At this point, most of the major decisions have been made. The focus now shifts toward finalizing the details, communicating with your vendors, and turning all of your plans into a wedding day that flows naturally.
If you’re earlier in the planning process, start with Planning 12 to 18 Months Before Your Wedding, Planning 9 to 12 Months Before Your Wedding, Planning 6 to 9 Months Before Your Wedding, or Planning 3 to 6 Months Before Your Wedding.
Send Invitations and Track RSVPs
If you haven’t already sent your invitations, now is the time to get them to your guests.
As responses come in:
- Track RSVPs
- Follow up with guests who haven’t responded
- Keep track of meal selections if needed
- Begin working toward your final guest count
Your final numbers will affect seating, catering, rentals, and several other parts of the wedding.
Finalize Your Menu and Floral Details
Work with your caterer and florist to finalize your selections.
By now, your guest count and overall plans should be much clearer, making it easier to make final decisions about food, flowers, decor, and setup.
Finalize Your Wedding Cake or Dessert
Confirm the final details with your baker or dessert vendor, including the design, size, flavors, delivery time, and setup.
Also make sure someone knows what should happen with any leftover cake or desserts at the end of the night.
Plan Your Ceremony and Reception Details
Start finalizing how the major parts of the wedding day will work.
That may include:
- Ceremony structure and readings
- Processional and recessional
- Wedding party introductions
- First dance and parent dances
- Toasts and speakers
- Cake cutting or other traditions
- Open dancing
- Last dance and end-of-night plans
You don’t need to include traditions simply because they’re common at weddings. Decide which moments actually matter to you and build the day around those.
Review Your Music
Connect with your DJ or band and begin finalizing the music for the wedding.
Think about:
- Ceremony music
- Introductions
- First dance
- Parent dances
- Must-play songs
- Songs you don’t want played
- Styles of music you and your guests enjoy
- Last dance
You don’t need to choose every song that will be played. Giving your DJ a clear picture of what you like, what you don’t like, and which songs are important leaves room to build the night around you while still responding to the dance floor.
Meet With Your Photographer and Videographer
Talk through the wedding-day timeline and any photographs or moments that are particularly important to you.
If there are specific family combinations or people you definitely want photographed, provide that information ahead of time rather than trying to organize it during the wedding.
Finalize Transportation
Confirm any transportation you’ll need for the wedding day.
Make sure pickup locations, departure times, destinations, and contact information are correct for:
- Wedding party transportation
- Guest shuttles
- Transportation between venues
- End-of-night transportation
Finalize Attire and Fittings
Complete your remaining fittings and make sure wedding attire, shoes, and accessories are ready.
If someone will need to help with a bustle, complicated clothing, or another part of your attire on the wedding day, make sure they know what to do before the day arrives.
Confirm Hair and Makeup Plans
Complete any remaining trials and confirm the wedding-day schedule with your hair and makeup professionals.
Make sure there is enough time for everyone receiving services without creating a rushed start to the day.
Start Working on Your Seating Plan
As RSVPs come in and your guest count becomes clearer, begin working on your seating plan if you’re having assigned tables or seats.
You don’t need every placement finalized immediately, but starting now gives you time to make adjustments without trying to solve everything during the final week.
Plan Guest Experience Details
Finish any remaining details you want to provide for guests.
Depending on your wedding, that might include:
- Welcome bags
- Programs
- Menus
- Favors
- Signs or other printed materials
None of these things are requirements. Include the details that make sense for your wedding and skip the ones that don’t.
Apply for Your Marriage License
Check the marriage-license requirements where you’re getting married, including how far in advance you can apply and how long the license remains valid.
Requirements and timing can vary by location, so make sure you’re working from the rules that apply to your wedding.
Confirm Vendors and Your Timeline
As the timeline becomes more complete, make sure your vendors have the information they need.
Confirm things like:
- Arrival and setup times
- Ceremony and reception locations
- Important timeline details
- Vendor contact information
- Who the wedding-day point person will be
Your planner or coordinator and vendors may make adjustments as everyone compares their needs. That’s normal. The goal is to create a timeline that works together rather than several separate schedules.
Handle Final Payments
Review your contracts so you know when remaining balances are due.
You can also begin preparing any tips or other payments you plan to give on the wedding day so you’re not dealing with them at the last minute.
What Comes Next
Once you reach the final few weeks, most of the planning should be behind you. The focus becomes confirming everything, communicating final details, and handing responsibilities to the people who will help everything happen.
Planning the Final Weeks Before Your Wedding