If you’ve recently got engaged, firstly, congrats! 🥂
Secondly, you might be staring at a massive list of “to-dos” and wondering where to even start. I totally get it - it’s overwhelming and seems endless. From photographers and florists to the band, the dress, that dream venue, teeing up viewings and chats… it can feel like a lot.
My biggest piece of advice for couples newly in the depths of wedding planning is this: start by mapping out the timings of when you need to have things booked in by, and start there. This stage is all about figuring out your priorities and booking in things before they get snatched up.
So if you’re looking for a starting point to your wedding planning, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s my take on wedding planning timelines, so you can book the right people at the right time and actually enjoy the lead-up to your big day (rather than stressing about last-minute bookings).
12-18 months out: lock in the big ones
This is when the heavy hitters need to be secured! These vendors tend to get booked up well ahead of time, especially if you’re looking at popular dates (ie. every weekend in summer!). They’re also generally the things you’ve been dreaming about for the longest time - the perfect venue, the dreamiest photos. Aim to lock these guys in at least a year in advance if you can:
Venue: Your venue is quite possibly the biggest one to get locked in ahead of time, because it preeeetty much sets the vibe for your day, is the key for locking in logistics for everything else, and secures your date. Popular spots can easily book out 12-24 months in advance, so if you’ve been dreaming of a specific venue in Wellington, get it locked in ASAP.
Photographer & videographer: Good photographers are often booked a year or more ahead. If you’ve been following someone’s work (👋 hi!) and love their style, enquire as soon as you have a date. Same goes for video - if you’ve had your eye on a videographer, enquire as soon as possible and get them locked in.
Celebrant/officiant: They might not be the first vendor you think of, but a great celebrant books up fast, particularly if you have a meaningful or popular date in mind.
This first stage is all about locking down the people and places you can’t imagine getting married without. Once these are confirmed, everything else starts to fall into place, and you’ll feel a whole lot more confident in your wedding planning!
9-12 months out: the fun stuff
With the big three sorted, it’s time to build your dream team to bring your vision to life on your chosen wedding date! I’m talking:
Florists & stylists: Whether you’re booking in a stylist or you’re getting things organised through a wedding decor hire company, you’ll want to lock things in well in advance, and at least get the ball rolling on crafting your dream wedding. Same goes for florists - you’ll wanna get these locked in as soon as you can, and start chats around florals (start with their recommendations, what’s seasonal on your wedding day, colour palettes, all the fun stuff!)
Caterer & cake maker: Good food makes a wedding unforgettable (and keeps guests dancing all night). I don’t know about you, but if a wedding has good food, I’ll be talking about it for years to come! Cake makers also get booked out quickly through the busy wedding season, so if you’ve had your eye on a Wellington cake maker, pop them a message well in advance to get them secured.
Entertainment: This totally depends on what you’re going for on your day, but if you’re keen to get a live band, DJ, someone to serenade you down the aisle or a string quartet to jam while your guests sip champagne - slide into their DMs or emails now to ensure you don’t miss out.
Hair & makeup artists: They book quickly, especially if you want a trial run. If you have your heart set on a certain artist, get into their calendar quickly!
Top tip from me: This is also a great time to book engagement photos! Not only is it a fun way to celebrate, but it also lets you get comfy in front of the camera before the big day. Engagement photos are awesome to use for wedding invites, wedding websites, table settings and so much more.
6-9 months out: the pretty stuff
Get your outfits and invitations sorted! Dresses and custom suits or tailored outfits can take several months to nail down fittings and alterations, and this is not something you want to leave til the last minute.
As for invitations, they’ll typically go out about 6-9 months before the wedding, giving guests time to plan travel and RSVP. You might want to send out a save the date earlier than this, particularly if your wedding is overseas or something people will need to save up for or take time off work for.
3-6 months out: the logistics
By now, your wedding is taking shape, and you’ll be refining logistics and ticking off to-do lists (or getting into a bit of DIY). Here’s what to tick off if you haven’t already secured them.
Transport: Shuttles to and from the venue, a private bus, or vintage cars to arrive in style? Get the logistics locked in now, and make life easier for yourself and your guests.
Accommodation: If you aren’t sure where you’ll be getting ready, now would be the time to make sure you’ve locked down an Airbnb or hotel room for your bridal party prep.
Ceremony details: Vows, readings, and any personal touches - you’ll want to get the finer details sorted now.
1-3 months out: the final details
This should be the time that you’re locking in the fun stuff like final tastings, playlist planning and seating charts. You’ll also want to confirm your photo timeline with your photographer, and map out your family photo list (but don’t worry, I can help you with that!)
By the time you’re a month out from your wedding day, all your vendors should be locked in and ready to go, and you should be focusing on getting the finishing touches sorted (and getting excited!)
Even if you’re still deciding on a date, it never hurts to reach out to your dream vendors. I love chatting with couples early in the process because it means we can help with venue recommendations, timeline advice and even other supplier suggestions (I have a list of my faves!). Plus, you’ll have first dibs on my calendar (and avoid that dreaded “sorry, I’m already booked” email). Even if you’re newly engaged and you just want an idea of when you need to get things booked in by, message your ideal suppliers and see what they say.
Every wedding is unique, and it completely depends on your chosen date, but one rule always stands: the earlier you book, the more choice you have. If you’re planning a wedding in 2026 or beyond, now is the perfect time to start making enquiries, especially for key dates in spring and summer (PS. Waitangi weekend tends to be the busiest date for weddings!)
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