Arizona Wedding Planning Timeline: A 12-Month Checklist

Most couples plan their wedding over about 12 months. In Arizona, peak-season Saturdays in spring and fall book fast, so starting earlier helps. If you have less time, work through this list in order and book the most in-demand vendors first.

12 or more months before

• Set a total budget and decide who is contributing. Try the Arizona wedding budget calculator.
• Draft a guest list with a realistic range.
• Choose a season and city. See the best time to get married in Arizona.
• Tour and book your venue. Read how to choose a wedding venue in Arizona first.
• Hire a planner or coordinator if you want one.

10 to 12 months before

• Book your photographer and videographer.
• Book catering if your venue does not provide it.
• Book your DJ or band.
• Reserve a hotel room block, especially in Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff during peak months.
• If you plan a ceremony on public land, start the permit process now.

8 to 10 months before

• Send save-the-dates, especially for out-of-town guests and holiday weekends.
• Start shopping for wedding attire. Gowns often take several months to arrive plus time for alterations.
• Book your officiant.
• Set up a wedding website with travel tips: nearest airport, drive times and what weather to expect.

6 to 8 months before

• Book your florist and hair and makeup team.
• Choose rentals and extras: tents, shade, heaters, misters, lighting and lounge furniture.
• Arrange guest transportation if the venue is outside town or parking is limited.
• Plan your weather backup: monsoon storms in summer, cold nights in winter, wind in open desert.

4 to 6 months before

• Order invitations.
• Book a cake or dessert baker, and choose designs that hold up in heat.
• Plan the rehearsal dinner.
• Buy wedding bands.
• Do a hair and makeup trial.

2 to 3 months before

• Mail invitations about 8 weeks out, or 10 to 12 weeks for a destination wedding.
• Finalize the menu and do a tasting.
• Start dress fittings and alterations.
• Draft the day-of timeline. Look up the sunset time for your date and plan portraits around golden hour.

1 month before

• Get your marriage license. Arizona has no waiting period, and licenses are generally valid for about a year, but confirm details with your county clerk. See our Arizona marriage license guide.
• Collect RSVPs and give final counts to the venue and caterer.
• Create the seating chart.
• Confirm arrival times and contact info with every vendor.
• Check the long-range forecast and confirm the backup plan.

The final week

• Share the final timeline with vendors and the wedding party.
• Pay final balances and prepare vendor tips.
• Pack an emergency kit: sunscreen, blotting papers, water, pain reliever, sewing kit, stain remover and a phone charger.
• Rest, hydrate and enjoy it.

After the wedding

• Make sure the signed marriage license is returned to the clerk’s office so the marriage is recorded.
• Order certified copies if you plan to change your name.
• Send thank-you notes and leave reviews for your vendors.

Short on time? Book in this order: venue, planner, photographer, caterer, entertainment, then everything else. For costs, read how much a wedding costs in Arizona.