18 to 24 months of prep helps most in peak season (May to September) or for high-demand venues. The opposite risk: locking too many details too early while your guest list and tastes still shift.
First 3 months
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Set budget, target date, and guest range
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Book the venue (often the bottleneck)
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Reach out to your top photographer choice
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Open a shared note space (app or notebook)
Wait until 12 months out
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Final decor and seating chart
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Invitation order (unless date is extremely competitive)
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Detailed menu and table plan
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Car or bus rental if headcount is still uncertain
Having 24 months does not mean filling 24 months with stress. Lock essentials, then breathe.
How Fiancé can help
Use Fiancé to track quotes over time without committing everything. The built-in mood board keeps ideas without spending budget. The budget calculator helps set your cap before booking.