Whether you're going casual and quaint or all-out traditional, planning a wedding takes a lot of work and even more organization. Following a wedding timeline will keep you both sane and organized. Obviously the first step in wedding planning is choosing the right day. Once you've got that narrowed down — keeping in mind the time of year and any other events or holidays that may interfere — it's go time! To see some important points to consider in phase one of your wedding planning, read more
One year in advance
- Create a wedding folder or binder to store the details of your event, including any inspirational ideas. Staying organized will be the best thing you can do for yourself during this process.
- When it comes to planning the big event, the first thing you'll want to determine is the style you're hoping for. Formal or casual? Whimsical or modern? Many of the decisions you'll make will have you referring back to the thematics.
- Plan your budget. Consider absolutely everything, and don't forget to leave room for the unexpected.
- Select a venue that works with both your budget and style. Don't choose the first one you see — shop around!
- Research and begin the selection of your wedding professionals: caterer, photographer, florist, etc.
- It's also time to start wedding gown shopping. You want to get the perfect one so leave yourself a little time to be indecisive. Also, keep in mind that it can take anywhere from five to eight months to have a wedding dress made, not to mention the time it takes for any adjustments.
- Pick your wedding party and make sure that the lucky few are willing and able to participate.
Stay tuned in the next few weeks for part two of our Wedding Timeline.
To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.




Scholl
Pedro Garcia
Cinque
Elope...I wish I did!
1Wome like me that are kinda obessed over getting married, already have these things planned out!
2haha me too almostfamous! lol
3I am SO GLAD I am done with this!
4I can't wait to get married and plan a wedding!
5LOl @ Melizzle. We can tell by your avatar!
6@ kikidawn, I know the colors, silhouette and what time of the year!
I wish this was posted earlier when I was in stage one of planning! I'm getting married at the end of May and we're down to tying up all the loose ends we've forgotten over the past year! I'm so looking forward to it all being behind me!
7psychobabble I'm right with you. I'm getting married at the end of mat too and its way more stressful then you think its going to be people! Like when future inlaws already burn bridges..
8@ almost famous: hehe, yup.. just wanted to be married already, leave us alone!!
My mom turned into major mom-zilla during the wedding planning process... that's what happens when you're the only daughter and don't care about details like centerpieces and veil length.
But now, I get all sorts of questions about
. The fun just never ends...
9So glad it's over!!! I let my mom do almost everything and it was wooooonderful because I didn't care about most of it - I just wanted to be married!!
10My longtime partner and I got engaged less than a month ago. We're going to be married in mid-July. It's going to be small ceremony with immediate family at the courthouse and a casual party a couple days later. I didn't realize that even for this small event how much planning is involved. If this was the only thing I had to do, I could see it being manageable, but it's not... CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to it and marrying my man. I am super excited that there is now a IDoSugar...
11I am getting married in a little more than a month and we've been engaged since last April. People make it out to be this big, crazy, stressful thing. It's really not. It's one day. One expensive day!
I'm a little embarrassed to say I use theknot.com for our checklist, it is pretty useful overall but includes lame things like "Grooms: go to your bachelor party and be sure to thank your best man." Well, DUH!
It's been helpful for our guest list too.
I just want it to be over with...and I'm sure as soon as it is, I will be sad and need to fill some sort of void, since planning takes up so much of my spare thoughts!
12I'm in this stage right now! Next week I am going to look at venues, and then decide on a final date! Soooo excited!
13A timeline is SO helpful...planning a wedding is very stressful. And it should be enjoyable and memorable, but there are so many little things that can go wrong, things that you never even thought about!
Luckily, I had my mother to help me...she helped to handle almost everything for us. I knew exactly what I wanted, she just helped to make it all happen. She helped me keep my sanity for sure. And she helped to make the whole planning process memorable and mostly stress-free.
If you don't have your mother or someone close to you who can help with a lot of the details (and you can afford it), I would strongly recommend hiring a wedding planner.
14Even when you think everything is going to be simple it never is. I am a really laid back person and I got so stressed about everything. Everyone wants to put in their two cents and you end up pretty much crazy. Give yourself plenty of time to plan and don't worry about everything being perfect because that is not going to happen. Make sure you take time to enjoy the process.
15I'm having a half-way elopement. Very very casual french quarter wedding with a nice reception afterwards.
16almostfamous, yep! lol I *love* weddings
I have what I'd like for my ring picked
out, the colors, most of the attendants (I just can't figure out a flower girl!) and time of year. Oh and I've looked at several dresses on line 
17Oh and my s/o is annoyed by it all
waiting too long makes it anticlimatic. my husband wanted to get married right away but i was able to extend the engagement to 5 months and it worked out swimmingly.
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