Your destination wedding planning timeline

You’ve probably already seen time lines for a local wedding. If not, we have one at OneWed.com. Most of the tasks on the list can apply to a destination wedding as well, but destination weddings have their own special requirements. Here’s the breakdown!

12 months to go

• Decide on your budget
• Set up your wedding pre-party at weddingpreparty.com
• With a destination wedding, it’s extra important to get the excitement started.
• Read sites like OneWed.com for inspiration and start an inspiration wedding binder
• Make sure your passports are current; if not, get them renewed
• Research wedding destinations including weather and accommodations
• Create a guest list and gather addresses

11months to go

• Choose your destination
• Research wedding laws in the destination country
• Hire a local wedding coordinator
• Check sites like OneWed.com for reviews and ratings. The less familiar you are with the location, language, and customs of your chosen destination, the more important it is to hire a coordinator.
• Send out save-the-dates
• For destination weddings, it’s extra important to give people advance notice.

9 months to go

• Make hotel reservations for the wedding party
• Make travel arrangements for yourself
• Encourage your wedding party and other essential guests to make travel arrangements and gather passports and other travel documents
• Research and make arrangements for destination activities for the wedding party

8 months to go

• Create your wedding gift registry
• Choose invitations and stationary
• Order your wedding dress
• Make sure to let the bridal salon know that you are having a destination wedding; they can help you pack the dress for the airplane.

7 months to go

• Order bridesmaids’ dresses
• Order tuxes or arrange for local attire for groom and groomsmen
• Begin ring shopping

6 months to go

• Finalize decisions about cake, flowers, and catering menu

5 months to go

• Send out invitations. This is much earlier than a non-destination wedding, but the additional time will give guests ample opportunity to make travel arrangements.

2 months to go

• Confirm hotel and travel arrangements
• Confirm contracts with vendors

1 month to go

• Finalize and reconfirm everything!

4 days to go

• Arrive at destination
• Meet with vendors in person and review arrangements and timetable for day of wedding
• Manicure/pedicure/spa day — ahhhh!

For more wedding tips:

Essentials of Planning Your Ideal Wedding
Bridal Shoes or Strappy Sandals?