Singaporebrides | Featured

January 2025

Plan Your Wedding in 25 Simple Steps with Our Free Wedding Checklist

By Tansey Tang on 8 January 2025

Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now what? We break down the major stages of wedding planning in the ultimate free wedding checklist, with a to-do list that’s tailored to Singapore weddings, and a handy budget calculator.

Been planning your wedding since Pinterest was invented? If you think that all those pins of gorgeous gowns, pretty details, and four-step DIYs (calligraphing 300 watercolour escort cards looks so easy and doable!) mean that your wedding is basically planned, think again!

While all those pretty pictures and cool personalised details may be a great vision board for your dream wedding, the reality is, a wedding is a big event that requires loads of logistics, organisation, and budgeting. To help you get started, we've put together a customisable, free wedding checklist that breaks down to-dos into manageable sections, so you don't start the panic attacks too early, or spend the bulk of your time saving DIY reels that are logistically impossible to bring to life.

While many couples plan a wedding within one to two years, no wedding is exactly the same. So, instead of a strict 12-month timeline, we're breaking down the planning and listing tasks in order of importance, so you can prioritise your to-dos no matter how long you have to plan your wedding. Before you dive into our comprehensive free wedding checklist, here's an overview of the main 25 items involved in planning a wedding.

First, tackle the big picture items, then book your primary vendors because they can only work on one or two weddings a weekend. Next, get your secondary vendors, who can commit to more than one celebration a day. When you've got the major items ticked off your wedding planning checklist, it's time to think about the details. Closer to the wedding date, you'll need to firm up logistics and tie up any loose ends. Now, let's get cracking!

The Big Picture

1. Budget

Don’t worry if you don’t know how much things will cost yet. You can just sit down with your partner and discuss how much—ideally—you’d like to set aside for your wedding. Most couples these days are simultaneously planning for their new home, or would rather spend more on the honeymoon, so do what feels right to you! Many of our Real Weddings couples share the cost and size of their weddings, which you can use as a guide.

2. Wedding Vision

Think about the style and vibe of wedding you want. Do you want a grand, formal occasion? Or an intimate and casual affair with just your family and close friends? Your chosen wedding style will dictate your search for your vendors, such as a garden venue if you’re going for an intimate garden wedding. In 2025, we predict that weddings will be more anti-bride than ever! Check out our articles on 2025 wedding trends and on how to be intentional about your wedding planning for inspiration.

3. Guest List

This one might take a few rounds! To start creating your wedding guest list, write down everyone you want to invite, and ask your parents for their lists too. If you’re concerned about budget, try keeping your guest list small by inviting only your closest colleagues, involving only family, or limiting the number of guests your parents invite.

Know that your initial guest list won't be your final one; you'll be refining your list as you receive your RSVPs, and you'll need to plan your wedding table arrangement nearer the date too.

4. Wedding Venue

Now you’ve got a theme and an estimated number of guests, you can start shortlisting wedding venues. Whether you're hoping for an intimate wedding at an alternative wedding venue or want a traditional wedding banquet in a hotel or restaurant, our wedding venue price list and alternative wedding venue price will make your search so much easier! Shortlist some contenders online and look at our virtual tours before you make the trip down. Tour your favourite options and lock down your choice to confirm your wedding date!

Joy and Josh's Summer Coral Wedding in The Surga Villa Estate, Bali by Jiwa Photography

The Dream Team

After you’ve secured your wedding date (by securing your venue), you can hunt down your dream team of vendors. Start with vendors who have a finite number of weddings they can service a year, such as photographers, planners, etc. Once you’ve booked these priority vendors, you can move on vendors who can service more weddings in a day, such as bakers, florists, catering. You can also choose to prioritise what matters most to you, whether it’s finding your dream gown or securing your favourite wedding band. If you’re planning to DIY a lot of items, start early to leave ample time for failed experiments!

5. Wedding Planner and Coordinator

If by this point, you've developed a raging migraine, you might want to consider a wedding planner. A wedding planner can take care of all the logistics while you go back to your beautiful Pinterest board. Not quite ready to let go of the reins? You can also hire a wedding day coordinator to take care of day-of logistics so you can be fully present for all the joy and tears on your wedding day.

6. Wedding Gowns and Suits

Check out our list of bridal boutiques where you can find the perfect wedding gown and suit. If you’re planning on a bespoke wedding gown, make sure you plan enough time for it to be made. Grooms should allocate a couple of months if they’re customising suits, too. You can look for your veil, shoes, and accessories later.

7. Wedding Photography and Wedding Videography

Because wedding photographers and wedding videographers can only cover one wedding a day, you should start sourcing for a photographer and videographer early, so that you don’t miss out on your favourites. Some vendors offer both services, which you can book together.

Think about your preferred style and colours, and set up meetings with a few shortlisted ones to see if you click. If you’d like to do a pre-wedding shoot, set up a time a few months before your wedding. 


8. Wedding Stylist and Wedding Florist

A professional wedding stylist or wedding florist can help you design your wedding, from the ceremony backdrop to your reception table photo display. Some wedding stylists provide florals and some wedding florists provide styling, so you can see which works for you!

Decide if you prefer a more wild and organic floral style, or an elegant and classic one. Save your favourite styles to show shortlisted wedding florists, but be aware that not every flower you see online is available locally. Some venues include florals in their wedding packages, so find out what you need to get before meeting shortlisted florists and getting a quote.




9. Bridal Hair and Makeup

Popular hair and makeup artists can get booked out early too, so don’t leave your search too late. Figure out the style of makeup you’re going for—fresh and natural or glamorous?—and find makeup artists that match your desired look.

