# ReadyToWeddy — complete wedding planning checklist

> The complete wedding planning checklist, personalized to your date. ReadyToWeddy shows every task from engagement to after the wedding, then only what matters next.

Source: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist · Last updated: 2026-09-17

## Getting Started

After getting engaged, start with conversations rather than bookings. Agree on your top three to five priorities, [set a working budget](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/set-working-budget), talk about any family contributions, and estimate your guest count. Then choose a season or date range, decide roughly where you want to marry and what kind of ceremony you want. With those in place, you can research venues with confidence.

### Agree on your top wedding priorities

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#discuss-priorities

Agree on three to five shared wedding priorities before you book anything, so every later decision about budget, venue and vendors has a clear tiebreaker.

**Why it matters:** Almost every planning choice involves a trade-off: more guests or a bigger food budget, a sought-after photographer or a live band. When the two of you have already named what matters most, those trade-offs become quick conversations instead of recurring debates. Your priorities also make it easier to say no to ideas from family, social media or vendors that don’t fit the wedding you actually want.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Each write down how you picture the day.
- [ ] Share your lists and notice where they overlap.
- [ ] Talk through size, location, setting and formality.
- [ ] Describe the atmosphere and guest experience you want.
- [ ] List traditions to keep and ones to drop.
- [ ] Note where you’d rather spend and where to save.
- [ ] Agree on three to five priorities; keep them visible.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What’s the one moment you’d be most disappointed to lose?”
- “What do we want guests to say on the way home?”
- “Which traditions feel like ours, and which feel like obligations?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often skip naming what they don’t care about, which is just as useful for saving money and time.
- Do this separately first, then together, so neither of you simply agrees with the other.
- Revisit your list whenever a decision feels stuck.

### Set your working budget

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Budget
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/set-working-budget

Set a working wedding budget before you contact venues or vendors: agree on a total, decide who contributes, keep a contingency, and split the rest by your priorities.

**Why it matters:** Your budget shapes your guest count, venue shortlist and vendor choices, so it needs to exist before you fall for anything. A realistic working number stops you from signing contracts you’ll later regret and makes quotes easy to judge. It also gives you a calm, shared reference point when unexpected costs appear, because they usually do: delivery fees, service charges, taxes, alterations and overtime rarely show up in the first quote.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree on a total you can spend without new debt.
- [ ] Ask family about contributions; count confirmed ones.
- [ ] Set aside a contingency before allocating anything.
- [ ] Rank categories and give each a working amount.
- [ ] Allow for taxes, service charges, fees and overtime.
- [ ] Track quotes, payments and due dates in one place.
- [ ] Review the budget after every major booking.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What number would we feel relaxed about, not just able to afford?”
- “Where would we happily spend less to spend more on what matters?”
- “How much should we keep aside for surprises?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Small costs like postage, marriage license fees, tips and vendor meals add up and are easy to leave out.
- Treat the first quote as a starting point and ask what isn’t included.
- Record deposits and balance due dates as you go, not at the end.

### Talk about family contributions

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Budget
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#talk-family-contributions

Talk openly with family about any financial contributions early in planning, including how much, when it arrives, and whether it comes with expectations about guests or decisions.

**Why it matters:** Money from family is generous, but it can come with unspoken hopes about the guest list, venue, traditions or who makes the final call. Clarifying this early avoids awkward surprises months later when contracts are signed. Knowing the amount and timing also lets you build a realistic budget, rather than planning around an offer that turns out to be smaller, later or more conditional than you assumed.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree as a couple on what you’d like to ask.
- [ ] Talk in person or by call, not by message.
- [ ] Ask whether they’d like to contribute and how much.
- [ ] Clarify when and how the money would arrive.
- [ ] Talk kindly about any expectations that come with it.
- [ ] Add confirmed amounts to your budget.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anything specific you’d love to see at the wedding?”
- “Would you prefer to pay a vendor directly or contribute to the overall budget?”
- “When would it suit you to contribute?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to ask whether a contribution is meant to cover a specific item, which affects who that vendor treats as the client.
- Thank people for any offer, and it’s fine to say you need a day to think it over.
- If a contribution comes with conditions you’re not comfortable with, it’s okay to decline it gently.

**Best done after:** Agree on your top wedding priorities

### Estimate your guest count

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#estimate-guest-count

Estimate your guest count before shortlisting venues, because the number of people you invite drives venue capacity, catering costs and most of your budget.

**Why it matters:** Guest count is the single number that affects the most decisions. It sets which venues can hold you, how much food and drink you’ll need, how many tables, chairs and invitations to plan for, and often how much accommodation and transport to arrange. A rough range now is enough to shortlist venues with confidence and avoid falling for a space that’s too small or far too large.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Each list the people you can’t imagine the day without.
- [ ] Add immediate family on both sides.
- [ ] Estimate extended family, close friends and colleagues.
- [ ] Decide whether plus-ones and children are likely.
- [ ] Note which guests would need to travel.
- [ ] Turn it into a low and high range.
- [ ] Check the range against your working budget.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would we rather have fewer guests and a bigger experience, or everyone we know?”
- “Are we inviting plus-ones for everyone or only for couples?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Your vendors, officiant and any helpers may also need a seat and a meal, so add them to your headcount.
- Venues often list maximum capacity; look for comfortable capacity for your layout instead.

### Draft your guest list in three tiers

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/draft-guest-list

Draft your guest list in three tiers, must invite, would like to invite and invite if space allows, so you can adjust numbers calmly once your venue and budget are set.

**Why it matters:** A single long list makes every cut feel personal. Sorting names into tiers turns hard conversations into simple decisions: when capacity or budget changes, you move a line rather than debate individuals. A tiered draft also makes it easier to handle family input, plan save-the-dates later, and keep plus-ones and children consistent across both sides of the list.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Start from your estimated guest count.
- [ ] Create one shared list with a tier column.
- [ ] Place each name in must, would like or if space allows.
- [ ] Agree on consistent rules for plus-ones and children.
- [ ] Invite family input with a clear number for each side.
- [ ] Record contact, travel and access needs as you go.
- [ ] Adjust tiers once your venue capacity is known.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Have we spoken to this person in the last year?”
- “Would we both be glad to see them there?”
- “How many guests would each side of the family like to add?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: People often forget partners of wedding party members and the officiant’s partner when counting plus-ones.
- Collect postal and email addresses now; it saves a scramble before save-the-dates.

**Best done after:** Estimate your guest count

### Choose a season or date range

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#choose-date-range

Choose a season or a range of possible dates early in planning, rather than one fixed day, so you have flexibility when checking venue and vendor availability.

**Why it matters:** Holding a few possible dates makes it far easier to find a venue and vendors you love, especially for popular seasons and weekends. The time of year also shapes the weather, daylight, what flowers are in season, travel costs and whether guests are likely to be free. Thinking through the calendar now avoids clashes with holidays, school breaks or the plans of people who matter most to you.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Pick a preferred season or a few months that suit you.
- [ ] Note holidays, school breaks and big local events.
- [ ] Check dates that matter to key guests.
- [ ] Consider typical weather and daylight at your location.
- [ ] Compare likely guest travel costs across your options.
- [ ] Decide whether weekday or off-season dates could work.
- [ ] List three to five possible dates to take to venues.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anyone whose presence would change our choice of date?”
- “Would we consider a Friday, Sunday or off-season date?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check for large local events that can fill hotels and raise prices on the same weekend.
- Off-peak days and seasons can widen your choice of venues and vendors.

### Decide where you want to get married

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#choose-location

Decide the general area for your wedding early, whether close to home, near family or a destination abroad, since location shapes your budget, guest list and legal steps.

**Why it matters:** The city or region you choose affects almost everything: venue prices, how far guests will travel, how many are likely to come, which vendors you can hire, and what legal requirements apply. Settling the broad location before looking at venues keeps your search focused and makes it easier to plan accommodation, transport and timing for the people you want there.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Talk about where you feel most connected.
- [ ] Consider where guests live and how far they’d travel.
- [ ] Weigh a local wedding against a destination.
- [ ] Compare costs, lodging and vendors in each area.
- [ ] Check transport links and accessibility for key guests.
- [ ] Check legal ceremony requirements in each area.
- [ ] Agree on one area to focus your venue search.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How many guests could realistically travel to this location?”
- “Would we rather be near family or somewhere meaningful to us?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The place you marry can change the legal paperwork you need, so check early if you’re marrying outside your home area.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Decide what kind of ceremony you want

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#decide-ceremony-type

Decide early whether you want a civil, religious or symbolic ceremony, and whether the legal marriage will happen separately, since this shapes your venue, officiant and paperwork.

**Why it matters:** Your ceremony type determines where you can marry, who can officiate, what paperwork is needed and how long the ceremony may be. Some places of worship have their own preparation requirements, and some venues can’t host a legally binding ceremony. Many couples also choose a quick legal ceremony separately from a personal symbolic one. Knowing your approach now prevents booking a venue or officiant that doesn’t fit.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Talk about what the ceremony should mean to you both.
- [ ] Choose civil, religious, symbolic or a combination.
- [ ] Decide if the legal marriage happens on the day.
- [ ] Ask the official authority who can officiate where.
- [ ] If religious, ask about preparation and booking.
- [ ] Agree on a rough ceremony length.
- [ ] Note what this means for your venue search.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do we want the legal part and the celebration on the same day?”
- “Are there family or faith traditions we’d like to include?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples planning a symbolic ceremony sometimes forget to schedule the separate legal marriage in time.
- Rules about who can officiate and where vary by location, so check with the official authority where your legal ceremony will take place.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Decide whether you need a planner

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/decide-on-planner

Decide early whether you want a full-service planner, a partial planner or a wedding-day coordinator, based on your time, budget and how complex your wedding will be.

**Why it matters:** Planners can source vendors, negotiate contracts, manage design and keep the day running, but not every wedding needs full support. Deciding early matters because a full-service planner is most useful from the start, while a coordinator can join later. Planners are especially helpful when you’re planning from another city or country, using several locations, hiring many independent vendors, or short on time.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Estimate how much time you can give to planning.
- [ ] List the parts you’d love help with.
- [ ] Compare full-service, partial and day-of support.
- [ ] Ask what your venue coordinator actually covers.
- [ ] Decide on a level of support and a rough budget for it.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does the venue coordinator stay for the whole event or just the venue side?”
- “Which tasks are we dreading most?”

**Tips:**
- A venue coordinator usually looks after the venue, not your whole wedding, so ask what they cover.

**Optional:** Plenty of couples plan without a planner, especially for smaller or simpler weddings.

### Set up a shared planning system

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#set-up-planning-system

Set up one shared place for your wedding budget, guest list, vendor contacts, contracts and tasks at the start of planning, so both of you can see what’s happening.

**Why it matters:** Wedding details quickly scatter across messages, notebooks, screenshots and different inboxes. Keeping everything in one shared place means either of you can check a deadline, find a contract or answer a vendor without searching. It also makes it simple to hand information to a planner, coordinator or trusted helper later, and reduces the chance that something slips because only one of you knew about it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose a tool you’ll both actually use.
- [ ] Add sections for budget, guests, vendors and tasks.
- [ ] Log each vendor’s contact, quote, deposit and balance.
- [ ] Set up a shared folder for contracts and receipts.
- [ ] Share a calendar for appointments and due dates.
- [ ] Consider a dedicated wedding email address.
- [ ] Give every task an owner and agree who leads what.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to give each task an owner, which is how things end up done twice or not at all.
- A checklist app like ReadyToWeddy, a shared spreadsheet or a project board all work; consistency matters more than the tool.
- A short weekly check-in keeps you both up to date without planning taking over.
- Update vendor payments the day you make them, and add columns for arrival times and on-the-day contacts; you’ll need them later.
- Note refundable damage or security deposits so you remember to collect them after the wedding.

### Insure your engagement ring

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Rings
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#insure-engagement-ring

Consider insuring your engagement ring soon after the engagement, either through a specialist policy or your existing home or contents insurance, so loss or damage is covered.

**Why it matters:** Rings are small, worn every day and easy to lose, damage or have stolen, especially while traveling or during busy months of planning. Some existing policies cover jewelry only up to a limit or need items listed individually. Checking now, while the purchase is recent and paperwork is easy to find, means you’re protected before anything happens.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Find the receipt and any appraisal or certificate.
- [ ] Check your current policy’s jewelry coverage limit.
- [ ] Compare specialist jewelry insurance if needed.
- [ ] Confirm cover for loss, theft, damage and travel.
- [ ] Check whether claims pay replacement or cash value.
- [ ] Store photos and documents somewhere safe.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does this policy replace the ring or pay a cash value?”
- “Are we covered when traveling abroad?”

**Optional:** If the ring’s value is modest or already covered, it’s fine to skip a separate policy.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Share your news the way you want to

- When: First steps (Getting Started)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/getting-started#share-engagement-news

Share your engagement news in whatever way feels right, ideally telling close family and friends personally before posting online, and without committing to wedding details yet.

**Why it matters:** The people closest to you will usually appreciate hearing the news directly rather than from social media. Sharing it on your terms also gives you space to enjoy the moment before questions about dates, venues and guest lists begin. Keeping plans vague for now helps avoid accidental promises about invitations or roles you haven’t decided on yet.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide who you’d like to tell personally first.
- [ ] Call or visit close family and friends.
- [ ] Agree on when, or whether, to post publicly.
- [ ] Prepare a friendly answer for early wedding questions.
- [ ] Hold off on promising invitations or roles.

**Tips:**
- A simple “We’re just enjoying being engaged for now” answers most early questions.

**Optional:** A quiet, low-key announcement, or none at all, is perfectly fine.

## 12+ Months Before

Twelve or more months before your wedding, [research, visit and book your venue](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-venue), ideally 12–18 months ahead, then confirm your date with key people. Next, line up the vendors that fill up early, such as your photographer, caterer, officiant and band or DJ, which many couples book 9–12 months ahead. It’s also a good time to learn what to check in vendor contracts, consider wedding insurance, start researching outfits and check passports if you’re [marrying abroad](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/destination-wedding).

### Research and shortlist venues

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#research-venues

Research and shortlist three to five wedding venues about 12–18 months before the wedding, filtering by guest capacity, budget, location and your preferred dates.

**Why it matters:** Your venue confirms your date, capacity and much of your budget, so it’s usually the first big booking. Popular venues can book well ahead, particularly on weekends in peak season. Shortlisting against clear criteria saves you from touring places that were never going to fit, and gives you time to compare what’s really included before committing.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Write down your guest range, budget and possible dates.
- [ ] Search venues in your chosen area.
- [ ] Check comfortable capacity and ceremony options.
- [ ] Request pricing, minimum spend and what’s included.
- [ ] Confirm dates and any catering or alcohol rules.
- [ ] Check access, parking, transport and nearby lodging.
- [ ] Shortlist three to five venues to visit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What’s included in the venue fee?”
- “Do you require us to use specific vendors?”
- “Is there a minimum spend on food and drink?”

**Tips:**
- Compare complete packages, not headline hire fees.

**Best done after:** Estimate your guest count; Set your working budget

### Visit your shortlisted venues

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#visit-venues

Visit your shortlisted venues in person, ideally at the same time of day as your wedding, with a list of questions about capacity, rules, costs and backup plans.

**Why it matters:** Photos rarely show how a space feels, how light falls at your ceremony time, or how guests would move between rooms. A visit lets you check practical details such as access, noise, toilets, parking and where a wet-weather ceremony would happen. Asking the same questions at every venue makes comparing them fair and clear.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Visit near your ceremony time to see the light.
- [ ] Bring the same question list to each venue.
- [ ] Walk the guest route: parking, access and toilets.
- [ ] See the wet-weather backup and getting-ready spaces.
- [ ] Ask about noise limits and setup and cleanup times.
- [ ] Take photos and notes straight after each visit.
- [ ] Ask for a written quote and sample contract.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Where would the ceremony move if it rains?”
- “What time can vendors arrive, and when must everything be out?”
- “Is anything else booked at the venue that day?”
- “What does overtime cost?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check phone signal at the venue, which matters for vendors, card payments and guest photo uploads.
- If possible, visit during another event’s setup to see the space in use.

**Best done after:** Research and shortlist venues

### Book your venue

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-venue

Book your wedding venue 12–18 months before the wedding, and earlier for popular dates, once you’ve compared quotes, read the contract carefully and confirmed your date.

**Why it matters:** The venue fixes your date, capacity and much of your budget, and most other vendors will ask for it before they can quote. Booking with a clear, signed contract protects your date and deposit. Reading the terms carefully now helps you avoid surprises later around minimum spend, overtime, required suppliers, cancellation or postponement.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Compare written quotes from your top venues.
- [ ] Request and read the full contract.
- [ ] Confirm date, hours, spaces and capacity in writing.
- [ ] Check minimum spend, overtime and required vendors.
- [ ] Check payments, cancellation and postponement terms.
- [ ] Ask about insurance requirements.
- [ ] Sign, pay the deposit and save the contract.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What happens if we need to postpone?”
- “Which costs aren’t included in this quote?”
- “Who will be our contact on the day?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often miss the venue’s setup and cleanup windows, which affect every vendor’s schedule.
- Get any verbal promises added to the contract before signing.

**Best done after:** Visit your shortlisted venues

### Secure your ceremony location

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#secure-ceremony-location

If your ceremony will be somewhere other than your reception, such as a place of worship or registry office, secure that location around the same time as your venue.

**Why it matters:** When the ceremony and reception are in different places, both need to be available on the same date and at times that work together. Places of worship and civil offices can have their own booking rules, preparation requirements and limited slots. Securing both together avoids booking a reception for a date the ceremony location can’t offer, and helps you plan travel time between the two.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm whether ceremony and reception are separate.
- [ ] Ask the ceremony location about times on your dates.
- [ ] Ask about booking steps, preparation and fees.
- [ ] Check capacity and rules on photos, music and décor.
- [ ] Check timing with the reception, including travel.
- [ ] Confirm the booking in writing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are there rules about photography or music during the ceremony?”
- “Is there another ceremony before or after ours?”
- “Do we need to meet with anyone before the wedding?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check whether another ceremony is scheduled right after theirs, which limits time for photos.

**Optional:** If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, this is already covered by booking your venue.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Confirm your date and tell key people

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#confirm-wedding-date

Confirm your wedding date once the venue contract is signed and ceremony arrangements are secure, then share it with close family, your wedding party and priority vendors.

**Why it matters:** Announcing a date before it’s contractually secured can cause real disappointment if things change. Once it’s locked in, telling the most important people early lets them plan travel and time off. It also lets you approach photographers, caterers and other vendors with a firm date, which they need before they can hold it for you.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Wait until the venue contract is signed.
- [ ] Confirm your ceremony location and officiant are free.
- [ ] Tell close family, friends and your wedding party.
- [ ] Let your planner and priority vendors know.
- [ ] Add the date to a shared calendar.
- [ ] Start a draft of your wedding website.

**Tips:**
- Save the wider announcement for your save-the-dates.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Hire your planner or coordinator

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#hire-planner

Hire your wedding planner or coordinator early, ideally before or alongside your venue for full-service support, after comparing their services, style and contract terms.

**Why it matters:** A full-service planner adds the most value before big decisions like the venue are made, since they can suggest options and negotiate terms. Partial planners and coordinators can join later, but good ones book up. Knowing exactly what your planner will handle, and until when, helps you avoid gaps on the day and in the months before.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Shortlist planners who work in your area and budget.
- [ ] Look at weddings they’ve planned that feel like yours.
- [ ] Meet two or three and compare how they work.
- [ ] Confirm services, meetings, on-the-day hours and staff.
- [ ] Ask how they pick vendors and about referral fees.
- [ ] Check payments and cancellation terms, then sign.
- [ ] Share your priorities, budget and planning documents.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How many weddings do you take on the same weekend?”
- “Who will be there on the day if you’re unwell?”
- “Do you receive commission from vendors you recommend?”

**Best done after:** Decide whether you need a planner

### Book your wedding photographer

- When: 8–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-photographer

Book your photographer 9–12 months before the wedding, after your venue and date are confirmed, or up to 18 months ahead for popular peak-season dates.

**Why it matters:** Photos are one of the few things you’ll keep long after the day, and popular photographers can book early, especially for weekend dates in peak season. Booking once your date and venue are fixed lets you check availability properly, compare full galleries rather than highlights, and make sure their style, coverage and delivery times fit the way you want to remember the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide what style you’re drawn to.
- [ ] Shortlist photographers whose work you love.
- [ ] Check availability for your confirmed date.
- [ ] Ask each to share one or two full wedding galleries.
- [ ] Meet or call your top choices.
- [ ] Compare hours, second shooter, delivery and price.
- [ ] Check usage rights, travel fees and backup cover.
- [ ] Pay the deposit to book.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Could you share a full gallery from a wedding similar to ours?”
- “How long until we receive our photos?”
- “What happens if you’re unable to attend on the day?”
- “Are travel, overtime and a second shooter included?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check how and for how long the online gallery will stay available.
- Full galleries show how a photographer handles low light, family groups and busy moments, not just the best shots.
- Ask whether they’ve worked at your venue before.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Decide on a videographer

- When: 7–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#book-videographer

Decide whether you want a wedding videographer around the time you book your photographer, and if so, book one whose style and deliverables fit your budget.

**Why it matters:** Video captures voices, vows, speeches and movement in a way photos can’t, and many couples value hearing those moments again. Like photographers, videographers can only cover one wedding a day, so popular ones book early. Deciding now also lets your photographer and videographer coordinate, and keeps the budget clear before other costs grow.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether video matters to you both.
- [ ] Choose a highlight film, a full-length edit or both.
- [ ] Shortlist videographers and watch full films.
- [ ] Check availability for your date.
- [ ] Compare hours, delivery and how they capture vows.
- [ ] Ask about music licensing and access to raw footage.
- [ ] Read the contract and book.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How do you record clear audio for vows and speeches?”
- “Have you worked alongside our photographer before?”
- “Can we get the full ceremony and speeches unedited?”

