Free download · Weddings
Free Wedding Planning Kit
Planning a wedding is a long list of small decisions made in the right order. This kit gives you the order: when to book, what to ask, how much to spend, and how many chairs, tables, and plates you actually need. Print it, tick things off as you go, and bring the worksheet to your venue tour.
What's inside
Everything in the kit
- 12-Month Wedding Timeline
- Wedding Budget Split
- Guest List Steps
- Vendor Booking Order
- Ceremony Checklist
- Reception Checklist
- Rental Quantities by Guest Count
- Questions to Ask Every Venue
- Wedding Worksheet
- Workbook: wedding budget, 30-task timeline, 350-row guest list and vendor tracker
Files you get
- PDFWedding Planning Kit (PDF)Printable kit with timeline, checklists, tables and a fill-in worksheet
- ExcelWedding Workbook (Excel)Budget, timeline with auto due dates, guest list with rehearsal and welcome party columns, vendors
Read next
Guides that go with this download
- 30x60 Tent Seating Capacity and Layout: Floor Plan GuideHow many guests fit in a 30x60 tent for dinner, dancing, cocktails or theater seating, with a floor plan, tables and bar placement for a Chicago-area wedding.
- 40x80 Tent Seating Capacity and Layout: 150 to 200 GuestsHow many guests fit in a 40x80 tent for a seated dinner, dancing or cocktail party, with a floor plan, bar and stage placement and Chicago permit notes.
- African Wedding Reception Planning in Chicago: A GuidePlan an African wedding reception in Chicago with guidance on traditional and white ceremonies, large guest counts, aso ebi, food, seating and dancing.
- Aisle Runner Length: How Long and What Material?How long should a wedding aisle runner be? Measure your aisle, add 3 to 5 feet, then choose fabric, width and anchoring for grass, carpet or stone floors.
- Appetizer Plates for Cocktail Hour: How Many and What SizeHow many appetizer plates to order for a wedding cocktail hour or cocktail party, what size works for standing guests, and how to keep them from running out.
- Are Charger Plates Worth It? What They Do and When to Skip ThemAre charger plates worth renting for your Chicago wedding or party? What chargers do, how they change the look, extra cost drivers and when to skip them.
- Backyard Wedding Rental Checklist for the Chicago SuburbsWhat to rent for a backyard wedding in the Chicago suburbs: chairs, tables, tent, lighting, power, restrooms and flooring, with a site check before you order.
- Banquet Hall Room Transformation: A Four-Layer PlanTurn a plain banquet hall into a wedding or gala room with a four-layer plan: lighting, walls, tables and floor, with a zone table and a setup timeline.
- Where to Put the Bar: Bar Placement in an Event Floor PlanWhere to place the bar in a wedding or party floor plan: distance from entry, dance floor and tables, queue space, service access and three layouts.
Questions
About the Wedding Planning Kit
How far ahead should we start planning a Chicago wedding?
Twelve months is comfortable, especially for June through October Saturdays when venues and vendors book early. Six months is doable with a weekday, Friday or off-season date.
What should we book first?
The venue and date, then the vendors who only do one wedding a day: photographer, caterer and band or DJ. Rentals, florals and decor follow once you know the space.
Is the wedding planning kit really free?
Yes. Enter your email and the download links appear right away, with no account needed. You can unsubscribe from planning emails at any time.
Will the spreadsheets work in Google Sheets or Numbers?
Yes. The Excel files open in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets (File, then Import) and Apple Numbers, and the formulas keep working. CSV versions are there for any tool that prefers plain columns.
Can I share it with my partner, family or committee?
Yes. Print it, forward it or upload it to a shared drive. It is free for personal and nonprofit planning use.
More free downloads
