You should have a wedding planner.

Really, you should.  The reason is because no one besides your planner tells you what sort of things you want to make sure you have done when during your wedding planning.

When should you have your dress sent for adjustments?  How long in advance do popular wedding bands book up?  Is this too soon to send save the dates?

Sure, you can find vague timing advice on wedding sites, but nothing replaces the drill sergeant precision (in a good way) of having a bonified planner on your side.  They’ll have your back and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

For evidence of this, just look at this week’s LunchDate question.  With many couples gearing up for Summer weddings, we figured we’d turn to our wedding planner crew to ask what sort of things those couples need to be thinking about right now.

I’m a bride-to-be getting married in June. What stuff should I be worried about having done right now (mid Feb)?

With four months to go until the wedding the best advice I can give you is don’t mess around and go hire a good planner. Why? You will find that a lot of vendors and venues will be booked. However, a planner can do the legwork of who is available, match you with the best vendors based on your budget & style, answer all your questions (and trust me there will be many) and be there you every step of the way.
-Alexandra Jusino, Exquisite Designs (Chicago, IL)

The guy, the venue, the PLANNER even if it’s only day of, and your dress. In terms of stationery, you should have sent your save the dates or send them right now, hurry! It’s a good time to start thinking about the invitations and making sure you have figured out the logistics of the day including directions, parking, etc. so that your guests don’t have to fend for themselves or call you!
-Peggy Lambert, Erickson Design (Chicago, IL)

For a wedding that is 4-5 months away I would suggest having the venue, photographer/videographer, caterer, officiant, band/DJ, wedding attire, and florist secured. It might be wise to start looking at bakeries and invitations. Make sure to gather all addresses for when you are ready to send those invites out too. Since I am part of the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance, I am currently doing an informative planning timeline on our blog called “Yes! Now What?” check it out and happy planning!
-Carlene, Naturally Yours Events (Chicago, IL)

Lock down all your vendor contracts.  If you haven’t considered getting a planner, look now so that she/he can help with your day-of timeline to ensure that your special day goes off with out a hitch!
-Hazel Bourget, Blu Bungalow (San Francisco, CA)

At this point, you should be having fun!  All your wedding professionals should be booked.  You should be going to your first wedding gown fitting.  Having a fun time with your shower(s) and possibly your bachelorette party.  The next big push is two months out when invitations are sent and the detailed timeline is started.  Take a deep breath & enjoy!!!
-Claudia Antony Zompa, AS YOU WISH EVENTS (Chicago, IL)

The BEST “first-thing” to do is get a planner.  Regardless for day of or the whole shebang, a “good” planner will help you get the road map together AND assist in saving you money!  Every Bride & Groom should focus on booking their top budget items first: Venue, Catering and Decor.
-Jiwon McCartney, ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions (Chicago, IL & Atlanta, GA)

Congratulations on your engagement! The very first thing you should  have done before any planning, including setting a date and searching for a venue, is set your budget and guest list.  Your budget and guest count will then dictate the venue.  Once you have those key elements in place (and they are typically the hardest things to agree upon with your fiance and families — good practice for being married!) — you are off!

After your venue is booked, the top priorities are: wedding dress!!!, caterer (if not available at the venue), photographer (they book up incredibly fast), entertainment (band or DJ), and any hotel room blocks you need to reserve for out-of-town guests. You can also begin working on your save-the-dates, but make sure you have the hotel info first so you can include that with the StD.  Lastly, start meeting with florists and decor companies, as well as videographers, hair & makeup artists, transportation, etc.

Of course you can (and should!) interview and hire a planner while you are venue-hunting, or even beforehand so he or she can guide you through this process. If you don’t want to hire someone for “full planning,” it is a good idea to get them on board right after your date is solidified so they can begin working with you on all of the other elements.
-Beth Bernstein, SQN Events (Chicago, IL)