**Optional:** If video isn’t important to you, skipping it is a perfectly good choice.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Book your caterer

- When: 8–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-caterer

Book your caterer 9–12 months before the wedding, after your venue and date are confirmed, comparing complete quotes that include staff, equipment and service charges.

**Why it matters:** Food and drink are often among the largest costs, and they scale with every guest. A caterer also needs to work within your venue’s kitchen, rules and timings. Booking early gives you choice, time for tastings later, and a clear picture of what’s included, so you can budget properly for staff, tableware, service charges and any extras.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check venue catering rules and kitchen access first.
- [ ] Decide on a service style that suits your day.
- [ ] Request quotes based on your guest range.
- [ ] Compare staffing, tableware, service charges and taxes.
- [ ] Ask how they handle dietary needs and allergies.
- [ ] Confirm tastings and the final numbers deadline.
- [ ] Read the contract and pay the deposit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What’s included per guest, and what’s charged separately?”
- “When do you need final numbers?”
- “How do you manage allergies and cross-contact?”
- “Is a tasting included?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that cake cutting, corkage or late-night food may carry separate fees.
- Ask whether vendor meals are available and how they’re priced.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Book your officiant

- When: 6–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#book-officiant

Book your officiant 9–12 months before the wedding, making sure they’re able to perform the kind of ceremony you want and, if needed, the legal part of your marriage.

**Why it matters:** Your officiant shapes the tone of your ceremony and, in many places, makes the marriage legally valid. Who can legally officiate varies by location, and religious officiants may have their own preparation requirements. Booking early secures your date and gives you time to plan a ceremony that feels personal, whether it’s religious, civil or symbolic.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm your ceremony type.
- [ ] Check who can legally officiate where you’re marrying.
- [ ] Contact officiants about your date.
- [ ] Meet to talk about ceremony style and content.
- [ ] Confirm fees, travel, meetings and the rehearsal.
- [ ] Book in writing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can you perform the legal part of our marriage here?”
- “How much can we personalize the ceremony?”
- “Will you attend the rehearsal?”

**Tips:**
- If a friend will officiate, check with the official authority where you’re marrying what they need to do to be recognized.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Decide what kind of ceremony you want

### Book your band or DJ

- When: 7–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Music & Entertainment
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/book-entertainment

Book your wedding DJ or band 9–12 months before the wedding, after checking your venue’s noise and power rules, and compare set times, equipment and contract terms.

**Why it matters:** Music shapes the atmosphere from the ceremony to the last dance, and popular bands and DJs book early for peak dates. Your venue’s rules on volume, curfews, power and space can limit what’s possible, so it helps to check them first. Booking now leaves time to plan key songs and make sure the setup fits the room.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check venue noise limits, curfew, power and space.
- [ ] Decide between a band, DJ or both.
- [ ] Shortlist and watch or listen to live performances.
- [ ] Confirm availability for your date.
- [ ] Compare set lengths, breaks, equipment and overtime.
- [ ] Ask about ceremony music and microphones for speeches.
- [ ] Read the contract and pay the deposit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What plays during your breaks?”
- “Can you provide microphones for speeches?”
- “How do you handle requests and a do-not-play list?”

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Know what to check in every vendor contract

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#learn-vendor-contracts

Before you sign any vendor contract, check what’s included, the payment schedule, cancellation and postponement terms, substitutions and, for photos and video, usage rights.

**Why it matters:** Most wedding misunderstandings come from details that were assumed rather than written down. A clear contract protects both you and the vendor and makes it easy to resolve questions later. Knowing what to look for before your first booking means you can review each agreement quickly and confidently, rather than discovering a surprise fee or restrictive term months later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask for the contract before paying anything.
- [ ] Check the date, locations, and setup and finish times.
- [ ] List what’s included and what costs extra.
- [ ] Check the payment schedule, travel and overtime fees.
- [ ] Read cancellation, postponement and refund terms.
- [ ] Check who attends if the named person can’t.
- [ ] Check insurance and, for photo or video, usage rights.
- [ ] Get verbal promises added, then save a signed copy.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What happens if we need to change our date?”
- “Who would replace you if you couldn’t attend?”
- “Are there any costs not shown in this quote?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often overlook usage rights, which govern how photographers and videographers can share images of your day.
- If a term is unclear, ask for it to be reworded; good vendors won’t mind.

### Consider wedding insurance

- When: 6–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#consider-wedding-insurance

Consider wedding insurance soon after booking your venue, checking what’s covered and excluded, and whether your venue requires liability coverage for you or your vendors.

**Why it matters:** Deposits are often paid many months ahead, and a vendor going out of business, severe weather or illness can put that money at risk. Some venues also require couples to hold liability insurance. Looking into cover early means you’re protected from the point you start paying deposits, and you can make an informed choice rather than a rushed one.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your venue whether liability insurance is required.
- [ ] Check what existing policies might already cover.
- [ ] Compare cover for cancellation, vendors and weather.
- [ ] Check whether attire and rings are covered.
- [ ] Read the exclusions and note when cover starts.
- [ ] Decide if it’s worthwhile and file the policy.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does our venue require us to have liability insurance?”
- “What exactly isn’t covered by this policy?”

**Optional:** If your deposits are small or your venue doesn’t require it, it’s fine to decide insurance isn’t for you.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Start researching wedding outfits

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#start-attire-research

Start researching your wedding outfits 12 months or more before the wedding, setting a budget, checking production lead times and booking first appointments if needed.

**Why it matters:** Made-to-order and custom outfits can take many months to produce, and alterations need time too. Starting research early gives you room to explore styles without pressure, compare prices and understand timelines before you commit. Your venue, season and level of formality will also shape what feels right, so it helps to have those decided first.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Set an outfit budget each, including shoes and extras.
- [ ] Gather a few styles you both like.
- [ ] Consider venue, season, formality and family customs.
- [ ] Check production and alteration lead times.
- [ ] Book initial appointments or fittings.
- [ ] Talk about wedding party outfit expectations.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long does ordering and production usually take?”
- “Are alterations included or priced separately?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to budget for alterations, undergarments and accessories.
- Book appointments on quieter weekdays if you can; they’re often less rushed.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Check destination wedding requirements

- When: 12+ months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#check-destination-requirements

Check the legal and practical requirements for your destination wedding early, including residency, documents, translation and whether a legal or symbolic ceremony is best.

**Why it matters:** Marrying abroad can involve residency periods, translated or certified documents, and specific paperwork that takes months to arrange. Some couples find it simpler to marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony at the destination. Checking early helps you choose the right approach before booking, and avoids discovering a requirement too late to meet it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Find the official marriage authority there.
- [ ] Check residency and notice requirements.
- [ ] List documents, translations and certifications needed.
- [ ] Choose legal or symbolic; check recognition at home.
- [ ] Check visas and travel insurance.
- [ ] Ask vendors about payments, local taxes and customs.
- [ ] Note local holidays and weather patterns.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Will our marriage be recognized where we live?”
- “How long do documents stay valid once issued?”
- “Would a legal ceremony at home be simpler?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that some documents have to be issued within a set period before the wedding, so ordering too early can be a problem.
- Always verify requirements through the official authority where your legal ceremony will take place; rules vary and can change.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Check passport validity for both of you

- When: 8–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/12-months#check-passports

Check both passports well before a destination wedding or honeymoon, since many countries require validity for several months beyond your travel dates and renewals can take time.

**Why it matters:** An expired or nearly expired passport can stop you traveling, and renewal times vary. Many countries require passports to remain valid for a period after you arrive, and some need blank pages. If you plan to change your name, the timing of passport updates and travel bookings also matters, since tickets usually need to match your passport exactly.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check expiry dates on both passports.
- [ ] Check validity and blank-page rules for each country.
- [ ] Renew early if validity is close to the limit.
- [ ] Check whether visas are required.
- [ ] Book travel in the exact name on your passport.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long does a passport renewal usually take right now?”
- “Do we need a visa for our destination or honeymoon?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often book honeymoon tickets in a new married name before their passport has been updated.
- Check the official government travel advice for each country you’ll visit.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Choose your wedding party

- When: 8–18 months before (12+ Months Before)
- Category: Wedding Party
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/choose-wedding-party

Choose your wedding party, if you want one, about a year before the wedding, and ask each person personally with a clear idea of the time and costs involved.

**Why it matters:** Asking early gives people time to plan travel, budget for outfits and events, and say yes wholeheartedly. Being clear from the start about what the role involves avoids misunderstandings later. There’s no right size or format; your wedding party can be any mix of friends and family, of any gender, or nobody at all.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether you want a wedding party.
- [ ] Agree on a rough size.
- [ ] Choose people who’ll support you, not to match numbers.
- [ ] Estimate their costs for outfits, travel and events.
- [ ] Ask each person personally.
- [ ] Explain the role, duties and outfit expectations.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would this person enjoy the role, or feel obliged?”
- “What costs are we asking them to cover?”

**Tips:**
- Give people an easy way to say no without feeling awkward.

**Optional:** A wedding without a wedding party is completely normal, and a single witness or two is all many couples need.

## 9–12 Months Before

Nine to twelve months before your wedding, [order your wedding outfits](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/order-wedding-outfits) so there’s time for alterations, and book your florist, rentals and hair and makeup if you want them. [Create your wedding website](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-website), reserve guest accommodation, plan how guests will get around and set up a registry if you’d like one. Optional extras include a cake supplier, lighting and an engagement shoot. Research marriage license requirements now, but check when you’re allowed to apply.

### Book your florist

- When: 6–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Flowers & Décor
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-florist

Book your florist 9–12 months before the wedding, once your venue and color ideas are settled, so you can secure their date and plan around seasonal flowers.

**Why it matters:** Florists can only take on a limited number of weddings each weekend, so popular ones fill up early. Booking now also gives you time to talk about what’s in season, which affects both the look and the cost. Your florist can advise on what works in your venue, what can be reused between the ceremony and reception, and where flowers make the most impact for your budget.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Save photos of arrangements and colors you both like.
- [ ] Check venue rules on flowers, candles and installs.
- [ ] Shortlist florists whose past work matches your style.
- [ ] Share your date, venue, guest count and flower budget.
- [ ] Compare itemized quotes with delivery and setup.
- [ ] Agree on seasonal swaps and reusing ceremony flowers.
- [ ] Sign the contract and note payment due dates.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Which flowers will be in season around our date?”
- “Can the ceremony arrangements be moved to the reception?”
- “What happens if a flower we chose isn’t available?”
- “Are vases, stands and arches included, or rented separately?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to plan who moves ceremony flowers to the reception and who collects the rented vases afterward.
- Seasonal and local flowers usually look fresher and stretch a budget further.
- A few large statement pieces can have more impact than many small ones.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Book hair and makeup

- When: 4–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Beauty & Grooming
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-hair-makeup

Book hair and makeup artists 9–12 months before the wedding if you plan to use them, since good artists take limited bookings on busy weekends.

**Why it matters:** Many hair and makeup artists work alone or in small teams, so they can only cover one wedding a day. Booking early secures your date and lets you plan how many people need styling, how long it will take, and whether the artist travels to you. Knowing this now also makes the wedding-morning timeline much easier to build later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide who, if anyone, needs hair or makeup done.
- [ ] Find portfolios with looks and skin tones like yours.
- [ ] Share head count and ask the time per person.
- [ ] Ask about team size, travel and early-start fees.
- [ ] Mention sensitive skin or allergies.
- [ ] Book a trial for 2–3 months out; ask if it costs extra.
- [ ] Sign the contract and pay the deposit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long do you need per person, and how many artists will come?”
- “Is a trial included, and when should we book it?”
- “Do you charge for travel or very early starts?”

**Tips:**
- Leave a buffer at the end of the styling schedule for touch-ups and photos.

**Optional:** If you’d rather do your own hair and makeup, or neither of you wants it, that’s a perfectly good choice.

### Book rentals and equipment

- When: 5–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-rentals

Book rentals such as furniture, linens, tents, generators and restrooms 9–12 months before the wedding, especially for outdoor or blank-canvas venues where little is provided.

**Why it matters:** What your venue includes varies a lot. A hotel may supply almost everything, while a field, barn or private garden may supply nothing at all. Tents, generators and portable restrooms are often limited in number and book up for peak dates. Sorting rentals now shows you the real cost of your venue and avoids discovering missing essentials close to the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List what your venue provides and what it doesn’t.
- [ ] Cover tables, chairs, linens, tent and restrooms.
- [ ] Plan power, heating or cooling, and path lighting.
- [ ] Add mics and speakers for the ceremony and speeches.
- [ ] Estimate quantities and get quotes from allowed firms.
- [ ] Match delivery and pickup times to venue access.
- [ ] Reserve items, noting damage and loss charges.
- [ ] Note the final-numbers deadline in your tracker.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When can we change quantities, and is there a minimum order?”
- “Do you deliver, set up and collect, or is that extra?”
- “What happens if something is damaged or goes missing?”
- “Do you need a site visit before quoting a tent?”
- “Can the venue’s power supply handle lighting, sound and catering at once?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Rentals usually need to be counted and returned in a specific state, so someone needs to own the pack-down after the celebration ends.
- For tents and outdoor evenings, plan lighting early; it shapes the mood and your photos once the sun sets.
- Ask your venue about power capacity and rigging rules before booking lighting or a generator; a site visit often saves surprises.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Check permits for a private or outdoor venue

- When: 6–11 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#check-venue-permits

If you’re marrying at a home, park, beach or farm, ask the local authority and landowner 9–10 months ahead which permits, insurance and rules apply to your event.

**Why it matters:** Established wedding venues usually handle permissions for you, but a private garden, public park or stretch of beach may not have any in place. Depending on where you are, an event, noise, alcohol, parking or fire permit could be needed, and some take weeks to approve or limit guest numbers. Asking early shows the real cost and rules of the site while you can still adjust your plans, and helps you stay on good terms with neighbors.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the landowner what’s already permitted.
- [ ] Ask the local authority which permits apply.
- [ ] Check noise limits, music curfews and fire rules.
- [ ] Ask whether a tent or structure needs approval.
- [ ] Note deadlines, fees, guest limits and insurance.
- [ ] Plan restrooms and trash removal for the site.
- [ ] Apply for permits and keep copies with your contracts.
- [ ] Let close neighbors know about the date and timings.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do we need a permit for this number of guests?”
- “Are there limits on amplified music, and until what time?”
- “Can alcohol be served here, and by whom?”
- “Is there a fee or deposit for using this space?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget parking, which can affect neighbors and may need its own permission or a shuttle.
- Keep printed permits on hand on the day in case anyone asks to see them.
- Ask whether a public space can be reserved exclusively, or whether other visitors may be nearby.

**Optional:** If your venue is an established wedding venue, they usually handle this — just ask.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Create your wedding website

- When: 7–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Wedding Website
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-website

Create your wedding website 9–12 months before the wedding, before save-the-dates go out, with the date, location, travel and accommodation details guests need to plan.

**Why it matters:** A wedding website gives guests one reliable place to check details instead of messaging you with the same questions. It lets you share travel, accommodation and schedule information long before formal invitations, and you can update it as plans change. Having the link ready means you can print or share it on your save-the-dates, and later use it for RSVPs, registry details and photo sharing.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose a website builder that suits your budget.
- [ ] Pick a simple, easy-to-type web address.
- [ ] Add your names, date, location and schedule.
- [ ] Add travel, accommodation and accessibility details.
- [ ] Add dress code, RSVP details and registry link.
- [ ] Write a short FAQ and add a contact for questions.
- [ ] Set privacy, then check the site on a phone.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Should the site be public, unlisted or password-protected?”
- “Who will keep it updated if plans change?”
- “Do we want guests to RSVP through the website?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check that the website reads well on a phone, which is where most guests will open it.
- Add only what you’re sure of now, and mark other details as coming soon.
- Avoid posting your home address or exact travel dates publicly.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Collect guest addresses and contact details

- When: 8–11 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#collect-guest-addresses

Collect mailing addresses, emails and phone numbers for every household on your guest list 8–11 months ahead, in one shared spreadsheet, before save-the-dates or invitations go out.

**Why it matters:** Save-the-dates, invitations, updates and thank-you notes all depend on accurate contact details. Gathering them late, one message at a time, is slow and easy to get wrong. Collecting everything once, in a single shared list, means either of you can address stationery, send digital invites or reach a guest quickly. It’s also the moment to check how each household’s names should be written.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Add columns: household, names, address, email, phone.
- [ ] Fill in what you already know.
- [ ] Send one short message or form asking for the rest.
- [ ] Ask family to help with relatives you rarely contact.
- [ ] Confirm every name and spelling, including children.
- [ ] Check each address has a postal code.
- [ ] Note if each household prefers printed or digital.
- [ ] Mark each row as complete once confirmed.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How would you like your names written on the invitation?”
- “Is email or post the best way to reach you?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: International addresses need different formats and extra postage, and people who recently moved may still be listed at an old address.
- A simple online form saves retyping and keeps answers in the same format.
- Keep this sheet private; it holds personal information.
- Add a column for gifts received so thank-you notes are easier later.

**Best done after:** Draft your guest list in three tiers

### Reserve accommodation for guests

- When: 6–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Accommodation & Travel
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#reserve-guest-accommodation

Reserve guest accommodation, such as a hotel room block, 9–12 months before the wedding so traveling guests have convenient options at a known rate before rooms sell out.

**Why it matters:** Guests who travel need somewhere nearby to stay, and in busy seasons local hotels can fill quickly. A room block can secure a group rate and keep guests close together, which makes transport simpler. Blocks come with conditions, though. Some contracts make you responsible for rooms that go unbooked, so it’s worth understanding the terms before you sign anything.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Estimate how many guests will need a place to stay.
- [ ] Shortlist nearby stays, including accessible rooms.
- [ ] Ask hotels about group rates and minimum rooms.
- [ ] Read the attrition clause and release date.
- [ ] Check the distance and transport to the venue.
- [ ] Reserve a block sized to your realistic estimate.
- [ ] Add booking links and deadlines to your website.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are we responsible for rooms that aren’t booked?”
- “When are unbooked rooms released back to the hotel?”
- “Can we add more rooms later if needed?”
- “Is there a shuttle or parking for guests?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check the attrition clause, which can mean paying for rooms guests never booked.
- A courtesy block with no penalty for unbooked rooms is often the safest place to start.
- Offer a couple of price points so guests on different budgets have options.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people

### Book your getting-ready space and wedding-night stay

- When: 5–11 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Accommodation & Travel
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-wedding-night-stay

Book your getting-ready space and wedding-night room about 9 months ahead, choosing somewhere near the venue with good light and room for hair, makeup and photos.

**Why it matters:** The getting-ready hours are often some of the most photographed and personal of the day. A cramped, dark room makes hair, makeup and photos harder and adds stress. Rooms near popular venues can also book up early, especially on peak dates. Securing both the getting-ready space and your wedding-night stay now means you know where the day starts and ends, and can plan timings around them.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your venue whether it has getting-ready rooms.
- [ ] Decide whether you’ll get ready together or separately.
- [ ] Check there’s room for stylists, helpers and photos.
- [ ] Look for natural light, mirrors and power outlets.
- [ ] Check travel time, parking and drop-off.
- [ ] Ask about early check-in and late checkout.
- [ ] Book your wedding-night room and plan for luggage.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What time can we access the room on the wedding day?”
- “Can we check out late the morning after?”
- “Is there somewhere safe to leave luggage and gifts?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often book a getting-ready space that’s too small once hair and makeup artists, helpers and the photographer are all in the room.
- Send your photographer a few photos of the room ahead of time.
- Some hotels offer a wedding-night package; ask what’s included.

**Optional:** If you’re getting ready at home and heading home afterward, there’s nothing to book.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

### Plan how guests will get around

- When: 5–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Transportation
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#plan-guest-transport

Plan guest transport around 9–12 months before the wedding, covering the trip to the ceremony, travel between venues, and how everyone gets home at the end of the night.

**Why it matters:** Transport is easy to overlook until guests start asking. Rural venues, limited parking, separate ceremony and reception locations, and late finishes can all leave people stuck. Planning early lets you decide whether guests can manage on their own or whether a shuttle would help, and gives you time to book one before local companies are reserved for other events.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Map each journey, from hotel to venue and home.
- [ ] Check parking and public transport at each venue.
- [ ] Check taxi or rideshare availability late at night.
- [ ] Decide if guests need a shuttle or step-free vehicle.
- [ ] Request quotes and confirm vehicle capacity.
- [ ] Set pickup points, times and a final departure.
- [ ] Share transport details on your wedding website.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How will guests get home if the reception ends late?”
- “Do we need a vehicle with step-free access?”
- “How many trips can the shuttle make in the time we have?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The journey home at the end of the night is the part couples most often forget to plan.

### Set up your registry

- When: 4–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Registry
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-registry

Set up a registry around 9–12 months before the wedding if you want one, so guests invited to early celebrations have options. Include items, experiences or funds that suit you.

**Why it matters:** Many guests like to give a gift and appreciate some guidance. A registry helps them choose something you’ll actually use and reduces duplicates. It can include household items, experiences or contributions toward something meaningful, depending on what feels right for you and your families. Having it ready before showers or engagement parties avoids a rush later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide together whether you want a registry at all.
- [ ] Agree on the mix: items, experiences or a fund.
- [ ] Include gifts at a range of prices.
- [ ] Check return policies and fees on cash funds.
- [ ] Set a delivery address and delivery timing.
- [ ] Add the registry link to your wedding website.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would our families find a cash fund comfortable or awkward?”
- “Where should gifts be delivered, and when?”

