The ultimate wedding planning checklist
💍 Right After the Engagement
- ☐ Celebrate the engagement
- ☐ Tell immediate family and close friends
- ☐ Announce the engagement publicly
- ☐ Take engagement photos
- ☐ Insure the engagement ring
- ☐ Have the ring resized, if necessary
- ☐ Discuss what kind of wedding you both envision
- ☐ Talk about wedding size, style, season, and location
- ☐ Decide who will be involved in planning
- ☐ Create a shared wedding email address
- ☐ Create a shared digital planning folder
- ☐ Begin a wedding inspiration board
- ☐ Discuss family traditions you would like to include
- ☐ Decide whether to hire a wedding planner
- ☐ Choose a few possible wedding dates
💰 12–18 Months Before — Budget & Planning
- ☐ Set the overall wedding budget
- ☐ Decide who is contributing financially
- ☐ Determine how much each person or family is contributing
- ☐ Create a wedding expense spreadsheet
- ☐ Set aside money for deposits
- ☐ Build in an emergency or unexpected-expense fund
- ☐ Prioritize the three things that matter most to each of you
- ☐ Estimate the number of guests
- ☐ Decide whether children will be invited
- ☐ Decide whether guests may bring a plus-one
- ☐ Begin collecting guest names and addresses
- ☐ Create a preliminary guest list
- ☐ Divide the guest list between both families
- ☐ Discuss wedding insurance
- ☐ Review vendor contracts before signing
- ☐ Keep copies of all contracts, receipts, and payment schedules
📍 Venue
- ☐ Decide whether the ceremony and reception will be at the same location
- ☐ Research ceremony venues
- ☐ Research reception venues
- ☐ Schedule venue tours
- ☐ Ask about venue capacity
- ☐ Ask about parking and valet service
- ☐ Ask about accessibility
- ☐ Ask about noise restrictions and ending times
- ☐ Ask whether catering is included
- ☐ Ask whether alcohol must be purchased through the venue
- ☐ Ask about setup and cleanup responsibilities
- ☐ Ask what tables, chairs, linens, and décor are included
- ☐ Ask whether the venue has a bridal suite
- ☐ Ask whether there is a private room for the groom and wedding party
- ☐ Ask about backup plans for outdoor ceremonies
- ☐ Ask whether outside vendors are allowed
- ☐ Ask whether vendors must provide proof of insurance
- ☐ Book the ceremony venue
- ☐ Book the reception venue
- ☐ Pay the venue deposit
- ☐ Confirm the wedding date in writing
🧑💼 Wedding Professionals
- ☐ Hire a wedding planner or coordinator
- ☐ Hire a photographer
- ☐ Hire a videographer
- ☐ Hire a DJ or entertainment company
- ☐ Hire a ceremony musician, if needed
- ☐ Hire a caterer, if not included with the venue
- ☐ Hire a florist
- ☐ Hire an officiant
- ☐ Research photo booth options
- ☐ Research uplighting and special-effect options
- ☐ Research transportation companies
- ☐ Research hotel accommodations
- ☐ Research hair and makeup professionals
- ☐ Research wedding cake and dessert vendors
- ☐ Research rental companies
- ☐ Research invitation designers or stationery companies
👰🤵 10–12 Months Before — Wedding Party
- ☐ Choose the maid or matron of honor
- ☐ Choose the best man
- ☐ Choose bridesmaids
- ☐ Choose groomsmen
- ☐ Choose junior bridesmaids or junior groomsmen
- ☐ Choose flower children
- ☐ Choose ring bearers
- ☐ Ask each person to be part of the wedding
- ☐ Discuss expected expenses with the wedding party
- ☐ Decide what the wedding party will wear
- ☐ Begin planning the bachelor and bachelorette celebrations
- ☐ Decide whether to include ushers
