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Planning Checklist
Your plan

Your wedding, laid out.

Tell us your date, your state, and how hands-on your coordinator is. We'll build the rest around that — every deadline, every nudge, every template — and save it to this browser so you can come back any time.

Why we built this

Tell us about your wedding

Just the date is enough to get going. The rest sharpens your personalized deadlines (state license rules, mailing windows, partner ownership).

Wedding date*
Wedding state(optional)
Unlocks your state-specific marriage-license window.

Just browsing? Skip the setup — your timeline is just more accurate when you fill it in.

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Couple Alignment

  • Write a joint vision statement (season, vibe, formality, scale).[3]

    Professional planners recommend a 3-sentence summary you can read back to every vendor. It anchors decisions when taste drifts.

  • List your three non-negotiables and three things you don't care about.

  • Agree on two or three target date windows (avoid holidays and family conflicts).

Budget

Planning Infrastructure

  • Draft a planning scope document covering deliverables, hours, and payment milestones.

    Use it as your engagement letter with the couple before any vendor outreach begins.

  • Create a shared wedding email inbox and cloud folder (contracts / inspiration / guest list).

  • Start a moodboard (Pinterest, Milanote) to test visual coherence.

Guest List Framework

Sources & further reading

Every timing window cites a public source · USPS, county clerks, IACP, FTC.

  1. [1]The Wedding Report 2024 industry data. The Wedding Report: annual U.S. wedding spending and vendor-booking benchmarks. 2024 average all-in spend was approximately $33,000, with venue and catering accounting for the largest share. ↗ Visit publisher
  2. [2]Association of Bridal Consultants. Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC): professional-planner guidance on engagement length, vendor-booking windows, and regional budget benchmarks. ↗ Visit publisher
  3. [3]Emily Post Institute wedding etiquette. Emily Post Institute: formal wedding etiquette, invitation wording, ceremony protocol, and modern updates to traditional forms. ↗ Visit publisher
  4. [4]Association for Wedding Professionals International. AWPI: officiant preparation, ceremony traditions, and pre-marital counseling lead times across religious and secular venues. ↗ Visit publisher
  5. [5]FTC consumer protection guidance. Federal Trade Commission: vendor-contract red flags, deposit protections, dispute procedures, and guidance on cancellation clauses. ↗ Visit publisher
  6. [6]USPS mailing guidance. United States Postal Service: recommended mail-by windows for wedding invitations and RSVP deadlines, including international mail timing. ↗ Visit publisher
  7. [7]State marriage-license requirements. Requirements vary by state and county. Licenses typically expire 30 to 90 days after issue and may require a 24 to 72 hour waiting period. Check your local county clerk's office.
  8. [8]Bridal industry alteration lead times. Bridal retailers and designers generally quote a 6 to 9 month lead time for custom gowns, plus a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks for alterations.
  9. [9]International Caterers Association. International Caterers Association guidance: final headcount is typically required 7 to 10 business days before the event.
  10. [10]Social Security Administration. SSA: name-change procedure after marriage. File Form SS-5 with your certified marriage certificate; replacement card arrives in 2 to 4 weeks. ↗ Visit publisher
  11. [11]U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State: passport name-change rules and timing. Expedited service is required when international travel is less than 6 weeks out. ↗ Visit publisher
  12. [12]NOAA climate data. NOAA National Weather Service climatology: historical precipitation and temperature probabilities by date and region — essential for outdoor-wedding rain-plan decisions. ↗ Visit publisher
  13. [13]IRS tax guidance for newlyweds. IRS: filing-status options after marriage, W-4 withholding updates, and joint-return considerations for the year you marry. ↗ Visit publisher

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