**Tips:**
- Keep a simple list of gifts as they arrive to make thank-you notes easier later.

**Optional:** If you’d rather not have a registry, or you simply want guests to come as they are, that’s completely fine.

### Book an engagement photo session

- When: 7–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-engagement-shoot

Book an engagement photo session 9–12 months before the wedding if you’d like one, ideally with your wedding photographer, so the images are ready for save-the-dates.

**Why it matters:** An engagement session lets you get comfortable in front of the camera and get to know how your photographer works before the wedding day. Some photographers include one in their packages. If you want to use the photos on save-the-dates or your wedding website, scheduling it now leaves time for editing and design.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask if your photographer includes a session.
- [ ] Ask how many edited images you’ll get and when.
- [ ] Confirm you can print the images on save-the-dates.
- [ ] Pick a meaningful spot; check permits or fees.
- [ ] Choose a date with good light and a weather backup.
- [ ] Plan simple outfits you feel comfortable in.
- [ ] Allow editing time before save-the-dates are designed.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How soon after the session will we receive the photos?”
- “Can we use the images on printed save-the-dates?”

**Optional:** If posed photos aren’t your thing, you can skip the engagement session and use a favorite snapshot instead.

**Best done after:** Book your wedding photographer

### Order your wedding outfits

- When: 6–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/order-wedding-outfits

Order your wedding outfits 9–12 months before the wedding, since made-to-order pieces can take several months to arrive and alterations need time afterward.

**Why it matters:** Many wedding outfits are made to order, and production and shipping times vary widely between designers and tailors. Alterations then need several fittings spread over a few months. Ordering now leaves room for delays, changes in fit and any surprises, so the final weeks are about small adjustments rather than a rush.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Set a budget that includes alterations and extras.
- [ ] Book appointments and try on a few styles.
- [ ] Ask each supplier for their current production time.
- [ ] Check the measurements and refund terms.
- [ ] Order, and get the delivery date in writing.
- [ ] Plan alterations backward and ask what they cost.
- [ ] List accessories still to buy.
- [ ] Record deposits and balance dates in your tracker.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long does production usually take right now?”
- “Is a rush option available if something goes wrong?”
- “How many fittings should we plan for, and when?”
- “Are alterations included or priced separately?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often budget for the outfit itself but forget alterations, accessories and cleaning afterward.
- Plan to have outfits in hand a couple of months before the wedding to leave room for alterations.

### Book your cake or dessert supplier

- When: 4–11 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#book-cake-supplier

Book a cake or dessert supplier about 9 months before the wedding if you want one, after confirming what your venue or caterer already includes and allows.

**Why it matters:** Popular bakers take a limited number of orders each weekend. Some venues and caterers include dessert, charge a fee for outside cakes, or have rules about delivery and storage. Checking first avoids paying twice, and booking early gives you time for a tasting and to plan dietary options such as gluten-free or vegan desserts.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check what dessert your venue or caterer includes.
- [ ] Ask about outside-cake, cutting and plating fees.
- [ ] Check venue delivery rules and cold storage.
- [ ] Choose a cake, a dessert table or something else.
- [ ] Book a tasting with one or two suppliers.
- [ ] Confirm servings, dietary options and delivery time.
- [ ] Agree who returns the stand and equipment.
- [ ] Sign the contract and pay the deposit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does the venue charge to cut and serve an outside cake?”
- “How will the cake be kept cool before it’s served?”
- “Can one tier be made for guests with dietary needs?”

**Optional:** A cake isn’t required. A dessert your families love, or no dessert course at all, works just as well.

### Share travel details with destination guests

- When: 7–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Accommodation & Travel
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#share-destination-travel-info

Share travel details with destination wedding guests 9–12 months ahead, including flights, accommodation, entry requirements and costs, so they can budget and request time off.

**Why it matters:** Guests traveling to a destination wedding face more planning than a local event: flights, time off work, passports, possibly visas, and a bigger budget. The earlier they know the essentials, the more likely they can attend and the less stressful the trip will be. Clear information also cuts down on repeated questions.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm when guests should arrive and leave.
- [ ] List the nearest airports and transfer options.
- [ ] Share accommodation options and booking deadlines.
- [ ] Link to official passport and entry requirements.
- [ ] Add tips on local currency and payments.
- [ ] Give a rough idea of local weather and what to wear.
- [ ] Publish it all on your website and share the link.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Which guests might need extra help with travel planning?”
- “Should we organize group transfers from the airport?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that some guests may need to renew passports or apply for entry permission, which can take a while.
- Link to official government travel pages instead of summarizing entry rules yourself.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Research marriage license requirements

- When: 4–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#research-marriage-license

Research marriage license requirements around 9 months before the wedding with the official authority where your legal ceremony takes place, so you know when to apply and what to bring.

**Why it matters:** The rules for getting legally married vary widely by country, state and sometimes county. Some places have waiting periods, notice periods, residency rules or licenses that expire after a set time. Knowing the requirements early means you can gather documents calmly and apply in the right window, rather than too early or too late.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm where your legal ceremony will take place.
- [ ] Find the official issuing authority and how to apply.
- [ ] Note the application window, waiting period and fees.
- [ ] List the ID and documents each of you needs.
- [ ] Check if documents need translating or certifying.
- [ ] Check witness and officiant requirements.
- [ ] Add the ideal application date to your calendar.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long is the license valid once it’s issued?”
- “Do we both need to apply in person?”
- “Are there any documents that need to be certified or translated?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check whether a previous marriage requires extra paperwork, such as a divorce or death certificate.
- If the license is only valid for a short time, wait until the right window before applying.
- Order any official copies of documents early, as they can take time to arrive.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Complete any religious ceremony requirements

- When: 6–12 months before (9–12 Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/9-to-12-months#complete-religious-requirements

If you’re marrying in a religious ceremony, ask your officiant or place of worship early which meetings, courses or documents they need, and allow time to complete them.

**Why it matters:** Many faith communities and places of worship have their own preparation before a wedding, and these steps can take several months. Depending on your tradition, that might include meetings with clergy, a preparation course, certain documents or records, or permission when one of you belongs to another congregation. Requirements differ widely, so asking early lets you plan around them calmly rather than discovering a missing step close to the date.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your officiant what preparation is required.
- [ ] Write down each requirement and its deadline.
- [ ] Book officiant meetings or preparation courses early.
- [ ] Request records and any permissions needed.
- [ ] Ask about rules for music, readings and photography.
- [ ] Check if you also need a separate civil ceremony.
- [ ] Keep copies of everything you submit.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What do you need from us before the wedding, and by when?”
- “Are there any rules for the ceremony we should know now?”
- “Does this ceremony also make our marriage legal here?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check whether the religious ceremony is legally recognized, or whether a separate civil step is required.
- If you come from different faiths or communities, ask each one early what they expect.
- Records such as baptism or membership certificates can take weeks to arrive.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Secure your ceremony location

## 6–9 Months Before

Six to nine months before your wedding, [send save-the-dates](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-save-the-dates), or send them 8–12 months ahead for a destination or holiday wedding. Plan the ceremony structure and sketch the reception flow. Book any remaining vendors that support your priorities, arrange transport for the two of you, check venue rules for décor and suppliers, review accessibility and decide whether children are invited. Start [honeymoon plans](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/plan-honeymoon) if you’re taking one soon after.

### Send save-the-dates

- When: 5–12 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Invitations & Stationery
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-save-the-dates

Send save-the-dates 6–8 months before the wedding, or 8–12 months ahead for destination or holiday weddings, with your names, date, location and website.

**Why it matters:** Save-the-dates give guests an early heads-up so they can keep the date free, request time off and book travel before prices rise. They matter most when guests are traveling, accommodation is limited or the date falls near a holiday. Sending them also commits you to your guest list, so it’s worth being sure about who’s invited first.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm your guest list, including plus-ones.
- [ ] Check names, spellings and addresses are current.
- [ ] Choose printed or digital, and check postage.
- [ ] Include both names, the date, city and website address.
- [ ] Add a note that a formal invitation will follow.
- [ ] Proofread carefully, then send.
- [ ] Track who you’ve sent them to.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are we completely sure about everyone on this list?”
- “Do any guests need extra notice because they’re traveling?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that anyone who receives a save-the-date will expect an invitation.
- Only send save-the-dates to people you’re certain to invite.

**Best done after:** Confirm your date and tell key people; Draft your guest list in three tiers; Collect guest addresses and contact details

### Book the remaining vendors

- When: 4–10 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#book-remaining-vendors

Book any remaining vendors around 6 months before the wedding, choosing only the services that support the priorities the two of you agreed on at the start.

**Why it matters:** By now the big bookings are usually done, and what’s left tends to be smaller services: a photo booth, stationery designer, childcare, a late-night food truck. It’s easy to keep adding extras. Checking each one against your shared priorities keeps the budget steady and the planning manageable, and booking now still leaves good availability.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List vendors you still need or are considering.
- [ ] Check each against your priorities and budget.
- [ ] Drop anything that doesn’t clearly add to the day.
- [ ] Confirm the venue allows each vendor.
- [ ] Request quotes for the rest.
- [ ] Review cancellation and payment terms first.
- [ ] Add each vendor to your tracker.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would we actually miss this if we didn’t have it?”
- “Does the venue need proof of insurance from this vendor?”

**Tips:**
- Check your running budget total before each new booking.

**Optional:** If you already have everything you need, there’s no need to book anything more.

**Best done after:** Agree on your top wedding priorities

### Review your budget against real quotes

- When: 6–8 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Budget
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#review-budget

Once your main vendors are booked, compare your original estimates with real quotes and deposits paid, add hidden extras, and decide where to trim before the final months.

**Why it matters:** Early budgets are built on guesses. By now, real quotes and contracts show where you’re over or under, and extras such as tax, service charges and delivery fees are often missing from the first numbers. Reviewing everything together at this point leaves time to adjust while decisions are still flexible, and keeps your contingency for genuine surprises rather than costs you could have seen coming.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List each estimate next to its quote or contract total.
- [ ] Record deposits paid, balances due and due dates.
- [ ] Add tax, service charges, delivery and overtime.
- [ ] Set aside money for tips and gratuities.
- [ ] Check how much contingency is left.
- [ ] Choose a few areas to trim if you’re over.
- [ ] Confirm family contributions and who pays for what.
- [ ] Set a date for your next budget check.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Which costs could still rise, and why?”
- “Where would we honestly not notice a cut?”
- “Has everyone contributing confirmed their amount and timing?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that service charges and tax are calculated on top of quotes, which can noticeably change the final total.
- Look at your priorities list before trimming; cut from what matters least to you.
- Small items such as postage, favors and outfit alterations add up quickly.

**Best done after:** Set your working budget

### Plan the ceremony structure

- When: 3–9 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#plan-ceremony-structure

Plan your ceremony structure around 6 months before the wedding with your officiant, including the order, readings, music, processional and roughly how long it will last.

**Why it matters:** The ceremony is the heart of the day, and its shape affects many other plans: how long guests are seated, what music you need, who takes part and how the space is set up. Planning the outline now gives readers and musicians time to prepare and helps you see whether any legal or religious elements must be included.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Meet your officiant to discuss the ceremony order.
- [ ] Confirm any required legal or religious wording.
- [ ] Choose readings, readers, rituals or traditions.
- [ ] Decide who walks in and out, and in what order.
- [ ] Pick music for arrival, entrance and exit.
- [ ] Plan the ring exchange and the signing.
- [ ] Estimate the length and draft a running order.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Which parts of the ceremony are required, and which can we change?”
- “Who would we like to involve, and how?”
- “Where will guests stand or sit, and for how long?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to plan a moment and a place for signing the marriage documents.
- Keep outdoor ceremonies shorter if guests will be standing or in the sun.

**Best done after:** Book your officiant

### Plan your honeymoon

- When: 2–12 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Honeymoon
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/plan-honeymoon

Plan your honeymoon around 6 months before the wedding if you’re taking one soon after, so you can book flights and stays and check passport and entry requirements in time.

**Why it matters:** Booking a few months ahead usually gives you more choice of flights and accommodation. It also leaves time to check passports, entry requirements, any recommended travel health advice and time off work. Deciding now whether to travel straight away or later helps you plan the days after the wedding with less pressure.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree on your budget and the kind of trip you want.
- [ ] Decide whether to go right after the wedding or later.
- [ ] Check passports and entry requirements.
- [ ] Book flights and stays with names matching your ID.
- [ ] Check cancellation terms and consider travel insurance.
- [ ] Request time off work and confirm it’s approved.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do we want to rest, explore or a bit of both?”
- “Would we enjoy it more if we waited a few months?”

**Tips:**
- Book travel in the names on your current passports, even if one of you plans to change names.

**Optional:** A short mini-moon, a trip later in the year or simply a quiet week at home are all lovely ways to celebrate.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Request time off work

- When: 4–8 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Honeymoon
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#request-time-off

Request time off work about 6–7 months ahead, covering the final days of preparation, the wedding, a day or two to recover and any honeymoon travel.

**Why it matters:** The days just before a wedding are busy with deliveries, setup, rehearsals and guests arriving, and the days after are often needed for rest, returns and goodbyes. Asking early gives you the best chance of getting the dates you want, especially in busy seasons. Workplace leave policies vary, so checking now also shows whether you need to save up days or arrange unpaid time.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose prep days before and recovery days after.
- [ ] Add honeymoon travel days if you’re going soon after.
- [ ] Check your leave policy and blackout periods.
- [ ] Submit your request in writing.
- [ ] Arrange cover for your work while you’re away.
- [ ] Set an out-of-office message before you leave.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does our workplace offer any leave for weddings?”
- “Are there busy periods when leave is harder to approve?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to book a day off after the wedding, when rentals, belongings and goodbyes still need attention.
- Keep at least one full day free before the wedding with nothing work-related in it.
- Share a short handover note so colleagues know who to contact instead of you.

### Review accessibility and guest needs

- When: 2–10 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#review-accessibility

Review accessibility and guest needs around 6 months before the wedding, checking step-free access, seating, hearing support and a quiet space, so every guest can take part comfortably.

**Why it matters:** Guests may have mobility, hearing, sensory or health needs you don’t know about yet. Some changes, such as step-free routes, accessible restrooms or seating near the front, depend on the venue and are easier to arrange early. Thinking about this now also shapes your invitation wording, so guests feel comfortable telling you what would help.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Walk the venue checking step-free entrances and routes.
- [ ] Check accessible restrooms, parking and drop-off.
- [ ] Plan seating for guests who can’t stand for long.
- [ ] Arrange microphones so everyone can hear.
- [ ] Make sure paths are lit after dark.
- [ ] Identify a quiet space for anyone who needs a break.
- [ ] Add access and dietary questions to your RSVP.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are there any steps between the ceremony and reception spaces?”
- “Which guests might need seating, shade or an easy route?”
- “Can the venue provide a quiet room during the reception?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that uneven lawns, gravel and dim paths can be hard to manage after dark.

### Choose wedding party outfits

- When: 3–9 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Wedding Party
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#choose-wedding-party-attire

Choose wedding party outfits around 6 months before the wedding, leaving time for ordering and alterations, and agree early on who pays for what.

**Why it matters:** Wedding party outfits can have long lead times, especially when several matching pieces need ordering in different sizes. Deciding now leaves time for delivery and alterations. It’s also kind to talk about cost early, since expectations vary, and giving people options can make it easier for everyone to take part comfortably.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide how coordinated the wedding party should look.
- [ ] Agree on who pays for outfits and alterations.
- [ ] Share options that suit the season and budgets.
- [ ] Collect sizes and order, noting delivery dates.
- [ ] Plan fittings and alterations.
- [ ] Sort out shoes and accessories.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is this outfit affordable and comfortable for everyone?”
- “Would people prefer to choose their own within a color palette?”

**Tips:**
- Letting people choose their own outfit in a shared color palette is often easier on budgets and body shapes.

**Optional:** Matching outfits are optional. Asking people to wear something they already love is a lovely approach too.

**Best done after:** Choose your wedding party

### Plan a rehearsal or welcome dinner

- When: 2–9 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Reception
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#plan-rehearsal-dinner

Plan a rehearsal or welcome dinner around 6 months before the wedding if you want one, deciding who’s invited, who’s hosting and where it will be held.

**Why it matters:** A dinner before the wedding is a relaxed way to thank the people helping you and to welcome guests who have traveled. Restaurants and private rooms can book up on busy weekends, so reserving early helps. Deciding now also clarifies who is hosting and paying, which avoids awkward assumptions later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether you want a rehearsal or welcome event.
- [ ] Agree on who is hosting and the budget.
- [ ] Decide who is invited.
- [ ] Book a venue near the ceremony or guest accommodation.
- [ ] Plan transport and collect guests’ dietary needs.
- [ ] Set a finish time that allows for an early night.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who would we most like to spend the evening before with?”
- “Would a casual gathering suit us better than a formal dinner?”

**Optional:** If a quiet night before the wedding sounds better, skip the dinner entirely.

### Book transport for the two of you

- When: 3–10 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Transportation
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#book-couple-transport

Book transport for the two of you around 6 months before the wedding, covering getting to the ceremony, moving between venues and leaving at the end of the night.

**Why it matters:** Wedding transport can be anything from a friend’s car to a hired vehicle. If you want something special, popular options book early for peak dates. Even if you’re keeping it simple, planning now makes sure someone is responsible for getting you where you need to be on time, including at the end of the night.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Map every journey, with pickup and drop-off addresses.
- [ ] Include your late-night departure.
- [ ] Choose a vehicle with room for your outfits.
- [ ] Request quotes with timings and waiting time.
- [ ] Check overtime charges and the backup vehicle policy.
- [ ] Book and add the details to your tracker.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What happens if the vehicle breaks down on the day?”
- “Is waiting time included between the ceremony and reception?”
- “Is there room for a full outfit without creasing it?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to arrange their own ride home or to the hotel at the end of the night.

### Decide on plus-ones and children

- When: 4–12 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#decide-on-children

Agree on a clear plus-one policy and whether children are invited before save-the-dates or invitations go out, then show it through how you address each invitation.

**Why it matters:** Plus-ones and children can change your guest count more than any other decision, which affects catering, seating, budget and even which venues fit. Guests also plan around them: partners book travel, parents arrange childcare. A simple, consistent policy decided early is easier to explain, easier to apply to tricky cases and kinder to everyone than handling requests one at a time. There’s no right answer, only what suits your wedding.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree on one plus-one rule and apply it to all.
- [ ] Decide if children are invited: all, some or none.
- [ ] Note exceptions, such as nursing babies.
- [ ] Name each invited guest, spelled correctly.
- [ ] Limit RSVP forms to the names you’ve invited.
- [ ] Add a short, warm note to your website FAQ.
- [ ] Plan for invited kids, or share childcare options.
- [ ] Agree how you’ll answer requests for extra guests.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are we comfortable explaining every exception we make?”
- “Should single guests who know few people get a plus-one?”
- “Could we share local childcare options for traveling parents?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget that parents who are traveling need extra time to arrange childcare, and that a partner who joins later may need an updated invitation.
- Write partners’ names on the invitation when you know them; it feels warmer than “and guest.”
- Simple wording works well, such as: we love your little ones, but this celebration is for adults only.
- For plus-one requests, a kind reply helps: we’d love to include everyone, but our numbers are limited.
- A supervised kids’ room or a trusted sitter nearby can help parents relax if children are invited.

**Best done after:** Draft your guest list in three tiers

### Decide your dress code

- When: 5–8 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#decide-dress-code

Decide your dress code about 6–7 months ahead, choosing a clear term that fits your venue and season, and share it on your website and invitations with a short, friendly explanation.

**Why it matters:** Guests often feel unsure about what to wear, and many plan or buy outfits months ahead. A clear dress code helps everyone feel comfortable and fit in with the atmosphere you want. It also lets you warn people about practical things, such as grass, sand, stairs or an outdoor evening chill, so nobody spends the day in the wrong shoes or without a layer.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree on the overall feel you want.
- [ ] Consider your venue, season and time of day.
- [ ] Choose one dress code term.
- [ ] Add footwear and weather-layer advice.
- [ ] Mention any colors you’d rather guests avoid.
- [ ] Add it to your invitation; explain it on your website.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Will guests be walking on grass, sand or cobblestones?”
- “Will it be cold after sunset, or very hot at midday?”
- “Is there any attire we’d rather guests avoid?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to mention footwear when the ceremony or reception is on grass, sand or uneven ground.
- Common terms, loosely: black tie usually means tuxedos and floor-length gowns; formal or black-tie optional is dressy, with tuxedos welcome; cocktail often means suits and knee- to midi-length dresses.
- Dressy casual is smart but relaxed, such as chinos or a sundress, and casual means comfortable everyday clothes. These are guides, not rules, and people read them differently, so add a one-line explanation.
- Say it plainly, for example: garden party attire, with flat shoes recommended for the lawn.
- If you invite guests to wear cultural or traditional attire, explain what that means for those unfamiliar with it.

### Sketch the reception flow

- When: 3–9 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Reception
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#plan-reception-flow

Sketch your reception flow around 6 months before the wedding, deciding roughly when the entrance, meal, speeches, first dance and dancing will happen.

**Why it matters:** A rough reception outline helps your caterer, venue, band or DJ and photographer plan their work. It shows where the natural pauses are, whether speeches suit the meal, and how long guests will wait between moments. You don’t need exact times yet, but a simple order makes the detailed timeline much easier later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List the moments, from entrance to first dance.
- [ ] Add late-night food, last song and exit, if planned.
- [ ] Put them in a rough order.
- [ ] Decide when speeches will happen.
- [ ] Check the venue’s finish time and noise curfew.
- [ ] Share the draft with your caterer and entertainment.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long does the caterer need for each course?”
- “Would speeches work better before the meal or between courses?”

