Your Custom Wedding Planning Checklist and Schedule for Free!

Bridesmaid dresses, wedding rings, writing your wedding vows, finding the perfect wedding dress, caterers - the list goes on! Yep, if you didn't know it already, there's a LOT that goes into planning your big day. But do not panic; we have a very handy online tool that will help you stay organised and assist you in creating one of the best celebrations for years to come!

Trust us; our free wedding planning checklist will be your new best friend. Keep everything in one place so you can access it easily and get those tasks ticked off quickly! Whether you're hiring a wedding planner or not, this will still be a super useful tool to help you stay on track in the months leading up to your wedding day. Keep reading to find out what our wedding planning checklist and schedule tool are all about and why you should sign up… if you haven't already!

Why create a wedding planning checklist?

Regardless of the stage you're at during the wedding planning process, you may well have bits of paper flying around with various lists on them, numerous entries in your notes section on your phone, and a spreadsheet that you started on one of those organised days but haven't opened it up for weeks since. Well, pool all these lists into one and use Say I do's free, fully customisable wedding planning checklist. We guarantee that using the checklist will help to clear your mind; getting everything down on paper (well, screen) will help you stay focussed and, most importantly, not forget anything. You can also cross-reference your checklist with your wedding budget to ensure you're keeping on track with your finances.

How to create a planning checklist

When you sign up to Say I do, you'll be able to access your own personalised dashboard. From here, you can do everything from managing your RSVPs to creating your guest list and tailoring your checklist. Now you may be thinking, ‘Where do I start when creating my wedding checklist? There's so much to put on it!’ Well, this is where we've made it nice and easy for you. We've already created a generic wedding planning timeline, including a whole host of to-dos, and broken everything down by month. We've customised the order according to your chosen day (you would have entered your wedding date when you signed up). Now you can skim through and personalise it according to your wedding, removing the details that aren't relevant to you, ticking anything off that’s already been completed and adding anything extra that’s unique to you.

How to get the most out of your checklist

Start using the checklist from the beginning of your wedding planning journey, and you'll feel in control right away. There's nothing more satisfying than crossing things off a list, is there? Well, with our checklist, you can toggle tasks when they are complete and even add your own extra tasks and customise them as necessary. We've also created a Facebook group if you're unsure where to start. By joining this community, you'll be able to get advice from others in the same boat and just have a general chat with like-minded soon-to-be brides and grooms about their wedding planning journey and share tips and tricks along the way.

What about the schedule tool?

The schedule tool is there to give your guest list an idea of what's going on and when. The details you enter will show on your wedding website, keeping your guests informed of the timeline of events. Keep it simple and just include the wedding ceremony and reception details, or input extra wedding events such as your rehearsal dinner and bachelorette party, for example. A great benefit is that you can hide certain events from guests except those who are specifically invited to them. You can also collect RSVPs for certain events in addition to the rest of the wedding - talk about getting organised!

The benefits for you

One of the main benefits of the schedule tool is being able to stay in control of your RSVPs. See who's coming to what event and contact a specific group of people with ease. Finding out certain details from your guests will save you lots of time going back and forth with your loved ones. This should be a time when you can reflect and really realise the benefits of creating a wedding website over sending traditional paper wedding invitations. Yes, a wedding invitation through the post is a treat to receive, but they come with a price tag, take a lot of organising, and are more hassle for both you and your guests. With regards to the RSVP option, you also have the flexibility to ask your own questions. Why not ask your guests for a song request or any special travel requirements they may have if you're hosting a destination wedding?

The benefits for your guest list

Your guest list will be able to see what's happening, when, and at what time. Providing a timeline of events will help manage their expectations for your wedding day and allow guests to plan accordingly. The more information you give now, the fewer questions you'll get down the line! Your guests will also benefit as they will be able to RSVP with ease to specific events and give any extra information you're asking them for, for example, any dietary requirements, etc.

In summary

The one piece of advice we can give you that has been tried and tested by many is to start wedding planning early! The whole process is a lot, but if you have time on your side, it can be an enjoyable ride! Make the most of the free tools available to you; they are there to keep you on track and keep stress levels to a minimum. Best of all, know they have been tried and tested by thousands of couples worldwide who have successfully thrown awesome weddings and wedding parties that have gone down in history!