The complete Irish wedding planning timeline

Most Irish couples plan over sixteen months. You can do it in six, and people do it in three, but the order matters more than the length.

18–12 months out

Budget first, then guest list, then venue. In that order, because each one constrains the next.

• Agree the budget and who is contributing
• Draft the guest list to within twenty
• View at least three venues and book one
• Book the photographer and the band, these two go fastest

12–9 months

• Book the church, registry office or solemniser
• Book your HSE notification appointment. You must give at least three months' notice in person, both of you, and appointments in Dublin and Cork book out months ahead. This is the most common planning error we see.
• Start dress shopping, designer lead times run six to nine months
• Send save the dates if you have guests travelling
• Block book guest accommodation

9–6 months

• Florist, cake, videographer
• Hair and makeup, with trials booked
• Grooms wear
• Cars and guest transport

6–3 months

• Order invitations, send them with an RSVP date six weeks before
• Wedding rings, allow eight weeks for bespoke plus hallmarking
• Plan the ceremony: readings, music, vows
• Book the honeymoon, check passport validity

3–1 months

• Chase RSVPs. Expect to phone a third of them.
• Build the wedding day schedule and send it to every supplier
• Final fittings
• Confirm final numbers and dietaries with the venue, usually ten to fourteen days out

The final fortnight

• Table plan
• Pay outstanding balances
• Cash for gratuities in labelled envelopes, handed to the best man
• One group message to all suppliers confirming arrival times
• Delegate: cards, decor collection, the marriage licence

The marriage registration form has to be at the ceremony. Give it to one specific person and tell them they have one job.

The morning

Eat something. Everything else is somebody else's problem now.