**Tips:**
- Avoid long gaps with nothing happening, especially before dinner.

### Check venue rules for vendors and décor

- When: 3–11 months before (6–9 Months Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months#check-venue-rules

Check your venue’s rules for vendors and décor around 6 months before the wedding, including noise curfews, candles, confetti, preferred suppliers and insurance requirements.

**Why it matters:** Venues often have rules that affect your plans in quiet ways: no open flames, no loose confetti, a strict music curfew, a preferred supplier list, or a requirement for vendors to hold liability insurance. Finding these now, before you finalize décor and book more vendors, avoids buying things you can’t use or booking someone the venue won’t allow.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Reread your venue contract and any policy documents.
- [ ] Get supplier rules and fees in writing.
- [ ] Check curfews and rules on candles and confetti.
- [ ] Ask what can be attached to walls or ceilings.
- [ ] Confirm setup and cleanup times.
- [ ] Note required suppliers and insurance rules.
- [ ] Share relevant rules with each vendor.
- [ ] Adjust décor plans to fit the restrictions.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there a list of suppliers we must use or avoid?”
- “What proof of insurance do vendors need to provide?”
- “What time must music stop and guests leave?”
- “Are there any fees if décor isn’t cleared on time?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to ask whether confetti or petals are allowed, and what type.

**Best done after:** Book your venue

## 3–6 Months Before

Three to six months before your wedding, design and order your invitations, finalize your menu and drinks, and [start shopping for wedding rings](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/buy-wedding-rings) about 3–4 months out, or 4–6 months for custom designs. Finalize flowers and décor, confirm transport, choose key music moments, book hair and makeup trials, decide how guests will share photos and agree on a [wet-weather plan](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/agree-weather-plan). Optional extras include vows, speeches, signage, favors and pre-wedding parties.

### Design and order your invitations

- When: 3–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Invitations & Stationery
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#design-invitations

Design and order your wedding invitations about 3–4 months before the wedding, agreeing the wording and RSVP method, so there’s time to proof, print and send them 6–8 weeks before the day.

**Why it matters:** Invitations usually go out about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, or 8–12 weeks ahead for destination weddings, and design, proofing and printing can take several weeks. Starting about 3–4 months out leaves room for changes. It’s also when you decide how guests will RSVP, what information to collect, and how to word things like dress code, children and plus-ones clearly.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide between printed, digital or a mix.
- [ ] Agree on wording, including hosts, names and spellings.
- [ ] Include date, time, venue, dress code and website.
- [ ] Choose an RSVP method and deadline.
- [ ] Ask for meal choices, dietary needs and access needs.
- [ ] Order proofs and check every detail twice.
- [ ] Confirm print dates and check postage costs.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What’s the latest date we can approve proofs and still send on time?”
- “What do we need guests to tell us when they RSVP?”
- “How should we word it if children aren’t invited?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to ask for dietary and access needs on the RSVP.
- Set the RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before the wedding, and at least a week before your caterer needs final numbers.
- Order a few extra invitations for late additions and keepsakes.

**Best done after:** Draft your guest list in three tiers; Collect guest addresses and contact details

### Finalize your menu and tasting

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#finalize-menu

Finalize your wedding menu about three months before the wedding, ideally after a tasting, including dietary alternatives, children’s meals and any late-night food.

**Why it matters:** The menu is one of the biggest line items and one of the things guests remember most. Settling it now gives your caterer time to order ingredients, plan staffing and confirm service times. It also lets you add meal choices and dietary questions to your invitations, so you collect everything you need in a single round of RSVPs.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Book a tasting with your caterer or venue.
- [ ] Choose courses, portions, service style and staffing.
- [ ] Agree vegan, vegetarian, allergy and children’s meals.
- [ ] Add vendor meals and any late-night food.
- [ ] Confirm cake service and any cutting fee.
- [ ] Check service times against your timeline.
- [ ] Get menu, pricing and final-count deadline in writing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How do you label and serve allergy-safe meals?”
- “When do you need final meal choices and numbers?”
- “What happens to leftover food at the end of the night?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Vendor meals and late-night food are easy to leave off the menu until the final invoice arrives.
- Eat something small before the tasting so you judge the food, not your hunger.
- Take photos of each dish to remember presentation.

**Best done after:** Book your caterer

### Plan the bar and drinks

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#plan-drinks

Plan your wedding bar about three months ahead: choose a drinks package or supplier, add good alcohol-free options, and confirm licensing and service rules with your venue.

**Why it matters:** Drinks can shift your budget significantly depending on the package, hours and guest count. Planning now lets you compare options, check whether the venue allows outside alcohol, and make sure a licensed service is in place where one is needed. Thoughtful alcohol-free choices also help every guest feel included, whatever their reasons for not drinking.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check the venue’s alcohol policy and bar rules.
- [ ] Choose open bar, limited bar, cash bar or a mix.
- [ ] Pick drinks for the toast, meal and evening.
- [ ] Add two good alcohol-free options and water stations.
- [ ] Confirm licensing, insurance and bar hours.
- [ ] Agree glassware, ice, bar staff and any corkage fees.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can we bring our own drinks, and is there a corkage fee?”
- “Who is licensed to serve alcohol at our venue?”
- “How do you charge if we run over time?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to plan water and ice for outdoor or summer weddings.
- A signature cocktail with a matching alcohol-free version keeps things simple.
- Keep water easy to find all evening, especially in warm weather.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Finalize flowers and décor

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Flowers & Décor
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#finalize-flowers-decor

Finalize your wedding flowers and décor about three months before the wedding, confirming quantities, setup, cleanup and whether any arrangements will move between spaces.

**Why it matters:** Florists and décor suppliers need firm quantities to order stems and materials, and many flowers are seasonal. Confirming details now keeps costs predictable and avoids last-minute substitutions. It is also the right time to plan how ceremony pieces can be reused at the reception, which can stretch your budget and reduce waste.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm bouquets, buttonholes and personal flowers.
- [ ] Finalize ceremony pieces and centerpieces per table.
- [ ] Confirm lighting, linens and furniture.
- [ ] Decide which pieces move to the reception, and who.
- [ ] Agree setup, cleanup and rental pickup with the venue.
- [ ] Check candle, confetti and installation rules.
- [ ] Get an updated quote in writing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Which flowers are in season for our date?”
- “Can you move the ceremony arrangements to the reception?”
- “What happens to the flowers at the end of the night?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Someone needs to be responsible for moving ceremony flowers to the reception, and it is rarely agreed in advance.
- Keep centerpieces low or tall so guests can see across the table.

**Best done after:** Book your florist

### Confirm transportation details

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Transportation
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#confirm-transportation

Confirm wedding transportation details about three months ahead, giving the company every address, pickup time, passenger estimate and a wedding-day contact who isn’t you.

**Why it matters:** Transport runs on precise information. Drivers need exact addresses, times and passenger numbers to plan routes and vehicles, and any access needs should be known well in advance. Sharing details now gives the company time to flag problems, such as tricky parking or timing clashes, while you still have room to adjust.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every journey with addresses and access notes.
- [ ] Add pickup and return times and passengers per trip.
- [ ] Note accessibility needs and parking or drop-off rules.
- [ ] Name a main and backup contact for the day.
- [ ] Send everything to the transport company in writing.
- [ ] Ask for a written confirmation of the schedule.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What happens if a vehicle breaks down on the day?”
- “How long do you allow for waiting time?”
- “Will the driver have a direct contact number?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often list themselves as the transport contact, which means their phone rings during the ceremony.

**Best done after:** Book transport for the two of you

### Buy your wedding rings

- When: 2–6 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Rings
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/buy-wedding-rings

Start shopping for your wedding rings about 3–4 months before the wedding to leave time for sizing, engraving and insurance. Allow 4–6 months for custom designs or engraving-heavy orders.

**Why it matters:** Rings often need more time than couples expect. Sizing, engraving and custom designs can each add weeks, and a second adjustment is not unusual. Buying now gives you room for fittings, fixes and any delays, and time to add the rings to your insurance before the wedding.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree a budget for both rings.
- [ ] Pick metal and width alongside any engagement ring.
- [ ] Get you both sized, ideally at different times of day.
- [ ] Get production, engraving and pickup dates in writing.
- [ ] Proofread engraving wording and spelling carefully.
- [ ] Check the return and resizing policy before you pay.
- [ ] Arrange insurance and safe storage.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long do sizing and engraving take?”
- “Is resizing free if the fit changes?”
- “Can this metal be resized later?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to add the rings to their insurance before the wedding day.
- Try rings on at the end of the day, when fingers are often slightly larger.

### Plan signage and on-the-day stationery

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Invitations & Stationery
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#plan-signage

Plan wedding signage and on-the-day stationery about three months ahead, deciding which signs guests actually need, such as a welcome sign, directions, menus and table numbers.

**Why it matters:** Good signage quietly answers guests’ questions so nobody has to ask you. Planning the list now lets you match the style of your invitations, leave time for design and printing, and hold back items like the seating chart until your RSVPs are in. It also keeps you from ordering signs you don’t need.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List the moments where guests may need direction.
- [ ] Choose welcome, direction and parking signs.
- [ ] Add menus and table numbers.
- [ ] Add a program or photo-sharing sign if you like.
- [ ] Decide who will design and print them.
- [ ] Mark items, like the seating chart, that wait on RSVPs.
- [ ] Check who provides easels and stands.
- [ ] Plan who places and collects signs on the day.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does the venue provide easels or sign holders?”
- “Where are guests most likely to get lost?”

**Tips:**
- Keep wording short and readable from a few steps away.

**Optional:** If your venue is simple to navigate and your guest list is small, a single welcome sign is plenty.

### Decide how guests will share photos

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/decide-photo-sharing

Decide how guests will share wedding photos about three months before the wedding, choosing one simple method, such as a shared album or QR-code upload, so candid shots end up in one place.

**Why it matters:** Guests capture moments your photographer never sees: getting-ready chaos, the dance floor, relatives catching up. Without a plan, those photos scatter across messaging threads and phones, and many are never shared. Choosing a method now gives you time to set it up, add it to your website and signs, and tell guests before the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Talk about what you want from guest photos.
- [ ] Compare a few collection methods.
- [ ] Check video support, no guest account, full quality.
- [ ] Consider guests less comfortable with technology.
- [ ] Choose one main method and set its privacy.
- [ ] Set when uploads close and how you’ll download them.
- [ ] Note where the link will appear.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do we want videos as well as photos?”
- “Who should be able to see the gallery?”
- “Will our older guests find this easy?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to decide how they’ll download everything afterward, before files start expiring.
- One method is easier for guests to remember than three.

### Decide on an unplugged ceremony

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#decide-unplugged-ceremony

Decide whether you want an unplugged ceremony, where guests put phones away, about three months ahead so you can tell guests kindly and plan where photos will come from.

**Why it matters:** An unplugged ceremony keeps guests present and keeps phones out of your photographer’s shots of the aisle. Deciding early lets you mention it on your website, plan clear wording for the officiant or a sign, and point guests toward a way to share photos from the rest of the day instead.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Talk about whether phones at the ceremony bother you.
- [ ] Decide if it covers the ceremony or the whole day.
- [ ] Add a short note to your wedding website.
- [ ] Choose friendly wording for a ceremony sign.
- [ ] Ask your officiant to make a short announcement.
- [ ] Say when phones are welcome and where to share photos.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would we rather see faces or phones when we look up the aisle?”
- “Do any guests need their phones for childcare or on-call work?”

**Tips:**
- Something like “We’d love you to be fully present – our photographer has this covered” keeps it warm.

**Optional:** If you’re happy for guests to take photos throughout, there’s no need to go unplugged.

### Choose your key music moments

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Music & Entertainment
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#choose-music-moments

Choose the music for your key wedding moments about three months ahead, including the processional, recessional, first dance and last song, so musicians have time to prepare.

**Why it matters:** A handful of songs carry most of the emotional weight of the day. Choosing them now gives live musicians time to learn arrangements and gives your DJ or band clear cues. It also leaves time to check whether your ceremony venue has any restrictions on music, which some religious and civil settings do.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List ceremony moments, from arrival to recessional.
- [ ] Add your entrance, first dance and last song.
- [ ] Shortlist a few options for each moment.
- [ ] Check music rules with your officiant or venue.
- [ ] Confirm timing and edits, such as shortened tracks.
- [ ] Share the final list with your musicians or DJ.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can you shorten this track or fade it at the right moment?”
- “Are there any music restrictions at our ceremony venue?”

**Tips:**
- Time your walk down the aisle and pick a section of the song that fits.

**Best done after:** Book your band or DJ

### Schedule hair and makeup trials

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Beauty & Grooming
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#schedule-beauty-trials

Schedule hair and makeup trials about 2–3 months before the wedding, ideally after choosing your outfits, so you can test the look and adjust it in good time.

**Why it matters:** A trial lets you see how a look feels, photographs and lasts before the day itself. It is also a chance to agree timings with your stylist, so your getting-ready schedule is realistic. Booking now leaves space for a second trial if the first doesn’t feel quite right.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Book trial dates with your stylist or artist.
- [ ] Gather reference photos and mention skin sensitivities.
- [ ] Wear a similar neckline and bring your accessories.
- [ ] Photograph the result in different lighting.
- [ ] Wear the look for a few hours if you can.
- [ ] Confirm time needed per person on the wedding morning.
- [ ] Note the touch-up products you’ll need on the day.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long will each person take on the morning?”
- “What do you need from us at the venue, such as light or power?”

**Tips:**
- Book your trial on a day with plans afterward to see how the look lasts.

**Optional:** If you’re doing your own hair and makeup, a relaxed practice run at home works just as well.

**Best done after:** Book hair and makeup

### Decide on wedding favors

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#decide-on-favors

Decide whether you want wedding favors about three months ahead. Many couples skip them entirely; if you do give favors, choose something guests will genuinely use or enjoy.

**Why it matters:** Favors are a small tradition, not a requirement. Deciding early saves you from buying something in a rush that guests leave behind. If you do want them, this leaves time to order, personalize and assemble them, or to choose an alternative such as a donation or late-night treat.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether favors matter to either of you.
- [ ] If yes, set a small per-guest budget.
- [ ] Choose something edible, useful or meaningful.
- [ ] Check ingredients for allergies if favors are edible.
- [ ] Order one each plus spares, early if personalizing.
- [ ] Allow time to assemble them.
- [ ] Plan how they’re displayed and who sets them out.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would our guests actually take this home?”

**Optional:** “Not for us” is a great answer – guests rarely notice when favors aren’t there.

### Choose a guest book or keepsake

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#choose-guest-book

If you’d like a keepsake of guests’ messages, choose a guest book or alternative about 3 months ahead and decide who looks after it on the day.

**Why it matters:** A guest book gives you something personal to look back on, often long after the details of the day blur. There are many formats, from a classic book to recorded audio messages or instant photos, and some need ordering, setup or equipment. Choosing now leaves time for delivery and personalization, and deciding who looks after it means it actually gets used and makes it home safely.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide what kind of keepsake you’d like.
- [ ] Order it with time for delivery or personalization.
- [ ] Pick a table or stand near the entrance or bar.
- [ ] Add pens that suit the surface and a short sign.
- [ ] Charge or test any equipment it needs.
- [ ] Ask someone to invite guests to sign and take it home.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Where will guests naturally pause long enough to sign?”
- “Who will bring it home after the celebration?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to assign someone to bring the guest book home, and it gets left on the table.
- Options include a classic book, message cards in a box, an audio guest book, an instant-photo album or a signature item such as a print, a globe or a board game.
- Try the pens on the actual surface; some smudge on glossy pages.
- A short prompt, such as your favorite memory with us, helps guests write more than their names.

**Optional:** A guest book is entirely optional; if it isn’t your thing, your photos and cards are keepsake enough.

### Write your vows

- When: Up to 5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/write-vows

Start writing your wedding vows about 2–3 months before the wedding, after checking what your officiant allows, so you have time to draft, rest and revise without pressure.

**Why it matters:** Personal vows are easier to write when there is no deadline breathing down your neck. Starting early gives you room to draft, set it aside, and come back with fresh eyes. It also lets you check with your officiant whether personal vows are allowed, how long they can be, and what legal wording must be included.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your officiant what’s allowed or must be included.
- [ ] Agree a rough length and tone with your partner.
- [ ] Jot down memories, promises and phrases.
- [ ] Write a first draft and set it aside.
- [ ] Revise, then read it aloud and time it.
- [ ] Write a clean, readable copy for the ceremony.
- [ ] Decide who holds the vows until you need them.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do we want to share our vows with each other beforehand?”
- “Are there words we must include for the ceremony to be legal?”

**Tips:**
- Write for your partner, not the audience.
- Print the vows in a large font or copy them into a small booklet.

**Optional:** Traditional or officiant-led vows are just as meaningful, so personal vows are completely optional.

### Decide who will give speeches

- When: 1–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Reception
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/plan-speeches

Decide who will give wedding speeches about three months ahead, and let each speaker know their slot, order and a suggested length of a few minutes.

**Why it matters:** Speakers appreciate time to prepare, and a clear plan keeps speeches warm rather than long. Deciding now avoids surprises on the day, helps your caterer time food service around them, and lets you gently set expectations about length and tone before anyone starts writing.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide how many speeches feel right.
- [ ] Choose speakers and ask them personally.
- [ ] Suggest a length and give a gentle time limit.
- [ ] Agree the speech order and timing around the meal.
- [ ] Confirm who introduces each speaker.
- [ ] Check microphone arrangements with the venue or DJ.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would you feel comfortable giving a short speech?”
- “Do we want to say a few words ourselves?”

**Tips:**
- Three to five minutes per speech is a comfortable guide for most speakers.

**Optional:** If speeches aren’t your style, a single short toast or none at all is perfectly fine.

### Buy shoes and accessories

- When: 2–5 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#buy-shoes-accessories

Buy wedding shoes and accessories about three months before the wedding, so you can bring them to your first fitting and your outfit is altered to the right length.

**Why it matters:** Hem lengths and trouser breaks are set with your shoes on, so fittings go much more smoothly when you already have them. Buying accessories now also gives you time to see everything together, return anything that doesn’t work, and break in your shoes before the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List what you need, like jewelry, ties or cufflinks.
- [ ] Consider a veil or headpiece and an evening wrap.
- [ ] Check fitting dates with your tailor or boutique.
- [ ] Buy shoes you can comfortably stand in for hours.
- [ ] Choose undergarments that suit your outfit.
- [ ] Keep receipts until everything is confirmed.
- [ ] Bring everything to your first fitting.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What will we need for the fittings?”
- “Is the venue surface grass, gravel or stone?”

**Tips:**
- Consider a comfortable second pair of shoes for dancing.

### Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties

- When: 1–6 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Wedding Party
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/3-to-6-months#plan-pre-wedding-parties

Plan bachelor and bachelorette parties about 2–3 months ahead, scheduled at least a few weeks before the wedding so everyone has time to rest and recover.

**Why it matters:** Pre-wedding parties are a chance to celebrate with friends before the busiest weeks. Planning with enough notice helps guests budget and book time off, especially for trips. Holding them well before the wedding keeps the final weeks free for last details and leaves a buffer for tiredness or minor mishaps.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Share what kind of celebration you would enjoy.
- [ ] Agree who is organizing and who is invited.
- [ ] Pick a date at least a few weeks before the wedding.
- [ ] Keep costs, including travel and stays, comfortable.
- [ ] Share plans early so guests can budget and book.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What would a great celebration look like for you?”
- “Is the cost realistic for everyone invited?”

**Optional:** A relaxed dinner, a joint party or no party at all are all great choices.

### Agree on a wet-weather plan

- When: 2–6 months before (3–6 Months Before)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/agree-weather-plan

Agree on a wet-weather plan about three months ahead, confirming an indoor or covered backup, any tent or heating costs, and how guests will stay comfortable in rain, wind or heat.

**Why it matters:** Weather is the one thing nobody can book. A clear backup means a rainy forecast becomes a change of room rather than a crisis. Planning now gives you time to reserve tents or covered space, check costs and deadlines with the venue, and think about umbrellas, shade and heating before suppliers are fully booked.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the venue about indoor or covered backup space.
- [ ] Check tent booking, cancellation terms and deadlines.
- [ ] Arrange heating, fans or shade as needed.
- [ ] Plan umbrellas, blankets, flooring and covered paths.
- [ ] Map every outdoor moment and pick backup photo spots.
- [ ] Share the backup with your vendors.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How many guests does the backup space hold comfortably?”
- “When do we need to confirm a tent?”
- “Is there extra cost for switching spaces?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often plan a rain option for the ceremony but forget drinks, photos and walkways between spaces.
- Visit or view photos of the backup space set up, not empty.
- Suggest suitable footwear to guests if the ground may be grass or mud.

## 1–3 Months Before

One to three months before your wedding, [send your invitations](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-invitations) about 6–8 weeks out, or 8–12 weeks for destination weddings, then track RSVPs and kindly follow up on missing ones after your deadline, about 3–4 weeks before. Start [the seating plan](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-seating-plan) as replies come in. Apply for your marriage license when your local authority allows, attend fittings, finalize ceremony details, build your wedding-day timeline, set up guest photo sharing and list every final payment.

### Send your wedding invitations

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Invitations & Stationery
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-invitations

Send wedding invitations about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, or 8–12 weeks ahead for destination weddings or when many guests travel, with an RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before the day.

