The Complete South Asian Wedding Checklist
Every task for a multi-day Desi wedding — from 12 months out to the wedding week — organised the way real celebrations actually happen. Tick things off as you go; your progress is saved.
The Foundation
12–10 months out- Set your wedding date (check auspicious dates with your priest)
- Agree a total budget with both families
- Estimate your guest-count range
- Choose your events lineup (Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, ceremony, reception)
- Decide which side hosts which event
- Tour and book your venue(s)
- Start a shared planning system for both families
- Open a dedicated wedding savings / payment account
Key Vendors
10–8 months out- Book your caterer (tastings across events)
- Book photographer and videographer
- Book your decorator / florist
- Book the priest / pandit / officiant
- Book entertainment (DJ, dhol, live acts)
- Book makeup and hair artists for every event
- Book your mehndi artist
- Book emcee / host for the reception
Design & Details
8–5 months out- Begin bridal outfit shopping and fittings
- Begin groom outfit shopping
- Plan jewellery (and any gold purchases)
- Finalise decor and colour palette per event
- Design and order invitations
- Lock the menu for each event
- Plan the cake and desserts
- Book hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests
Guest & Travel
5–3 months out- Finalise the guest list by side and event
- Send invitations and open RSVPs
- Collect guest details (dietary, contact, hotel needs)
- Arrange transportation (baraat, guest shuttles)
- Confirm out-of-town accommodation and rates
- Plan welcome bags for out-of-town guests
- Order ceremony items / samagri with your priest
- Book honeymoon flights and hotel
Final Countdown
3–1 month out- Confirm every vendor contract and payment schedule
- Build your run-of-show / day-of timeline per event
- Complete final outfit fittings and break in shoes
- Apply for the marriage licence
- Confirm guest transportation and driver assignments
- Assign day-of roles to family and your inner circle
- Confirm final headcounts with the caterer
- Plan and confirm the rehearsal / family briefing
Wedding Week
7–0 days- Assemble the day-of emergency kit
- Confirm arrival times with every vendor
- Distribute the timeline to family and coordinators
- Pick up outfits, jewellery, and rings
- Charge devices; brief your photographer on must-haves
- Prepare payments / tips envelopes for vendors
- Plan the Vidaai and post-wedding logistics
- Breathe — hand the plan off and enjoy it
When should you start planning?
For a multi-day South Asian wedding, 12 to 18 months is the sweet spot. You're not planning one event — you're planning several, often across multiple venues, each with its own caterer, decor, outfits, and beauty schedule. The best vendors for popular dates book out a year ahead, so locking your date and venues early is the single most valuable move you can make.
What makes a Desi wedding checklist different
A generic single-day checklist misses most of the work. A South Asian celebration repeats catering, decor, outfits, and hair & makeup across every function — Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, the ceremony, and the reception. On top of that come the cultural essentials a mainstream checklist never mentions: booking a pandit or officiant, ordering ceremony samagri, planning the Baraat and Vidaai, and coordinating both families' sides. The checklist above is built around all of it.
How to use this checklist
Work top to bottom — the phases are ordered by when each task should happen. Tick items off as you complete them; your progress is saved in your browser so you can come back to it. When you're ready for a version that schedules every task to your actual wedding date, reminds you before deadlines, and lets your partner and parents check things off together, Shaadi Sheets does exactly that. Wondering what it will all cost? Try our free wedding budget calculator.
Checklist FAQs
When should I start planning a South Asian wedding?
Ideally 12–18 months before your first event. Multi-day Desi weddings involve multiple venues, caterers, and outfits that book out far in advance.
What order should I book vendors in?
Venue first (it sets your date and capacity), then the vendors that sell out earliest — caterer, photographer, videographer, and decorator. Priest, entertainment, and outfits follow.
How is a multi-day Desi checklist different?
It repeats outfits, catering, decor, and beauty across several events, and adds cultural tasks like booking a pandit, ordering samagri, and planning the Vidaai — things single-day checklists skip.
Is this free?
Yes — free and interactive, with progress saved in your browser. For a version auto-scheduled to your date and shared with your family, start a free 7-day trial of Shaadi Sheets.
This is the short version.
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