Wedding planning timeline: what to do and when

Twelve to nine months out

This phase is for the decisions that hold everything else in place. Agree a rough budget and who is contributing, because that sets the size of the wedding.

Draft a first guest list, even roughly. Without an approximate number you cannot have a serious conversation with any venue.

Book the venue and the date. Sought-after dates in season can be taken a year ahead, so this goes first.

Book the photographer and the music straight after the venue. Those are suppliers who do one wedding a day and fill up fastest.

Nine to six months out

Now for the things that need to be made or altered. Start with the dress and the suit, because alterations take longer than people expect.

Arrange the ceremony and gather the paperwork. Notice periods for registering a marriage differ by location and type of ceremony, so check with the relevant office rather than relying on someone else's experience.

If some guests are travelling in, book accommodation now while there is a choice.

Six to three months out

The work now shifts to communicating with guests. Finalise the guest list with addresses or phone numbers, depending on how you are sending the invitation.

Send the invitations. For a wedding at home, about two months ahead is enough. If most guests are travelling or the wedding falls in holiday season, send them three to four months ahead so people can plan the trip.

Arrange decoration, flowers and the cake. Do a hair and make-up trial, because it is your only chance to change something without pressure.

Three months to one month out

This is when RSVPs come in. Set the deadline three to four weeks before the wedding and keep track of who has replied.

Once the deadline passes, call the people who have not answered. There are always some, and calling is always faster than waiting.

With the final count, give the venue an exact number, finish the seating plan and print it.

The final week

Confirm times and the running order with every supplier, in writing where possible, so there is a record.

Write a schedule for the day with times and share it with the people who have a job: the witnesses, the photographer, the music, and whoever collects things at the end of the night.

Brief one person to answer guests' questions on the day instead of you. Without that you spend the whole day on the phone.

How this works in xtwo

The guest list, RSVPs, digital invitations, the seating plan with its B1 poster, the gift list and budget tracking all live in the same place, so the number of confirmed guests carries over into the seating plan on its own.

The app also includes a planning task list, where you can add your own items and the deadlines from this timeline.

For photos from the day there is a QR code guests scan to add pictures to a shared gallery. That is the only paid feature, and you can try it free for seven days.