9 Months Before the Wedding: A Detailed Checklist
At the nine-month mark, you’re deep in the planning process. Now is the time to finalize major bookings, make key decisions about your attire, and get ahead of logistical details that will save you stress down the line.
Vendor & Venue Management
You’ve likely booked your core vendors by now, so this is the time to confirm all the nitty-gritty details.
Confirm all contracts: Double-check all of your contracts with your venue, photographer, videographer, caterer, florist, officiant, and entertainment (DJ or band). Look closely at payment schedules, specific services included, and any cancellation policies.
Finalize vendor details: Begin discussing specifics with each vendor. This could include things like finalizing your menu selections, creating a song list for your DJ, or deciding on the specific flowers for your arrangements.
Book your wedding cake: Schedule tastings with bakers and choose your flavors and design. Securing your cake vendor now ensures you have plenty of time to get exactly what you want.
Wedding Attire
Nine months is the perfect time to make final decisions on your wedding party’s attire, as alterations and shipping can take a while.
Choose and order your wedding dress: If you haven’t already, this is a crucial step. It can take several months for a dress to arrive, and you’ll need additional time for fittings and alterations.
Shop for wedding bands: Start researching and shopping for your wedding rings. You’ll want to take your time to find the perfect rings that you’ll both love forever.
Select wedding party attire: Help your bridesmaids choose and order their dresses. For the groomsmen, decide on whether you’ll go with suits or tuxedos and make sure they get fitted.
Begin thinking about accessories: Start looking for your veil, shoes, jewelry, and any other accessories you want to wear.
Guest Communication & Logistics
It’s time to get a solid headcount and start communicating with your guests.
Finalize the guest list: This is essential for setting your budget and making sure you have an accurate number for your venue and caterer.
Order and send save-the-dates: Send these out to give guests plenty of notice, especially if you have a lot of out-of-town guests.
Book hotel room blocks: Secure blocks of rooms at a few nearby hotels for guests who are traveling.
Research transportation: If your ceremony and reception are at different locations, or if you just want to make things easier, start looking into transportation options for the wedding party and guests.
Other Important Tasks
Don’t forget these other key tasks that will help everything fall into place.
Create your wedding registry: Set up your gift registry at one or two of your favorite stores.
Plan your honeymoon: Book flights and accommodations if you haven’t already. The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have and the better deals you might find.
Consider wedding insurance: If you haven’t yet, now is a good time to look into wedding insurance to protect your investment from unforeseen circumstances like vendor no-shows or venue closures.
Tips for Success
Stay organized: Use a digital planning tool, a spreadsheet, or even a simple notebook to keep track of contracts, payments, and deadlines.
Delegate tasks: You don’t have to do it all yourself! Ask your partner, family, or wedding party to help with specific tasks.
Schedule check-ins: Set aside time each week to talk with your partner about wedding plans. This keeps you both on the same page and helps you make decisions together.
Take breaks: Planning a wedding can be stressful. Remember to schedule time for yourselves to relax and enjoy your engagement.
Ready to start planning your dream wedding with us?
Contact Karen and Tom Grosh at https://timbervalleyfarmbarnrental.com/ to schedule a tour and confirm your date. We can’t wait to help you say “I do.”
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