Just Engaged Checklist: Your First 90 Days, Week by Week
Most couples lose the first month to venue browsing. That is backwards. Lock three numbers first — budget ceiling, guest-count range, date window — and every later decision gets cheaper and faster.
The three numbers to agree on in Week 1
A hard ceiling (not a range), a guest-count range within ±15, and two or three acceptable weekends rather than one perfect date. Written down, in one shared document.
Weeks 1–2 · Decide the frame
- Write the budget ceiling and who contributes what. Use the percentage worksheet to sanity-check it.
- Draft an A-list and B-list guest count. A 20-person difference changes venue capacity, catering minimums and invitation costs.
- Pick 2–3 date windows and check them against major US holiday weekends and local event calendars.
- Agree on one shared planning inbox and one shared folder. Vendor threads scattered across two phones is the #1 cause of missed deposits.
Weeks 3–4 · Research before you tour
- Build a 6–8 venue shortlist. For each, record rental fee, what is included, catering rules, capacity, and the cancellation clause.
- Ask every venue for the same five questions in writing. Comparable answers are the whole point of the comparison sheet.
- Check your state's marriage license rules: waiting period, license validity window, and whether a blood test is required. These vary by state and change — verify on your county clerk's official site, not a blog.
- Start a rough day-of timeline to see whether the venue's access hours actually work.
Weeks 5–8 · Lock and book
- Tour the top 3. Bring the comparison sheet and a measuring tape. Photograph the exact corners you plan to use.
- Book the venue, then the photographer and caterer — the three longest lead times.
- Read the contract line by line for: deposit schedule, force majeure, overtime rate, vendor meal count, and load-in/load-out windows.
- Set up the RSVP tracker now, while addresses are still easy to collect.
Weeks 9–12 · Fill the gaps
- Outfit planning starts here, not two months out. See the groom style guide and the 18-item accessory list — alterations alone commonly need 6–8 weeks.
- Choose a palette direction. Our three original palettes are a starting point, not a prescription.
- Send save-the-dates if guests need travel; otherwise wait until the guest list is stable.
- Schedule a 12-month checkpoint: revisit the budget against actual quotes and cut one line item before adding anything.
What the free guide covers vs. the kit
| This page | $17 kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks covered | 1–12 summary | 12 weeks, 40+ checkboxes, editable |
| Formats | Web page | PDF (US Letter + A4), Notion, Google Sheets |
| Owner / due date columns | — | Yes |
Get the editable 90-day checklist — $17
Last reviewed November 2026 for 2027 US weddings.