Sample Wedding Planning Timelines: From Engagement to Post-Wedding Tasks

Planning a wedding is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming journey. From the moment you say “Yes!” to the post-wedding to-dos, there are many steps to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch. A well-organized timeline is the key to staying on track and enjoying the process. Below is a detailed sample timeline to guide you from engagement to post-wedding tasks, broken down into manageable stages. Your timeline may look much different depending on your vision and priorities, but we hope this list helps organize some of the otherwise overwhelming tasks.

Immediately After the Engagement: Celebrate and Get Started (12–18 Months Before the Wedding)

Celebrate the Engagement: Take a moment to revel in the excitement! Share the news with loved ones, post on social media if you’d like, and consider hosting an engagement party.

Discuss the Vision: Sit down with your fiancé to talk about the style, size, and overall vibe you want for your wedding. Rustic barn? Elegant ballroom? Beachfront ceremony?

Set a Budget: Establish a realistic budget and decide who will contribute financially.

Draft a Guest List: Create a preliminary list to estimate the number of guests and choose a venue accordingly.

Research and Book a Venue: The venue is one of the first major decisions. Decide on a location and arrow down your choices based on your vision and budget.

12 Months Before the Wedding: Lay the Foundation

Hire Key Vendors:

• Photographer/videographer

• Caterer

• Wedding planner or day-of coordinator, if needed

Choose a Theme: Rustic, boho, classic, or modern—defining a theme and/or color scheme will guide your decisions for décor and attire.

Say Yes to the Dress: Start shopping for your wedding dress and schedule fittings.

Select Your Wedding Party: Ask your bridesmaids, groomsmen, or other attendants to stand by your side.

Book Accommodations: Reserve hotel blocks for out-of-town guests or, if you’re hosting a weekend wedding at The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, plan to use the overnight guest barns.

9 Months Before the Wedding: Build Your Team

Choose Additional Vendors:

• Florist

• Entertainment (DJ, band, or other performers)

• Hair and makeup artists

• Officiant

Plan Engagement Photos: Schedule a photo session with your photographer, and use the images for save-the-dates or your wedding website.

Send Save-the-Dates: Include your wedding date, location, and any travel details.

6 Months Before the Wedding: Start Fine-Tuning

Finalize the Guest List: Confirm addresses and ensure your list fits the venue’s capacity.

Order Invitations: Choose a design that matches your theme. Include RSVP cards and any necessary details about accommodations or dress code.

Plan the Décor: Work with your venue and florist to choose centerpieces, lighting, and other design elements. At our venue, we have a complementary decor closet that you will have access to. You can find what we have in store here:

Decor Inventory

Schedule Tastings: Finalize your catering menu and cake design.

Choose Attire for the Wedding Party: Coordinate dresses, suits, or other attire for your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Create a Wedding Website: Include event details, travel information, and your registry. If you book with us, we can create this website for you with many customizable features. Our event details pages allow you to collect RSVPS, provide an event schedule, add pictures, and have a private link to share with your guests.

3 Months Before the Wedding: Tie Up Loose Ends

Mail Invitations: Send out your invitations, requesting RSVPs within a month.

Write Your Vows: Begin drafting personal vows, if you plan to include them in the ceremony.

Plan the Ceremony: Finalize details with your officiant and confirm readings, music, or rituals.

Order Favors: Choose thoughtful tokens for your guests to take home.

Create a Wedding Day Timeline: Outline the day’s schedule, including getting-ready times, the ceremony, and the reception flow.

Check-In with Vendors: Confirm arrival times and responsibilities for all vendors.

1 Month Before the Wedding: Final Preparations

Confirm RSVPs: Follow up with any guests who haven’t responded, and provide the final headcount to your caterer.

Plan the Seating Chart: Use your confirmed guest list to arrange tables. At The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, couples often use our editable venue layout in the online wedding planner.

Schedule a Final Venue Meeting Confirm layout and logistics with your venue. Our couples all have a 30-day-out meeting with us to go over their needs and plan final details.

Attend the Final Fitting: Make sure your dress fits perfectly, and pick it up along with any accessories.

Pack an Emergency Kit: Include essentials like safety pins, makeup touch-ups, and pain relievers.

The Week of the Wedding: Stay Organized and Relaxed

Delegate Tasks: Assign responsibilities to trusted friends or family members. For example:

• Someone to oversee vendor arrivals

• Someone to handle gifts and cards

Confirm Vendor Details: Double-check times, addresses, and contact information for all vendors.

Pack for the Honeymoon: If you’re leaving right after the wedding, prepare your luggage in advance.

Get Plenty of Rest: Stay hydrated, eat well, and prioritize sleep.

The Day Before the Wedding: Rehearse and Celebrate

Attend the Rehearsal: Practice the ceremony with your wedding party, officiant, and immediate family.

Prepare Décor: If you’re decorating your venue, ensure it’s completed the day before. At The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, couples often add personal touches to our rustic space. With the deluxe package, you will have a complete day of access to the venue before the wedding to allow for a more relaxed experience.

Relax and Unwind: Spend some quiet time with your partner, and don’t forget to set an alarm for the next day.

The Wedding Day: Enjoy Every Moment

Stick to the Timeline: Trust your vendors and wedding party to keep things on schedule.

Get Ready: Spend the morning getting dressed with your bridal party in the venue’s dedicated getting-ready rooms.

Take Photos: Capture pre-ceremony moments with your photographer.

Celebrate Your Love: Focus on enjoying the day, connecting with loved ones, and making memories.

After the Wedding: Post-Wedding Responsibilities

Write Thank-You Notes: Send heartfelt notes to guests and vendors within a few weeks of the wedding.

Share Photos and Videos: Relive the memories by sharing your wedding media with family and friends.

Review Vendors: Leave reviews to help other couples and thank your vendors for their hard work.

Update Legal Documents: If changing your name, update your driver’s license, passport, and other documents.

Reflect and Relax: Take some time to reflect on your special day and enjoy newlywed life!

Planning a wedding on any timeline is achievable with organization and support. At The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, our goal is to make the process as seamless and enjoyable as possible. From our online wedding planner to our comprehensive weekend wedding packages, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Let us help you turn your dream wedding into reality!

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Thank you for stopping by our blog! We hope that you will consider hiring a locally owned wedding venue for your big celebration. Locally owned wedding venues provide the best wedding experience, they tend to have little to no turnover, they support the local economy and they are part of the community. In an effort to support locally owned wedding venues, we will feature six small business wedding venues in each of our blogs. Find locally owned wedding venues in the wedding venue map on

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