You said yes. Now what?
Planning a wedding in the Philippines involves a lot of moving parts — booking vendors, securing church requirements, sorting out legal paperwork, and coordinating with your ninongs, ninangs, and entourage. Most Filipino couples plan their wedding over 10 to 14 months.
This checklist walks you through what to do and when, with the Philippines-specific steps that generic international guides leave out.
12 to 11 Months Before the Wedding
This is your foundation-setting phase. The decisions you make now determine everything else.
- Set your total budget. Be honest about what you can spend. Decide early who’s contributing — the couple, parents, principal sponsors.
- Pick your wedding date. Keep in mind that peak season in the Philippines is October through December and March through May. Off-peak months (January, February, July, August) give you more vendor availability and better rates.
- Decide on the type of wedding. Church or civil? Intimate or grand? Garden or hotel? This shapes your entire vendor list.
- Start venue hunting. Popular venues book 12 to 18 months out, especially for Saturday dates during peak season. Visit at least three to five venues before deciding.
- Book your wedding coordinator. A coordinator helps you navigate everything that follows. Even if you’re planning a simple wedding, an on-the-day coordinator is worth every peso.
10 to 9 Months Before
Vendor booking season. The best photographers, videographers, and caterers get booked quickly — especially for peak-month Saturdays.
- Book your photographer and videographer. Ask to see full wedding galleries, not just highlight reels. Confirm whether prenup coverage is included.
- Book your caterer (if separate from the venue). Schedule a tasting before signing.
- Start the legal paperwork. Request your CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from PSA — processing takes 5 to 10 business days online, longer in person. You’ll also need PSA birth certificates for both of you.
- Sign up for pre-Cana seminar. Required for Catholic church weddings. Sessions fill up, so register early. Most parishes and dioceses offer their own schedules.
- Gather church documents. Baptismal certificate (issued within six months), confirmation certificate, and parish permit if you’re marrying outside your home parish.
- Draft your guest list. Start with a realistic number. Every additional guest adds to catering, souvenirs, and seating costs.
8 to 7 Months Before
Second wave of vendor bookings and attire planning.
- Book hair and makeup artist. Schedule a trial session to make sure you’re happy with the look.
- Book your florist and stylist. Share your vision, color palette, and venue photos so they can plan accordingly.
- Book your host or emcee. A good host keeps the reception moving and entertaining.
- Start shopping for wedding attire. Whether you’re going custom, rental, or ready-to-wear — gowns and suits take time for alterations.
- Choose your principal sponsors and entourage. In Filipino weddings, ninongs and ninangs play a special role in the ceremony (cord, veil, coins) and often contribute financially. Invite them early and in person.
- Schedule your menu tasting. Most caterers offer a complimentary tasting for booked clients.
6 to 5 Months Before
Details start coming together.
- Send save-the-dates. Especially important for out-of-town guests.
- Book your wedding cake and desserts vendor.
- Book your souvenirs vendor. Personalized items need lead time for production.
- Plan your prenup shoot. Coordinate with your photographer on the location, date, and outfits.
- Book your music. Live band, string quartet for the ceremony, or DJ for the reception — book now.
- Apply for your marriage license. Visit your local civil registrar. Requirements include CENOMAR, birth certificates, pre-Cana certificate, and community tax certificate (cedula). The license is valid for 120 days, so time this carefully.
4 to 3 Months Before
Final confirmations and invitations go out.
- Send formal invitations. For Filipino weddings, it’s common to hand-deliver invitations to principal sponsors and close family.
- Book your bridal car. Decorated vintage cars and luxury vehicles book out during peak season.
- Arrange guest transportation if your venue is far from the ceremony church.
- Book hotel rooms for yourselves (wedding night) and out-of-town guests.
- Final fittings. Schedule your last fitting for gowns, suits, and entourage attire with enough time for alterations.
- Plan the rehearsal dinner. Keep it simple — a restaurant dinner with the entourage and immediate family.
2 to 1 Month Before
Everything should be confirmed. This is the home stretch.
- Confirm all vendor bookings. Reconfirm dates, times, venues, and final headcounts with every vendor. Pay remaining balances.
- Finalize your wedding day timeline with your coordinator. Share it with all vendors so everyone is on the same page.
- Submit your marriage license to the church or officiant. Confirm all ceremony requirements are complete.
- Prepare the cord, veil, arras (coins), and unity candle for the ceremony. Assign who carries each.
- Break in your wedding shoes. Wear them around the house a few times.
- Prepare cash for day-of expenses. Vendor tips, church donations, emergency fund (at least PHP 10,000).
- Write your vows if you’re doing personalized vows.
Wedding Week
Almost there.
- Final venue walkthrough with your coordinator. Walk through the ceremony and reception flow.
- Distribute the final timeline to all vendors, entourage members, and family.
- Prepare your emergency kit. Sewing kit, safety pins, pain reliever, blotting paper, stain remover, tissues, breath mints, phone charger, and a copy of all vendor contact numbers.
- Wedding rehearsal. Practice the processional, recessional, and ceremony rituals (cord, veil, coins) so everyone knows their cue.
- Delegate. Your coordinator handles the day-of logistics. Assign backup tasks to trusted friends or family. Your only job on your wedding day is to show up and enjoy it.
Philippines-Specific Reminders
These are the things that catch Filipino couples off guard:
PSA documents take time. Don’t wait until the last minute to order your CENOMAR and birth certificates. Online orders through PSAHelpline take 5 to 10 business days; walk-in at Serbilis centers can be faster but with long queues.
Pre-Cana is mandatory for church weddings. Most parishes require a one-day or weekend seminar. Some dioceses have waiting lists, so register 8 to 10 months before your wedding.
Marriage license validity. Your license is valid for 120 days from the date of issue. Plan your application date so it covers your wedding day.
Church requirements vary. Each parish has its own set of requirements and fees. Visit your chosen church early to get their specific list — some require banns (public announcements) posted for three consecutive Sundays.
Ninong and ninang coordination. Principal sponsors are more than honorary — they participate in the cord, veil, and coins ceremony. Brief them on what to do, especially if it’s their first time.
The “ber” months fill up fast. September through December is the most popular wedding season in the Philippines. If you’re planning a wedding during these months, book vendors 12 or more months ahead.
Your Vendor Checklist
Here’s a quick reference of every vendor you’ll need to book, roughly in order of priority:
- Wedding coordinator or planner
- Venue (ceremony and reception)
- Caterer (if separate from venue)
- Photographer
- Videographer
- Hair and makeup artist
- Florist and stylist
- Wedding attire (bride and groom)
- Host or emcee
- Music and entertainment
- Wedding cake and desserts
- Invitations and stationery
- Bridal car and transportation
- Souvenirs and giveaways
- Lights and sounds
- Rings and jewelry
Find all of these on VendorsPH — search by category, location, or vendor name to compare options and packages.
Start building your vendor team today. Browse hundreds of wedding vendors across the Philippines on VendorsPH.