- ☐ Decide whether grandparents or parents will be formally introduced
👗 Wedding Attire
- ☐ Begin shopping for the wedding dress
- ☐ Set a dress budget
- ☐ Schedule bridal boutique appointments
- ☐ Choose the wedding dress
- ☐ Order the wedding dress
- ☐ Begin shopping for the groom's suit or tuxedo
- ☐ Decide whether suits or tuxedos will be purchased or rented
- ☐ Select the wedding color palette
- ☐ Choose bridesmaid dress colors
- ☐ Choose groomsmen attire
- ☐ Select accessories
- ☐ Choose wedding shoes
- ☐ Choose jewelry
- ☐ Choose a veil, headpiece, or hair accessory
- ☐ Plan for dress alterations
- ☐ Discuss attire for parents and grandparents
🏨 Travel & Accommodations
- ☐ Reserve a hotel room block
- ☐ Ask about discounted guest rates
- ☐ Confirm hotel cutoff dates
- ☐ Reserve the wedding-night hotel room
- ☐ Begin researching honeymoon destinations
- ☐ Check passports and expiration dates
- ☐ Research travel requirements
- ☐ Begin a honeymoon savings fund
- ☐ Consider transportation between the hotel and venue
📸 Engagement Photos
- ☐ Schedule engagement photos
- ☐ Choose engagement photo outfits
- ☐ Choose photo locations
- ☐ Use engagement photos for save-the-dates or the wedding website
- ☐ Confirm image-use rights with the photographer
💌 8–10 Months Before — Guest Communication
- ☐ Create the wedding website
- ☐ Add the wedding date and location
- ☐ Add hotel information
- ☐ Add travel and transportation information
- ☐ Add registry links
- ☐ Add dress-code information
- ☐ Add frequently asked questions
- ☐ Add an adults-only note, when applicable
- ☐ Add parking information
- ☐ Add ceremony and reception start times
- ☐ Order save-the-dates
- ☐ Mail save-the-dates
- ☐ Send electronic save-the-dates, when appropriate
🍽️ Food & Beverage
- ☐ Review catering menus
- ☐ Schedule a menu tasting
- ☐ Select appetizers
- ☐ Select soup or salad
- ☐ Select entrées
- ☐ Select side dishes
- ☐ Select vegetarian and vegan options
- ☐ Ask about allergy-friendly meals
- ☐ Decide between plated, buffet, family-style, or stations
- ☐ Decide whether to have a late-night snack
- ☐ Choose the bar package
- ☐ Decide between open bar, limited bar, or cash bar
- ☐ Select beer, wine, and liquor options
- ☐ Create signature cocktails
- ☐ Ask about bartender fees
- ☐ Ask about corkage fees
- ☐ Ask whether champagne is included for toasts
- ☐ Confirm meals for vendors
- ☐ Confirm meals for children
🎂 Cake & Dessert
- ☐ Research bakeries
- ☐ Schedule cake tastings
- ☐ Choose cake flavors
- ☐ Choose filling and frosting flavors
- ☐ Select the cake design
- ☐ Determine the number of cake servings
- ☐ Order the wedding cake
- ☐ Decide whether to have a groom's cake
- ☐ Decide whether to offer cupcakes or individual desserts
- ☐ Consider a dessert table
- ☐ Consider a doughnut wall, cookie table, candy table, or ice cream station
- ☐ Select a cake topper
- ☐ Select a cake-cutting song
- ☐ Confirm who will provide the cake knife and server
🌸 Flowers & Décor
- ☐ Meet with the florist
- ☐ Choose the bridal bouquet
- ☐ Choose bridesmaid bouquets
- ☐ Choose boutonnieres
- ☐ Choose corsages
- ☐ Choose ceremony flowers
- ☐ Choose reception centerpieces
- ☐ Choose flowers for the cake
- ☐ Choose flowers for the head table or sweetheart table
- ☐ Choose flowers for memorial displays
- ☐ Choose aisle décor
- ☐ Choose altar or arch décor
- ☐ Choose table linens
- ☐ Choose napkin colors
- ☐ Choose charger plates, if desired
- ☐ Choose table numbers
- ☐ Choose candles or lanterns
- ☐ Choose signage
