Wedding checklist generator: plan your wedding

How the generator works

Tell the generator the essentials about your day: when you're getting married, whether it's a day or evening wedding (or both), whether you're marrying in the Netherlands or abroad, and how much you want to organise yourselves. That's all it needs.

From there, the generator counts back from your wedding date and puts every task in the month it really matters: from ‘send the save the date’ to ‘confirm final numbers’. So you can see at a glance what's due this month and what can wait a little.

The checklist is yours straight away: tick off what you've already sorted, skip what doesn't suit you, and save or print the overview whenever you like. Wedding date moves? The whole plan simply moves with it.

• Your wedding date: the checklist counts back from it automatically
• Day, evening or both: day and evening guests get their own moments
• In the Netherlands or abroad: marrying abroad means starting earlier
• DIY or outsource: the more you organise yourselves, the more steps the checklist adds

Planning a wedding: the complete checklist from ‘yes’ to after the big day

Below is the full checklist the generator bases your personal version on: a complete wedding plan of more than a year, split into clear periods. Most couples plan around twelve to eighteen months ahead; if you have less time, don't worry, the first steps simply move up and you tackle them a little faster.

Think of it as the rhythm almost every wedding follows. You don't have to come up with everything yourselves. Work through the periods, keep what fits and let the rest go.

12 months ahead and earlier: the foundations

This is the phase of big dreams and a few big decisions. First, take a moment to celebrate your engagement. Then choose the atmosphere together, set a rough budget and guest count, and lock in the most important things: the date and the venue. Sought-after venues and popular dates are sometimes booked up more than a year ahead, so the earlier you start, the more choice you have.

• Celebrate the engagement and share the news with your loved ones
• Decide together on the atmosphere and style of your day
• Set a rough budget, with the budget calculator as a realistic starting point
• Draw up a first guest list, so you know how many people you're planning for
• Choose your wedding date and book the venue
• Ask your witnesses and, if you like, a master of ceremonies

10–8 months ahead: the big suppliers

With the date set, things get real. Now you book the suppliers who can only do one wedding a day and get booked up fastest: the registrar or celebrant, the photographer, the caterer. The dress and suit take time too: for a made-to-measure wedding dress, allow six to nine months. And as soon as the date and venue are set, the save the date goes out.

• Send the save the date, usually around ten months ahead (the timeline calculator works out the exact date for you)
• Arrange the ceremony: give notice of your intended marriage at the council and choose a registrar or celebrant
• Book the photographer and, if you like, a videographer
• Choose and book the caterer, or your venue's catering package
• Start looking for the wedding dress and suit
• Work on the guest list: who will be day guests and who evening guests?

8–6 months ahead: atmosphere, music and communication

The foundations are in place; now for the atmosphere. Sort out the music, flowers and styling, choose the rings, and set up your wedding website and invitation, the beating heart of all communication with your guests. Everything guests need to know will soon be in one place, from directions and dress code to the RSVP form.

• Book the music: a DJ, a live band or both, plus music for the ceremony
• Choose the florist and discuss the bouquet, buttonholes and styling
• Choose your wedding rings together, as engraving takes extra time
• Set up your wedding website and design the invitation
• Write the wording for the invitation: the invitation wording generator gets you started
• Sort out the cake, transport and perhaps an overnight stay for the two of you

6–4 months ahead: inviting and fine-tuning

Now your day really becomes visible to everyone. The formal invitation goes out around six to ten weeks beforehand, or earlier if guests are booking hotels or you're getting married abroad. Meanwhile you fine-tune the details: a hair and make-up trial, a tasting with the caterer, and the outline of the running order.

• Send the invitation and open the RSVP on your wedding website
• Book a hair and make-up trial
• Go to a tasting and decide on the menu
• Draw up the running order and agree it with the venue and suppliers
• Arrange transport for guests and think about places to stay nearby
• Buy or hire outfits for the wedding party and the outfits for the evening

4–2 months ahead: the details that complete it

The replies are rolling in and the wedding takes shape down to the last detail. Collect menu choices and dietary requirements, start on the seating plan, and work out the content of the ceremony: the readings, the vows, the order. The speeches and surprises slowly take shape now too.

• Keep track of RSVPs and collect menu choices and allergies in one overview
• Start on the seating plan: the seating plan guide makes it a lot lighter
• Work out the ceremony: readings, vows, rituals and the layout
• Coordinate speeches and surprises with the witnesses and master of ceremonies
• Go for your final fitting and collect the rings
• Sort out the little things: guestbook, venue map and favours for the guests

2 months to 2 weeks ahead: confirm everything

The big picture is set; now it's all about confirming. The RSVP deadline usually falls around six weeks beforehand, after which you pass the final numbers to the caterer and venue. Finish the running order, share it with all suppliers, and pin down the last details of the day.

• Set the RSVP deadline and do a friendly final round of calls to anyone who hasn't replied
• Pass final numbers and menu choices to the caterer and venue
• Finalise the seating plan
• Draw up the running order and share it with all suppliers and everyone involved
• Share the dress code, directions and parking info once more on your wedding website
• Put payments and tips ready in envelopes

The final week and the wedding day itself

Almost there. In the last few days, lay everything out ready, confirm arrival times with your suppliers, and look after yourselves: plenty of sleep and a relaxed evening beforehand. And then it's time: on the day itself, all you need to do is be there. The running order does the rest.

• Lay out everything you need: rings, wedding outfits, shoes, paperwork and a small emergency kit
• Confirm arrival and set-up times with all suppliers
• Hand tasks over to your witnesses or master of ceremonies
• Plan a quiet evening before the day, and enjoy it
• On the wedding day: be present, let go and soak up the moment

After the wedding: the lovely aftercare

The day is over, but a few lovely things are still to come. Within about four weeks, share the photos and send your thank-yous. Personal works warmest. After that, deal with the practical side: return hired items, pay suppliers and, if you want to, arrange your change of name.

• Share the photos on your wedding website, as everyone already has the link
• Send personal thank-yous, ideally within four weeks
• Return hired outfits, equipment and decorations
• Settle the final payments and leave a review for the suppliers you were happy with
• Arrange your change of name if you wish, and keep your marriage certificate safe

Why a personal wedding checklist works better

A generic checklist from the internet tells you what to do, but not when, and certainly not when for you. A list that starts at ‘twelve months ahead’ doesn't help much if you're getting married in seven months, or have more than two years.

The generator counts everything down from your own wedding date, leaves out what doesn't suit you, and adds what does. Marrying abroad simply calls for different steps than an intimate party round the corner. So instead of a list of a hundred tasks, half of which don't apply, you get exactly the overview that fits your day.

And you're not on your own: pair the checklist with the timeline calculator for the exact send dates, the budget calculator to make the finances work, and your own wedding website where all communication comes together. That way wedding planning feels more like something to look forward to than a long to-do list.

• Counted down from your date: every task sits in the month it really matters
• Only what fits: day or evening, at home or abroad, DIY or outsourced
• Peace of mind: one overview instead of ten separate lists and screenshots