Planning a wedding can feel like a thousand little tasks all shouting at once. The good news? They don't all need doing today. Most of them have a natural moment, and once you know roughly when each one comes up, everything gets a whole lot quieter.
So here's the timeline I'd hand you two if we were sitting down together. Think of it as a gentle guide, not a rulebook. If you're planning in a year, or in six months, simply start where you are and squeeze the earlier steps together. Plenty of beautiful weddings come together quickly.
18 to 12 months out: the big three
This is the stage that shapes everything else, so take your time with it.
Talk about the feeling first. Big party or small dinner? City, countryside or lakeside? Before you look at a single venue, agree on what kind of day you two actually want. If small and intimate is calling you, our small wedding ideas are a lovely place to start.
Set a budget together. It's the least romantic conversation and the one that saves the most stress later. Decide who's contributing, what your total is, and which few things matter most to you. Our wedding budget basics walks you through it, and the free Ever After budget planner keeps every number in one place.
Sketch a guest list. It doesn't need to be final, but you need a rough number before you can choose a venue. A room for 60 and a room for 200 are very different places.
Choose your date and venue. These two go hand in hand, because the venue you love decides which dates you can have. Our guide on how to choose your wedding date helps you narrow it down, and if you're flexible, Friday and Sunday weddings can open up a lot more choice. Browse wedding venues, and bring our questions to ask a wedding venue to every tour.
12 to 9 months out: the vendors who book up first
Once your date is set, book the people whose calendars fill fastest. Popular summer and fall Saturdays go quickly, so the sooner the better. Our guide on when to book wedding vendors goes into more detail.
Photographer and videographer. They can only be at one wedding a day, so your favourites may already be taken for peak dates. Browse photo and video and use our questions to ask a wedding photographer before you sign.
Wedding planner. If you'd like help, bring a wedding planner in early. They can guide every step that follows, and many offer day-of coordination if full planning isn't what you need.
Catering. If your venue doesn't include food, start talking to caterers now. Ask about tastings, dietary needs and what's included in their quote.
Music and entertainment. A great DJ or band shapes the whole mood of your evening. Find music and entertainment for your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception.
Officiant. Whether you want a religious ceremony or a personal, relaxed one, find an officiant whose style feels like you. Do check that they're able to legally marry couples in your province.
9 to 6 months out: the look and feel
Now the fun, creative part starts to take shape.
Attire. Many wedding outfits need time to order and then alter, so start shopping now. Browse dresses and attire for everyone in your wedding party, not just the two of you.
Florals and décor. Share your colours, your season and a few photos you love. Find florists and décor who can bring it to life, and if you need chairs, linens, arches or lighting, look at décor and rentals.
Save the dates. Send them once your date and venue are confirmed, especially if guests will be travelling or booking time off.
Guest accommodation. If people are coming from out of town, ask nearby hotels about holding a block of rooms.
Wedding website. A simple page with your date, location and travel details saves you answering the same questions over and over.
6 to 4 months out: the finer details
Hair and makeup. Book your hair and makeup artists and set up a trial closer to the day. Ask whether they travel to you and how many people they can get ready in a morning.
Transportation. If guests are moving between ceremony and reception, or you'd love a grand exit, look at transportation.
Cake and desserts, stationery, favours. These are smaller pieces, but they still need booking. Remember there are many more kinds of wedding businesses on OpenDates than I can list here, from bakers to stationers to photo booths, so have a browse through all vendors.
Rehearsal dinner and extras. Decide whether you're hosting a rehearsal dinner, a welcome drink or a next-day brunch, and book a spot if so.
4 to 2 months out: invitations and paperwork
Send invitations. Give guests enough time to reply, and set an RSVP date that leaves you room to give your venue and caterer final numbers.
Look up your marriage licence rules. Every province does this a little differently, including where you apply, what ID you need and how long a licence is valid. Check your provincial government's website for the current rules. We have guides for Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Don't leave this to the last week.
Plan your ceremony. Work with your officiant on readings, vows and music. If you're writing your own vows, start now. Future you will be grateful.
Hair and makeup trial. Try your look, take photos in daylight, and tweak until it feels like you.
The last month: confirm, confirm, confirm
Final fittings. Pick up your outfits and make sure everything fits comfortably. Dance in it if you can.
Final numbers and seating. Chase any missing RSVPs, share final counts with your venue and caterer, and put together your seating plan.
Confirm every vendor. Send each one your timeline, the venue address, arrival times and a contact person for the day. A quick email now prevents a lot of worry later.
Pay final balances. Check each contract for when final payments are due, and set aside any tips in labelled envelopes.
Hand off the day. Choose one calm, organized person (your planner, or a trusted friend) to be the point of contact, so nobody calls you on the morning of.
The week of: breathe
Pack an emergency kit. Safety pins, a phone charger, tissues, pain relievers, snacks and water.
Drop things at the venue. Signs, guest book, décor and anything else that needs to be set up.
Rehearse. Walk through the ceremony with your wedding party and officiant so everyone knows where to stand.
Rest. Eat well, drink water, and get some sleep. Then go and enjoy every moment of it.
The week after: the little loose ends
Return rentals. Make sure borrowed and rented items go back on time.
Thank-you notes. Start while it's fresh. Mention the gift and something personal from the day.
Leave reviews. Your vendors are mostly small businesses, and a kind review truly helps them.
Paperwork. Follow your province's steps for registering your marriage and ordering a certificate if you need one, especially if either of you is changing your name.
Settle your budget. Close out your Ever After budget planner and see where everything landed.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should we start planning a wedding?
Many couples start about a year to 18 months ahead, especially for popular summer and fall Saturdays. But it varies a lot with your date, your location and how flexible you are. Smaller weddings and off-peak dates can come together in a few months.
What should we book first?
Your venue and date, because almost everything else depends on them. After that, book the vendors who can only take one wedding a day and fill up fastest, like your photographer.
Can we plan a wedding in six months or less?
Absolutely. Start with the venue and date, then book your key vendors in the same few weeks. Being open to a Friday, Sunday or off-season date gives you far more choice.
Do we need a wedding planner?
Not always, but many couples find one worth it, especially for bigger weddings or busy schedules. If full planning isn't for you, ask about day-of coordination so you can relax on the day itself.
When do we need our marriage licence?
It depends on your province, since each sets its own rules for when to apply and how long a licence lasts. Check your provincial government's website a few months before the wedding.
Photos from Pexels.