**Why it matters:** Your invitations start the countdown for everything that depends on numbers: the caterer’s final count, the seating plan, place cards, transport and rentals. Sending them with enough lead time gives guests room to arrange travel, time off and childcare, and gives you a calm window to chase missing replies before your vendors need final figures.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm your final guest list and every address.
- [ ] Mark who is invited, including plus-ones and children.
- [ ] Set an RSVP deadline and method with time to follow up.
- [ ] Proofread names, date, times, venue and website link.
- [ ] Weigh a finished invitation and buy the right postage.
- [ ] Order extras for late additions and keepsakes.
- [ ] Send everything in one batch and log the date.
- [ ] Start tracking RSVPs as they arrive.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When do our caterer and venue need the final guest count?”
- “Does everyone on the list have a current address?”
- “How will older guests prefer to reply?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often set the RSVP deadline too close to the caterer’s final-count date, leaving no time to chase missing replies.
- Mail one invitation to yourselves first to check how it arrives.
- Address envelopes to exactly the people invited to avoid plus-one confusion.

**Best done after:** Design and order your invitations; Draft your guest list in three tiers

### Track RSVPs as they arrive

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#track-rsvps

Track wedding RSVPs in one list as they arrive, recording attendance, meal choices, dietary needs and access requirements, so final numbers are ready when vendors need them.

**Why it matters:** Replies arrive in different ways and at different times, and details are easily lost if they live in several places. Keeping one up-to-date list makes it simple to see who has replied, send accurate numbers to your caterer, and build the seating plan without chasing the same information twice.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Set up one list for every invited guest.
- [ ] Log each reply and plus-one on the day it arrives.
- [ ] Note meal choices and dietary needs.
- [ ] Capture access needs and children attending.
- [ ] Track which other events each guest will attend.
- [ ] Note any accommodation or transport needs.
- [ ] Keep a running total of yes, no and waiting.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who will update the list when family members pass on replies?”

**Tips:**
- Log phone or in-person replies straight away, before they’re forgotten.

**Best done after:** Send your wedding invitations

### Follow up on missing RSVPs

- When: 3–5 weeks before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#chase-missing-rsvps

Follow up kindly with guests who haven’t replied soon after your RSVP deadline, usually about 3–4 weeks before the wedding, so you can confirm final numbers and finish the seating plan on time.

**Why it matters:** Missing replies are normal. Invitations get lost, messages get buried and people simply forget. A friendly nudge shortly after the deadline gives you the numbers your caterer needs and lets you finish the seating plan, without either side feeling awkward.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List everyone who hasn’t replied.
- [ ] Split the list between the two of you and family.
- [ ] Check you have up-to-date contact details.
- [ ] Send a short, friendly message or call.
- [ ] Give a clear date for a final answer.
- [ ] Update your RSVP list straight away.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Could a family member reach this guest more easily?”

**Tips:**
- Try: “We’re finalizing numbers this week – will you be able to join us?”

**Best done after:** Track RSVPs as they arrive

### Create your seating plan

- When: 2–6 weeks before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Seating
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-seating-plan

Create your wedding seating plan once most RSVPs are in, usually 3–5 weeks before the wedding, grouping guests thoughtfully and allowing for access needs and family dynamics.

**Why it matters:** A good seating plan helps guests relax, keeps conversations flowing and makes meal service smoother. Starting once most replies are in means fewer rewrites, and finishing a few weeks out leaves time for place cards, the seating chart and the caterer’s table list.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Get the venue floor plan, table sizes and table count.
- [ ] Group guests into natural circles.
- [ ] Place close family and key people first.
- [ ] Seat guests with access needs near exits or restrooms.
- [ ] Plan children’s seating and mind loudspeaker placement.
- [ ] Fill the rest, seating newcomers near friendly faces.
- [ ] Send the plan and dietary notes to venue and caterer.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are there any family relationships we need to handle carefully?”
- “Does the caterer need meal choices by table?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often seat older guests right beside the speakers or dance floor.
- Work in pencil or a digital tool, since changes are inevitable.

**Best done after:** Follow up on missing RSVPs

### Apply for your marriage license

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/apply-marriage-license

When to apply for your marriage license depends on where you marry. Check the official authority for the application window, any waiting period and the expiry date, then apply within that window.

**Why it matters:** Your marriage license, or equivalent legal notice, is what makes the marriage legally valid. Many places have a waiting period before it can be used and an expiry date after which it lapses, so applying too early or too late can both cause problems. Getting this done in the right window removes one of the few genuinely fixed deadlines in wedding planning.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check the official authority where you legally marry.
- [ ] Note the application window, waiting period and expiry.
- [ ] Book an appointment if one is required.
- [ ] Gather ID and any documents from previous marriages.
- [ ] Check any witness requirements.
- [ ] Apply together, if required, and pay any fee.
- [ ] Keep the license safe and agree who returns it.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long is the license valid after it is issued?”
- “Do we both need to attend in person?”
- “Who is responsible for returning or registering the signed license?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check who submits the signed license after the ceremony, and by when.
- Put the expiry date in both your calendars.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Research marriage license requirements

### Confirm your officiant can legally marry you

- When: 2–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#confirm-officiant-authority

About 2–3 months before the wedding, check with the official authority where you’re marrying that your officiant is authorized there, and what they must sign and submit afterward.

**Why it matters:** In many places, only certain people can make a marriage legally valid, and the rules depend on where the ceremony happens, not where you or your officiant live. A friend or relative may need to register, apply or be appointed before the date, sometimes with a deadline. Checking now leaves time to complete any steps, and makes sure everyone knows who signs and submits the paperwork afterward.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the official authority who can legally officiate.
- [ ] Ask your officiant what authorization they hold.
- [ ] Note any registration steps and their deadlines.
- [ ] Keep a copy of any proof of authorization.
- [ ] Confirm required wording and any witness rules.
- [ ] Agree who submits the signed paperwork and by when.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does our officiant need to register before the ceremony here?”
- “What must be said or signed for the marriage to be legal?”
- “Who returns the signed license, and within what time?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check the rules where the ceremony takes place, which may differ from where the officiant lives or was ordained.
- If rules make it hard for a friend to officiate, some couples complete the legal step separately and let their friend lead the ceremony.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Book your officiant

### Attend your outfit fittings

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#attend-fittings

Attend your wedding outfit fittings starting about 2–3 months before the wedding, bringing your shoes, undergarments and accessories so alterations match exactly what you’ll wear.

**Why it matters:** Alterations usually take more than one appointment, and each round needs time for the work to be done. Starting around two to three months out leaves room for adjustments without rushing. Bringing your actual shoes and accessories means hems, sleeves and fit are set for the real outfit, not an approximation.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Book fitting dates with your tailor or boutique.
- [ ] Bring shoes, undergarments, accessories and any veil.
- [ ] Move, sit and raise your arms to test the fit.
- [ ] Learn how to bustle or handle any train.
- [ ] Note every change agreed at each appointment.
- [ ] Confirm the final fitting and collection dates.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How many fittings do you usually recommend?”
- “Who can learn how to help with the bustle or fastenings?”

**Tips:**
- Bring someone who will help you dress on the day, so they learn how it works.
- Break in your shoes between fittings with short spells at home, wearing the socks or hosiery you’ll wear on the day; add grips or cushions if they slip or rub.

**Best done after:** Order your wedding outfits

### Finalize ceremony details

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#finalize-ceremony-details

Finalize your ceremony details about 6–8 weeks before the wedding with your officiant: readings, participants, music cues, processional order, microphones and any legally required wording.

**Why it matters:** The ceremony is the heart of the day, and it relies on several people knowing exactly what happens when. Confirming the running order now gives readers time to prepare, lets musicians match cues, and ensures the legal parts are in place. It also makes your rehearsal quicker and calmer.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm running order and length with your officiant.
- [ ] Finalize vows, readings and who will read them.
- [ ] Set the processional order and any reserved seating.
- [ ] Match music cues to each moment, recessional included.
- [ ] Check microphones and sound for speakers.
- [ ] Confirm legal wording, witnesses and signing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anything that must be said for the marriage to be legal?”
- “Who holds the rings until they’re needed?”

**Tips:**
- Send readers their text now so they can practice.

**Best done after:** Plan the ceremony structure

### Create your wedding-day timeline

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-day-timeline

Create your wedding-day timeline about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, building it around fixed moments like the ceremony, meal service and venue close, then adding buffer time.

**Why it matters:** A clear timeline keeps vendors, family and the wedding party in sync without anyone needing to ask you. Drafting it now gives vendors time to review and flag issues, and it reveals gaps such as too little time for photos or travel while there is still room to adjust.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List fixed times: venue access, ceremony and closing.
- [ ] Work backward for getting ready, travel and pickups.
- [ ] Schedule photos, checking sunset for outdoor shots.
- [ ] Add guest arrival, dinner, speeches and music end time.
- [ ] Build in buffer time between big activities.
- [ ] Share the draft with key vendors for feedback.
- [ ] Note who is responsible for each moment.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How much time does our photographer need for family photos?”
- “When must vendors be packed up and gone?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to schedule time for themselves to eat and simply be together.
- Add 10–15 minutes of buffer around anything involving travel or large groups.

### Set up guest photo sharing

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#set-up-photo-sharing

Set up your guest photo-sharing method about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, test it on several phones, and add the link or QR code to your website and signs.

**Why it matters:** Setting things up early gives you time to test, fix problems and include the details in printed signs and pre-wedding messages. A quick test on different phones, including older ones, catches issues before guests find them, and checking the venue’s signal tells you whether uploads will work on the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Create your album or upload page and set privacy.
- [ ] Test photo and video uploads, including an older phone.
- [ ] Check the venue’s mobile signal or Wi-Fi.
- [ ] Download print-quality QR codes if using them.
- [ ] Add the link and upload end date to your website.
- [ ] Add instructions to your signs or stationery.
- [ ] Ask someone to remind guests on the day.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can guests keep uploading after the wedding?”
- “Who will mention it during the reception?”

**Tips:**
- Ask a less tech-savvy friend to test it and watch where they get stuck.

**Best done after:** Decide how guests will share photos

### List every final payment

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#list-final-payments

List every final wedding payment about two months ahead, including vendor, amount, due date, payment method, who pays and whether gratuity is already included.

**Why it matters:** Final balances often fall due in the last few weeks, when you have the least attention to spare. One clear list prevents missed or doubled payments, shows your true remaining costs and makes it easy to hand payments to someone else on the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Gather every contract and invoice.
- [ ] List each vendor with the balance and due date.
- [ ] Add the payment method and who is paying each balance.
- [ ] Check whether service charges or tips are included.
- [ ] Mark each payment once you receive confirmation.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is a service charge already included in your quote?”
- “Do you accept payment on the day, or only beforehand?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget overtime charges and deposit refunds when tallying final costs.
- Tipping customs vary widely, so check what is usual where you’re marrying.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Share a must-have photo list

- When: Up to 3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#share-shot-list

Share a short must-have photo list with your photographer about 4–8 weeks before the wedding, focusing on family groupings and key people they might not recognize.

**Why it matters:** Photographers are experts at capturing the day, but they don’t know your family. A focused list of groupings and important people makes family photos quicker and ensures no one who matters is missed. Keeping it short leaves your photographer free to capture the moments you didn’t think to ask for.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List essential family and friend groupings.
- [ ] Note key guests the photographer should look out for.
- [ ] Mention family sensitivities, like separated parents.
- [ ] Add detail shots, such as heirlooms or décor.
- [ ] Ask a relative to help gather people for group photos.
- [ ] Send the list and discuss timing.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How long will our family photos take?”
- “Where will group photos happen if it rains?”

**Tips:**
- Order group photos from largest to smallest so people can leave as they finish.

**Best done after:** Book your wedding photographer

### Arrange vendor meals

- When: 1–3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#arrange-vendor-meals

Arrange meals for vendors working through the wedding about 4–8 weeks ahead, checking contracts for meal requirements and including them in your caterer’s final numbers.

**Why it matters:** Photographers, musicians and coordinators often work long days with little chance to eat. Planning their meals keeps them energized and focused. Some contracts require a meal, so arranging this now avoids surprises and makes sure the caterer includes them in counts and timings.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every vendor working through a meal.
- [ ] Check each contract for meal requirements.
- [ ] Ask your caterer about vendor meals and dietary needs.
- [ ] Add vendor meals to your final numbers.
- [ ] Agree where and when vendors will eat.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Do any of our vendors need dietary alternatives?”
- “Can vendors eat at the same time as guests?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Some vendor contracts require a meal, and it is easy to miss until the day.
- Serve photographers when guests start eating, so they’re ready for speeches.

### Prepare welcome bags or notes

- When: Up to 3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#prepare-welcome-bags

Prepare welcome bags or notes about 4–8 weeks ahead if you’d like to greet traveling guests, with useful items like water, snacks, a local map and the weekend schedule.

**Why it matters:** A small welcome is especially thoughtful for guests who have traveled, and it’s a practical way to share key times and contacts. Preparing early lets you order items, assemble bags calmly and arrange delivery with the hotel, which may have its own rules or fees for handing them out.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether welcome bags suit you, and who gets one.
- [ ] Set a simple per-bag budget.
- [ ] Add water, snacks and a short welcome note.
- [ ] Include the schedule, key contacts and local tips.
- [ ] Check hotel delivery rules and fees.
- [ ] Assemble bags and label them by name.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Will the hotel hand these out at check-in?”

**Optional:** Welcome bags are a nice extra, especially for destination weddings, but a friendly message with the schedule does the same job.

### Buy gifts for your wedding party and parents

- When: Up to 3 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Wedding Party
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#buy-thank-you-gifts

Buy thank-you gifts for your wedding party, parents and key helpers about 4–8 weeks ahead, leaving time for personalization and deciding when you’ll give them.

**Why it matters:** A small, thoughtful gift is a lovely way to thank the people who have supported you. Buying now avoids a last-minute rush and gives time for engraving or personalization. It also lets you decide whether to give gifts privately before the wedding or during the celebration.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List everyone to thank, including parents and helpers.
- [ ] Set a budget that feels comfortable.
- [ ] Choose gifts that suit each person.
- [ ] Order early if personalizing.
- [ ] Handwrite a short note for each gift.
- [ ] Decide when and how you’ll give them.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anyone who helped behind the scenes we should include?”

**Optional:** A heartfelt note can mean just as much as a gift, so choose what feels right for you.

### Set the exact weather decision point

- When: Up to 2 months before (1–3 Months Before)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#set-weather-decision-time

Agree who will make the final weather call and by when, often the day before or morning of the wedding, so vendors know when your backup plan becomes the plan.

**Why it matters:** A backup plan only works if someone decides to use it in time. Setting the decision point now, and agreeing who makes the call, avoids anxious debate on the day. Vendors can prepare for both options, and you can hand the decision to someone you trust.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the venue and tent company for setup deadlines.
- [ ] Agree the exact time the call will be made.
- [ ] Choose who makes the decision.
- [ ] Decide what conditions trigger the backup.
- [ ] Tell vendors how they will hear the decision.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What is the latest you can switch the setup?”
- “Who will tell everyone once the call is made?”

**Tips:**
- Let your coordinator or day-of contact make the call so you can relax.

**Best done after:** Agree on a wet-weather plan

## 1 Month Before

One month before your wedding, confirm your final guest count and send final numbers to your caterer and other vendors. Do a venue walkthrough, confirm vendor arrival and access times, and finalize the layout and [seating plan](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-seating-plan). [Assign wedding-day responsibilities](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/assign-responsibilities), choose a point of contact who isn’t you, decide who looks after gifts and cards, and check mobile signal at the venue.

### Confirm your final guest count

- When: 2–4 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Guest List
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#confirm-final-guest-count

Confirm your final guest count about 3 weeks before the wedding, once your RSVP deadline has passed, so your caterer, venue and rental suppliers can plan accurately.

**Why it matters:** Most catering and venue contracts ask for final numbers by a set date, and that number is often what you pay for, even if fewer people come. An accurate count also shapes table numbers, rental quantities, favors and the seating plan. Settling it now, rather than letting it drift, means every supplier works from the same figure and you avoid paying for empty seats or running short on meals.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check each contract’s final-numbers deadline.
- [ ] Make a final attempt to reach anyone still undecided.
- [ ] Count adults, children and vendor meals separately.
- [ ] Confirm every plus-one by name.
- [ ] Note meal choices, dietary and access needs.
- [ ] Agree the final number and record it in one place.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can we still add a guest or two after we send final numbers?”
- “Do we pay for the guaranteed number even if fewer people come?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Vendors who need a meal, such as your photographer or band, are often left out of the catering count.
- Keep a short list of late changes rather than editing the main count repeatedly.
- Count children separately; many menus and venues price them differently.

**Best done after:** Follow up on missing RSVPs

### Send final numbers to vendors

- When: 1–3 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#send-final-numbers

Send your final guest numbers, meal choices and dietary needs to your caterer, venue and rental suppliers by their contract deadlines, usually 1–3 weeks before the wedding.

**Why it matters:** Caterers order food, venues arrange staffing and rental companies prepare stock based on these numbers. Missing a deadline can mean you’re charged for an earlier estimate or that a supplier can’t accommodate changes. Sending clear, written numbers to everyone at once keeps the kitchen, the floor staff and the rental team aligned, and gives you a record if anything is questioned later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List each supplier that needs numbers, with deadlines.
- [ ] Send the count in writing: adults, children, vendors.
- [ ] Add meal choices and allergies by name or table.
- [ ] Match bar and cake or dessert portions to the count.
- [ ] Confirm venue staffing and rental quantities.
- [ ] Ask each to confirm receipt and update the invoice.
- [ ] Save the confirmations with your contracts.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is this number final, or can we adjust it later?”
- “How will allergies be labeled or served on the day?”
- “Does this change the final balance we owe?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Cake and dessert suppliers often need the final number too, not only the main caterer.
- Use one message template so every supplier gets the same information.
- Mark severe allergies clearly and separately from preferences.

**Best done after:** Confirm your final guest count

### Do a final venue walkthrough

- When: 2–6 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Venue & Date
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#do-venue-walkthrough

Do a final walkthrough of your venue with your coordinator about a month before the wedding to check layout, power, access, storage and timings.

**Why it matters:** A walkthrough turns a floor plan into something real. You’ll spot where the photo booth needs power, where guests will queue, whether the ceremony area gets harsh sun at that time of day and where deliveries will arrive. It’s also a chance to meet the person who will run the venue on the day and agree who does what, so small questions don’t reach you during the wedding.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Book the walkthrough with the venue and coordinator.
- [ ] Visit at the same time of day as your wedding.
- [ ] Walk the guest route, checking step-free access.
- [ ] Check power, lighting and getting-ready rooms.
- [ ] Find storage and see the wet-weather space.
- [ ] Confirm parking, drop-off and vendor load-in.
- [ ] Ask about noise limits and curfew times.
- [ ] Take photos and notes to share with your vendors.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who will be our contact on the day, and how do we reach them?”
- “Where can we store décor, gifts and personal items?”
- “Can our vendors plug in here, and is there enough power?”
- “What time do we need to be completely out?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to check where the wet-weather option actually is and how guests would get there.
- Bring your seating plan and timeline so you can check them against the space.
- Share your walkthrough photos with the florist, band and photographer.

### Confirm vendor arrival and access times

- When: 2–5 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#confirm-vendor-access

Confirm when each vendor can access the venue, where they load in and park, and the setup and cleanup windows, about a month before the wedding.

**Why it matters:** Venues often have fixed access times, and several vendors may need the same loading bay or service lift. If the florist, caterer and band all arrive at once, setup runs late and the photographer may catch an unfinished room. Agreeing arrival slots and pack-down times now prevents clashes, overtime charges and early-morning surprises for whoever is in charge on the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the venue for its earliest and latest access times.
- [ ] Collect each vendor’s preferred arrival and setup time.
- [ ] Stagger arrivals so vendors aren’t competing for space.
- [ ] Share loading, parking and step-free routes.
- [ ] Agree cleanup times and what can stay overnight.
- [ ] Add all arrival and departure times to your timeline.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What time can vendors start setting up?”
- “Are there any charges if vendors stay past the agreed time?”
- “Can rentals be collected the next morning instead of that night?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Late-night collection of rentals is easy to miss, and someone may need to stay behind to let the supplier in.

### Finalize the ceremony and reception layout

- When: 2–5 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Reception
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#finalize-layout

Finalize your ceremony and reception floor plans about 2–4 weeks before the wedding, after your seating plan is drafted, so the venue and rental suppliers can set up correctly.

**Why it matters:** A clear floor plan tells the venue team exactly where tables, the dance floor, the bar, the band and the gift table go. It helps guests move easily, keeps walkways clear for anyone using a wheelchair or stroller, and means your photographer knows where the key moments will happen. Without one, setup crews make their best guess, which may not match what you pictured.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Sketch ceremony seating, the aisle and officiant spot.
- [ ] Mark reserved seats for family near the front.
- [ ] Place reception tables to match your seating plan.
- [ ] Place the dance floor, bar, food and cake table.
- [ ] Position the band or DJ near a power supply.
- [ ] Add the gift table, guest book and photo-sharing sign.
- [ ] Keep exits and walkways clear and wheelchair-wide.
- [ ] Send the plan to the venue, planner and rentals.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does this layout fit safely within the room’s capacity?”
- “Who will move ceremony seating if the room is flipped?”

**Tips:**
- Keep older guests and anyone with hearing needs away from the speakers.

**Best done after:** Create your seating plan

### Print place cards and the seating chart

- When: 1–4 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Seating
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#print-seating-cards

Print place cards and your seating chart about 2–3 weeks before the wedding, once your seating plan is settled, leaving time to proofread names and fix late changes.

