Wedding checklist and timeline calculator
Enter your wedding date to see every planning task with its due date and status, and build the day-of schedule from the ceremony time.
Wedding Checklist, Guest List & Timeline 2027
Mark tasks done, track RSVPs, meals and tables, and keep every vendor's due dates in one file.
Also in the Big Life Plans 2027 Bundle (US$ 24).
How the dates work
Each task has a number of days before the wedding: due date = wedding date − days before. A task is overdue if its date has passed and due soon if it is due in the next 30 days. Example: wedding June 12, 2027, today April 20, 2027: 53 days to go; a 35-day task (marriage license) is due May 8 (due soon) and a 21-day task is due May 22, in 32 days (upcoming).
The timeline chains each part from the end of the one before, except fixed starts. Starting at 9:00 AM, 240 + 45 + 45 + 45 + 25 + 20 minutes reach exactly 4:00 PM, the ceremony; the sample day ends at 11:00 PM.
When should you start planning a wedding?
About 12 months out is common: date, guest count, venues and the big vendors first. Shorter engagements work too; tasks simply show up as due soon or overdue sooner.
When do you get the marriage license?
Usually 1 to 2 months before the wedding, but rules, waiting periods and expiration dates vary by state and county. Check your county clerk's website.
How long should the ceremony and reception be?
A typical ceremony runs 20 to 40 minutes and a reception 4 to 5 hours. Build in buffers before fixed times like the ceremony.
Organizing tool, not financial advice. Planning organizer, not legal advice. Marriage license rules vary by state and county. Examples use made-up numbers.