- ☐ Choose a card box
- ☐ Choose a guest book
- ☐ Choose a seating-chart display
- ☐ Choose welcome-table décor
- ☐ Choose a cake-table design
- ☐ Decide whether to rent specialty furniture
- ☐ Decide whether to add uplighting
- ☐ Decide whether to add a custom monogram
- ☐ Decide whether to add cold sparks, dancing on clouds, or other special effects
- ☐ Confirm what decorations the venue allows
🎶 6–8 Months Before — Music & Entertainment
- ☐ Finalize the DJ or band contract
- ☐ Discuss ceremony sound requirements
- ☐ Discuss cocktail-hour music
- ☐ Discuss dinner music
- ☐ Discuss dancing preferences
- ☐ Create a must-play list
- ☐ Create a play-if-possible list
- ☐ Create a do-not-play list
- ☐ Select the wedding-party entrance song
- ☐ Select the newlywed entrance song
- ☐ Select the first-dance song
- ☐ Select the father-daughter dance song
- ☐ Select the mother-son dance song
- ☐ Select the cake-cutting song
- ☐ Select the bouquet-toss song, if applicable
- ☐ Select the garter-toss song, if applicable
- ☐ Select the anniversary dance song, if applicable
- ☐ Select a last-dance song
- ☐ Select a private last-dance song, if desired
- ☐ Discuss line dances and group dances
- ☐ Discuss whether song requests will be accepted
- ☐ Provide pronunciation guides for names
- ☐ Decide who will make announcements
- ☐ Decide whether to use a photo booth
- ☐ Choose a photo-booth backdrop
- ☐ Choose photo-booth props
- ☐ Choose a photo-booth scrapbook option
- ☐ Confirm whether microphones are available for speeches
💒 Ceremony Planning
- ☐ Meet with the officiant
- ☐ Discuss the ceremony structure
- ☐ Complete any required premarital counseling
- ☐ Choose readings
- ☐ Choose readers
- ☐ Decide whether to write personal vows
- ☐ Begin writing personal vows
- ☐ Choose ceremony music
- ☐ Select the processional song
- ☐ Select the bride's entrance song
- ☐ Select the recessional song
- ☐ Choose music for seating parents and grandparents
- ☐ Decide whether to include a unity ceremony
- ☐ Decide whether to include religious or cultural traditions
- ☐ Decide whether to remember deceased loved ones
- ☐ Choose ceremony programs
- ☐ Confirm rules for photography and videography
- ☐ Confirm ceremony rehearsal requirements
- ☐ Confirm marriage-license requirements
📨 Invitations
- ☐ Choose the invitation style
- ☐ Finalize invitation wording
- ☐ Proofread names, dates, times, and addresses
- ☐ Order invitations
- ☐ Order RSVP cards or set up online RSVPs
- ☐ Order detail cards
- ☐ Order reception cards, if needed
- ☐ Order envelopes
- ☐ Order envelope liners, if desired
- ☐ Order postage
- ☐ Order thank-you cards
- ☐ Order ceremony programs
- ☐ Order menus
- ☐ Order place cards or escort cards
- ☐ Order favor tags
- ☐ Order welcome signs and directional signs
🎁 Registry
- ☐ Create a wedding registry
- ☐ Register for household items
- ☐ Register for experiences
- ☐ Register for honeymoon funds, when desired
- ☐ Include gifts at several price points
- ☐ Review the registry periodically
- ☐ Add registry information to the wedding website
- ☐ Keep track of gifts and send thank-you notes
💇 4–6 Months Before — Beauty & Self-Care
- ☐ Book wedding-day hair services
- ☐ Book wedding-day makeup services
- ☐ Schedule a hair trial
- ☐ Schedule a makeup trial
- ☐ Choose the wedding-day hairstyle
- ☐ Choose the wedding-day makeup look
- ☐ Confirm hair and makeup services for the wedding party
- ☐ Begin a realistic skincare routine
- ☐ Schedule dental appointments, when desired
