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Wedding planning checklist UK
Quick answer: Agree your budget and rough guest numbers first, then pick the date and venue, give legal notice at least 29 days before, book your main suppliers, send invitations and confirm everything in the final month. Our countdown tool turns this into dated tasks.
A wedding feels overwhelming because everything seems to depend on everything else. Doing things in the right order takes most of the stress out. Use this list as a framework, then build your own dated version with the wedding countdown checklist.
1. Decide the big three first
- Budget. Agree a total and who is contributing. See how much a UK wedding costs and use the budget planner.
- Guest numbers. A rough number is enough at this stage. See how many guests to invite.
- Date or season. Be flexible if you can, because popular dates book up and cost more.
2. Venue and date
Venue and date are linked, because the venue decides what is possible. Ask the right questions before you pay a deposit: venue questions to ask.
3. The legal part
You must give legal notice at your local register office at least 29 days before the ceremony, and the venue has to be decided first. See how to get married in England and Wales.
4. Book the main suppliers
Once you have a date, book the people who get booked up first: photographer, caterer if the venue does not supply one, celebrant or officiant, band or DJ and transport. Ask each for a written quote and a contract that states what happens if you cancel.
5. Everything else
- Outfits and fittings, allowing time for alterations.
- Invitations and RSVPs. See when to send invitations.
- Rings, flowers, cake and decor.
- Seating plan. Try the guest and seating calculator.
- Honeymoon, passports and any travel insurance.
6. The final month
Confirm numbers and dietary needs with the caterer, confirm timings with every supplier, prepare payments and a day-of schedule (see our wedding day schedule example), and give someone you trust a list of contacts.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when planning a wedding?
Agree your budget and a rough guest number, then choose a date and venue. Almost everything else depends on those three.
How far ahead should I start planning a wedding?
Many couples plan 12 to 18 months ahead, but a wedding can be planned in six months or less if you are flexible on date and venue.
What is the most important thing to book first?
The venue, because it decides your date, guest numbers and what else you need. The legal notice also needs the final venue.
Keep reading
- Wedding planning timeline: 12 months to go
- How to plan a wedding in 6 months
- How many guests should you invite to a wedding?
- Wedding venue questions to ask
- When to send wedding invitations
- Wedding day schedule example
Information checked November 2026 against the sources linked above. Rules and prices change, so check GOV.UK and your suppliers before you commit.