The short answer: plan a wedding in order: set the budget and guest count first, then book the venue and vendors, then work through a month-by-month checklist. How to plan a wedding walks through the 11 steps.
- Just engaged? Read what to do after getting engaged and use the engagement checklist.
- Setting the budget? How to budget for a wedding has 8 steps and a sample budget, and how much a wedding costs breaks costs down by category.
- Need a checklist or timeline? See wedding checklists and timelines and the wedding day timeline.
Our picks for wedding planning
Save 31%Bundles
Wedding Planning Bundle
The Wedding Budget Spreadsheet and the 13-page Wedding Planner Checklist together - for less than buying them separately.
Spreadsheets
Wedding Budget Spreadsheet
Enter each payment once - the sheet shows what you've paid, what you still owe, and what's left of your budget.
Printables
Wedding Planner Checklist
A 12-month checklist plus budget, vendors, guest list, seating, day-of timeline and packing lists.
Browse wedding planning by topic
Just engaged (3)
- After getting engagedJust engaged? A 30-day checklist: who to tell, insuring the ring, the budget talk with a sample split, guest count, season and wha…
- Save the datesSave the dates made simple: when to send them by wedding type, what to include, 15 wording ideas, who gets one, postage costs and …
- Engagement photosEngagement photos guide: location ideas, outfit tips, cost questions to ask, a shoot-day timeline, and links to wedding planning p…
Ceremony and reception (6)
- Wedding ideasWedding ideas for the ceremony, reception, food, decor, guests and budget, with simple ways to make the day feel personal without …
- Wedding websitesWedding websites made simple: a checklist of pages to include, a launch timeline, 10 setup steps, wording examples and privacy and…
- Destination WeddingPlanning a destination wedding? Average costs, a sample budget, who pays for what, a 12-month timeline, travel documents and insur…
- Wedding favorsWedding favors guests will use: edible treats, keepsakes and donation cards, plus a cost table for 75, 100 and 150 guests, timing …
- Wedding processional orderThe traditional wedding processional order, step by step, plus Jewish, same-sex and small-wedding versions, who sits where and the…
- Wedding vowsWedding vows made simple: traditional vow text, short and modern examples, how to write wedding vows in 7 steps, how long they sho…
Cards, gifts and registry (3)
- Wedding card messagesWedding card message ideas: 75+ original wedding wishes for friends, family and coworkers, plus what to write in a wedding card wi…
- Wedding gift ideasWedding gift ideas for every budget: registry picks, cash and fund gifts, personal keepsakes and experience gifts, plus how much t…
- Wedding registry ideasWedding registry ideas by room and budget: kitchen, home, experience funds and cash, plus registry etiquette, price ranges and wha…
More wedding guides (3)
- How to plan a wedding Start hereHow to plan a wedding step by step: set the budget and guest count, book the venue and vendors in order, protect deposits and hand…
- How to budget for a weddingHow to budget for a wedding in 8 steps: set a total, plan by guest count, split it by category, track deposits, keep a buffer. Sam…
- Wedding planner costHow much does a wedding planner cost? Compare full-service, partial and day-of help, flat fee vs. percentage vs. hourly, extra cos…
More wedding ideas (4)
- How much does a wedding costWedding costs by category and per guest: $34,000 average, $24,000 median, $292 per guest. Add a guest-count table, hidden fees and…
- Proposal Ideas: 25 Personal Ways to Ask the QuestionFind proposal ideas for private moments, meaningful places and simple celebrations, with 25 options, a budget checklist and a weat…
- Semi-Formal Wedding Attire: A Practical Guest GuideUnderstand semi-formal wedding attire with outfit formulas, daytime and evening differences, venue checks and a practical checklis…
- Wedding invitationsWedding invitations guide: when to mail them (6–8 weeks out), RSVP dates, what goes in the suite, 6 wording samples and 2026 posta…
How this wedding hub is organized
This hub gathers the wedding guides, templates and printables on HomeBase Paper Co.: planning steps, budget and cost guides, checklists, the guest list and seating chart, ceremony and reception details, and the showers and parties around the wedding. The parties have their own page: bridal showers, bachelorette and rehearsal dinner.
Our wedding printables cover the same planning work: a planning bundle, a budget spreadsheet and a planner checklist.