How To Plan Your Dream Wedding in 6 Months: The Ultimate Wedding Timeline and Checklist
Congratulations on your engagement! Planning a wedding can seem overwhelming, but with a 6-month engagement, you still have enough time to create a dream wedding that reflects your unique style and preferences. It’s important to remember that your wedding day should be about you and your partner, so don’t feel pressured to follow any so-called “norms” or expectations from others. Stay true to your vision and budget, and prioritize what’s most important to you both as a couple. To help you stay on track and organized, our wedding planning checklist offers a comprehensive timeline to ensure your special day is as stress-free as possible. Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony or a grand celebration in 6 months—or even 3 or 12— you can trust our checklist to guide you through every step of the process.
6 Months Out:
- Determine your realistic wedding budget
- Sit down with your partner to get on the same page about your shared vision for the big day and prioritize what’s most important to you to include
- Research and apply for a credit card with great travel benefits—put wedding expenses on this card and rack up points for your honeymo
- Visit potential venues
- Start researching vendors
- Draft guest list
- Choose your wedding party
- Join online wedding communities, like The Hive, to get inspiration, ask questions, and get advice from other couples planning their weddings
- Consider signing up for a travel or hotel credit card to earn rewards on wedding expenses and enjoy perks like discounted accommodations and exclusive benefits for a memorable honeymoon experience.
5 Months Out:
- Finalize date & venue
- Start booking vendors
- Start looking at wedding attire
- Explore pre-marital counseling with your partner to help set your marriage up for success
- Discuss who you want to officiate your wedding
- Schedule tastings for wedding cake and caterers
- Create a wedding website—write your greeting, upload a photo, and include any relevant information for your guests
- Hire a wedding planner (if desired)
4 Months Out:
- Confirm honeymoon plans and book travel
- Book hotel room blocks & transportation
- Finalize guest list
- Order Save the Dates, if using printed
- Have an engagement photo session (if desired)
- Book your wedding photographer
- Start collecting guests’ contact information—you can keep track of all of this in your Honeyfund account!
- Book your DJ or wedding band. If you’d rather save in this area, try making your own Spotify playlist and using a Bluetooth speaker or sound system
3 Months Out:
- Purchase wedding rings & consider purchasing ring insurance
- Start browsing Pinterest for some easy hair and makeup styles to do yourself
- Plan and book any pre-wedding festivities (engagement party, bridal shower, etc.)
- Book your officiant
- Publish your wedding website & create your Honeyfund registry
- Brainstorm a wedding hashtag
- Mail or e-mail Send Save-the-Dates
- Order wedding invitations
- Send shower invites
- Create a backup plan for any outdoor activities in case of inclement weather.
- Start browsing Facebook Marketplace for decor that you can repurpose for your big day
2 Months Out:
- Finalize all vendor hires and make final payments
- Book rehearsal dinner venue
- Create a timeline for the wedding day
- Add more items to your Honeyfund registry to give your guests plenty of items to choose from
- Book florist and finalize flowers
- Finalize seating chart and create place cards
- Book wedding cake baker
- Book hair and makeup
- Decide on bachelorette and bachelor party activities
- Send formal wedding invitations
1 Month Out:
- Wedding Showers & bachelor/bachelorette parties
- Share your Honeyfund registry with your guests — consider including a registry card with your invitations or sharing another way.
- Schedule final fittings for your wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses
- Confirm details with vendors and make any final payments
- Meet with your officiant
- Confirm playlists and music with your wedding DJ or band
- Work on DIY projects for your wedding decor
- Create a timeline for the wedding day and share it with vendors and the bridal party
- Finalize details for the rehearsal dinner and any other pre-wedding events
- Plan honeymoon excursions
- Start collecting RSVPs
- Create seating chart
- Obtain marriage license
- Finalize attire & alterations
- Make final vendor payments
- Write vows
- Order clothing and necessities for your honeymoon
2 Weeks Out:
- Create a shot list for your photographer
- Touch base with all vendors
1 Week Out:
- Pack overnight bags for your wedding and/or honeymoon
Day Before:
- Ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
- Pack wedding day essentials
- Eat well, stay hydrated, and get a good night’s sleep!
Wedding Day:
- Set up venue and make any final vendor payments
- Get married
- Celebrate!
- Clean up (if required by your venue)
After the wedding:
- Tip your DJ, caterer, or any other wedding vendors and/or settle any outstanding balances with your vendors
- Transfer the funds from your Honeyfund Wallet to your Venmo or Paypal, completely fee-free (hello, Honeymoon funds!)
- Enjoy your honeymoon and start your new life together as a married couple!
- Send thank-you notes to guests and vendors
- Change your name
- Use the remaining funds from your Honeyfund registry to pay off credit card-related wedding expenses
- Order wedding photos
Planning a wedding in 3 or 12 months instead? Check out these wedding timelines instead.
Create my fee-free honeymoon registry.