Planning Your Perfect Wedding: A Timeline Guide

Planning a wedding can be a stressful process, so it's important to take your time and enjoy the experience. Couples should wait at least a month after getting engaged to start planning their wedding, and at least 30 days before diving into the details. Bride and Father of the Bride should be ready 5 minutes before the ceremony. Non-religious ceremonies should last 20 to 45 minutes, civil weddings should last 30 to 45 minutes, and religious ceremonies should last 60 to 90 minutes.

When to start planning

Bride and Father of the Bride should be ready 5 minutes before the ceremony. The length of time you should allow for your ceremony will depend on whether you are having a religious ceremony, a non-religious ceremony, or a civil wedding/partnership. Non-religious ceremonies take 20 to 45 minutes, civil weddings/partnerships take 30 to 45 minutes, and religious ceremonies take 60 to 90 minutes. If you want to use your ceremony location for group pictures and a confetti shot, remember to factor this into your timings. Allow 1 ½ to 2 hours for your drinks reception as this will give your photographer plenty of time for your group and personal portrait shots.

Shopping for your wedding dress should be done at least a year before your wedding. Some designers require six to eight months to have it custom-made and shipped in time for multiple alteration sessions. The more you care about having a particular vendor, the earlier the company should be booked. For example, if you really want a celebrant to officiate your wedding or a particular wedding band at your reception, book them as close to a year in advance as possible to make sure they are available on your date.

Couples should discuss their general vision for their wedding and their priorities before the planning process begins. Bride and Father of the Bride should wait at least 30 days before diving into wedding details. Another priority is the wedding dress. A common mistake brides make is not shopping for their wedding dress early enough. Unfortunately, they are then forced to either pay expedited rates or choose something off the rack. We have a 26-month engagement, and I'm already planning and people are already taking bookings, so you can definitely go as long as 2 years without it being too far ahead. The length is because I'm in school until 11 months before the date and my fiancé's job means he (and most of the groomsmen) can't take off work for about 4-5 months before our date, so it just worked out that it had to be long. I also know it's going to take me forever to pick a dress and I want to have plenty of time to plan, build, and DIY my decorations without feeling stressed about time.

How long to wait after engagement

There is no exact timeline for when you should get engaged. Experts may say to wait three to six months, while others may say to wait a month after getting engaged to start planning your wedding. Bride magazine suggests that you should wait at least a year before shopping for your wedding dress, as some designers require six to eight months to have it custom-made and shipped in time for multiple alteration sessions.

Bride magazine also suggests that you should wait at least until the honeymoon phase has ended before getting engaged. Most couples get engaged after two or more years of dating. According to Brides, most couples wait anywhere from two to five years before getting married.

Bride magazine also suggests that you should wait at least 30 days before diving into wedding details. Couples should discuss their general vision for their wedding and their priorities during this time.

Reddit users suggest that you can go as long as two years without it being too far ahead. One user said that they have a 26-month engagement and are already planning.

When to book vendors

Bride and Father of the Bride should be ready 5 minutes before the ceremony. The length of time for the ceremony will depend on the type of wedding you are having. A Non-Religious Ceremony will take 20 to 45 minutes, a Civil Wedding will take 30 to 45 minutes and a Religious Ceremony will take 60 to 90 minutes.

Shopping for your wedding dress is a priority and should be done at least a year before the wedding. Some designers require six to eight months to have it custom-made and shipped in time for multiple alteration sessions.

Couples should wait at least a month after getting engaged to start planning their wedding. Discuss your general vision for your wedding and your priorities during this time.

If you really want a celebrant to officiate your wedding or a particular wedding band at your reception, book them as close to a year in advance as possible to make sure they are available on your date.

The more you care about having a particular vendor, the earlier the company should be booked. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get your preferred vendors.

When to buy the wedding dress

Bride and Father of the Bride – 5 minutes before the ceremony.

Shop for your dress at least a year before your wedding, since some designers require six to eight months to have it custom-made and shipped in time for multiple alteration sessions.

Couples should discuss their general vision for their wedding and their priorities a month after getting engaged.

The more you care about having a particular vendor, the earlier the company should be booked. For example, if you really want a celebrant to officiate your wedding or a particular wedding band at your reception, book them as close to a year in advance as possible to make sure they are available on your date.

We have a 26 month engagement, and I'm already planning and people are already taking bookings, so you can definitely go as long as 2 years without it being too far ahead. The length is because I'm in school until 11 months before the date and my fiances job means he (and most of the groomsmen) can't take off work for about 4-5 months before our date, so it just worked out that it had to be long. I also know it's going to take me forever to pick a dress and I want to have plenty of time to plan build and DIY my decorations without feeling stressed about time.

How long to plan the ceremony

The length of time you have to plan your wedding ceremony depends on many factors, including the type of wedding you want, seasonality, venue popularity, and your personal preferences.

Bride and Father of the Bride should be ready 5 minutes before the ceremony. Non-religious ceremonies typically last 20 to 45 minutes, civil weddings or partnerships last 30 to 45 minutes, and religious ceremonies last 60 to 90 minutes. Outdoor ceremonies are usually shorter, lasting 15 to 30 minutes, so it's a good idea to plan your ceremony 45 minutes before sunset to allow for group pictures and a confetti shot.

Couples should discuss their general vision and priorities for their wedding before starting the planning process. Bride and groom should also consider the length of time they want their ceremony to last, as this will impact the number of guests and amount of standing time required.

It's recommended to wait at least a month after getting engaged to start planning your wedding, and at least 30 days before diving into wedding details. Some couples may want to wait longer, as planning a wedding can be stressful and time-consuming. One couple had a 26-month engagement and began planning 11 months before their wedding date, as the bride was in school and the groom's job meant he couldn't take off work for 4 to 5 months before the wedding.

Shopping for a wedding dress is another important task that should be done early on, as some designers require 6 to 8 months to create a custom dress and ship it in time for multiple alteration sessions. The more you care about having a particular vendor, the earlier you should book them to ensure they are available on your wedding date.

Frequently asked questions