Planning a wedding is really just a long to-do list with a hard deadline. Here’s the order St. Louis couples actually need to work it in, so the big things are locked before the fun things.
12+ months out: lock the big three
Your date, your venue, and the vendors that book up first. In St. Louis, peak-season Saturdays go 9 to 12 months ahead, and the busiest photographers and DJs go with them. Set a rough budget, pick your date and venue, then hold your first-choice entertainment before someone else does. Check your date →
9-12 months: entertainment, photography, catering
These three shape the whole day, so book them while you have options. When you talk to a DJ, ask what’s actually included — ceremony sound, cocktail hour, MC work, setup time — not just a reception rate. Our guide to choosing a DJ covers what to listen for.
6-9 months: dress, invitations, and the guest list
Order the dress (alterations take longer than anyone expects), nail down the guest list, and send save-the-dates. This is also when to book any rentals and start your registry, before the calendar tightens up.
3-6 months: the details that make the day feel like you
Cake tasting, flowers, hair and makeup trials, and a first pass at your reception timeline with your DJ and planner. Start your must-play and do-not-play lists now while you have time to think, not the week of. Our playlist guide is a good starting point.
1-3 months: confirm, count, and finalize
Final headcount to the caterer, seating chart, and a locked reception timeline. Confirm arrival times and details with every vendor in writing. Do a walk-through at the venue if you can — it’s where the timeline stops being theoretical.
The final two weeks: hand it off
Everything that can be decided should already be decided. Confirm with your vendors, assign a point person for day-of questions, and then let the people you hired do their jobs. A good DJ has your timeline and your song lists by now and doesn’t need you managing the room. Start with your date →
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