**Why it matters:** A clear seating chart helps guests find their seats quickly and gets dinner started on time. Place cards can also show meal choices so servers know who ordered what. Printing too early means reprinting when RSVPs shift; printing too late leaves no time to spot a misspelled name. A few weeks out is usually the sweet spot.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Export your final seating plan.
- [ ] Choose one large chart, table cards or escort cards.
- [ ] Add meal-choice markers if servers need them.
- [ ] Ask someone else to proofread every name.
- [ ] Match table numbers to the layout.
- [ ] Order or print with a few spare blank cards.
- [ ] Arrange an easel or stand for the chart.
- [ ] Decide who will set out the cards on the day.

**Tips:**
- Sort cards alphabetically or by table in labeled envelopes for whoever sets them out.
- Bring a pen that writes on the card stock for last-minute changes.

**Optional:** If your wedding is small or you’d rather have open seating, it’s completely fine to skip printed cards.

**Best done after:** Create your seating plan

### Approve signs and printed materials

- When: 2–5 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Invitations & Stationery
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#approve-printed-materials

Approve the final proofs for signs, menus, programs and table numbers about 3–4 weeks before the wedding, checking every name, date and time carefully.

**Why it matters:** Printed pieces are easy to overlook until they’re on an easel with a typo. Approving proofs now gives printers time to produce and deliver them, and gives you time to fix mistakes. Checking names is especially important, because a misspelled name on a welcome sign or program is the kind of detail people remember.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every printed item and who is producing it.
- [ ] Include signs, photo-sharing signs and table numbers.
- [ ] Check menus and allergy labels against the final menu.
- [ ] Check programs against your timeline and guest list.
- [ ] Have someone who hasn’t seen them proofread every name.
- [ ] Confirm sizes, quantities and delivery dates.
- [ ] Approve in writing and save the final files.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When will these be delivered, and to which address?”
- “Can we get a reprint quickly if something changes?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Stands, easels and frames for signs are often forgotten until the day before.
- Read proofs aloud; it’s easier to catch mistakes that way.

### Test your printed QR codes

- When: 1–4 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#test-qr-codes

Test every printed QR code on several different phones about 2–3 weeks before the wedding, so guests can open your photo-sharing page or website without trouble.

**Why it matters:** A QR code that looked fine on screen can fail once printed small, on glossy paper or in dim lighting. Testing on a few phones, including older ones, shows whether the code scans quickly and opens the right page. Catching a broken link now is simple; discovering it when guests are standing at the sign is not.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Scan each code on iPhone, Android and an older phone.
- [ ] Test in low light similar to your reception.
- [ ] Check each code opens the correct page without a login.
- [ ] Try a photo upload over mobile data.
- [ ] Print a short web address under the code as a backup.
- [ ] Ask someone to set out the signs on the day.
- [ ] Ask your host or DJ to mention the photo link once.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often test only on their own phone, which may already be logged in to the service.
- Print codes at a generous size and avoid placing them on busy backgrounds.
- Ask a less tech-confident friend to try it; if they can, most guests can.

**Best done after:** Set up guest photo sharing

### Assign wedding-day responsibilities

- When: 1–6 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/assign-responsibilities

Assign wedding-day responsibilities about a month before the wedding, naming one trusted person for the rings, documents, gifts, vendor questions, rentals and end-of-night tasks.

**Why it matters:** On the day, dozens of small jobs need an owner: holding the rings, keeping cards safe, answering vendors, moving flowers from the ceremony to the reception. If nobody is named, those jobs fall back to the two of you. Assigning them now lets helpers prepare, and it means you can be present at your own wedding rather than managing it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every job that needs an owner, day and after.
- [ ] Cover rings, documents, gifts, cards and vendors.
- [ ] Add décor moves, rental returns and photo signs.
- [ ] Include leftovers, phones and a final room check.
- [ ] Ask one reliable person per job, with room to say no.
- [ ] Write the list with names, times and contact details.
- [ ] Share it with helpers, coordinator and key vendors.
- [ ] Name a backup for the most important jobs.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would you be comfortable looking after the rings for us?”
- “Can you stay a little later to help pack up?”
- “Will you have a car to take décor home at the end?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: End-of-night jobs, like collecting décor and checking the getting-ready room, are the ones most often left without an owner.
- Give each helper one clear job rather than a long list.
- Choose people who aren’t already giving a speech or performing.

### Decide who looks after gifts and cards

- When: 1–5 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#plan-gift-security

Decide who will look after gifts and cards at your wedding about a month ahead, and plan a lockable box, a supervised spot and a safe way to take them home.

**Why it matters:** Cards often contain cash or checks, and a gift table is usually left unattended while everyone is dancing. Choosing a trusted person, a secure container and a clear plan for the end of the night protects generous gifts and saves you from worrying about them. It’s one of the most commonly missed details, and one of the easiest to fix.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose a trusted person and a backup for gifts.
- [ ] Get a card box that closes or locks.
- [ ] Agree a supervised spot for the gift table.
- [ ] Decide when cards move somewhere secure.
- [ ] Plan whose car takes everything home at the end.
- [ ] Choose a secure place to keep gifts overnight.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does the venue have a lockable room or safe we can use?”
- “Would you be comfortable keeping the card box with you all evening?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Many couples plan the card box but not who carries it home at the end of the night.
- Add a small sign on the card box if you’d like guests to write their name on envelopes.

### Prepare your own thank-you words

- When: Up to 6 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Reception
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#prepare-thank-you-speech

Prepare a short thank-you, usually 2–4 minutes, a few weeks before the wedding if the two of you plan to speak, covering guests, family and anyone who helped.

**Why it matters:** A few sincere words from the two of you often become a favorite moment for guests. Preparing them ahead means you won’t forget someone important, and you can keep it brief and relaxed rather than improvising after a long day. Short notes on a card are usually enough; nobody expects a polished performance.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide whether one, both or neither of you will speak.
- [ ] List who to thank: family, wedding party, helpers.
- [ ] Decide how to remember anyone who can’t be there.
- [ ] Write a short opening, the thank-yous and a warm close.
- [ ] Read it aloud and trim it to a few minutes.
- [ ] Put notes on a card and give it to someone to hold.

**Tips:**
- Keep a printed copy with someone in case your phone is elsewhere.

**Optional:** If speaking isn’t for you, a toast from someone else or a written note on the tables works just as well.

### Confirm guest accommodation details

- When: 2–6 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Accommodation & Travel
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#confirm-guest-accommodation

Confirm guest accommodation about a month before the wedding by checking room-block bookings, release dates and any shuttle or check-in arrangements with the hotel.

**Why it matters:** Room blocks often have a release date, after which unbooked rooms go back on general sale, and some contracts charge for rooms that aren’t filled. Checking now lets you remind guests who haven’t booked, release rooms you don’t need and make sure the hotel knows about late check-ins, welcome bags or shuttle times.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the hotel how many block rooms are booked.
- [ ] Check the release date and attrition terms.
- [ ] Remind guests who still need to book.
- [ ] Confirm accessible rooms for guests who need them.
- [ ] Tell the hotel shuttle times and late check-ins.
- [ ] Arrange where welcome bags will be left, if any.

**Helpful questions:**
- “How many rooms in our block are still unbooked?”
- “Will we be charged for any rooms that aren’t filled?”
- “Can you hold welcome bags at the front desk for our guests?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to tell the hotel about shuttle times so the front desk can direct guests.

### Choose your wedding-day point of contact

- When: Up to 2 months before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#choose-day-of-contact

Choose one wedding-day point of contact, a planner, coordinator or trusted friend who isn’t either of you, about a month before the wedding, and share their details with every vendor.

**Why it matters:** On the day, vendors and guests will have questions: where to unload, whether to start dinner, what to do about the rain. If your number is the one on every contract, those calls come to you. A single named contact, who knows the plan and can make small decisions, keeps things moving and lets the two of you step back.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose someone organized who’s there from setup to end.
- [ ] Confirm whether your planner will take this role.
- [ ] Walk them through the timeline, vendors and payments.
- [ ] Agree which decisions they can make without asking you.
- [ ] Share their name and number with every vendor.
- [ ] Ask them to keep their phone charged and on loud.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Would you be willing to be the main contact for our vendors on the day?”
- “Are you comfortable making small decisions without checking with us?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to replace their own phone number with the day-of contact’s on vendor paperwork.
- It shouldn’t be either of you, or anyone with a big role in the ceremony.
- Give them a printed copy of the timeline and contact list.

### Check mobile signal and Wi-Fi at the venue

- When: 1–6 weeks before (1 Month Before)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#check-mobile-signal

Check mobile signal and Wi-Fi in every part of your venue about a month before the wedding, since weak coverage affects vendor payments, guest photo uploads and coordination.

**Why it matters:** Rural venues, stone buildings and basements can have very little signal. That matters more than it seems: card readers may fail, guests may struggle to upload photos, and your coordinator may not be reachable. Knowing in advance lets you ask for a guest Wi-Fi network, choose a meeting point instead of relying on calls, or tell guests that uploads may work better later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Test calls and data in every space and network.
- [ ] Ask the venue for the guest Wi-Fi name and password.
- [ ] Test photo upload speed from the reception area.
- [ ] Check coverage where vendors take card payments.
- [ ] Agree on a backup way to reach your coordinator.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there Wi-Fi guests can use, and can we display the password?”
- “Where in the venue is signal strongest?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often test signal only in the parking lot, not inside the rooms where guests will be.
- If signal is weak, let guests know they can upload photos after the wedding.

## 2 Weeks Before

Two weeks before your wedding, reconfirm every vendor’s time, address and contact person, and send them [the final timeline](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-day-timeline). Prepare final payments and any tips in labeled envelopes, attend your final fitting 1–2 weeks out and [review your backup plans](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/backup-plans). Confirm rental and décor deliveries, send music requests, share final details with guests and start packing for the wedding and honeymoon.

### Send the final timeline to vendors

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#send-final-timeline

Send your final wedding-day timeline to every vendor and key helper about two weeks before the wedding, with arrival times, addresses and your day-of contact’s details.

**Why it matters:** Each vendor sees only their part of the day. A shared timeline shows the photographer when speeches happen, tells the caterer when the ceremony ends and lets the DJ know when to announce dinner. Sending it two weeks out gives vendors time to raise conflicts, and it becomes the single version everyone works from.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Add confirmed vendor arrival and pack-down times.
- [ ] Check ceremony, photo and meal service times.
- [ ] Include speeches, first dance, last song and exit.
- [ ] Add the venue address, parking and your day-of contact.
- [ ] Send it to every vendor and ask them to confirm.
- [ ] Share it with your wedding party and officiant.
- [ ] Fix any clashes vendors point out and resend once.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Does this timing work for you, or is anything too tight?”
- “Is there anything you need from us before the day?”

**Tips:**
- Label the file as final with the date, so older versions don’t get used.
- Send later changes only to the day-of contact, who can pass them on.

**Best done after:** Create your wedding-day timeline

### Reconfirm every vendor

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Vendors
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#reconfirm-vendors

Reconfirm every vendor about two weeks before the wedding, checking the date, arrival time, address, services included and who their on-site contact will be.

**Why it matters:** Details shift over months of planning: a vendor changes staff, a venue entrance changes, or an email gets missed. A short reconfirmation catches those problems while there’s still time to solve them. It also reassures you that everyone is expecting the same date, the same place and the same services.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every vendor with their contract.
- [ ] Confirm each one’s date, arrival time and address.
- [ ] Check what’s included matches your contract.
- [ ] Ask for the name and number of their on-site lead.
- [ ] Note any final balance due or outstanding paperwork.
- [ ] Collect insurance certificates if the venue asks.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who from your team will be there on the day?”
- “Is there anything outstanding you need from us?”
- “What happens if your lead person is unwell?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Some venues need certificates of insurance from vendors before they can set up, and these are easy to overlook.

### Prepare final payments and tips

- When: Up to 3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#prepare-final-payments

Prepare final vendor payments and any tips about two weeks before the wedding, paying balances that are due and putting day-of amounts in clearly labeled envelopes.

**Why it matters:** Final balances are often due shortly before the wedding, and paying late can hold up services. Sorting payments now means you aren’t making transfers the night before. Labeled envelopes for anything paid on the day let a trusted person hand them over, so you’re not carrying cash or thinking about money during the celebration.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check payments against each contract and invoice.
- [ ] Pay any balances due before the wedding.
- [ ] Decide on tips or thank-you gifts, if customary.
- [ ] Label day-of envelopes with vendor and amount.
- [ ] Give the envelopes to the person handing them over.
- [ ] Keep receipts and confirmations together.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When exactly is the final balance due, and how would you like it paid?”
- “Is gratuity already included in this invoice?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Service charges already on an invoice are easy to miss, which can lead to tipping twice.
- Check whether service charges are already included before adding tips.
- Tipping customs vary; do what feels right for your budget and location.

**Best done after:** List every final payment

### Start packing for the wedding and honeymoon

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Honeymoon
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#start-packing

Start packing for the wedding and honeymoon about two weeks ahead, separating wedding-day items, overnight bags and travel essentials, and finish the honeymoon bag in the final week.

**Why it matters:** The final days fill up quickly with rehearsals, guests and last details. Packing gradually lets you notice what’s missing while there’s still time to buy it, and keeps wedding-day items separate from honeymoon luggage. It also makes it easier to hand bags to the right person on the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List what you need for the day, night and honeymoon.
- [ ] Set aside a space where wedding items stay together.
- [ ] Check travel ID, tickets, bookings and insurance.
- [ ] Pack clothes, medication, chargers and adapters.
- [ ] Buy anything missing now rather than in the final week.
- [ ] Finish the honeymoon bag a few days early.
- [ ] Label bags and decide who brings the luggage.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: An outfit and toiletries for the morning after are easy to forget when everything else is packed.
- Pack one outfit and essentials for the day after the wedding in a separate bag.
- Take photos of important travel documents and store them securely.

### Review your backup plans

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#review-contingency-plans

Review your backup plans about two weeks before the wedding, covering weather, power, transport and illness, and make sure your day-of contact knows each one.

**Why it matters:** Most weddings need at least one small change on the day. A backup plan that only exists in your head isn’t much help if you’re getting ready when the rain starts. Reviewing plans now, and sharing them with your coordinator, means decisions can be made calmly without you, and it usually lowers your own stress too.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check the forecast and your weather decision time.
- [ ] Confirm the indoor or covered option is available.
- [ ] Arrange umbrellas or shade in case you need them.
- [ ] Ask vendors about backup power and equipment.
- [ ] Note a second transport option for you and key guests.
- [ ] Agree who steps in if a key helper is unwell.
- [ ] Share the plans with your day-of contact.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What do you do if the power goes out?”
- “Do you have someone who can cover if you’re unwell?”

**Tips:**
- Keep your backup plans on one page so they’re easy to hand over.

### Attend your final fitting

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#attend-final-fitting

Attend your final outfit fitting about 1–2 weeks before the wedding, wearing your wedding shoes and undergarments, and arrange when and how you’ll collect the outfit.

**Why it matters:** The final fitting confirms your outfit fits as it will on the day, after any earlier alterations. Moving, sitting and raising your arms shows whether anything pinches or slips. It’s also the moment to learn how the outfit fastens, how a bustle works if there is one, and how to store it until the wedding.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Bring your shoes, undergarments and accessories.
- [ ] Check the length with your wedding shoes on.
- [ ] Sit, walk, dance and raise your arms to check comfort.
- [ ] Have your dressing helper learn the fastenings.
- [ ] Confirm the collection date or delivery arrangements.
- [ ] Ask how to store and steam it before the day.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can you show my helper how the fastenings work?”
- “How should I store and steam this before the day?”
- “Is there anything you’d recommend for quick fixes on the day?”

**Tips:**
- Take a short video of the fastening steps for whoever helps you dress.

### Book pre-wedding grooming

- When: Up to 3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Beauty & Grooming
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#book-pre-wedding-grooming

Book haircuts, nails and other grooming for the week before the wedding, sticking to treatments you’ve had before so there are no surprise reactions.

**Why it matters:** A haircut a few days to a week before usually looks settled and natural in photos. Booking now secures appointments during a busy week. Choosing familiar treatments matters: trying a new facial, peel or product right before the wedding can cause redness or irritation you don’t have time to recover from.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List grooming you’d like, such as a haircut or nails.
- [ ] Book appointments for the final week or so.
- [ ] Stick to treatments and products you’ve used before.
- [ ] Leave a few days between skin treatments and the day.
- [ ] Add appointments to your shared calendar.

**Tips:**
- Nothing brand new in the final two weeks is a good rule to follow.

**Optional:** If none of this feels like you, skip it; you’ll look like yourselves, which is the point.

### Confirm rental and décor deliveries

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Flowers & Décor
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#confirm-deliveries

Confirm rental, flower and décor deliveries about two weeks before the wedding, checking quantities, delivery times, the drop-off point and when items will be collected.

**Why it matters:** Rentals and décor often arrive from several suppliers on the same morning. Confirming each delivery now avoids missing chairs, wrong linen colors or a collection time that clashes with the venue’s curfew. It also tells your day-of contact what to expect and who to call if something doesn’t arrive.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List each delivery: rentals, flowers and lighting.
- [ ] Check quantities, colors and sizes against the order.
- [ ] Confirm delivery and collection times with the venue.
- [ ] Check damage terms and any packing before pickup.
- [ ] Share the drop-off point and access details.
- [ ] Tell your day-of contact what to check on arrival.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What time will you deliver and collect?”
- “Do items need to be rinsed or packed before collection?”
- “Who should sign for the delivery?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Rental agreements sometimes require items to be rinsed, stacked or packed before pickup.

### Send music requests and a do-not-play list

- When: 1–4 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Music & Entertainment
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#send-music-requests

Send your DJ or band your key songs, a short request list and a do-not-play list about two weeks before the wedding, including timings for each music moment.

**Why it matters:** Your DJ or band needs to prepare specific versions, edits and cues for the processional, first dance and last song. A do-not-play list is just as useful: it avoids songs with difficult memories or ones you simply dislike. Sending both now gives them time to source music and ask questions.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose processional and recessional songs.
- [ ] Pick songs for entrances, first dance and cake.
- [ ] Pick a last song, and note versions and cut points.
- [ ] Add a short list of songs you’d love to hear.
- [ ] Write a do-not-play list.
- [ ] List announcements with phonetic name spellings.
- [ ] Share your guest requests policy and any volume limits.
- [ ] Send it with your final timeline.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can you take requests from guests, and do you want us to limit them?”
- “Can you fade the first dance song at a set point?”

### Send guests the final details

- When: 1–3 weeks before (2 Weeks Before)
- Category: Guest Experience
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/2-weeks#send-guest-updates

Send guests the final details about 1–2 weeks before the wedding: timings, addresses, parking, dress code, weather advice, transport and your photo-sharing link.

**Why it matters:** Guests usually look for practical details in the last week, not when they first RSVP. A short, friendly update answers the common questions in one place, reduces messages to you on the day and helps everyone arrive on time and dressed for the weather. It’s also the perfect moment to share how to send you their photos.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Update your wedding website with the final details.
- [ ] Write a short message with the essentials.
- [ ] Include arrival time, addresses, maps and parking.
- [ ] Add weather, footwear and dress code notes.
- [ ] Share shuttle times and the photo-sharing link.
- [ ] Name a guest contact who isn’t either of you.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples often forget to tell guests how they’ll get home at the end of the night.
- Keep it short; link to your website for anything longer.
- If the ceremony is unplugged, say so kindly here as well as on the day.

## Wedding Week

In your wedding week, gather your marriage documents and ID, check that the rings are ready and fit, and hold your ceremony rehearsal. Prepare your outfits, pack a [wedding-day emergency kit](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/pack-emergency-kit), charge devices, save vendor contacts offline and reconfirm transport. Drop off décor, plan food for getting ready, then hand vendor communication to your point of contact and stop making big changes.

### Gather your marriage documents

- When: 2–10 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#gather-legal-documents

Gather your marriage license and required identification about a week before the wedding, check the details and validity dates, and decide who will bring them to the ceremony.

**Why it matters:** Without the correct paperwork, your officiant may not be able to complete the legal part of the marriage. Requirements vary by location, and some licenses are only valid for a limited time. Gathering everything a week ahead leaves time to fix a spelling error or a missing document with the official authority where your legal ceremony takes place.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Find your marriage license or equivalent paperwork.
- [ ] Check names, dates and places for errors.
- [ ] Confirm the document is valid on your wedding date.
- [ ] Gather the ID and papers your officiant needs.
- [ ] Confirm witnesses and what they need to bring.
- [ ] Put it all in a waterproof folder with one carrier.

**Helpful questions:**
- “What exactly do we need to bring on the day?”
- “Do our witnesses need identification?”
- “Who submits the signed paperwork afterwards, and by when?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples sometimes forget to check who returns the signed paperwork after the wedding, and by when.
- If anything is unclear, check with the official authority where your legal ceremony takes place.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Apply for your marriage license

### Check the rings are ready

- When: Up to 2 weeks before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Rings
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#check-rings-ready

Check your wedding rings about a week before the wedding: try them on, confirm the engraving is correct, and decide who will hold them until the ceremony.

**Why it matters:** Rings can arrive late, be resized incorrectly or have an engraving typo. Checking a week ahead leaves a little time to fix a problem or plan a stand-in. Deciding who holds them, and where they’re kept before the ceremony, prevents the familiar last-minute search.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Collect the rings if they’re still with the jeweler.
- [ ] Try them on at different times of day to check the fit.
- [ ] Check the engraving letter by letter.
- [ ] Confirm insurance covers them if you’ve arranged it.
- [ ] Store them together in a ring box.
- [ ] Agree who holds them on the day.

**Tips:**
- Fingers can swell in heat, so try them on in the afternoon too.

### Hold your ceremony rehearsal

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#hold-rehearsal

Hold a short ceremony rehearsal in the final days before the wedding, usually 1–2 days ahead, so everyone knows where to stand, when to walk and what to do.

