Whether you give yourself a ton of time or only have a few months, when planning a wedding, it’s all about organization and time management. You need to know your priorities, be comfortable juggling a few tasks, all while keeping your cool.
“When they have a calendar or checklist, it allows for them to focus on the task at hand, what’s important, check it off and move on,” said Jodi Gagné, wedding planner and founder of Simply Perfect. “There are some couples who come to me and we can turn a wedding around in three weeks. Anything is possible, it just depends on their personality, how flexible they are, if they’re open in terms of the venue, how quick they make decisions and whether they’re good at checking it off, don’t look back, move forward.”
Whatever your timeline, here’s how to plan a wedding in 36 weeks. You may have to do a little tinkering with your own schedule but if you follow along carefully, you’ll get the idea of what you need to do to have the best wedding imaginable.
![Set a date and time for the wedding Two woman hugging on a boat](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Set a date and time for the wedding
![Create a preliminary guest list Black list of wedding guests](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Create a preliminary guest list
![Select a ceremony venue and/or reception venue Wedding set up in barn](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select a ceremony venue and/or reception venue
![Select a ceremony officiant Officiant holding book in front of couple holding hands](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select a ceremony officiant
![Select the bridal party Five women, laughing and smiling](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select the bridal party
![Find the wedding gown Woman trying on wedding dress with friends watching](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Find the wedding gown
![Select a photographer Closeup of photographer taking photo](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select a photographer
Is he/she this good, though?
![Bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ attire Three women in bridesmaids dresses](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ attire
![Prepare the Save the Dates Mock-up of Save the Date card](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Prepare the Save the Dates
![Send out Save the Dates Stack of cards](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Send out Save the Dates
![Create a preliminary timeline for the actual wedding day Woman and man looking at tablet](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Create a preliminary timeline for the actual wedding day
![Pick floral and decor companies Flower shop](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Pick floral and decor companies
![Select ceremony and reception musicians Man holding trumpet, woman holding accordian, another woman holding violin](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select ceremony and reception musicians
Start picking your first dance song, father-daughter song and more with these top wedding songs of 2018.
![Arrange hotel accommodations Hotel lobby](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Arrange hotel accommodations
![Order invitations Stack of invitations](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Order invitations
![Organize transportation Fancy car parked outside church](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Organize transportation
She further explains, "So it would involve picking up the groom and the male attendants and get them to the church, picking up the bride and female attendants to get them to the church, then picking up the bridal party and getting them to the photo location, and from the photo location to the reception venue. And then a pickup at the end of the night, if needed."
![Arrange for additional services like AV, entertainment, ice sculptures, photo booths Lit up dance floor](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Arrange for additional services like AV, entertainment, ice sculptures, photo booths
![Square away hair and makeup Woman getting made up](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Square away hair and makeup
![Plan a honeymoon Woman and man looking at book on Europe](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Plan a honeymoon
![Purchase wedding rings Two men holding wedding bands](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Purchase wedding rings
![Menu tasting Two plates of food](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Menu tasting
![Order formalwear for groom, groomsmen, fathers, ushers and ringbearers Man helping another man into jacket](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Order formalwear for groom, groomsmen, fathers, ushers and ringbearers
![Plan welcome baskets and thank you notes for out-of-town guests Boxes with](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Plan welcome baskets and thank you notes for out-of-town guests
![Purchase of accessories like ring pillows, cake accessories, knives, toasting glasses, guestbook pen, money box Glasses getting toasted](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Purchase of accessories like ring pillows, cake accessories, knives, toasting glasses, guestbook pen, money box
![Purchase gifts for those involved in planning process Bride-to-be and bridesmaids holding gifts](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Purchase gifts for those involved in planning process
![Order favours Wedding favours](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Order favours
RELATED: Here's how to impress your wedding guests.
![Mail out invitations Pile of wedding invitations](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Mail out invitations
Why? "Because four weeks prior, you want your RSVPs in. Then anywhere from three weeks to one week prior, you're giving your final guest count to your florist, to your liquor rep, your caterer, to your venue, to your floral decor company." It's all in the details.
![Obtain marriage license Couple applying for marriage license](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Obtain marriage license
![Select music for ceremony and reception Man and woman listening to music](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Select music for ceremony and reception
RELATED: For the songs for every moment of your big day, you need this ultimate list in your life.
![Final details meetings Man and woman looking at notes and laptop](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Final details meetings
![Arrange rehearsal/rehearsal dinner Empty table all set up](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Arrange rehearsal/rehearsal dinner
![Follow up with guests who haven’t responded Impatient woman on phone](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Follow up with guests who haven’t responded
![Finalize guest count Woman and man looking at notes](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Finalize guest count
![Send or write thank you cards for any gifts received prior to wedding Woman in car putting card in envelope](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Send or write thank you cards for any gifts received prior to wedding
![Finalize table seating assignments Table seating chart](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Finalize table seating assignments
![Print the day of stationery Table setting with name card](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Print the day of stationery
![Ensure gown and accessories are picked up Wedding dress hanging by window](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Ensure gown and accessories are picked up
![Break in shoes Bride slipping shoes on](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Break in shoes
![Arrange refreshments for bridal party during photo session Five women sitting around table eating and drinking](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Arrange refreshments for bridal party during photo session
![Ready payment envelopes for vendors that need to be paid just prior or on the day Handful of envelopes](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Ready payment envelopes for vendors that need to be paid just prior or on the day
![Work on wedding toast and speeches Woman smiling and writing in notebook](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Work on wedding toast and speeches
![Pack for honeymoon if going away right after Open suitcase on floor, full of clothes](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Pack for honeymoon if going away right after
![Arrange for overnight bags to get to venue or hotel Suitcase next to hotel bed](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Arrange for overnight bags to get to venue or hotel
![Deliver all the accessories to the reception site Dark banquet room all set up for wedding](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Deliver all the accessories to the reception site
![Deliver welcome baskets to hotel for out-of-town guests Gift box on hotel bed](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Deliver welcome baskets to hotel for out-of-town guests
![Have the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner People sitting at long table in restaurant](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Have the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner
![Eat something Eat something](https://www.slice.ca/wp-content/themes/slice/assets/default_images_placeholder.png)
Eat something
P.S. Don't forget, on the next business day you've got some leg work to do, from returning things like tuxedoes, cake stands and rental cars. Once that's all done, let married life begin!