Wedding planning checklist and timeline
Enter your wedding date and we’ll lay out the plan from the first booking to the big day, with real dates. We’ll flag what is urgent right now and what you need to catch up on.
Prices updated: · United States (USD) · free, no sign-up
Calculator result
To do now
11tasks
Current stage: 8 months before
- Days to go
- 300 days
- Past due
- 2 stages
- Marriage license by
- August 8, 2027
12 months before
August 15, 2026 · overdue10 months before
October 15, 2026 · overdue8 months before
December 15, 2026 · now6 months before
February 15, 2027 · later4 months before
April 15, 2027 · later3 months before
May 15, 2027 · later2 months before
June 15, 2027 · later1 month before
July 15, 2027 · later2 weeks before
August 1, 2027 · later1 week before
August 8, 2027 · laterDay before
August 14, 2027 · laterWedding day
August 15, 2027 · later
- Marriage license: apply no earlier than July 16, 2027 and no later than August 8, 2027.
- Stages past due: 2. If you’ve already done some of them, turn on “We’ve already done the past stages”.
How we calculate
- Deadlines are counted back from your date in calendar months (e.g., 4 months before June 19 is February 19), and the final stages in days.
- The “now” stage is the next one ahead of you plus any stage due within 30 days. Stages whose deadline has passed are flagged to catch up on - unless you tell us they’re done.
- Marriage license window: we suggest applying no earlier than 30 days and no later than 7 days before the wedding. That fits the rules in almost every state - licenses are valid for 30 to 90 days, and waiting periods run from none to 3 days (24 hours in New York, 72 hours in Texas).
Cheat sheet: prices and good practice
Marriage license basics
- Fee: about $30-115, depending on the state and county
- Valid for 30-90 days in most states (New York 60, California and Texas 90)
- Waiting period: none in many states, 24 hours in New York, 72 hours in Texas
- You both apply in person (or by video in some counties) with photo ID
- After the ceremony the officiant files the signed license - then order certified copies for the name change
Typical lead times
- Venue: 10-12 months ahead
- Save-the-dates: 6-8 months before
- Invitations: mailed 6-8 weeks before
- Final headcount to the caterer: about 2 weeks before
Questions and answers
We have less than six months. Can we still pull it off?
Yes. Stages will overlap, so some tasks will show as past due - that is normal. Start with the venue, photographer and music, because those dates disappear fastest. Fridays, Sundays and off-season dates are much easier to book.
When should we get the marriage license?
About one to four weeks before the wedding: inside the validity window in almost every state, with time to spare for any waiting period. Check your county clerk’s website - fees, ID rules and appointments vary by state and county.
Calculate next
- Wedding countdown Days, weeks, and full months until your wedding, Saturdays left to plan, and what to do right now.
- Wedding budget A full wedding budget in 30 seconds - from catering to wedding bands, with price ranges.
- Wedding invitations Invitations counted per household, not per guest, with extras only for printing and postage only for what you mail.
- Savings plan Your monthly and weekly savings target, counted to the date the money is actually due.
For the party itself
Games every guest plays at once
Couple trivia, awards and a finale on the big screen. Guests join with a QR code on their phones, no app to download.