- ☐ Schedule grooming appointments
- ☐ Avoid experimenting with risky new treatments close to the wedding
- ☐ Create a wedding-day beauty timeline
- ☐ Confirm travel fees for hair and makeup professionals
🚘 Transportation
- ☐ Book transportation for the couple
- ☐ Book transportation for the wedding party
- ☐ Book transportation for parents or grandparents, when needed
- ☐ Arrange guest shuttles, when needed
- ☐ Confirm pickup and drop-off locations
- ☐ Confirm the number of passengers
- ☐ Confirm arrival and departure times
- ☐ Provide the company with a full itinerary
- ☐ Create a backup transportation plan
🥂 Pre-Wedding Events
- ☐ Plan the engagement party
- ☐ Plan the bridal shower
- ☐ Plan the bachelor celebration
- ☐ Plan the bachelorette celebration
- ☐ Plan the rehearsal dinner
- ☐ Create guest lists for each event
- ☐ Reserve locations
- ☐ Send invitations
- ☐ Coordinate transportation
- ☐ Confirm who is hosting each event
💍 Wedding Rings
- ☐ Shop for wedding bands
- ☐ Purchase the bride's wedding band
- ☐ Purchase the groom's wedding band
- ☐ Order engravings
- ☐ Check ring sizing
- ☐ Arrange for cleaning and polishing
- ☐ Decide who will hold the rings during the ceremony
🕒 3–4 Months Before — Wedding-Day Timeline
- ☐ Create a detailed wedding-day timeline
- ☐ Confirm hair and makeup start times
- ☐ Confirm photography arrival time
- ☐ Confirm videography arrival time
- ☐ Confirm florist delivery time
- ☐ Confirm cake delivery time
- ☐ Confirm rental delivery time
- ☐ Confirm transportation pickup times
- ☐ Confirm ceremony start time
- ☐ Confirm cocktail-hour start and end times
- ☐ Confirm reception doors-open time
- ☐ Confirm introduction time
- ☐ Confirm dinner service time
- ☐ Confirm toast times
- ☐ Confirm first-dance time
- ☐ Confirm parent-dance times
- ☐ Confirm open-dancing time
- ☐ Confirm cake-cutting time
- ☐ Confirm last call
- ☐ Confirm last dance
- ☐ Confirm venue ending time
- ☐ Include extra time for traffic, photos, and unexpected delays
- ☐ Share the timeline with all vendors
📷 Photography & Video
- ☐ Create a family photo list
- ☐ Create a wedding-party photo list
- ☐ Discuss getting-ready photos
- ☐ Discuss first-look photos
- ☐ Decide whether to do a first look
- ☐ Discuss ceremony photography restrictions
- ☐ Discuss reception details you want photographed
- ☐ List sentimental items to be photographed
- ☐ Identify important family relationships
- ☐ Identify divorced or separated family members
- ☐ Identify any sensitive family situations
- ☐ Discuss sunset photos
- ☐ Discuss drone footage, when permitted
- ☐ Confirm the photographer's meal
- ☐ Confirm the videographer's meal
- ☐ Confirm final delivery expectations
🪑 Reception Details
- ☐ Decide between a head table and sweetheart table
- ☐ Decide where parents will sit
- ☐ Decide where the wedding party will sit
- ☐ Create a preliminary seating chart
- ☐ Decide whether tables will be assigned
- ☐ Decide whether individual seats will be assigned
- ☐ Order table numbers
- ☐ Order escort cards or place cards
- ☐ Choose wedding favors
- ☐ Choose a guest-book alternative
- ☐ Choose a card-box location
- ☐ Plan a memorial table, if desired
- ☐ Plan a photo display
- ☐ Plan the welcome table
- ☐ Plan the gift table
- ☐ Decide where the photo booth will be located
- ☐ Confirm the dance-floor size
- ☐ Confirm the DJ or band setup location
- ☐ Confirm access to power outlets
- ☐ Confirm vendor load-in instructions
✉️ 2–3 Months Before — Invitations & RSVPs
