Finally! We have made it to the final part of our Ultimate Wedding Checklist. It’s game time and if you’ve made it this far, we are going to cover the last four weeks before you say I do! There is literally no time to waste so let’s get to it!
The Ultimate Wedding Checklist
In case you missed the first three posts check the links below:
One – The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: Part One
Two – The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: Part Two
Three – The Ultimate Wedding Checklist: Part Three
1 Month Out
1.) Pay Your Bills
This one feels obvious because you should always pay your bills but I’m going to mention it anyways. If you haven’t closed out your tabs with your vendors now is the time to do this. No one wants to come in and whisper in your ear at your wedding “Hey the caterer needs his coins.” Pay your people! Now if there is a vendor who needs to be paid that day make sure someone in your family or a bridesmaid has clear instructions on who to pay and how much. (This is also perfect for creating envelopes for tips- see step 4)
2.) Create the Seating Chart and Finalize Escort Cards/Place cards
By now you’ve narrowed down your guest list, and hopefully you’ve gotten most of your RSVPs back by now. The next task to complete is the tackling of the seating chart and finalizing place cards and/or escort cards. This task can be daunting as seating charts can be really tough to get right. You definitely don’t want your day ruined because you’re second cousin is by your partner’s creepy frat brothers ( or whatever your family’s version of drama is). Take your time and check it twice!
If you need added help you can check out the article we did on Wedding Reception Seating Etiquette.
3.) Final walk through
Finalize venue details and make sure they know where things should be going and how they should be set up for the wedding and reception. Create a careful list of questions you need answered and do your best to take pictures and record the answers you get back. The wedding is a month away and there is nothing like forgetting details and not having things written down to refresh your memory. Pen. Paper. Questions. Answers.
4.) An Envelope Full of Money
“An envelope full of money” sounds like the first sentence of a really good book but in this setting, they are the envelopes for the vendors you have to pay on the day of (see step 1) and for tips. You don’t typically tip people who own their own businesses (i.e photographer/videographer/florists, etc). but you definitely want to tip the musicians/DJs, hair and make-up artists, bartenders and servers, etc. Get these envelopes separated and coordinate with your point of contact person so they know who is getting what. This is better to do towards the end of the month, so no one is holding on to multiple envelopes full of money and having to remember where everything goes the day of.
5.) Practicing Walking the walk
If you HAVEN’T been dancing around your living room and trying to practice walking around in heels for several hours, what are you waiting for? You have to walk down an aisle in those things and dance in them. It’s time you get to practicing. You want to glide down the aisle and even super models have to practice their strut!
6.) Schedule Beauty
If you have to get your hair colored, your nails done, your body waxed etc. Make those appointments before the end of this month. You don’t want to be scrambling for a place when you are one week out.
Final Week
I’m not crying you’re crying! My friend you get married in a week and I am so happy for you! This week we are focusing on self-care, last minute touches, and the honeymoon. If you followed this checklist, you should only be putting finishing touches on things!
1.) Get beautified
This means if you need your hair color touched up get it done! Your eyebrows threaded/tinted, manicure and pedicure? Head to all of the appointments you made last months. Try and enjoy these last few days of singledom and be sure to take it all in. This is a time for self-care and relaxation- you planned it that way- so throw in a massage and get the deluxe pedicure when you go.
2.) Dresses and Rings
Have your final dress fitting! A pro tip is to have your maid of honor come so she knows in advance how the dress should lay and can help keep it that way throughout the night and inn pictures. If she can’t don’t stress and just make a mental note to pull her aside and show her the day of. You should also go to the jeweler where you got your ring and get it professionally cleaned so it’s ready for the day!
3.) Finish off the to-do list
Check off the last few items on the to-do list and finish things off. Whether it be automating your work email until you get back from your honeymoon or adding a few more flower pedals to the flower girl’s basket, take a few minutes to finish it off.
4.) Honeymoonin’
Be sure to pack your bags for the honeymoon and let a family member or someone in the wedding party know to put your luggage in the car that is going to take you to your destination after the wedding. Make sure you have your passport and confirm the transportation to the airport, hotel, etc. for your send off and to your honeymoon location.
5.) Practice your vows
Remember in school when you would take turns reading and you’d count what paragraph was going to be yours and practice it in your head, so you didn’t trip over your words? Yeah, well do that now and maybe even practice it loud in front of your mirror. Tell your significant other to do the same!!
Day Of
This is the easiest part. Get ready to say ‘I do’. Enjoy every minute of it! Here are just a few little tips and reminders for the day of:
- Drink water throughout the day and eat breakfast
- Stay off your feet so they are well rested for the ceremony and reception
- Take your dress and veil out early so it can be steamed
- Gather the things your photographer needs for the behind the scenes pictures
- Say thank you and stay in the moment!
