What to do, and when.
A Punjabi wedding checklist is only useful if it's in the right order. Generic checklists bolt “book temple” onto a Western timeline and get the sequence wrong. This one is built the way a Sikh wedding actually runs — Gurdwara first, then everything else around it. Want it in your inbox? Get the free booking checklist.
12–18 months out
- Lock the Anand Karaj date at the Gurdwara — before anything else.
- Agree the three numbers: total budget, guest count, who pays for what.
- Decide which events you're actually holding (roka, maiyan, mehndi, sangeet, jaggo, reception).
- Book the reception venue / banquet hall.
- Book photographer and videographer — the good ones go a year ahead.
9–12 months out
- Book the caterer (especially if outside the venue's in-house menu).
- Book decor and florals — mandap, stage, centrepieces.
- Order bridal and groom outfits if coming from India (3–4 month lead).
- Start the guest list for real — it drives catering, your biggest line.
4–9 months out
- Lock DJ, dhol, and any sangeet choreographer.
- Book hair, makeup and mehndi artists.
- Arrange transport — doli car, guest logistics.
- Confirm Ragis / kirtan for the Anand Karaj if you arrange them.
- Assign family roles in writing — maiyan host, jaggo lead, milni reps, langar.
Final 30 days
- Confirm every vendor in writing.
- Build a day-of timeline for each event — wedding day in 15-minute increments.
- Brief guests on Gurdwara etiquette.
- Build an hour of buffer after the Anand Karaj before the reception.
- Print three copies of the timeline: you, your mom, the venue coordinator.
“The couples who enjoy their own wedding are the ones who finished the checklist a month early.”
Keep going
Frequently asked questions
What's the first thing on a Punjabi wedding checklist?
Booking the Anand Karaj date at the Gurdwara. It's the one fixed point of the whole wedding — every other vendor and event schedules around it. Putting the venue or anything else first is the most expensive ordering mistake couples make.
How far ahead should we start?
12 to 18 months for a multi-event Punjabi wedding. Good photographers, videographers and banquet halls in Surrey, Vancouver, Brampton and Toronto book a year out. Six months is workable with a small guest count and date flexibility; under three months is a sprint with premium pricing.
Is there a free checklist I can download?
Yes — our free booking checklist covers the order to lock everything in. Pop your email in and it's yours. The personalized blueprint goes further: it builds the checklist around your specific events, city and family situation.
What's the difference between the free checklist and the $99 blueprint?
The free checklist is the generic order. The $99 CAD blueprint is your order — built from your events, your city's vendor reality, your guest count and your family roles, with the budget map and parent-share summary. Delivered as a PDF in 48–72 hours.