Events & Celebrations
Weddings, parties, holidays and seasonal planning.
6 premium · 1 free
These guides are for the person who ends up doing the planning: the parent organizing a birthday, the couple paying for their own wedding, the host who wants the holidays to feel calm instead of frantic. Each one gives you a timeline, a budget you can actually fill in, and checklists you can print and mark off.
If you're getting married, start with the Wedding Budget Planner: What Every Dollar Should Really Cover, then move to the format that fits, whether that's The Checklist for Backyard Wedding Planning That Covers Permits, Power and Rain or Micro Wedding Ideas for an Intimate 10-30 Guest Day.
Planning a party instead? Birthday Party Planner Checklist: Plan Any Party in 8 Weeks and Graduation Party Planning Ideas: Timeline, Budget and Checklists both work backward from the date. For the holidays, Holiday Card Addresses: A System You Can Reuse Every Year is free and takes about an hour to set up.
Plan the wedding
premiumReach for this first, before you book anything, so every later decision has a number attached.
premiumFor couples keeping the guest list small on purpose and wanting the day to still feel structured.
premiumFor anyone marrying at a private home, where parking, power and restrooms are your problem to solve.
Host the party
premiumUse it for any age, from a toddler's first to a milestone sixtieth, starting about two months out.
premiumFor families planning around a crowded May and June calendar with other parties competing for guests.
Get through the holidays
freeStart here in the fall if chasing down addresses is what delays your cards every year.
premiumFor anyone who wants spending limits set early and shopping spread across weeks instead of December.
Common questions
How far ahead should I start planning a party?
Eight weeks is enough time for most home or venue parties, which is why both Birthday Party Planner Checklist: Plan Any Party in 8 Weeks and Graduation Party Planning Ideas: Timeline, Budget and Checklists are built on an eight-week countdown. If you have less time, start at whatever week you're in and skip the early research tasks.
Do I need a permit for a backyard wedding?
It depends on your city, your guest count, and whether you're bringing in tents, generators or amplified music. The Checklist for Backyard Wedding Planning That Covers Permits, Power and Rain walks you through what to ask your local office and when to call.
How should I split a wedding budget across categories?
Percentage splits work better than guessing, but the right split depends on your total and your priorities. Wedding Budget Planner: What Every Dollar Should Really Cover gives tier-based percentages plus 150+ expense lines so nothing gets forgotten.
When should I start on Christmas cards and gifts?
Addresses are the slow part, so build your list in October or early November using Holiday Card Addresses: A System You Can Reuse Every Year. For presents, Christmas Gift List: Plan Every Recipient, Budget and Buy Date assigns a spend limit and a buy-by date to each person.