Wedding planning checklist: every task, dated for your wedding
Generic wedding checklists assume you have a year and a planner. This prompt has your todo.is agent work back from your real date, put every task in the right month, skip what doesn't apply to your wedding, and send you a short list of what's due each week.
The prompt
- Make a wedding planning checklist for our wedding on [WEDDING DATE]. Today is the start, so work backwards from that date. It's a [WEDDING STYLE] wedding with about [GUEST COUNT] guests in [LOCATION]. Already done: [WHAT'S ALREADY BOOKED]. Group the tasks by month, mark the deadlines that can't move (venue, licence, invitations, final numbers), and say who does each task: [WHO IS PLANNING]. Give me a Word checklist with tick boxes and an Excel version with due dates. Then every Monday at 9:00, send me on WhatsApp the tasks due in the next 2 weeks.
What to change
- [WEDDING DATE]: The exact date, e.g. "12 June 2027". The checklist works for 6, 9 or 12+ months.
- [WEDDING STYLE]: E.g. "church ceremony and hotel reception", "small courthouse wedding and dinner", "destination wedding in Italy".
- [GUEST COUNT]: Approximate, e.g. "80".
- [LOCATION]: City and country, which changes licence rules and vendor lead times.
- [WHAT'S ALREADY BOOKED]: E.g. "venue and photographer", or "nothing yet".
- [WHO IS PLANNING]: E.g. "me, my partner Sam and my mum". Tasks are split between you.
Example result
- Wedding planning checklist: 12 June 2027 (9 months to go)
- Church ceremony and hotel reception · 80 guests · Venue and photographer booked
- 9 months before (September)
- • Set the budget and the guest list draft (both)
- • Book officiant and confirm church date (Sam)
- • Shortlist caterer if not included with the venue (you)
- • Start a shared folder for quotes and contracts
- 8 months (October)
- • Book band or DJ and florist
- • Choose the wedding party
- • Book a hotel room block for guests
- 7 months (November)
- • Shop for wedding dress or suit; allow time for alterations
- • Send save-the-dates
- • Plan the honeymoon and check passports are valid
- 5–6 months (December–January)
- • Book hair and makeup, transport, cake
- • Order invitations
- • Register for gifts or set up a gift fund
- 3–4 months (February–March)
- • Plan the ceremony order with the officiant
- • Book rehearsal dinner
- • Buy rings
- 2 months (April)
- • Fixed deadline: mail invitations (8 weeks before)
- • Check marriage licence rules and documents in your area; some need several weeks
- • First dress fitting
- 1 month (May)
- • Fixed deadline: RSVP date, then chase missing replies
- • Apply for the marriage licence within the valid window
- • Write vows and speeches
- • Final menu tasting
- 2 weeks before
- • Fixed deadline: final guest count to caterer and venue
- • Seating chart and place cards
- • Confirm times with every vendor; make a day-of timeline
- • Final fitting; break in your shoes
- Wedding week
- • Pack for the honeymoon
- • Prepare vendor tips and final payments in labelled envelopes
- • Hand the day-of timeline to one person who isn't you
- After the wedding
- • Thank-you notes within 3 months
- • Change your name on documents if you want to
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your date, style, guest count, location and what's already done.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- You get a Word checklist with tick boxes, an Excel version with due dates, and a weekly reminder.
- Reply "done: invitations ordered" and your agent ticks it off and keeps the next reminder accurate.
Tips for a better result
- Marriage licence rules differ a lot by country and state. Ask your agent to look up the official rules for your area with the link.
- Book the hard-to-get vendors first: venue, photographer and band book out a year ahead in peak season.
- Connect Google and your agent can add the fixed deadlines to your calendar.
- Short engagement? Say "we have 4 months" and it compresses the timeline and flags what to book this week.
wedding planning checklist: FAQ
- When should you start planning a wedding? Many couples start 12 to 18 months ahead, but a 6-month plan works if you book the venue and key vendors in the first few weeks.
- When do wedding invitations go out? Usually 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, with the RSVP date 3 to 4 weeks before. Destination weddings need more notice, so send save-the-dates 8 to 12 months ahead.
- What do people forget when planning a wedding? Often the marriage licence timing, vendor meals, a rain plan, a day-of contact person and breaking in shoes.
- Can the checklist be shared with my partner? Yes. Download the Word or Excel file and share it, or ask your agent to email it to both of you.
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