Ready to start planning your dream wedding decor and want to make sure you don’t miss a single thing? What you need is a wedding decor checklist !
Use this guide to help cover all the details that play a big role in making your big day feel beautiful, special, and timeless. Forget about worrying if you’ve remembered the table linens or a welcome sign — this wedding decor checklist has it all.
Wedding days involve lots of tiny details — especially if you want to create an amazing atmosphere or you have a themed wedding in mind. Simplify the wedding decor organizing, shopping, and setup with this wedding decor checklist . It has everything you need for your ceremony, cocktail hour , and reception.
Let’s begin with the moment that kicks off the big day — the wedding ceremony . When it comes to ceremony decor , it’s worth investing your budget in the items you’ll see and remember, or those that add to the day’s atmosphere.
Many couples choose to invest in beautiful wedding flowers or a unique ceremony arch to create a stunning backdrop for that picture-perfect “I do” moment. Items like chair covers or aisle decor can also be lovely, but they’re not a must-have if you’re on a budget or prefer a more minimalist look.
As you’re planning your dream wedding ceremony , consider these decor items :
Phew, the nerve-wracking part is over with — vows have been made, rings have been exchanged, and you’re now newlyweds! It’s time to move on to cocktail hour , a time for mingling and catching up before the reception.
The focus here is creating a welcoming space for guests to converse while you take wedding photos or work your way around the groups of guests. You don’t typically need a lot of decor for your cocktail hour space, but the most important elements are signage , bar accessories, and somewhere for people to sign your wedding guest book or leave a card.
Here are some of our go-to cocktail hour decor ideas:
After cocktail hour comes the wedding reception , and this is often where couples focus most of their wedding budget. You’ll be spending a lot of time in this space eating, drinking, dancing, and enjoying everyone’s company.
The type of decor you use will depend on the style of your wedding venue and your wedding theme . You may fill the space with cozy string lights and bright floor cushions for a boho wedding vibe, or suspend chandeliers from the ceiling and invest in gorgeous floral displays for a more elegant wedding .
As part of your wedding reception decor , think about whether you’d like these items:
If you’re hosting a traditional sit-down meal, one area to pay extra special attention to is your wedding reception tables . Your loved ones will spend time here chatting, drinking, and eating, and any table decor elements you include here can bring your theme to life and become a talking point.
As with your reception decor , match your table decor and printed items like table numbers to your theme. This might mean you choose bright, colorful table linen , or something more understated and sophisticated like pillar candles in vases. Style your tables with rustic elements like dried flowers in bud vases or eucalyptus, or create a stunning centerpiece that honors your personal style.
Hosting your wedding ceremony outside or having a backyard wedding reception can introduce new opportunities for decor and styling. This also comes with unique challenges to consider, like shelter from the weather and how you’ll light the space after it gets dark.
Here are some of our most-loved outdoor wedding decorations :
Choosing your wedding decor isn’t just about knowing what you need — it’s also about what you love. Our wedding decor checklist can help you remember every element, but these decisions will help you streamline the process so you can focus on picking out wedding decor that actually speaks to you.
Design: Kaydi Bishop
Your wedding theme influences every aspect of your big day — from your digital invitations to the color of your napkins . Take some time to consider what you and your partner both love, whether there’s a particular trend you want to embrace, or what your wedding style is. From there, settle on a wedding theme and select decor and styling items that match beautifully.
Wedding spending can get out of control quickly if you don’t have a handle on the finances. Sit down together and create a wedding budget that outlines what you have available and where you’d like to save or splurge. With a budget in mind, it’s much easier to make decisions about your wedding decor.
Some people want to buy everything new for their big celebration, while others prefer to hire rentals or borrow from loved ones. If you’re crafty or love DIY , you could also make a lot of your wedding decor yourself. Work through the items on the wedding decor checklist and decide whether you want to buy, make, or borrow them, so you can stay organized and know exactly what you need to do in advance.
Wedding planning is a big task, and it’s not easy to tackle solo or with your partner alone — especially if you dream of a grand, detailed ceremony and reception. If all of this feels a bit overwhelming, call on some help. Ask your wedding party members to step in and help you get organized, ask loved ones for practical help, or work with a wedding planner to bring your ideas to life. Outsource the tasks you don’t love so you can focus your attention on the details that bring you joy.
Planning a wedding involves lots of steps, but with this wedding decor planning checklist this is one area that’ll feel much easier to control. Use this guide to help build your own personalized list of wedding ideas , so you can plan in advance and check off items as you acquire them.
A key part of getting your wedding decor right is choosing items that match your theme — and the same is true for your wedding stationery. Explore our wedding collection to find save the dates, wedding invites, and wedding announcements in every theme, all completely customizable to match your personal style.
