With many of your major vendors in place, this stage is about filling in some of the details and beginning to think about how the different parts of your wedding day will work together.
If you’re earlier in the planning process, start with Planning 12 to 18 Months Before Your Wedding or Planning 9 to 12 Months Before Your Wedding.
Plan Your Ceremony Details
Start talking with your officiant about how you want the ceremony to feel and what you want it to include.
That might involve:
- Ceremony structure
- Readings
- Special traditions or moments
- Personal vows
- Processional and recessional plans
You don’t need every detail finalized yet, but this is a good time to start making those decisions.
If you’re using musicians for the ceremony, make sure those arrangements are also in place.
Finalize Your Wedding Party Attire
Choose and order any remaining wedding party attire.
Ordering early leaves time for delivery, alterations, and dealing with anything that doesn’t fit quite as expected.
Book Your Florist
If you haven’t already booked your florist, this is a good time to finalize that decision.
By now, you probably have a clearer idea of your colors, venue layout, wedding party attire, and overall style, which makes it easier to discuss flowers and decor.
Send Your Save the Dates
If you haven’t already sent save the dates, get them to your guests.
Giving guests plenty of notice is especially helpful if:
- Many guests will be traveling
- Your wedding falls during a busy travel season
- Hotel accommodations may be limited
- You’re planning a destination wedding
Make sure your wedding website has the basic information guests will need before directing them there.
Plan Your Invitations
Begin selecting and ordering your wedding invitations.
Double-check names, dates, times, locations, RSVP instructions, and any other information before approving the final version.
If you’re having envelopes professionally addressed or using custom printing, leave enough time for that process as well.
Secure Rentals and Event Needs
Talk with your venue and vendors about anything you’ll need that isn’t already included.
Depending on your wedding, that could include:
- Tables and chairs
- Linens
- Tents
- Specialty furniture
- Lighting
- Other event rentals
For an outdoor wedding, this is also a good time to make sure you understand the backup plan for bad weather.
Arrange Transportation
If transportation will be part of your wedding day, begin making those arrangements.
That might include:
- Transportation for the wedding party
- Guest shuttles
- Transportation between the ceremony and reception
- End-of-night transportation
Think through where everyone needs to be, when they need to be there, and how long the trip actually takes.
Start Planning Your Honeymoon
If you’re taking a honeymoon, begin working through the travel details.
Check passports and other travel documents early, particularly if you’re traveling internationally. This is also a good time to make reservations or handle anything that requires advance planning.
Begin Building Your Wedding Day Timeline
You don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule yet, but this is a good time to start thinking about the overall flow of the day.
Begin with the major pieces:
- Ceremony
- Cocktail hour
- Dinner
- Toasts and special dances
- Open dancing
- End of the reception
Your timeline will continue to change as the wedding gets closer. Right now, the goal is simply to make sure the major pieces fit together.
Your venue, planner or coordinator, photographer, caterer, and DJ may all have input that helps shape the final timeline.
What Comes Next
As you get closer to the wedding, the focus shifts from making larger decisions to finalizing details, music, attire, guest plans, and vendor coordination.
Planning 3 to 6 Months Before Your Wedding