Hey there, brides and grooms-to-be! Alyse here from Alyse & Ben Photography. Ben and I have spent years capturing the biggest days in couples’ lives here in New Orleans. While the wedding days themselves are joyful whirlwinds, we know the road leading up to them can be stressful and overwhelming if you’re not organized and prepared.

That’s why today, we’re sharing one of our biggest tips for engaged couples: make a wedding checklist and stick to it! Having a comprehensive game plan for tackling all those tasks is crucial for maintaining your sanity throughout the planning process. Let’s dive into the details on creating the ultimate checklist for your big day.

The Benefits of a Wedding Checklist

You’re already juggling a million things as you plan your wedding – why add one more item to your plate? Because a well-crafted checklist provides invaluable structure and clarity amidst the chaos. It will:

Keep You On Schedule

With a centralized list of to-dos, you can easily see what needs to be done and by when. No more letting deadlines sneak up on you or scrambling last-minute.

Identify Priorities

When everything seems urgent, the checklist helps prioritize what truly needs your attention now versus what can wait.

Reduce Stress

Having your checklist gives you a solid plan of attack instead of feeling perpetually behind or overwhelmed. You’ve got this!

Prevent Overlooked Tasks

It’s easy to forget about smaller details when you’re hyper-focused on major items. The checklist ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Building Your Wedding Checklist

So how do you actually put this vital tool together? Start by listing every single task, no matter how big or small, in one master document. The checklist we provide our couples looks something like this:

12+ Months Out

• Determine your budget
• Hire a planner (optional)
• Envision your wedding style/theme
• Start compiling your guest list
• Scout venues and vendors

10-12 Months Out

• Book venue (check out our favorite in New Orleans, plus a deep dive into Marche)
• Reserve hotel room blocks
• Interview and videographers, caterers, florists, DJs/bands, officiants, etc.
• Start dress shopping
• Schedule engagement photos
• Begin registering for gifts

6-9 Months Out

• Order stationery suite (save the dates, invitations, etc.)
• Book accommodations for wedding party/VIPs
• Schedule hair & makeup trials
• Attend pre-marital counseling (if applicable)
• Decide on groomsmen & bridesmaid gifts
• Start planning honeymoon

4-6 Months Out

• Mail save the dates
• Order wedding cake
• Schedule dress fittings
• Hire lighting, rentals, and other specialty vendors
• Book transportation
• Finalize rehearsal dinner plans

2-4 Months Out

• Mail invitations
• Submit wedding music preferences
• Obtain marriage license
• Schedule final gown fitting
• Order favors and other print materials
• Arrange seating chart
• Attend bachelorette/bachelor parties

1 Month Out

• Enter RSVPs into guest list
• Get hair & makeup trial
• Finalize timeline/send to vendors
• Confirm vendor arrangements and payments
• Prepare toasts/vows
• Assemble welcome bags

Final Weeks

• Break in wedding shoes
• Delegate wedding day tasks
• Get dress pressed
• Attend dress rehearsal
• Assign someone to receive/set up deliveries
• Get wedding license & rings
• Prepare gratuities and tips for vendors
• RELAX and soak in every moment!

Of course, you’ll need to personalize this general outline based on your specific vision, budget, priorities, and how far in advance you need to coordinate each component.

Taming the Master List

Once you have that big picture overview, it’s time to break it into manageable tasks. Give each item a due date and separate repeatable tasks from one-offs. You could use a spreadsheet, online planning tool, or even good old pen and paper.

Pro tip: consider having separate lists for both partners or delegating big categories to different bridal party members who can own those sections. There’s no rule saying the couple has to tackle every single item themselves!

Final Thoughts

Procrastination, indecision, and avoidance are dream killers when it comes to effortlessly executing an event of this magnitude. So while building your checklist is an upfront investment of energy, it provides immense downstream dividends. It’s your roadmap to the wedding of your dreams and the first step toward your forever after.

If you need help jump-starting your checklist or have any other photography-related questions, we’re always here for you! Get in touch here!