10. Wedding Cake and Catering


What's a celebration without cake? While many couples are fine with the photo-op cake provided by many venues, others prefer to have their cake and eat it too. Check out our list of talented wedding cake couturiers for inspiration! Looking for wedding caterers for your church reception or to host a breakfast during the gatecrashing festivities? Our wedding caterer list has all the best options.

11. Solemniser

Invite your pastor or priest to conduct your wedding, or look through our list of solemnisers to find your officiant.

12. Wedding Party

Ask your friends and family to be in your wedding party. How big a bridal party you have is entirely up to you! You’ll also need to plan their outfits with them, and think about florals for your girls. Make sure your wedding party knows what's expected of them, whether that doubling up as your emcees and preparing an emcee script, acting as reception ushers, or styling your celebration.

Estee and Ernest's Ethereal Capella Singapore Wedding Filled with Floral Clouds by Antelope Studios

The Details

Now that you've assembled your core team of wedding vendors, you can start fine-tuning your wedding vision with beautiful details.

13. Wedding Invitations

While you can simply use the invitations provided by your venue, many couples these days choose to have bespoke wedding invitations created to reflect their wedding style. You’ll need to allow time for these to be designed and printed.

14. Wedding Rings

Go ring shopping together after narrowing down from our wedding bands list! If you can’t find a wedding band set you both like, try getting your rings separately. For something unique, why not customise your wedding rings?

15. Wedding Entertainment

To keep your guests entertained during your celebrations, look for an engaging emcee, wedding live band, fun photo booth, or take a leaf out of these wedding trends for unique guest experiences.

16. Wedding Car

Ride up to your wedding in style in your dream wedding car. Let your wedding veil catch the wind as your zip away in a convertible, or make a statement in a Defender!

17. Wedding Favours

If you don’t like the wedding favours offered by your wedding package, you can always personalise your wedding by choosing your own. For a fun alternative, why not have an interactive bar for guests to create their own teas, florals, or candy mixes?

18. Wedding Traditions

Decide whether or not you'll want to keep any wedding traditions, such as the Chinese traditions of Guo Da Li and other ceremonies.

19. Beauty

This includes facials, hair cuts and treatments, waxing, brow embroidery, and nail art. Make sure your appointments aren’t too close or too far away from your wedding date!

20. Personalised Details

More and more couples are making an effort to ultra-personalise their weddings and create special experiences for their guests. If that's your vibe, it's time to get creative and come up with fun ways to make your celebration yours!

Gina and Melvin's Pastel Garden Wedding in Revelry Hall by Smittenpixels Co.

The Logistics

Finally, get down to the logistical details on your wedding checklist. Draft your wedding day itinerary (made easy with our free customisable wedding day schedule, delegate tasks to your bridal party, arrange your rehearsals, write your speeches, and finalise the seating chart. Here’s when the deadlines start overlapping and your eyes start crossing with the many details to keep track of, so stay on top of things with our checklist!

21. Hen's and Stag Parties

Most couples have their hen’s night or stag party a week or a couple of weeks before the wedding. You don’t want to do it too close to the date, as you’ll be way too busy to be hungover.

22. Marriage License

At least 21 days before your wedding, file a notice of marriage with the Registry of Marriages. You’ll need your solemniser’s details, and the both of you will need to either verify your documents online or make a trip down to the Registry to verify in person.

23. Wedding Vows and Speeches

If you're looking to personalise your wedding vows, give yourself plenty of time to write heartfelt and meaningful ones. Ditto for wedding speeches!


24. Wedding Day Schedule

In the last couple weeks or so, it’s time to plan your timeline for the day. Keeping it online via Google Sheets is great so everyone involved can stay updated. Check out our free customisable online templates for ideas on what goes on during a wedding.

25. Honeymoon

Many couples these days prefer to allocate a larger portion of their budget towards their first big adventure as a married couple. Not everybody goes on a big honeymoon immediately though; you can give yourselves time to save up by delaying your trip, and opting for a minimoon after the wedding instead!

Free Wedding Checklist Spreadsheet

Make a copy of our free wedding checklist on Google Sheets

To use our free wedding checklist, simply click this link and you'll be directed to make your own editable copy on Google Sheets. You'll need to be signed into Google Drive to do this. Saving your wedding planning on a Google Sheet makes information and progress easily accessible to whomever is involved, so you don't have to keep emailing your latest vendor rates to your significant other. Simply adjust your Sharing settings so that all parties can make changes to your lists or update on progress online.

Our to-do list helps you keep track of your progress too; simply strike off an item by typing anything into the first column.

Wedding Budget

We've also included a vendor comparison sheet where you can list down package details and rates before making a selection. And to keep you on track financially, we've done up a free wedding budget spreadsheet for you to record your estimated and actual costs for each wedding item. See how much you've spent at a glance, with the totals automatically added up for you by item type and in a grand total.

Free Wedding To-Do List App

Download our wedding to-do list app

If you prefer planning on a dedicated wedding checklist app, SingaporeBrides has that too. Sign up and get started. We’ve tried to include most wedding planning necessities on our checklist, but you can edit the items to suit your unique wedding. Delete the florist meetings if you intend to DIY paper flowers for your wedding, or add in song rehearsals if you want to surprise your guests with a performance.

Credits: Feature image from Chloe and Patrick's Epic Pre-Wedding Adventure on Padar Island and in Bali by Darren and Jade Photography

---

All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram for the latest article and promotion updates!