Wedding Planning Time Line | Eight/Seven Month Mark

If you've had a year to plan your wedding, by the eighth and seventh month mark, most of the big things should be taken care of (deciding on the date, deciding on the theme, picking a venue, figuring out the approximate number of guests). There are, however, a few things that could be done at this point.

• Engagement Pictures: If you haven't had engagement pictures yet, now is a great time! If you're having a summer wedding, fall is a great time to have pictures taken.  If you're having a fall wedding, summer is a great time to have them! 

one of my engagement pictures via Maddy Hastings

• Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party: Since a lot of the big wedding plans are taken care of, you can start to think about planning your bridal shower and bachelorette party.  Even though these are both usually thrown by family and your bridal party a month or two before the wedding, it's still good to give your input. Do you want to go to Las Vegas for your bachelorette party? Or have a low key night with friends at a nice restaurant? Make sure you are clear about this a head of time before any planning starts.
• Buy Your Wedding Dress: By this point in the planning process you would have looked at hundreds of dresses online, and probably tried on plenty, too.  If you haven't bought one yet, you really need to.  Bridal shops need up to eight months to order your dress.  You don't want your dress selection limited to the sample dresses because you waited until six months before.

Hayley Paige

• Designing Save The Dates: If you're sending save the dates, now's the time to start finalizing your guest list.  You're going to be sending them out six months prior to the wedding, so at eight-seven months you'll need to figure out who you're sending them too, and start designing them.  
• Find Your Bakery: You should wait until you figure out how much your venue, food, and alcohol is gong to cost (that will be most of your budget) before you decide on your dessert.  If it's in your budget, go for that beautiful 5-tiered wedding cake you've always dreamed of! If it doesn't fit, go for a small 3-tiered cake to cut, and sheet cake (hidden in the back!) or cupcakes for the guests, that will save you money!  
• Finalize your photographer, videographer, florist, and DJ: Make sure by this point you've signed the contact and given the deposit for these vendors! 
• Start thinking about your honeymoon: Decide where your dream destination would be, then visit a travel agent to see if you can find a deal that fits into your budget.  Be open to alternative locations that have the same feel.  

Happy Planning!

XO, Val