One Month Wedding Countdown: Everything You Should Consider
Everything you need to remember one month out from your wedding day.
One month away from I do aka the final countdown!!!
If this is you, I can resonate by telling you there are a TON of emotions that come in that last month leading up to your wedding day - feeling excited, jittery, happy, but also maybe stressed, nervous and overwhelmed. Whichever side you’re leaning towards, just know that this is all completely normal. There’s a lot to keep track of as you get closer to the big day, but no stress - I’m here to remind you of everything you should consider that way you don’t forget anything!
With that said, having been a recent bride myself, I want to share some tips from my own experience to help guide you through yours in this final one month stretch. I feel like no one warned me about the stress that comes with the one-month wedding countdown, so I want to reassure you that no matter how prepared you may think you are, it’s normal to feel this way. Although I did everything in my power to get as much done early on in the process, there’s somehow always still a never-ending to do list.
So with that said, I’m also here to help make things a bit easier for you. Below is a list of priorities to keep in mind - I recommend using this as a personal checklist and reminder before your wedding. If you still have a few months to go, then bookmark this page for when the time comes because trust me, it’ll go a longggg way.
Marriage License
Ensure you have obtained your marriage license and completed any necessary paperwork. Check your local government’s requirements and make an appointment if needed. You can do this up to 90 days in advance, so I recommend doing it as far away from your wedding as you can to give you some wiggle room if need be.
Finalizing RSVPs
Confirm that you have received responses from all your guests to finalize your guest list. Reach out to anyone who has not yet responded.
Ceremony Seating Arrangements
Decide if you want reserved seating for family, the bridal party, or VIP guests. If so, create reserved seating signs and a seating plan for the ceremony space to guide guests on where to sit. Personally, I just printed out “RESERVED” using a large, script font on loose leaf paper and put it in the first two rows for my bridal party and family.
Reception Seating Arrangements
Finalize the seating arrangements for the reception. This includes creating a reception table floor plan and assigning tables to guests. Prepare reserved seating place cards if you plan to do so.
*Pro tip: The best way to do this is to put all of your guests names on individual post it notes. Find an empty table - a dining room table, a coffee table, a folding table - and tape down white printer paper that you can write on. Then draw out the layout of the room along with however many chairs go with each table. Then you can play around with the table seating chart by moving the post-it notes until you find the perfect seating for your guests!
Wedding Attire
Confirm that your wedding attire is finalized.
*Pro tip: order THIS to keep all of your wedding outfits organized in one place. Schedule any necessary last-minute fittings to ensure everything fits perfectly on the big day
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Wedding Favors
Ensure that wedding favors are ordered or assembled. Consider small gifts or tokens for your guests to remember your special day.
I had a Levain cookie cart when guests departed with my personalized wedding logo on it and it was SUCH a hit! See details here and say “LEXI TOBIN” when booking!
Final Walkthrough
Conduct a walkthrough of the ceremony and reception venues. Ensure everything is in place and address any last-minute concerns.
*Pro tip: Ask your venue if you can bring items to the venue the week of, rather than the day of. This will help to alleviate a lot of stress the morning of your wedding if everything is already there and organized how you envision it to be.
Florals
Review mockups of table floral arrangements and other decorative aspects. Confirm the final look with your florist to ensure it matches your vision. A lot of the times florists will set up a sample in their shop or at the venue for you to make sure you love everything before they mass order.
*Pro tip: Schedule this meeting with your florist at least 2 weeks leading up to your wedding that way you can make any last minute changes/touchups if need be.
Caterer
Make final menu selections for the cocktail hour and wedding reception. Confirm details with your caterer to ensure everything is set.
Timeline and Schedule
Create a detailed timeline for the wedding day, including the ceremony, reception, and any other events. Share it with your wedding party and vendors to ensure everyone is on the same page.
This is my master wedding timeline that I created and used for my own wedding :)
*Pro tip: send a group text or email to your bridal party sharing details with them of when they should arrive, laying out the schedule for the day that is relevant to them. Include notes letting them know if you are covering anything for them such as hair, makeup, food, etc. Also give them a “packing list” to keep in the bridal suite that way they don’t forget anything! For example:
Makeup for touch-ups
Hair tools for touch-ups
Gown, jewelry, heels, bag
Perfume, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant
Optional: comfy shoes for late-night dancing!
This will give your squad an understanding of the flow of the day and so ensure they are fully in the loop prior to!
Final Payments
Make any final payments to vendors to settle everything before the wedding day. This includes the venue, caterer, and any other service providers.
*Pro tip: Create envelopes with cash tips for vendors to give the day of and label the envelope for each vendor. Keep this in a safe place.
Emergency Kit
Put together an emergency kit with essential items like safety pins, stain remover, and pain relievers. This can be a lifesaver in case of any unexpected mishaps.
*Pro tip: I used THIS Rescue Kit - you can use “LEXI10” for 10% off yours! I also put a bunch of these items in the bathroom bins at my wedding!
Weather Contingency Plan
If your wedding is outdoors, have a backup plan in case of inclement weather. This also applies if you plan to take photos outdoors. If you have a strong backup plan, you’ll have a better head on your shoulders being prepared for bad weather!
Ceremony Music
Carefully plan your song selection clips to time the music to the processional. Re-watch your ceremony run-throughs to ensure each moment is perfectly timed for an emotional response. This will really help to enhance that special moment of you walking down your wedding aisle.
Keep Your Items Organized
Staying organized goes a REALLY long way. I personally used these organizational bags with the intention that each bag held a purpose. See below for more details on how I broke out these bags!
Friday Night Rehearsal Dinner - Shabbat candles & candlesticks, Challah, escort cards, MOB speech
The Bride Wedding Day - shoes, bag, makeup, hair tools, undergarments, jewelry, brides PJs, bridal undergarment
Mother of the Bride Wedding Day — shoes, backup shoes, pocket book, hair extensions, bride and groom rings & extra wedding invitation to give to photographer for photos
Bridal Party Day of - acrylic hangers, eye masks for AM, bridesmaids PJs, bridesmaids slippers, camera, Maid of Honor gift
Ceremony - music stand for officiant, Ketubah with frame, Tallas, Kiddush cup, glass for groom to stomp on, Yamikas with clips, bride & groom vows, marriage license
Party - escort cards, custom table numbers (use code “LEXI10” for 10% off your order)
Party Decor - bathroom amenity basket, envelope gift box with custom wedding logo from Dani Rubin Designs, cocktail napkins
After Party - flip flops and any extra decor
There’s a lot of details to keep track of, along with jitters and excitement, so do yourself a favor and lean on this guide to help get you through the weeks leading up!
If you have any questions, I’m always here to help the best I can. Just send me a message :)
Wishing you the happiest wedding month of all time!!! Remember to breathe, relax and get excited - your time is almost here!
With love,
Lexi