If you just got engaged and your ring is still catching you off guard every time you reach for your coffee—congratulations! Welcome to the fun part!
Photographer: @melissatomaphotography || Wedding Planner: @lighthouseweddingplanning || Shoes Featured: Kailee P.'s Faith
2027 feels far away right now. We hate to break it to you, it’s not. Wedding planning has a way of turning "we have so much time" into "wait, the invitations were due when?" faster than anyone expects, so let's get ahead of it together.
12–18 months out: the big stuff. Venue, date, and photographer top the list first, because the best ones book out a year or more in advance. This is also the moment to set a realistic budget, since every decision after this one gets easier when you know your numbers.
9–12 months out: the dress. This is the part everyone dreams about, and for good reason—bridal gowns typically take several months to order and arrive, plus time for alterations. While you're in dress mode, it's worth thinking about your shoes too. Grab yours early enough to break them in and get comfortable walking, dancing, and standing in them for hours, because nothing pulls focus from a beautiful dress like shoes that weren't given a proper test run.
6–9 months out: the details. Invitations, florals, catering, and your registry all live in this window. It's also a great time to finalize your wedding party's attire so everyone has plenty of runway for fittings.
3–6 months out: the finishing touches. Say yes to your shoes. Final dress fitting, hair and makeup trials, and finalizing your day-of timeline down to the minute. This is when the wedding starts to feel real—like you can actually picture yourself walking down the aisle.
1 month out: the fun panic. Confirm every vendor, break in those shoes one more time if you haven't already, and start handing off small tasks to your people so you can actually enjoy the week of.
The truth about wedding planning is that it rewards starting early far more than it rewards starting perfectly. You don't need every detail figured out today—you just need momentum. So take a breath, start the checklist, and maybe start browsing shoes while you're at it. Your future self, standing at the altar in comfortable, gorgeous heels, will thank you <3