Atreyee Poddar
A midsized Indian wedding with roughly 200 to 300 guests and several functions is still a lot to plan. The good news: twelve months is enough time to do it well. Here's your month-by-month game plan.
Nail down your date, your all-in budget, and a realistic headcount. For a midsized wedding, that's usually somewhere in the 200–300 range. Write the number down and defend it — guest lists have a way of growing by osmosis.
Popular venues and dates get snapped up fast, especially if you're planning multiple functions (mehndi, sangeet, wedding, reception) that might span two or three locations. Visit in person if you can, ask about vendor restrictions, and get everything in writing.
The good ones book out a year or more in advance. Look at full galleries, not just highlight reels, and ask specifically how they handle low light during evening ceremonies and fast-moving events like the baraat.
Bridal and groom outfits — especially custom or made-to-order pieces — need the longest lead time of anything on this list. Between design consultations, fabric sourcing, embroidery, and at least two fittings, eight to nine months is not too early to start. Family outfits can follow a few months behind.
Menu tastings are the one wedding task nobody complains about. Lock your caterer, finalise a menu that covers dietary restrictions across generations, and don't forget the small but mighty details: chaat counters, dessert stations, and late-night snack service for the dance floor crowd.
Trial runs matter. Book your mehndi artist and hair-and-makeup team now, and schedule trials for at least one major look. If jewellery is being custom-made or sourced from family heirlooms, this is the month to finalise pieces and get anything altered or cleaned.
Save-the-dates should already be out by now, especially for guests traveling from out of town. Formal invitations — often with multiple cards for multiple functions — typically go out six to eight weeks before the wedding, but midsized weddings with lots of logistics benefit from getting them designed and printed early.
This is where your Pinterest board becomes a contract. Meet with decorators to finalise the mandap or stage design, floral direction, and lighting for each function. If you're going with a theme or colour story across multiple events, this is the month to make it official.