- ☐ Assemble invitations
- ☐ Weigh a completed invitation at the post office
- ☐ Purchase the correct postage
- ☐ Mail invitations
- ☐ Track RSVPs
- ☐ Follow up with guests who do not respond
- ☐ Track meal selections
- ☐ Track dietary restrictions
- ☐ Track plus-ones
- ☐ Track children attending
- ☐ Update the guest list regularly
- ☐ Provide guests with hotel and transportation reminders
🗣️ Speeches & Announcements
- ☐ Decide who will give a welcome speech
- ☐ Decide who will give toasts
- ☐ Confirm the maid or matron of honor's toast
- ☐ Confirm the best man's toast
- ☐ Confirm parent speeches
- ☐ Set a time limit for each speech
- ☐ Ask speakers to avoid embarrassing or inappropriate stories
- ☐ Provide the DJ or emcee with the speaking order
- ☐ Confirm microphone availability
- ☐ Write a thank-you speech from the couple
- ☐ Practice speeches aloud
- ☐ Provide pronunciation notes for names
🧳 Honeymoon
- ☐ Book flights
- ☐ Book accommodations
- ☐ Arrange airport transportation
- ☐ Purchase travel insurance
- ☐ Check passport expiration dates
- ☐ Apply for or renew passports
- ☐ Check visa requirements
- ☐ Make restaurant reservations
- ☐ Book excursions
- ☐ Notify banks of international travel
- ☐ Arrange pet care
- ☐ Arrange house sitting or mail collection
- ☐ Make copies of travel documents
- ☐ Create a packing list
👗 6–8 Weeks Before — Final Attire Details
- ☐ Attend final dress fittings
- ☐ Practice walking in wedding shoes
- ☐ Break in wedding shoes
- ☐ Purchase undergarments
- ☐ Purchase shapewear, if desired
- ☐ Purchase socks and accessories for the groom
- ☐ Confirm suit or tuxedo fittings
- ☐ Confirm wedding-party attire
- ☐ Confirm parent attire
- ☐ Steam or press attire
- ☐ Create a plan for transporting the wedding dress
- ☐ Pack an extra shirt for the groom
- ☐ Pack comfortable reception shoes
- ☐ Prepare a sewing and stain-removal kit
📝 Final Planning Form
- ☐ Complete the venue's planning forms
- ☐ Complete the caterer's planning forms
- ☐ Complete the photographer's questionnaire
- ☐ Complete the videographer's questionnaire
- ☐ Complete the DJ's wedding planner
- ☐ Provide all formal-introduction names
- ☐ Provide pronunciation notes
- ☐ Provide song selections
- ☐ Provide the do-not-play list
- ☐ Provide the wedding-party order
- ☐ Provide the speech order
- ☐ Provide the final timeline
- ☐ Provide emergency contact information
- ☐ Confirm vendor meal counts
- ☐ Confirm setup requirements
🧾 Legal & Financial Details
- ☐ Apply for the marriage license
- ☐ Confirm the license expiration period
- ☐ Confirm who must be present when applying
- ☐ Confirm identification requirements
- ☐ Confirm who will return the signed license
- ☐ Prepare final vendor payments
- ☐ Prepare gratuities
- ☐ Place payments in labeled envelopes
- ☐ Assign someone to distribute payments
- ☐ Confirm all remaining balances
- ☐ Review cancellation and overtime policies
👥 3–4 Weeks Before — Final Guest Count
- ☐ Contact guests who have not responded
- ☐ Finalize the guest count
- ☐ Finalize meal selections
- ☐ Finalize dietary restrictions
- ☐ Submit the final count to the venue
- ☐ Submit the final count to the caterer
- ☐ Submit the final count to the rental company
- ☐ Finalize the seating chart
- ☐ Print escort cards or place cards
- ☐ Print table numbers
- ☐ Print menus
- ☐ Print ceremony programs
- ☐ Print welcome signs
- ☐ Print reserved-seat signs
- ☐ Print transportation signs
📞 Vendor Confirmations
- ☐ Confirm all vendor arrival times
