# The 6–9 Month Wedding Checklist

> Your 6–9 month wedding checklist: send save-the-dates, plan the ceremony and reception flow, book any remaining vendors and decide whether children are invited.

Source: https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/6-to-9-months
Publisher: ReadyToWeddy (https://readytoweddy.com) · Last updated: 2026-09-17

Six to nine months out, the wedding starts to take shape. Save-the-dates go out, and you sketch how the ceremony and reception will actually flow. Book the remaining vendors only if they support what matters to you.

## What should you do 6–9 months before your wedding?

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.

## Checklist (14 tasks)

### 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


## FAQ

### When should you send save-the-dates?

Save-the-dates are commonly sent six to eight months before the wedding, and eight to twelve months ahead for destination weddings or dates around holidays, when guests need more time to arrange travel. Send them only after your date and venue are confirmed.

### What should be done 6–9 months before a wedding?

It’s a good time to send save-the-dates, plan the ceremony order, sketch the reception timeline, check venue rules and book any vendors you still need. It’s also a sensible point to review accessibility, choose wedding party outfits and start honeymoon plans.

### Is 6 months enough time to plan a wedding?

Yes, many couples [plan a wedding in six months](https://readytoweddy.com/wedding-checklist/short-engagement). Book your venue and most important vendors first, keep decisions simple, and consider less popular days or seasons for more availability.

### How do we tell guests if children aren’t invited?

Address invitations only to the people who are invited and add a short, kind note on [your wedding website](https://readytoweddy.com/guides/create-wedding-website). If you can, share childcare suggestions for traveling guests. Clear, consistent wording avoids most awkward conversations.