A month-by-month wedding planning timeline

Every wedding has its own pace: some are planned over a year, others in four months. This timeline assumes about a year. If you have less time, keep the same order and bring the steps closer together. What matters is that the big bookings come first.

12 to 9 months before

• Agree on the basics: the rough date, the number of guests and the budget. The budget guide helps you split it.
• Book the venue: it's the first and biggest booking, and good venues in the busy season go early. Read the venue guide before you pay a deposit.
• Start الجهاز: if the flat is ready or nearly ready, write the gehaz list room by room.

9 to 6 months

• The photographer: good ones are booked early. See the photographer guide.
• The kosha and decor: pick the style and the colours, and see the kosha and decor guide.
• The dress: buy, rent or pre-loved; the choice is in the dress guide.
• The honeymoon: if you're travelling abroad, start on papers and visas early. Details are in the honeymoon guide.

6 to 3 months

• Makeup and hair: book the makeup artist and have a trial. See the makeup and hair guide.
• The guest list: write it in full and split it into groups, following the guest list guide.
• The DJ, the cake and the car: finish booking them and put the details in the contract.
• The bride's preparation: plan the sessions she needs before the wedding, with the bride's preparation guide.

3 months to 1 month

• Katb el-ketab papers: get them ready early, with the katb el-ketab papers guide.
• The invitation: design it and send it a month before the wedding, as the invitation guide explains.
• The dress fitting: the last alteration two or three weeks before the wedding.

The last month

• The final number: send it to the venue by the date it asked for.
• Confirm with every vendor: the time, the place and what's left to pay.
• The day's schedule: who will be where and when, from the morning to the end of the night.
• Rest: the last week is no time for anything new.

On Zaghrouta

The wedding plan builds this timeline around your own wedding date, shares the tasks between you and the family, and reminds you of each task before it's due. Every station, from the engagement to the honeymoon, has its own task list.