- ☐ Confirm vendor contact names and phone numbers
- ☐ Confirm venue access times
- ☐ Confirm setup and breakdown times
- ☐ Confirm final music selections
- ☐ Confirm final flower counts
- ☐ Confirm rental quantities
- ☐ Confirm transportation routes
- ☐ Confirm the cake design and delivery
- ☐ Confirm bar selections
- ☐ Confirm the final reception layout
- ☐ Confirm the backup weather plan
- ☐ Confirm the ceremony rehearsal
- ☐ Send the final timeline to vendors
- ☐ Send the final timeline to the wedding party
- ☐ Send the final timeline to immediate family
📦 1–2 Weeks Before — Pack & Organize
- ☐ Pack ceremony décor
- ☐ Pack reception décor
- ☐ Pack the guest book
- ☐ Pack the card box
- ☐ Pack table numbers
- ☐ Pack place cards or escort cards
- ☐ Pack favors
- ☐ Pack cake accessories
- ☐ Pack toasting glasses
- ☐ Pack unity-ceremony items
- ☐ Pack memorial-table items
- ☐ Pack emergency supplies
- ☐ Pack comfortable shoes
- ☐ Pack overnight bags
- ☐ Pack honeymoon luggage
- ☐ Label every box by location
- ☐ Create setup instructions
- ☐ Assign someone to transport personal items
- ☐ Assign someone to collect gifts and cards
- ☐ Assign someone to collect décor after the reception
🧰 Emergency Kit
- ☐ Safety pins
- ☐ Sewing kit
- ☐ Fashion tape
- ☐ Stain-removal wipes
- ☐ Lint roller
- ☐ Bandages
- ☐ Pain reliever
- ☐ Antacid
- ☐ Tissues
- ☐ Mints
- ☐ Deodorant
- ☐ Hair spray
- ☐ Bobby pins
- ☐ Makeup for touchups
- ☐ Phone chargers
- ☐ Portable battery packs
- ☐ Snacks
- ☐ Bottled water
- ☐ Umbrellas
- ☐ Copies of the timeline and vendor contacts
✅ Final Personal Tasks
- ☐ Get a haircut early enough to allow it to settle
- ☐ Schedule manicures and pedicures
- ☐ Confirm grooming appointments
- ☐ Clean the engagement ring
- ☐ Pick up the wedding dress
- ☐ Pick up suits or tuxedos
- ☐ Confirm wedding rings are ready
- ☐ Practice vows
- ☐ Practice the first dance
- ☐ Practice bustling the wedding dress
- ☐ Confirm who will help with the dress and veil
- ☐ Confirm who will hold personal belongings
- ☐ Get plenty of rest
- ☐ Stay hydrated
- ☐ Avoid making major last-minute changes
💒 The Wedding Rehearsal
- ☐ Bring the marriage license
- ☐ Bring ceremony programs
- ☐ Bring unity-ceremony items
- ☐ Practice the processional order
- ☐ Practice seating parents and grandparents
- ☐ Practice the bride's entrance
- ☐ Practice the exchange of rings
- ☐ Practice the recessional
- ☐ Confirm where everyone will stand
- ☐ Confirm who holds the rings
- ☐ Confirm who holds the bouquet
- ☐ Confirm who fixes the dress or veil
- ☐ Confirm who escorts each family member
- ☐ Review the wedding-day timeline
- ☐ Review transportation plans
- ☐ Give the wedding party final instructions
- ☐ Distribute wedding-party gifts
- ☐ Enjoy the rehearsal dinner
- ☐ Keep the evening reasonably early
📋 The Day Before the Wedding
- ☐ Check the weather
- ☐ Confirm the backup weather plan, if necessary
- ☐ Charge all phones and devices
- ☐ Pack the marriage license
- ☐ Pack the wedding rings
- ☐ Pack vow books
- ☐ Pack final payment envelopes
- ☐ Pack vendor gratuities
- ☐ Confirm transportation
- ☐ Confirm wake-up times
- ☐ Confirm hair and makeup times
- ☐ Confirm breakfast and lunch plans
- ☐ Deliver décor to the venue, when allowed
- ☐ Lay out attire and accessories
- ☐ Remove tags and stickers from clothing
- ☐ Steam garments
- ☐ Drink water
- ☐ Eat a proper meal
- ☐ Get a good night's sleep
- ☐ Stop checking the seating chart
That last one may require divine intervention.
