Happy New Year, 2022 Brides & Grooms!

An estimated record high 2.6 million million weddings will take place in the U.S., according to the Knot.

Congratulations to all brides and grooms who will say “I do” this year!

You’ve likely been planning away and counting down the days until your Big Day. The final days, weeks and months are finally here!

Many couples who set their wedding date for 2022 may have encountered challenges booking the venue or vendor of their dreams. That’s because this year is expected to be the busiest wedding year since 1984 thanks to the pandemic. Millions of couples who were supposed to tie the knot in 2020 and even 2021 were forced to reschedule their nuptials.

Wondering where you should be today with your wedding planning as you countdown? Here’s a quick guide to figure out whether you’re staying on track (this article assumes you’re reading this article during the new year).

January-February Weddings (1-2 months left of wedding planning)

Couples who are tying the knot this or next month have already finished checking off the big items on their to-do list. Now it’s all about the details of your wedding:

• Apply for your marriage license

• Schedule last minute meetings with all vendors

• Order wedding bands

• Finalize your guest list and send out formal invitations (2 months before your official wedding date for non-destination weddings — don’t send them too early. Here’s why.)

• Confirm all RSVPs

• Create and complete seating arrangement

• Schedule and attend final dress/suit fittings

• Buy “thank you” gifts for your future spouse, parents, wedding party and out-of-town guests

• Purchase and put together wedding favors

• Submit your ceremony and reception playlist to your DJ

• Finalize your wedding vows

• Arrange for a house or pet sitter, if needed

• Have your bachelor/bachelorette party

• Organize your rehearsal dinner/brunch, post-wedding breaking/brunch and after-party

March-May Weddings (3-5 months left of planning)

Because you should have your venue and all your vendors booked by now, you’ve likely taken a slight break from wedding planning. At this point of your wedding planning, your Big Day will start to feel as if it’s finally inching closer and the reality that you’ll soon be married starts to sink in.

• Send our formal invitations only if you’re having a destination wedding

• Schedule your hair and makeup trial. Remember to bring your veil and the jewelry you plan to wear on your wedding day.

• Send out your wedding shower invites (or whoever is organizing send them out) & prepare to be showered with gifts and love

• Start writing your wedding vows

• Begin your wedding beauty regimen, including getting facials, dying or cutting your hair (don’t cut your hair without consulting with your wedding hair stylist), whitening your teeth, microblading and getting lash extensions

• Start putting together your ceremony and reception song playlist

• Schedule a cake tasting as well as a menu tasting with your caterer and finalize your food selections

• Choose the centerpieces you want for each table; design your sweetheart or head table

• Research and book your honeymoon

• Book your hotel room for your wedding day

• Reserve a block of hotel rooms for guests

June-September Weddings (6-9 months left of planning)

At this stage of your wedding, you likely feel as if you have a lot done and are at a standstill. That’s because it’s too early to start taking care of the smaller details. Here’s what you should be doing right now if you’re getting married 6 to 9 months from now:

• Look for wedding bands for you and your spouse (you don’t necessarily need to buy these now, but talk to your jeweler about turnaround times for wedding bands)

• Renew your passports if your wedding or honeymoon if you’ll be traveling internationally

• Begin putting together a guest list

• Design and order your formal invitations

• Look for rehearsal dinner locations & reserve a spot as soon as you find one

• Book all vendors, sign contracts, pay deposits

• Purchase wedding party attire

October-December Weddings (10-12 months left of planning)

You’ve got a year before you walk down the aisle. But because 2022 will be the busiest year for the wedding industry in decades — don’t waste any time booking your venue and vendors. Check off all the big items on your wedding planning list:

• Celebrate your engagement with family and friends

• Send save-the-dates

• Book your venue, if you haven’t done so already

• Research and begin booking vendors (do this ASAP as vendors are already booking weddings into 2023)

• Say “yes” to the dress/shop and choose your suit

• Choose your wedding colors

• Propose to your wedding party

• Start searching for wedding party attire

• Create a wedding website

• Put together a wedding registry or honeymoon fund

Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.