# The 1 Month Wedding Checklist

> Your 1 month wedding checklist: confirm your final guest count, send numbers to vendors, do a venue walkthrough and assign wedding-day responsibilities.

Source: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-month
Publisher: ReadyToWeddy (https://readytoweddy.com) · Last updated: 2026-09-17

A month out, the planning shifts from deciding to confirming. Final numbers go to vendors, the layout is settled, and you hand out wedding-day jobs so you won’t be the one answering questions on the day.

## What should you do 1 month before your wedding?

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.

## Checklist (14 tasks)

### 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.


## FAQ

### What should be done 1 month before a wedding?

Confirm your final guest count, send numbers to vendors, do a final venue walkthrough, confirm vendor access times, finalize seating and layout, approve printed materials and assign wedding-day responsibilities to people you trust.

### When do caterers need final wedding numbers?

It varies by caterer and venue, and the deadline is set in your contract. Many ask for final numbers about 1–3 weeks before the wedding. Check your agreement early so your [RSVP follow-ups](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/1-to-3-months#chase-missing-rsvps) finish in time.

### Who should be the point of contact on the wedding day?

Ideally a planner, coordinator or calm, organized friend who knows the timeline and has every vendor’s number. Their job is to answer questions so you don’t have to. Introduce them to your vendors before the day.

### Can you still plan a wedding with one month left?

A small, simple wedding is possible. Prioritize a venue, an officiant, the legal paperwork and food. Invite guests digitally, keep décor minimal and ask vendors about last-minute availability. Check [marriage license timing](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/apply-marriage-license) first, since waiting periods may apply.