color, style and theme. Order and mail between three and six months before your wedding date.
Schedule Cake Tasting: Your wedding cake is a symbol of your union and should look beautiful and taste delicious. Schedule a cake tasting with the baker to finalize these details.
Finalize Last Minute Details: Reach out to the venue, all vendors, hotels and transportation suppliers to make sure everyone is scheduled and shows up for their part.
1 – 3 Months Before The Wedding
Obtain a Marriage License: Schedule a visit to your local courthouse and apply for and obtain a marriage license.
Finalize RSVPs and Guest Count: The venue, caterer and hotel will need a final count by a specific deadline date.
Finalize Attire and Accessories: Connect with your family and wedding party to confirm their attire and accessories are good to walk down the aisle with you.
Destination Wedding Planning Timeline
Why Destination Weddings Are Simpler
Time flies when you’re planning a wedding and the traditional option can get crazy with all the details. It’s like a complicated and affordable puzzle that needs to be put together perfectly. Plus, you have to plan the honeymoon, too! This is why you should consider a destination wedding.
Couples are flocking to luxury resort destinations for the convenience, all inclusive packages, and built-in honeymoon experience. Plus, a destination wedding is easily planned between nine and 12 months before the big day and is much more affordable than a traditional celebration at home.
Destination Wedding Specialist Pro Tip: Connect with one of our friendly, expert Certified Wedding Specialists who help you tailor design the destination wedding package of your dreams. We handle everything for a seamless, stress-free, wedding of your dreams.
Destination Wedding Timeline Breakdown
9 -12 Months Before The Wedding
Great! You’ve set a date and can’t wait to start your new life together. Let’s get started planning.
Choose a Destination: Research the many destinations and luxury venues that will make your wedding dreams come true. Your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist is familiar with a treasure trove of destinations and will work side by side with you to find the best one for you.
Book Travel Packages: Estimate the number of guests and book travel packages for you and your guests.
Confirm Wedding Date and Start Guest List: Contact your hotel and venue and confirm the wedding date is secured for you. Now it’s time to start your guest list.
6 – 9 Months Before The Wedding
Your wedding is right around the corner, and you want to make sure your family and friends are ready to celebrate in paradise with you.
Send Save-The-Dates: Gather all the travel information and include it with your Save-The-Date invitations. This will give your guests plenty of time to plan a vacation getaway, get time off work, and budget for your big day.
Finalize Details: Connect with your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist to finalize all the details from the ceremony and venue location, vendors, and other activities you are planning. Remember many details are already bundled into your all inclusive package.
Destination Wedding Specialist Pro Tip: Share your wedding dreams with your planner. Most venues allow you to tailor packages so you can add personal touches and add-ons.
3 – 6 Months Before The Wedding
experience before, during, and after you exchange vows. That’s why you should take full advantage of the abundance of things there is to see, do, and explore at your destination. Your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist is ready to show you all the options, so everyone looks forward to traveling with you.
Confirm guest accommodation and travel itineraries.
Plan wedding weekend activities: Fill the weekend schedule with fun things like welcome parties, group excursions, spa treatments, entertainment and more.
Destination Wedding Specialist Pro Tip: Most destination resorts feature onsite day-to-night entertainment, nightlife, and kids’ activities your guests will enjoy.
1 – 3 Months Before The Wedding
The big day is so close you can almost say, “I do!”. Now is the time to review all your details.
Finalize Everything: Finalize all your travel plans, and guest RSVPs, and prepare for the time of your life. Connect with your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist who will make sure your wedding and honeymoon experience is seamless and stress-free. All you have to do is enjoy every single second.
Start Your Dream Wedding Journey Today!
If you’re just engaged, you’re about to embark on a delightful and exciting time of your life. You said, “Yes,” the sparkling ring is on your finger, and your wedding planning journey has begun. Whether you decide to get married at home or take your family and friends on a destination wedding experience of a lifetime, planning is the key to your seamless celebration.
If you’re dreaming of a tropical getaway or romantic beach ceremony, you can definitely make your dream destination celebration happen. They are surprisingly more affordable than a traditional wedding, take less time and effort to plan, and treat you and your guests to an extraordinary getaway experience. Simply complete our easy online Wedding Planning Form and say, “I Do” to a romantic destination wedding today!