🌅 Wedding Day — Morning
- ☐ Eat breakfast
- ☐ Drink water
- ☐ Take necessary medications
- ☐ Keep the wedding rings secure
- ☐ Keep the marriage license secure
- ☐ Keep payment envelopes secure
- ☐ Put phones on chargers
- ☐ Begin hair and makeup on schedule
- ☐ Have wedding attire photographed before dressing
- ☐ Have rings, invitations, shoes, jewelry, and perfume ready for detail photos
- ☐ Allow extra time for dressing
- ☐ Use the restroom before putting on formalwear
- ☐ Confirm bouquets and boutonnieres have arrived
- ☐ Confirm transportation is on the way
- ☐ Give phones and personal belongings to a trusted person
- ☐ Take a quiet moment together or separately
- ☐ Breathe
💒 Ceremony
- ☐ Confirm the officiant has arrived
- ☐ Confirm musicians or DJ are ready
- ☐ Confirm microphones are working
- ☐ Confirm reserved seating is marked
- ☐ Confirm programs are distributed
- ☐ Confirm the wedding party is lined up
- ☐ Confirm parents and grandparents are ready
- ☐ Confirm rings are with the correct person
- ☐ Confirm the bouquet is ready
- ☐ Sign the marriage license
- ☐ Make sure required witnesses sign the license
- ☐ Assign someone to secure the completed license
🥂 Reception
- ☐ Confirm the wedding party is lined up for introductions
- ☐ Confirm the couple's entrance song
- ☐ Confirm the first-dance song
- ☐ Confirm parent-dance songs
- ☐ Confirm the speech order
- ☐ Confirm the cake-cutting time
- ☐ Confirm dinner service timing
- ☐ Confirm special-dance timing
- ☐ Confirm transportation for the end of the night
- ☐ Eat dinner
- ☐ Drink water between alcoholic drinks
- ☐ Visit guest tables
- ☐ Take sunset photos
- ☐ Take a private moment together
- ☐ Enjoy the dance floor
- ☐ Make sure gifts and cards are secured
- ☐ Confirm personal items are collected
- ☐ Confirm leftover food and cake arrangements
- ☐ Confirm décor cleanup responsibilities
- ☐ Confirm the final vendor payments have been distributed
- ☐ Enjoy the last dance
- ☐ Make a grand exit, when planned
🌙 After the Wedding — The Next Day
- ☐ Confirm the marriage license was submitted
- ☐ Return rental attire
- ☐ Return rental décor and equipment
- ☐ Collect personal items from the venue
- ☐ Collect leftover cake, food, flowers, and décor
- ☐ Deposit checks and cash gifts
- ☐ Store wedding cards safely
- ☐ Review hotel and transportation charges
- ☐ Pay any remaining balances
- ☐ Rest and recover
💌 Within the First Few Weeks
- ☐ Send thank-you notes
- ☐ Thank vendors who went above and beyond
- ☐ Leave vendor reviews
- ☐ Share wedding photos with family
- ☐ Preserve the wedding dress
- ☐ Preserve or dry the bouquet
- ☐ Store wedding keepsakes
- ☐ Order wedding albums
- ☐ Order prints and wall art
- ☐ Back up photos and video files
- ☐ Update the wedding registry
- ☐ Exchange duplicate gifts
- ☐ Complete any legal name-change paperwork
- ☐ Update identification and financial accounts, when applicable
- ☐ Update emergency contacts and beneficiaries
- ☐ Celebrate surviving the seating chart
✅ Final "Do Not Forget" List
- ☐ Marriage license
- ☐ Wedding rings
- ☐ Personal vows
- ☐ Wedding attire
- ☐ Shoes and accessories
- ☐ Transportation
- ☐ Vendor payments
- ☐ Gratuity envelopes
- ☐ Marriage-license witnesses
- ☐ Final guest count
- ☐ Seating chart
- ☐ Music selections
- ☐ Wedding-day timeline
- ☐ Emergency contacts
- ☐ Overnight bags
- ☐ Phone chargers
- ☐ Medications
- ☐ Food and water
- ☐ Someone responsible for gifts and cards
- ☐ Someone responsible for returning rentals
- ☐ Someone responsible for personal belongings
- ☐ Time alone together during the wedding
- ☐ A sense of humor when something inevitably goes off-script

