Wedding Planning Timelines: When to Book, Design, and Decide

Time is a luxury — and in weddings, it’s also your greatest creative ally. One of the questions I’m asked most often is: “When should we start planning?” But beneath that is a deeper question: How do we design something extraordinary, without rushing the soul out of it?

At Oudalova Events & Design, we believe in thoughtful timing. Not just so we can check boxes and book vendors, but so we can listen. Let the vision breathe. Layer the details with care. Protect the beauty of the process as much as the outcome.

If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to begin, the answer is simple: begin with intention. The earlier you bring on a planner, the more space there is for creativity, storytelling, and alignment. We recommend securing your planning partner at least 12–15 months before your ideal date — especially for luxury weddings where production timelines, vendor availability, and design execution require layered logistics.

Once you’ve selected your planner and secured your date and venue — the foundation is set. From there, we begin building your design identity: the mood, the aesthetic language, the tone. This isn’t about choosing colours — it’s about establishing rhythm. How you want the day to feel. What emotion should guide the atmosphere? What story are we telling?

By month nine, major vendor bookings begin: floral, photography, catering, beauty, entertainment. This is also when we begin refining the design details: textures, floral direction, lighting concepts, floor plans, and tablescape mood boards. In the Oudalova process, each of these is custom — no templates, no repeats. This is couture-level planning. Fitted to you.

At six months out, we move into tactile creation — printed materials, save-the-dates, custom scenting, gifting concepts. Guest experience is shaped in these decisions. What do they feel when they open your invitation? What happens the moment they arrive? How are we surprising them?

Three months before the wedding is when production takes center stage. Timelines are layered. Site visits are conducted. Vendor calls become orchestration. This is when our studio is in full motion — not scrambling, but sculpting. Everything is timed to feel effortless, so that when the day arrives, you can exhale into it.

Of course, every wedding is different. Some of our couples plan in 18 months. Some in 6. And while timelines may compress, intention never should. Our job is to protect that space — to give your ideas time to grow, and your vision room to rise.

Because the most beautiful weddings aren’t rushed. They’re revealed — moment by moment, detail by detail, with precision and presence.

In Summary: When to Book, Design, and Decide

The ideal wedding planning timeline begins 12–15 months ahead, allowing space for design development, vendor booking, and emotional clarity. Secure your planner and venue first, then let the story unfold. Each phase — from aesthetic direction to floral design, from paper goods to production — deserves time and thought. Whether you’re planning far in advance or on an accelerated path, the key is simple: design with intention, and trust the process.