**Why it matters:** A rehearsal turns the ceremony plan into something people have actually done. It settles nerves, shows the pace of the processional, and makes sure readers, musicians and anyone handing over rings know their cue. Even 30–45 minutes can make the real ceremony feel calm and familiar.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm time and place with the officiant and venue.
- [ ] Invite everyone with a role in the ceremony.
- [ ] Walk through the processional and standing spots.
- [ ] Practice cues for music, readings and the rings.
- [ ] Have readers try the microphone if there is one.
- [ ] Rehearse the recessional and where everyone goes next.
- [ ] Share any changes with the musicians and coordinator.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Can we rehearse at the venue, and at what time?”
- “Will you lead the rehearsal, or should our coordinator?”

**Tips:**
- Walk slower than feels natural; nerves make everyone speed up.

**Optional:** If the ceremony is simple or the venue isn’t available, a quick walk-through on the day works too.

### Steam and prepare your outfits

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#prepare-outfits

Steam or press your wedding outfits a few days before the wedding, then hang them with shoes, accessories and undergarments so everything is ready in one place.

**Why it matters:** Outfits often arrive creased from transport or storage. Preparing them a few days ahead leaves time to fix a loose button or find a missing accessory. Keeping everything together, and knowing who’s responsible for getting it to the venue, removes one of the most common morning-of worries.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check outfits for marks, threads and loose fastenings.
- [ ] Steam or press out creases per the care label.
- [ ] Hang them on sturdy hangers in breathable garment bags.
- [ ] Group shoes and accessories with each outfit.
- [ ] Decide who transports the outfits and when.

**Tips:**
- Ask the venue or a professional if you’re unsure about steaming delicate fabrics.
- Hang outfits away from direct sunlight and pets.

### Pack a wedding-day emergency kit

- When: Up to 2 weeks before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/pack-emergency-kit

Pack a wedding-day emergency kit in the final week with sewing supplies, stain remover, pain relief you already use, bandages, chargers and snacks, and give it to a trusted helper.

**Why it matters:** Small mishaps are normal on a wedding day: a popped button, a blister, a spill, a dead phone. A well-stocked kit turns each of these into a two-minute fix rather than a stressful search. Packing it in the final week, and handing it to someone who stays nearby, means help is always close at hand.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose a bag or box that’s easy to carry.
- [ ] Pack a sewing kit, safety pins and stain remover.
- [ ] Add bandages, blister pads, tissues and medication.
- [ ] Include chargers, snacks, water and an umbrella.
- [ ] Label the bag and list its contents.
- [ ] Give it to a helper who’ll stay near you.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The kit is often packed but left in a car or getting-ready room, far from where it’s needed.
- Make a second, smaller kit if getting ready happens in two places.
- Tape the contents list inside the lid so helpers can find things fast.

### Charge devices and power banks

- When: 1–5 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Backup Plans
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#charge-devices

Charge phones, power banks, speakers, cameras and any other devices in the last few days before the wedding, and pack the chargers and cables you’ll need on the day.

**Why it matters:** Your phone is how you’ll reach helpers and vendors, and it may hold your vows, playlist or timeline. Power banks and cameras can quietly lose charge in a drawer. Charging everything a couple of days ahead, then topping up the night before, means nothing runs flat halfway through the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every device you’ll use, starting with phones.
- [ ] Charge power banks fully and test them.
- [ ] Charge your own cameras, speakers and microphones.
- [ ] Pack cables and plugs in a labeled pouch.
- [ ] Top everything up the night before.

**Tips:**
- Download vows, playlists and timelines so they work offline.

### Save vendor contacts offline

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#save-contacts-offline

Save every vendor’s name, on-site contact and phone number offline in the final week, and give a printed contact sheet to your coordinator or day-of contact.

**Why it matters:** Venues with weak signal, flat phones or a locked screen can all make contact details hard to reach at the moment they’re needed. A printed sheet, plus an offline copy on a couple of phones, means anyone helping can call the florist, the transport company or the caterer without looking for you.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List each vendor’s on-site lead and phone number.
- [ ] Add the venue, officiant, transport and key helpers.
- [ ] Include arrival times and the venue address.
- [ ] Print copies for your coordinator and key helpers.
- [ ] Save an offline copy on at least two phones.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The transport company’s number is often missing from the list, yet it’s one of the most likely to be needed.
- Add a copy to the emergency kit too.

### Reconfirm pickup times and routes

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Transportation
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#reconfirm-transport

Reconfirm transport pickup times, addresses and routes in the final week for the two of you and any guest shuttles, allowing for traffic, road closures and parking.

**Why it matters:** Transport is one of the few things that can delay the whole day. Reconfirming a few days ahead catches changed drivers, wrong addresses or road works you didn’t know about. It also ensures the driver has the right contact number if they’re running late.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm each pickup time, address and passenger list.
- [ ] Check the route, parking and any road closures.
- [ ] Swap numbers with the driver and your day-of contact.
- [ ] Confirm return trips and final pickup times.
- [ ] Confirm accessible vehicles for anyone who needs them.
- [ ] Tell guests any updated shuttle times.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who will be driving, and how can we reach them on the day?”
- “What happens if you’re delayed?”

**Tips:**
- Add a little buffer time to every journey.

### Drop off décor at the venue

- When: 1–5 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Flowers & Décor
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#drop-off-decor

Drop off your own décor at the venue in the final days, where the venue allows, in labeled boxes with setup notes and a plan for collection afterwards.

**Why it matters:** Bringing décor ahead means one less thing to carry on the wedding morning, and gives the venue team time to set it up as you’d like. Labeled boxes with a photo of the intended setup make it easy for someone else to follow. A collection plan ensures your items come home rather than being left behind.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask the venue when to drop off and where it’s stored.
- [ ] Pack items in boxes labeled by space and table.
- [ ] Add a photo or sketch of how each item is set up.
- [ ] Make an inventory of everything you’re leaving.
- [ ] Agree who collects the boxes after the wedding.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Where will our décor be stored until the wedding?”
- “Who from your team will set it up?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The empty boxes are needed again at the end of the night, so ask the venue to keep them.
- Mark boxes that must come home, such as family keepsakes, clearly.

### Plan food and water for getting ready

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#plan-getting-ready-food

Plan simple food and water for the getting-ready hours in the final week, so you and your helpers eat properly before a long day with little time to stop.

**Why it matters:** Getting ready can take several hours, and many couples realize late in the afternoon that they haven’t eaten. Low energy makes nerves worse and can leave you lightheaded during the ceremony. Planning easy, non-messy food and plenty of water keeps everyone comfortable and in good spirits.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Count who’s getting ready with you and dietary needs.
- [ ] Choose an easy brunch and non-messy snacks.
- [ ] Arrange delivery or ask someone to bring it.
- [ ] Add water, straws, napkins and plates.
- [ ] Include food for the photographer and beauty team.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The hair and makeup team and the photographer are often there for hours without a meal.
- Straws help you drink without disturbing lipstick.
- Avoid foods that stain or crumble near your outfits.

### Hand over vendor communication

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#hand-over-vendor-contact

Hand over vendor communication to your coordinator or day-of contact in the final week, and tell vendors to contact that person, not the two of you, from now on.

**Why it matters:** In the last days, your phone should be for family, friends and each other. Once vendors know to contact your coordinator or day-of contact, small questions get answered without interrupting you. It also means one person holds the full picture of arrivals, changes and payments on the day.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Give your day-of contact contracts and the timeline.
- [ ] Walk them through any open questions.
- [ ] Email vendors introducing your day-of contact.
- [ ] Tell family and the wedding party who to ask.
- [ ] Explain the plan for day-of payment envelopes.
- [ ] Agree what still comes to you, like emergencies.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anything you need from us before you take over?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Close family are the people most likely to come straight to you, so tell them who to ask instead.
- On the day, a simple line helps when someone asks you: “Our coordinator has all the details.”

**Best done after:** Choose your wedding-day point of contact

### Stop making big changes

- When: 1–7 days before (Wedding Week)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-week#freeze-the-plan

In the final week, stop making big changes to the plan and only adjust what genuinely needs fixing. What you have now is ready.

**Why it matters:** Every late change has to reach vendors, helpers and the timeline, and that’s where mistakes creep in. Pausing big decisions protects the plan you’ve built and gives you space to rest and enjoy the lead-up. Most details that feel urgent this week won’t be noticed by guests at all.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree together that the plan is now set.
- [ ] Write new ideas down for later instead of acting.
- [ ] Only change things that fix a real problem.
- [ ] Send any essential changes through your day-of contact.
- [ ] Make time for rest and the people you love.

**Tips:**
- Keep a list called ‘nice to have’ and let it go if nothing gets done from it.

**Optional:** It’s okay to stop here. The plan is good, and the wedding will be lovely without one more tweak.

## The Day Before

The day before your wedding, put your rings, marriage documents and outfits together in one place, and hand payment envelopes to the person handling them. Check in briefly with your coordinator, set alarms and confirm [the morning plan](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-day-timeline). Then eat a proper meal, drink water and try to get a good night’s rest. Writing a short note for your partner is a lovely optional extra.

### Check in with your coordinator

- When: 1–2 days before (The Day Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#check-in-with-coordinator

Check in with your coordinator or day-of contact the day before the wedding to run through the timeline, deliveries, open questions and who handles what tomorrow.

**Why it matters:** A short call the day before catches the small things that slipped: a delivery time that moved, a vendor who hasn’t confirmed, a room that opens later than expected. It also lets you hand over the last loose ends so you can stop thinking about them. Your coordinator walks into the day knowing exactly what you want, and you walk into it knowing someone else has it covered.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Book a 15–20 minute call or quick meeting.
- [ ] Walk through the final timeline from setup to cleanup.
- [ ] Confirm vendor arrivals, pickups and phone numbers.
- [ ] Share any last changes to guests, seating or schedule.
- [ ] Confirm who holds payments and handles cleanup.
- [ ] Confirm the weather call time and who makes it.
- [ ] Agree which questions still need you, and which don’t.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there anything you’re still waiting on from a vendor?”
- “What do you need from us tomorrow, if anything?”
- “Who should guests go to if they have a question?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Confirming who will pack up and remove your belongings at the end of the night.
- Send your coordinator the latest timeline again, even if nothing changed.
- If you don’t have a coordinator, have this conversation with your day-of contact.

**Best done after:** Choose your wedding-day point of contact

### Put rings, documents and outfits in one place

- When: 1–2 days before (The Day Before)
- Category: Rings
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#lay-out-essentials

The day before the wedding, gather your rings, marriage documents, ID and complete outfits in one place, so nothing important has to be found on the morning itself.

**Why it matters:** Wedding mornings are busy, full of people and often in an unfamiliar room. Having every important item laid out together the night before means you aren’t searching for a ring box or a license while hair is being done. It also makes handing items to your trusted person simple, and gives you a calm moment to confirm nothing is missing while there is still time to fix it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose one clear spot, away from bags being packed.
- [ ] Lay out both full outfits, shoes and accessories.
- [ ] Put both rings in their boxes, together.
- [ ] Put documents and both photo IDs in a labeled folder.
- [ ] Add printed vows, medication and phone chargers.
- [ ] Check the pile against your list, then leave it alone.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The small items that complete an outfit, like cufflinks, hair pieces, a belt or the right undergarments.
- Take a quick photo of the laid-out items so you can check them again in the morning.
- If you’re getting ready in separate places, split the pile the night before, not the morning of.

**Best done after:** Gather your marriage documents; Check the rings are ready

### Hand over payment envelopes

- When: 1–3 days before (The Day Before)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#hand-over-payments

Give labeled final payments and any tips to your coordinator or a trusted person the day before the wedding, so vendors are paid on time without you handling money.

**Why it matters:** Some vendors expect a final payment or gratuity on the day, and you won’t want to be counting envelopes between the ceremony and dinner. Handing everything over the day before means one person knows exactly who gets what and when. It keeps payments on schedule, avoids awkward moments with vendors, and removes one more thing from your mind while you celebrate.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check each amount against its contract.
- [ ] Cross off anything already paid by transfer.
- [ ] Label each envelope with vendor name and amount.
- [ ] Keep tips in separate envelopes from balances.
- [ ] Note when each payment is due on the day.
- [ ] Hand envelopes and a short list to one trusted person.
- [ ] Ask them to confirm each handover by message.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Are you comfortable holding these until the vendors leave?”
- “Can you message us once each one is handed over?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Vendors who leave early, such as a ceremony musician or hair stylist, may need to be paid first.
- Where you can, pay balances by transfer ahead of time and keep only tips for the day.
- Keep a written list separate from the envelopes, in case one goes missing.

**Best done after:** Prepare final payments and tips

### Eat properly, drink water and rest

- When: 1–2 days before (The Day Before)
- Category: Beauty & Grooming
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#eat-drink-rest

The day before the wedding, eat regular meals, drink plenty of water and plan an early, quiet evening so you start the wedding day rested and steady.

**Why it matters:** The day before is often full of rehearsals, visitors and last errands, and meals are the first thing to disappear. Eating well and staying hydrated helps you feel steady, keeps your energy up through a long wedding day, and tends to show in how you look and feel in photos. A calm evening also gives you space to enjoy the anticipation rather than rushing through it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Plan three proper meals, even on a busy day.
- [ ] Keep a water bottle with you and refill it.
- [ ] Choose familiar food over anything new or very rich.
- [ ] Keep any celebratory drinks light.
- [ ] Set a realistic bedtime and leave time to wind down.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Planning something simple for breakfast on the wedding morning before the day gets busy.
- Ask someone to handle any late guest messages so you can switch off your phone.
- If sleep doesn’t come easily, resting quietly still helps.

### Set alarms and confirm the morning plan

- When: The day before (The Day Before)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#set-alarms

The night before the wedding, set two alarms and confirm the morning plan: wake-up time, hair and makeup order, breakfast, transport pickups and who arrives when.

**Why it matters:** The wedding morning runs on a tight chain of timings, and one late start can ripple through hair, photos and the ceremony. Setting backup alarms and confirming the morning schedule with the people involved means everyone knows where to be and when. It turns the morning from something you manage into something you simply follow.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Set two wake-up alarms on separate devices.
- [ ] Share the morning plan and address with everyone.
- [ ] Confirm the beauty order and photographer’s arrival.
- [ ] Plan a simple breakfast and who brings it.
- [ ] Confirm pickup times with your transport company.
- [ ] Agree who opens the door to vendors and deliveries.
- [ ] Lay out comfortable clothes for getting ready.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Making sure the photographer and beauty team have the exact room number and parking details.
- Build in at least 15 minutes of spare time before you need to leave.
- Wear a button-up top while getting ready so you don’t disturb hair or makeup.

### Write a note for your partner

- When: Up to 2 weeks before (The Day Before)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/day-before#write-partner-note

If you’d like to, write a short note or letter for your partner the day before the wedding and ask someone to deliver it on the morning.

**Why it matters:** Wedding days move quickly, and a private note gives you both a quiet, personal moment before everything begins. It can say the things that don’t fit in vows or speeches, and many couples keep these letters for years. It also gives whoever delivers it a small, meaningful job on the morning.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Set aside 20 quiet minutes to write.
- [ ] Share a memory, a feeling or a hope for your future.
- [ ] Keep it personal rather than polished.
- [ ] Seal it and write your partner’s name on the front.
- [ ] Ask a trusted person to deliver it on the morning.

**Tips:**
- Let your photographer know if you’d like the moment captured.
- A small gift is lovely but entirely optional; the words are the point.

**Optional:** If notes aren’t your thing, skip it; saying it in person later in the day is just as meaningful.

## Wedding Day

On your wedding day, give your essentials, such as rings, documents, vows, ID and medication, to one trusted person, and let [someone else handle vendor questions](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month#choose-day-of-contact). Make sure your marriage documents are signed with any required witnesses, sit down to eat your meal and take a quiet moment together. Then stop planning and enjoy the day.

### Keep your essentials with one trusted person

- When: Wedding day (Wedding Day)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/wedding-day#keep-essentials-with-someone

On the wedding day, give one trusted person your rings, marriage documents, vows, ID, phone, medication and room key, so the important things are always accounted for.

**Why it matters:** Wedding clothes rarely have pockets, and you’ll move between rooms, photos and venues all day. When important items are spread across several bags and people, something usually goes astray. One person holding everything means you always know where the rings are at the ceremony, where the documents are at signing time, and where your phone is when you want it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose one calm, reliable person in advance.
- [ ] Pack rings, documents, vows and ID in a labeled pouch.
- [ ] Add phones, medicine, room key and emergency contacts.
- [ ] Explain what’s inside and when each item is needed.
- [ ] Tell your officiant and coordinator who has the rings.
- [ ] Agree where the bag stays during ceremony and meal.
- [ ] Collect everything back at the end of the night.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Could you keep this with you all day, including during photos?”
- “Can you bring the rings to the front just before the ceremony starts?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Arranging for someone to take the bag back at the end of the night when the two of you leave.
- Give them a list of the contents so they can check it before handing items back.

**Best done after:** Put rings, documents and outfits in one place

### Sign your marriage documents

- When: Wedding day (Wedding Day)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/wedding-day#sign-marriage-documents

Sign your marriage documents on the wedding day with your officiant and any required witnesses, and confirm who will return or register them afterward.

**Why it matters:** For a legal ceremony, signing the documents is what makes the marriage official, and the requirements vary depending on where it takes place. Missing a witness, using the wrong details or forgetting who files the paperwork can delay registration. A planned signing moment keeps it relaxed, and confirming the next steps means the paperwork doesn’t get lost in the celebrations.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm with your officiant when and where you sign.
- [ ] Bring your license or documents, plus ID if needed.
- [ ] If witnesses are required, check they bring ID.
- [ ] Check names and details are correct before signing.
- [ ] Use the pen or ink your officiant specifies, if any.
- [ ] Confirm who files the documents, and by when.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Who is responsible for returning the signed documents?”
- “Do our witnesses need to bring anything?”
- “When should we expect our official certificate?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Checking whether the witnesses need to meet specific requirements, such as a minimum age or ID.
- Ask your photographer to be there for the signing if you’d like it captured.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Gather your marriage documents

### Make sure you eat your meal

- When: Wedding day (Wedding Day)
- Category: Food & Drink
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/wedding-day#eat-your-meal

On the wedding day, sit down and eat your meal before greeting guests, and ask your caterer to set aside a plate of anything you miss.

**Why it matters:** Many couples reach the end of the night realizing they barely tasted the food they spent months choosing. Guests will want to say hello, and it’s easy to give up your meal to chat. A long day with little food can leave you tired and lightheaded. Eating first keeps your energy up for speeches and dancing, and you still get to enjoy the menu you chose.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your coordinator for uninterrupted time to eat.
- [ ] Ask your caterer to serve you first.
- [ ] Save table visits until after your main course.
- [ ] Ask for canapés or appetizers to be set aside for you.
- [ ] Request a small late-night plate if you miss anything.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The two of you often miss the appetizers entirely while photos are being taken.
- Keep a snack and water in your trusted person’s bag for photo time.

### Take a quiet moment together

- When: Wedding day (Wedding Day)
- Category: Ceremony
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/wedding-day#take-a-moment-together

On the wedding day, plan five to ten minutes alone together, often right after the ceremony, to take in the moment before rejoining your guests.

**Why it matters:** Once the ceremony ends, you’re usually swept straight into congratulations, photos and conversation. A few minutes alone gives you space to actually feel what just happened, together. Many couples say it’s one of the moments they remember most clearly. It also gives you a breather before a long, sociable evening.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Agree on a time and a private spot in advance.
- [ ] Add it to the timeline so your coordinator protects it.
- [ ] Ask someone to guide guests toward drinks meanwhile.
- [ ] Leave phones with your trusted person.
- [ ] Return when you’re ready, not when someone fetches you.

**Tips:**
- Ask your photographer whether you’d like a few distant shots or complete privacy.
- Sunset or a pause before the last dance also works well.

**Optional:** If your day already feels relaxed and close, you don’t need to schedule this; just notice the moments as they happen.

### Enjoy the wedding

- When: Wedding day (Wedding Day)
- Category: Timeline & Logistics
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/wedding-day#enjoy-the-day

On the wedding day, let the plan work: the preparation is done, the people you trust have it handled, and the only task left is to enjoy it. Nothing else to plan. Go get married. ♡

**Why it matters:** Months of planning exist so that today can simply happen. Small things may shift, and that’s normal; most guests will never notice. What they will remember is the two of you looking happy and present. Letting go of the details now is not giving up control, it’s trusting the plan and the people you chose to carry it.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Hand your phone and essentials to your trusted person.
- [ ] Let your coordinator run the timeline.
- [ ] Send questions and hiccups to your day-of contact.
- [ ] Spend time with the people you invited.
- [ ] Pause now and then to look around.
- [ ] Dance, eat and celebrate.

**Tips:**
- If something goes differently than planned, it often becomes a favorite story later.
- When someone brings you a question, point them kindly to your day-of contact; most issues get solved without you ever hearing about them.

## First 48 Hours After

In the 48 hours after your wedding, collect and secure gifts and cards, return rentals and borrowed items by their due times, and pick up décor and personal belongings. Check getting-ready and hotel rooms before checkout, store your outfits safely and confirm who has the marriage documents. Download guest photos and back up all your photos and videos in at least two places.

### Collect and secure gifts and cards

- When: Up to 2 days after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#secure-gifts-and-cards

Within a day of the wedding, collect all gifts and cards from the venue or your trusted person and store them somewhere secure until you can open them.

