Planning a wedding in Delhi is a marathon of decisions — venues, priests, guest lists spanning continents, and functions that may span four days or more. Without a structured checklist, couples often book photographers before locking dates, or overspend on decor before confirming catering headcount. This wedding planning checklist is built for Delhi and NCR realities: peak-season competition, traffic between venues, sound curfews, and multi-home family dynamics. Use it as your master tracker, and partner with a professional wedding planner when you want one accountable team instead of fifteen WhatsApp groups.

12–15 Months Before the Wedding

  • Align families on approximate guest count, budget range, and preferred season (October–February is peak in Delhi).
  • Interview planners; review portfolios, references, and contract transparency. See common wedding planning questions.
  • Shortlist venues: palace hotels, farmhouses (Chattarpur, Mehrauli, Gurgaon), banquet properties, or destination options.
  • Block venue dates with written agreement — understand payment schedule and cancellation terms.
  • Hire photographer and videographer early; top Delhi teams book 12+ months ahead.
  • Begin outfit planning for bride, groom, and immediate family — lead times for couture are long.

At this stage, create a shared folder for contracts, inspiration boards, and vendor contacts. Assign one decision-maker per family side for financial approvals to avoid stalemates.

9–12 Months Before

  • Confirm planner scope: full planning, partial coordination, or production-only.
  • Select caterer or confirm in-house hotel catering with tasting dates.
  • Book entertainment: DJ, live band, sangeet choreographer, celebrity appearances if applicable.
  • Draft guest list v1; estimate Delhi local vs. outstation ratio for room blocks.
  • Choose wedding theme direction — florals, colour palette, stage concepts.
  • Order save-the-dates; plan invitation design timeline.
  • Book priest / officiant and confirm ritual requirements for ceremony length.

Delhi couples often host mehendi and sangeet at a different property than the wedding — confirm logistics and guest shuttles early.

6–9 Months Before

  • Send invitations with RSVP deadline; track dietary and accessibility needs.
  • Book makeup and hair teams; schedule trials.
  • Confirm decor vendor or in-house production with 3D renders for main stage and mandap.
  • Plan hospitality: welcome bags, airport pickups for VIP guests, hotel room blocks.
  • Order wedding jewellery, favours, and personalised elements that require shipping.
  • Apply for marriage registration paperwork if doing court marriage alongside ceremonies.

Review sound, lighting, and staging requirements with your planner — Delhi venues vary widely in power and rigging capability.

3–6 Months Before

  • Finalise menu tastings; lock bar packages and mocktail options.
  • Confirm sangeet script, performances, and rehearsal dates.
  • Create detailed run-of-show per function with timings, announcements, and VIP seating.
  • Book transportation: baraat vehicles, guest buses, airport transfers.
  • Schedule pre-wedding shoot locations — Humayun’s Tomb, Lodhi, heritage havelis require permits.
  • Plan wedding website or guest FAQ (dress code, weather, gift registry).

Conduct a budget reconciliation — identify 10–15% contingency for last-minute guest additions common in Indian weddings.

Final 8 Weeks

  • Confirm final guest count with caterer and seating plan.
  • Walk all venues with planner for load-in maps, green rooms, and photography positions.
  • Rehearse ceremony cues, baraat timing, and varmala logistics.
  • Prepare emergency kit: safety pins, medicines, phone chargers, duplicate vows book.
  • Distribute vendor call sheet and family point-of-contact list.
  • Confirm payments and outstanding balances — avoid settling on wedding day.

Wedding Week and Day-Of

  • Delegate non-essential decisions — couples should not negotiate with electricians on sangeet night.
  • Stay hydrated and eat — schedule green-room meals in the run-of-show.
  • Trust your planner’s timeline; build 15-minute buffers between major moments.
  • Designate someone to hold rings, kalire, and legal documents.
  • Enjoy the first dance / milni — photos matter, but presence matters more.

Samesq Productions assigns dedicated coordinators per function plus a production lead for technical elements. We align with your checklist, fill gaps you do not have bandwidth for, and execute so families stay present with guests.

Download this framework into your planning doc, then book a discovery call — we will customise timelines to your venues, guest count, and cultural requirements anywhere in Delhi NCR.