I am obsessed with timelines, lists, planners and anything that keeps me organized. (I even color code my lists and plan out each hour of the day). So today I am giving you my wedding planning timeline to help you out with what you should book and when you should do it, but first a look at Eli and I’s story.

Five and a half years ago Eli proposed to me. It was one of the best days of my life and I had no idea it was coming that day. He took me to my favorite city San Fransisco and proposed to me on Rodeo Beach.

I remember realizing it was about to happen after I hugged him and accidentally felt the ring box. I immediately flipped out and just prayed he was not going to do it in front of a crowd of people. Thankfully he could not find parking at the lookout point so it forced him to go down to Rodeo beach where no one was at. I brought my film camera and we took pictures of the ocean together before he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes right away! We had no photographer and nobody was with us. It was perfect. I remember asking a man flying a kite to take our picture with my camera and that was it. Then I proceeded to call everyone I loved to tell them I was engaged as we drove into the city to eat lunch. Man was I on cloud nine! (And still am 5 and half years later!)

We ate lunch at our favorite spot, Roam burgers, and then adventured to the city to visit some music and clothing stores. All while Eli yelled I’m engaged and this is my fiancee to everyone he saw walking by us. He loves to embarrass me in the best way possible, but that day it did not bother me one bit. After that cloud 9 of a day we started planning our wedding a couple weeks later. The best advice I can give people is to relax and enjoy the first few weeks of being engaged. You will have plenty of time to plan and stress over the details but right now just enjoy being together! Oh and always make time to eat some yummy tacos while planning your big day.

Let’s get to the point of why you all are here. You are engaged and basically stressed out to the max with planning so you are here trying to get any advice you can because let’s be real being engaged is amazing but also crazy stressful all at the same time.

First bit of advice: Plan fun date nights once or twice a month where you do not talk about wedding planning. Go to your favorite place to eat, go on an adventure together or just snuggle up at home to a good movie but just make sure to keep wedding planning off the table.

Second piece of advice: Take one day out of the week and focus on wedding planning for a couple of hours. This is a must to knock out things and be less stressed in the long run.

Wedding Planning Timeline:

10 months:

1. Find a wedding date
2. Determine your guest list
3. Book a venue
4. Begin dress shopping

9 months:

1. Book your photographer (I book up even a year out so do not wait on your vendors)
2. Book your videographer
3. Book your wedding planner and/or day of corrdinator
4. Buy your wedding dress
5. Book your caterer

8 months:

1. Book your florist
2. Book your makeup/hairdresser (Do trials before your wedding day)
3. Set up gift registries
4. Book officiant

7 months:

1. Book honeymoon
2. Choose music for ceremony, reception and so on. Hire a DJ if you are going that route.

6 months:

1. Book your engagement pictures for this month
2. Have your girls order their bridesmaid dresses

5 months:

1. Make arrangements for any rentals: Decor and Sound eqipement
2. Plan out the decor for the reception, ceremony and tables
3. Book your engagement pictures for this month
   
   

4 months:

1. Have the groomsmen get fitted for their suits
2. Order save the dates beginning of the month
3. Have groom get fitted for his suit
4. Send out save the date cards end of the month
5. Book your hotel for your wedding night

3 months:

1. Order Invites

2 months:

1. Address and mail out wedding invites
2. Purchase wedding rings
3. Check in with all vendors

1 month:

1. Finish any wedding decor projects (ex. building a triangle arbor etc.)
2. Get your marriage license
3. Make a day of wedding timeline for the wedding party
4. Get gift bags ready for bridesmaids and groomsmen
5. Give final head count to cateer and venue

1 week before:

1. Take the final week to relax and delegate any last minute tasks to your bridal party and family.

If you get engaged with 6 months until your wedding date to go or less than that, then the first month you are engaged I would recommend doing most tasks in months 10, 9, 8 and 7. It is a lot to handle doing it all in one month but plan out time every couple days to knock things out so you can be on track and get the vendors/venue you want before they book up.

My sister was only engaged 4 months before she got married. She had her whole family help her book things and delegated a lot in order to get everything booked that first month. It is totally possible just make sure to ask for help if you need it. And if all else fails eat some chocolate and watch a good movie to relax for a bit and take a much needed wedding planning break!