Wedding checklist: what to arrange and in what order
Updated · Svatební plán editorial team
Start with your budget, guest count, and venue — every other decision gets easier once those three are in place. Treat this checklist as a practical starting point rather than a rigid calendar: adjust the order to suit your date, supplier availability, and what matters most to the two of you.
Whether you are planning a year ahead or have only a few months, you will cover the same ground — just set your own deadline and owner for each step. Anything you don't want at your wedding, simply cross off.
Agree on the basics first
Write down what matters to both of you: the size of the wedding, the atmosphere, and how much you want to spend. Only then start comparing venues and dates. Before paying any deposit, confirm that both your ceremony and reception times are available.
- Set a joint budget and a contingency buffer for changes.
- Draft your initial guest list and estimate the number of children.
- Check the capacity, availability, and terms of your shortlisted venues.
Once your date is confirmed
Book the suppliers you care about most. For each one, note what is included, the price, when the deposit is due, and the cancellation policy. For the ceremony, check with your registry office (matrika) or officiant which documents you need to provide.
- Confirm the venue and time for both the ceremony and the reception.
- Submit the marriage questionnaire at the registry office (matrika) and ask your two witnesses.
- Book catering, photography, music, and other priority suppliers.
- Divide tasks between you and note payment due dates.
When inviting your guests
A good invitation makes it easy for guests to reply and plan their trip. Include when and where you are meeting, the RSVP deadline, and who to contact with questions. Ask about dietary requirements and whether they need accommodation at the same time.
- Prepare invitations along with travel and parking directions.
- Set a clear RSVP deadline.
- Keep your confirmed guest headcount up to date as replies come in.
Before locking in final guest numbers
Check directly with your caterer when they need final meal numbers. Adjust your table layout, accommodation list, and transport based on guest replies. Not everyone needs every logistical detail: guests only need the day's programme, while suppliers get the working schedule.
- Follow up on missing RSVPs and confirm final headcounts with the caterer.
- Plan your seating arrangement around the actual capacity of the tables.
- Build travel time and buffer slots into your schedule.
The final week and the wedding day
Reconfirm arrival times and phone numbers with every supplier. Choose one person to handle phone calls on the wedding day so you don't have to. Have a wet-weather plan ready and pack everything you need to bring with you the day before.
- Share the schedule and supplier contacts with everyone helping on the day.
- Check your IDs, paperwork, wedding rings, and agreed cash or balance payments.
- Agree on who will collect decorations, gifts, and personal items after the party.
After the wedding
If you are changing your surname in the Czech Republic, your old national ID card (občanský průkaz) stays valid for 45 days after the wedding, and you then have 15 days to apply for a new one (free of charge within the standard timeframe). Thank your guests and wrap up any remaining returns or balances.
- Apply for a new national ID card (občanský průkaz) and passport if changing your surname.
- Report your new surname to your bank, employer, and health insurance provider.
- Settle any remaining supplier invoices.
- Thank your guests and share the wedding photos.
How to keep your checklist manageable
Assign a due date and an owner to every task. Once a week, sit down together to check what is done and what needs a decision. Log agreed prices in your budget right away, and update your catering and seating plans whenever your guest count changes.
In the planner, both of you — and your witnesses if you invite them — have the task list on your phone and computer. Nobody has to email spreadsheet versions back and forth, and every task clearly shows who is responsible.
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Find more practical planning advice in our wedding guides.