**Why it matters:** Cards often contain money or gift cards, and gift tables are easy to leave unattended at the end of a busy night. Once items leave the venue in several cars, it becomes harder to track who gave what. Gathering everything quickly, and keeping cards with their gifts, protects what guests gave you and makes writing thank-you notes much easier later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm who cleared the gift table and card box.
- [ ] Collect everything into one secure place at home.
- [ ] Keep cards attached to their matching gifts.
- [ ] Open things together when you have time.
- [ ] Start a gift list noting each gift and giver.
- [ ] Deposit any checks or cash promptly.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Checking the venue, cars and getting-ready rooms for cards handed over during the day.
- Photograph each card next to its gift so nothing gets separated.

**Best done after:** Decide who looks after gifts and cards

### Return rentals and borrowed items

- When: Up to 2 days after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Essential · fixed deadline
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#return-rentals

Return rented outfits, décor and equipment by the date in each contract, usually within a day or two of the wedding, to avoid late fees and keep your deposits.

**Why it matters:** Rental agreements often have firm return dates, and late or damaged returns can mean extra charges or a lost deposit. Items also have a habit of scattering between cars, homes and the venue after a wedding. A clear return plan, ideally assigned to someone other than the two of you, means everything goes back on time and in good condition.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List every rental and its return date.
- [ ] Assign one person to handle each return.
- [ ] Check items for damage and missing pieces.
- [ ] Pack items in their original bags or boxes.
- [ ] Return them and keep the receipt or confirmation.
- [ ] Return borrowed items to loved ones with a thank-you.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Items borrowed from friends or family, which rarely have a formal return date and are easy to forget.
- Keep the rental contracts in one folder with the return dates highlighted.

**Best done after:** Assign wedding-day responsibilities

### Collect décor and personal belongings

- When: Up to 2 days after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#collect-belongings

Collect your own décor, signs, guest book and personal belongings from the venue within the agreed pickup window, usually the night of or the day after the wedding.

**Why it matters:** Venues often need rooms cleared quickly and may not store items for long. Personal pieces like a guest book, family photos or a welcome sign are easy to leave behind and hard to replace. Knowing what to collect, and who is collecting it, saves a stressful call to the venue a week later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Check the venue’s pickup deadline and assign a driver.
- [ ] Use your décor list to find signs and table numbers.
- [ ] Gather the guest book, photos, cake topper and knife.
- [ ] Collect disposable cameras and audio guest book gear.
- [ ] Take leftover cake and food home, where allowed.
- [ ] Pack keepsakes and flowers you’re keeping with care.
- [ ] Confirm with the venue that nothing was left behind.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Disposable cameras and audio guest book devices that were left on tables.
- Labeled boxes from setup day make packing up much faster.
- If you’re saving a cake tier, ask your baker how best to store it.

**Best done after:** Drop off décor at the venue

### Check getting-ready and hotel rooms

- When: Up to 1 day after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#check-rooms-before-checkout

Before checking out after the wedding, check the getting-ready rooms and hotel rooms carefully for chargers, jewelry, outfit pieces, documents and gifts.

**Why it matters:** Getting-ready rooms fill up with bags, garment covers and small items from several people, and everyone leaves in a hurry. Jewelry, chargers, shoes and even marriage paperwork can end up under a pile of tissue paper. A slow final check before handing back the key is much easier than trying to recover items later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask one person to do a final walk-through of each room.
- [ ] Check drawers, closets, bathrooms, beds and the safe.
- [ ] Unplug any chargers left in wall sockets.
- [ ] Look for jewelry, shoes, documents, gifts and cards.
- [ ] Check garment bags and shoe boxes before tossing them.
- [ ] Confirm the room is left in the condition required.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: The room safe, where rings or documents may have been put for the night.

### Store your wedding outfits safely

- When: Up to 3 days after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#store-outfits

Within a day or two of the wedding, hang or lay your wedding outfits somewhere clean and dry, and note any stains before arranging cleaning or preservation.

**Why it matters:** Wedding outfits often come home creased, damp or marked with food, drinks or grass. Leaving them folded in a bag can set stains and cause damage that is hard to reverse. Storing them properly straight away protects them until you decide whether to clean, preserve, sell or rent them out again.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Remove outfits from plastic bags so they can breathe.
- [ ] Hang them or lay them flat somewhere clean and dry.
- [ ] Note any stains and what caused them.
- [ ] Keep accessories together in one labeled box.
- [ ] Separate rented pieces for return.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Sugar-based stains, like champagne or cake, can be invisible at first and darken over time.
- Tell your cleaner what caused each stain; it helps them choose the right treatment.

### Download guest photos and videos

- When: Up to 2 weeks after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#download-guest-photos

Within a couple of days of the wedding, download the photos and videos guests shared, and send a gentle reminder to anyone who still has pictures to upload.

**Why it matters:** Guest photos capture moments your photographer may not see, from the getting-ready rooms to the dance floor late at night. Interest in sharing fades quickly once guests go home, and some sharing methods keep files only for a limited time. Collecting everything early gives you the fullest record of the day, while memories and motivation are fresh.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Open your shared album, gallery and message groups.
- [ ] Download full-quality files before any link expires.
- [ ] Send guests a friendly reminder to upload their photos.
- [ ] Collect disposable camera film for developing.
- [ ] Save everything, audio included, in one named folder.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Messaging apps often compress photos, so ask guests for the original files when a picture really matters.
- Sort files into folders by moment, like ceremony, dinner and dancing, as you go.

**Best done after:** Set up guest photo sharing

### Back up your photos and videos

- When: Up to 2 weeks after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#back-up-media

Back up your wedding photos and videos soon after the wedding by keeping at least two copies in different places, such as cloud storage and an external drive.

**Why it matters:** Wedding photos can’t be retaken, and a single lost phone, failed drive or expired link can erase them. A simple rule many people follow is three copies, on two types of storage, with one kept somewhere else. You don’t need to be that thorough, but two copies in separate locations protects the files that matter most, including when professional galleries arrive later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Gather guest files, audio and previews in one folder.
- [ ] Copy the folder to a cloud storage account.
- [ ] Copy it again to an external drive or computer.
- [ ] Check both copies open correctly.
- [ ] Repeat when the full gallery and video files arrive.
- [ ] Store the external drive somewhere safe.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Professional online galleries sometimes expire, so download the full set rather than relying on the link.
- Name the folder clearly with your wedding date so it’s easy to find years from now.
- Download professional galleries before any gallery expiry date.

### Confirm who has the marriage documents

- When: Up to 2 days after (First 48 Hours After)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/48-hours-after#confirm-document-holder

Within a day or two of the wedding, confirm who holds the signed marriage documents and whether they have been returned or registered with the official authority.

**Why it matters:** Signed documents can pass between an officiant, a witness, a coordinator and the couple in the space of an evening. Where paperwork needs to be returned or registered, there is often a time limit that varies by location. Confirming who has them, and what happens next, keeps your legal marriage on track and avoids having to redo paperwork.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Ask your officiant or helper who has the documents.
- [ ] Confirm who is filing them, and whether that’s done.
- [ ] Check the filing deadline with the official authority.
- [ ] Find out how to request your certificate, and when.
- [ ] Keep copies of anything you were given.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Have the signed documents been submitted yet?”
- “How and when will we receive our official certificate?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Ordering extra certified copies of your marriage certificate if you plan to change your name.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Sign your marriage documents

## First Month After

After your wedding, [send thank-you notes](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-thank-you-notes), settle final charges and check that any damage deposits are returned. Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables, and leave reviews for vendors you’d recommend. If you’re changing your name, update your documents in the order your local authorities require. Then organize gifts, share photos with guests and archive your contracts and planning files.

### Send thank-you notes

- When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-thank-you-notes

Send wedding thank-you notes within a few weeks of the wedding if you can, aiming to finish within about three months, naming each gift or kindness and adding a personal line for every guest.

**Why it matters:** A thank-you note tells guests their presence, travel and generosity mattered to you. Notes that arrive while the wedding is still fresh feel natural and are easier to write, because you still remember the details. Working through them steadily also avoids the heavy feeling of a long list hanging over you for months.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Finish your gift list with names, gifts and addresses.
- [ ] Add travelers, helpers and standout vendors.
- [ ] Choose cards or another format you’re happy with.
- [ ] Split the list and write a few notes each day.
- [ ] Name each gift or kindness and what it means to you.
- [ ] Add one personal line about the guest and the day.
- [ ] Tick each person off as you send their note.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Shall we split the list by who knows each guest best?”
- “Do we want to include a favorite photo from the day?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Thanking the people who helped rather than gave gifts, like the friend who ran the timeline or collected the rentals.
- Write for gifts received before the wedding as they arrive, so the list is shorter afterward.
- Keep the gift list, cards and stamps together in one box.

**Best done after:** Collect and secure gifts and cards

### Leave reviews for your vendors

- When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Post-Wedding Wrap-Up
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#review-vendors

In the weeks after the wedding, leave honest reviews for the vendors who helped, mentioning specific details that will be useful to future couples.

**Why it matters:** Most couples chose their vendors partly because of other people’s reviews, and many vendors are small businesses that rely on word of mouth. A specific, honest review helps future couples decide, and it’s a meaningful thank-you for the people who made your day work. If something went wrong, calm and factual feedback is more useful than a rushed rating.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List the vendors you’d like to review.
- [ ] Note one or two specific things each did well.
- [ ] Post reviews on the platforms they use most.
- [ ] Share concerns privately first, where appropriate.
- [ ] Offer a photo if the vendor would like one.

**Tips:**
- Mention details future couples look for, like communication, punctuality and flexibility.
- Credit the photographer if you share their images alongside your review.

**Optional:** If reviewing feels like one task too many, a short thank-you message to your favorite vendors is plenty.

### Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables

- When: Up to 6 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#follow-up-deliverables

After the wedding, track the delivery dates in your contracts for photos, video, albums and other items, and follow up kindly if anything is running late.

**Why it matters:** Professional photos and video can take weeks or months to arrive, depending on the vendor and season. Contracts usually state a delivery window, but it’s easy to lose track once the wedding is over. Noting each date and checking in politely if one passes means nothing is forgotten, and you can download and back up files before any gallery links expire.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List promised dates for galleries, videos and albums.
- [ ] Add reminders to your calendar for each date.
- [ ] Note how long each online gallery stays available.
- [ ] Download galleries and all video files on arrival.
- [ ] Read any usage or sharing guidance from the vendor.
- [ ] Follow up politely if a date passes without an update.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When can we expect the full gallery?”
- “How long will the online gallery stay available?”
- “Are we allowed to share and print these images?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Checking how long online galleries remain available before they are taken down.

### Clean or preserve your outfits

- When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Attire
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#clean-preserve-outfits

In the weeks after the wedding, take your wedding outfits to a specialist cleaner, then decide whether to preserve, alter, sell, donate or simply store them.

**Why it matters:** Stains that seem minor can set and discolor fabric over time, especially sugary drinks and makeup. Specialist cleaning helps outfits last, whether you plan to keep them for sentimental reasons, wear them again or pass them on. Deciding sooner also means the outfit isn’t sitting in a bag in the corner for months.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Decide what you’d like to do with each outfit.
- [ ] Find a cleaner experienced with wedding or formal wear.
- [ ] Point out stains and fabrics when you drop them off.
- [ ] Ask about preservation boxes or storage options.
- [ ] Store accessories with the outfit or in a labeled box.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Have you worked with this fabric before?”
- “What do you recommend for long-term storage?”

**Optional:** If you’d rather just hang them up and decide later, that’s completely fine.

### Update your name, if you’re changing it

- When: Up to 12 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/guides/update-name

If either of you is changing your name, start once you have your official marriage certificate, updating core identity documents first and then accounts, following the official authority’s guidance.

**Why it matters:** Changing a name usually involves several organizations, and many of them ask to see an updated document from another. Working in a sensible order avoids repeated trips and rejected applications. Requirements differ by country and region, so checking with the official authority where you live keeps the process smooth, especially if you have travel booked in your old name.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Order certified copies of your marriage certificate.
- [ ] Check the official process where you live.
- [ ] Update core government records first, if required.
- [ ] Update ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
- [ ] Update banks, payroll, insurance and healthcare.
- [ ] Update voter records, utilities and online accounts.
- [ ] Keep a list of what’s done and what’s pending.

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Upcoming travel bookings must usually match the name on the passport you’ll use.
- Book travel in the name that matches the passport you’ll travel with.
- Keep one certified copy of your certificate at home at all times.

**Optional:** Not everyone changes their name, and there’s no right choice; keep, combine, hyphenate or change, whatever feels right to the two of you.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Confirm who has the marriage documents; Order certified copies of your marriage certificate

### Order certified copies of your marriage certificate

- When: Up to 2 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Recommended
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#order-certificate-copies

Once your marriage is registered, order several certified copies of your marriage certificate from the official authority, and check every detail for errors as soon as they arrive.

**Why it matters:** Many organizations ask to see a certified copy of your marriage certificate, including passport offices, banks and insurers, and some keep the copy or take weeks to return it. Having several on hand lets you update records in parallel. How and when a marriage is registered after the ceremony varies by location, so checking with the official authority shows when copies become available and how to request them.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Confirm your marriage has been officially registered.
- [ ] Find out how to order certified copies and the cost.
- [ ] Decide how many copies you’ll need.
- [ ] Order them and note the expected delivery time.
- [ ] Check names, dates, places and the seal on each copy.
- [ ] Request a correction right away if anything is wrong.
- [ ] Store the copies somewhere safe.

**Helpful questions:**
- “When will our marriage be registered and available to order?”
- “Is there a time limit for correcting errors?”
- “Do we need an apostille or translation for use abroad?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Couples who married abroad often need an apostille or official translation before the certificate is accepted at home.
- Count the places you’ll send a copy at the same time, such as a passport application and a bank, and order at least that many.
- A decorative certificate from your ceremony is usually not the official document; check which one organizations need.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

**Best done after:** Confirm who has the marriage documents

### Update finances, insurance and beneficiaries

- When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Legal & Documents
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#update-finances-insurance

In the months after the wedding, review your accounts, insurance, beneficiaries and emergency contacts together, and ask a qualified professional about anything that affects your taxes or legal situation.

**Why it matters:** Marriage can change what makes sense for your insurance, savings and paperwork, and some policies only allow changes within a set period after a life event. Beneficiaries and emergency contacts listed years ago may no longer reflect your wishes. Rules and options vary by location and provider, so a calm review together, with professional advice where needed, helps you make informed choices rather than leaving old settings in place.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List your accounts, policies and workplace benefits.
- [ ] Discuss joint, separate or mixed accounts.
- [ ] Ask about health coverage options and change deadlines.
- [ ] Review home or renters and car insurance.
- [ ] Review beneficiaries on policies and retirement plans.
- [ ] Update emergency contacts at work and with doctors.
- [ ] Ask a qualified professional about tax or legal issues.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Is there a deadline to change our coverage after marriage?”
- “Are our beneficiary designations still what we want?”
- “Who could answer our questions about taxes or wills?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Beneficiary designations on existing policies and retirement accounts are easy to overlook, and they often aren’t changed automatically by marriage.
- Update financial records after any name change, so names match across accounts.
- Keep a simple shared list of accounts and policies so either of you can find them.

**Optional:** Not everyone merges finances; keeping things separate, combining some or combining all are all valid choices.

**Note:** Rules vary by location — confirm with the official authority where you marry.

### Settle final charges and deposits

- When: Up to 2 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Payments & Contracts
- Priority: Essential
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#settle-final-charges

In the weeks after the wedding, pay any approved final charges, check invoices against your contracts and make sure damage or security deposits are returned.

**Why it matters:** Some costs only become final after the wedding, such as extra bar charges, overtime or damage fees. Deposits can also take time to come back, and they’re easy to forget once the celebrations are over. Reviewing every invoice carefully, and following up on refunds, keeps your budget accurate and protects you from paying for something you didn’t agree to.

**Steps:**
- [ ] List open invoices and every deposit you’re owed.
- [ ] Compare each invoice, venue bill too, to its contract.
- [ ] Ask about any surprise charges before paying.
- [ ] Pay approved balances on time and keep receipts.
- [ ] Chase deposit refunds that haven’t arrived.
- [ ] Update your budget with the final totals.

**Helpful questions:**
- “Could you break down this additional charge for us?”
- “When should we expect our deposit to be returned?”

**Tips:**
- Often forgotten: Security deposits that are only refunded if you ask for them.
- Once everything is settled, save contracts, receipts and paperwork copies in one backed-up folder; they help if a deliverable is late or a refund is disputed.

**Best done after:** Return rentals and borrowed items

### Organize gifts and close your registry

- When: Up to 3 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Registry
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#organize-gifts

In the weeks after the wedding, organize your gifts, handle any returns or exchanges, use remaining registry perks and close or update your registry.

**Why it matters:** Gifts often arrive over several weeks, and duplicates or damaged items need attention before return windows close. Some registries offer completion discounts or credits for a limited time. Sorting gifts properly also finalizes your list for thank-you notes, so no guest is missed.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Unpack and check every gift for damage.
- [ ] Match each gift to its giver on your list.
- [ ] Return or exchange duplicates before the window closes.
- [ ] Check for any registry completion offers.
- [ ] Close or hide your registry once you’re done.

**Tips:**
- Check return policies early; some windows are shorter than you’d expect.

**Optional:** If you didn’t have a registry, or gifts are few, a simple list for your thank-you notes is all you need.

**Best done after:** Collect and secure gifts and cards

### Share photos with your guests

- When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Photo Sharing
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#share-photos-with-guests

Once you’ve collected guest and professional photos, share a selection with your guests through a gallery link, album or message, respecting your photographer’s usage terms.

**Why it matters:** Guests enjoy seeing the day from other perspectives, and sharing photos keeps the celebration going a little longer. It’s also a warm follow-up for people who traveled or helped. Choosing a selection, rather than every file, keeps it manageable and lets you leave out anything you’d rather keep private.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Choose a selection of guest and professional photos.
- [ ] Check your photographer’s terms for sharing.
- [ ] Create a shared album or gallery link.
- [ ] Send the link with a short thank-you message.
- [ ] Send family photos directly to the relatives in them.

**Tips:**
- Include a favorite photo with your thank-you notes or messages.

**Optional:** If you’d rather keep your photos private, that’s entirely your call.

**Best done after:** Download guest photos and videos

### Choose photos for prints or an album

- When: Up to 12 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Photography & Video
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#choose-album-prints

Once your full gallery arrives, shortlist favorite photos for prints, frames or an album, and check any album selection deadline in your photographer’s contract.

**Why it matters:** Digital galleries are easy to forget about, while printed photos get looked at and shared across generations. If an album is included in your package, there may be a deadline for choosing images. Making selections while the day is still fresh is easier and more enjoyable than sorting through hundreds of files years later.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Download and back up the full gallery first.
- [ ] Each choose a shortlist of favorites.
- [ ] Combine and narrow the list together.
- [ ] Check album deadlines and page limits.
- [ ] Order prints for family members who’d love them.

**Tips:**
- Include a few guest photos for a fuller story of the day.
- Mark favorites as you browse, then return to decide later.

**Optional:** If prints and albums aren’t for you, a well-organized digital folder is a perfectly good keepsake.

**Best done after:** Follow up on photos, video and other deliverables

### Update or close your wedding website

- When: Up to 4 months after (First Month After)
- Category: Wedding Website
- Priority: Optional
- Link: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/after-wedding#update-wedding-website

After the wedding, update your wedding website with a thank-you message and photos, or close it once you no longer need it.

**Why it matters:** Guests may still visit the site after the wedding, looking for photos or registry details. A short thank-you and a few pictures give it a warm ending. If you’d rather not keep it, closing or hiding it protects your privacy, especially if it lists addresses, travel details or guest information.

**Steps:**
- [ ] Add a short thank-you message to guests.
- [ ] Share a few favorite photos or a gallery link.
- [ ] Remove travel, address and schedule details.
- [ ] Update or remove registry information.
- [ ] Decide when to close or hide the site.

**Optional:** If you’d rather just switch it off, that’s a perfectly good ending.

**Best done after:** Create your wedding website

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the first thing to do when planning a wedding?

Agree on your top priorities as a couple, set a working budget and estimate your guest count. Those three decisions determine which venues, dates and wedding styles are realistic, so they come before any booking.

### What should you book first for a wedding?

The venue is usually the first major booking because it fixes your date, location and capacity. After that, book [the vendors that matter most](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/vendors) to you and tend to fill up early, such as your photographer, caterer, officiant and band or DJ.

### How far in advance should you start planning a wedding?

Many couples plan over about 12 months, and 12–18 months gives the most choice of venues and vendors. Smaller or simpler weddings can come together in a few months by combining early steps and focusing on essentials.

### Can you plan a wedding in 6 months or less?

Yes. Start with your budget, guest count, venue, legal requirements and the vendors that matter most, then [simplify optional details](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/short-engagement). ReadyToWeddy compresses the timeline automatically when you enter a date that’s coming up soon.

### How many tasks are on a wedding checklist?

A thorough checklist covers roughly 100–160 tasks, but not every wedding needs all of them. ReadyToWeddy marks each task as essential, recommended or optional, and lets you mark anything that doesn’t apply as “Not for us.”

### When should wedding invitations go out?

[Invitations commonly go out](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/send-invitations) about 6–8 weeks before the wedding, or 8–12 weeks ahead for destination weddings or when many guests need to travel. Set the RSVP deadline about 3–4 weeks before, so you can give your caterer final numbers, usually due 1–3 weeks before, and finish the seating plan.

### What do couples most often forget when planning a wedding?

Commonly missed details include vendor meals, who looks after gifts and cards, a clear rain-decision time, transport home, chargers, offline vendor contacts, rental returns and backing up photos. Each has its own task in this checklist.

### Is this wedding checklist free?

Yes. The full checklist is [free to read, print and use](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/printable) without an account. You can personalize it with your wedding date to get your own timeline, check off tasks and share responsibilities with your partner.