9 to 12 Months

• Announce your engagement 12 months before the big day. This will give you enough time to plan. Select your wedding date at this time so you and your guests will have plenty of time to prepare. Decide on your budget so during preparation further down the road you know how much you can spend. Book your wedding ceremony venue and hire your officiant. Book your reception venue (if they are in separate places). Make up a preliminary guest list. Decide on your color scheme and choose your wedding dress.
  
  

6 to 9 Months

• Now you have your reception venue you can book important services. Book your caterer, official photographer, videographer and musician or DJ for the reception. Choose your wedding party and tell them of their pre-wedding responsibilities. Choose your bridesmaid's outfits and floral arrangements, now that you've chosen your color scheme. Create your final guest list and order your wedding invitations. Send out save the date cards to your guest list. Arrange accommodation for out-of-town guests that is convenient for getting to and from the wedding ceremony and reception. Start planning the rehearsal dinner. Take engagement photos with your fiance and use them for your engagement announcement in the local newspaper.
  
  

4 to 6 Months

• Join a bridal registry. Start fittings for bridesmaid attire and your wedding dress. Buy shoes and accessories for yourself and your bridesmaids. Start fittings for your fiance and groomsmen attire. Buy your wedding bands and reserve any rental items. Finalize a guest list. Finalize the date, time and location for your rehearsal dinner. Choose your honeymoon destination and accommodation. Book local accommodation for your wedding night if you aren't beginning travels for your honeymoon at the end of your wedding reception. Book the rehearsal dinner location.
  
  

2 To 4 Months

• Send out your wedding invitations. Attend tasting sessions for your wedding cake and food for your reception. Choose your drinks selections for the reception bar. Book a hairdresser and makeup artist for your wedding day. Experiment with them to get your hair and makeup looks. Order your decorations, table linens, centerpieces and favors for the reception venue. Arrange wedding attire for the groom and groomsmen. Start to make a list of all your RSVP-ed guests. Get your marriage license; this will usually expire in 3 months. Start writing your wedding vows if you are writing your own.
  
  

1 Month

• Finalize arrangements for your rehearsal. Finalize details with your officiant, florist, caterer, photography and musicians. Make sure your reception decorations have arrived, including centerpieces and linens. Contact guests who haven't replied to your invitation. Arrange transportation to and from the wedding ceremony and reception. Make final fittings on yourself and your bridesmaids' dresses. Buy a guest book for your guests to leave messages in on the day. Make a wedding day itinerary and give a copy to your wedding party. Create a reception seating plan. Advise your wedding party to write speeches if they are giving one. Send out rehearsal dinner invites.
  
  

One Week

• Provide your caterer and reception venue with a final number of guests attending. Finalize your seating plan. Assign your wedding party with their responsibility for the day before and day of the wedding. Book a manicure and pedicure for the day before your wedding. Have your bachelor and bachelorette parties.