Wedding Checklist 6 Months Out

Walk through the timeline

1. 1

   6 months: book the remaining vendors

   If your venue and photographer are locked but you still have open vendor slots, this is the week to close them. Caterer, florist, DJ or band, officiant, videographer, and any rental companies should all be under contract by the end of month six. Vendors who do peak-season weddings book six to nine months out, so the longer you wait, the smaller your shortlist gets. Send shortlists to your partner the same day you collect them, and aim to sign each contract within two weeks of the first inquiry. Read every contract for cancellation terms, overtime rates, vendor meal requirements, and what happens if the vendor cannot perform.

   Tip: Build a single spreadsheet with vendor name, contact, contract date, deposit paid, balance due, and final payment date. One source of truth prevents missed payments later.

2. 2

   6 months: mail save-the-dates if you have not already

   Save-the-dates should be in guests' hands six to eight months before the wedding, and twelve months out for destination weddings. If you missed the window, send them now, late save-the-dates are still better than none, and they give out-of-town guests time to book travel. Include the date, city, and a wedding website URL. Save-the-dates do not need to include reception details, dress code, or the formal invitation copy, those come later.

3. 3

   5 months: design and order invitations

   Invitations should be ordered by month five so they can be addressed, stuffed, and mailed six to eight weeks before the wedding. Decide on format (printed suite, digital invitation, or hybrid), wording, and the RSVP method. Order ten to fifteen percent more than your guest count to cover addressing mistakes, last-minute additions, and keepsakes. If you are using a calligrapher, book that service now, the good ones book up six to eight weeks ahead. Decide whether your RSVP card asks for meal selection, song requests, or dietary needs.

   Tip: Set the RSVP deadline three to four weeks before the wedding, not two, so you have time to chase non-responders before vendor headcounts are due.

4. 4

   5 months: set up your RSVP tracker

   Decide where each kind of reply will be recorded before sending invitations. PartyPilot tracks individual SMS invitation responses and lets guests submit dietary notes. Keep plus-one arrangements, song requests, and any other custom questions in a separate planning list, and reconcile those details before finalizing the headcount.

5. 5

   4 months: begin dress and suit fittings

   Wedding attire typically needs three fittings spaced four to six weeks apart, plus delivery time on accessories. Schedule your first fitting now if your dress or suit has arrived. Bring the shoes you plan to wear, the undergarments you will use on the day, and any heirloom jewelry you want incorporated. For wedding party attire, send everyone a measurement guide and a deadline to order, group orders close around the four-month mark for most retailers.

   Tip: Keep weight, training, and big diet changes consistent through fitting season. Multiple alterations to the same garment add up fast in cost and stress.

6. 6

   4 months: book the honeymoon

   Book the honeymoon by month four so flights and resorts are still available at reasonable prices. Confirm passport validity (most countries require six months past your travel date), apply for any visas, and update travel insurance. If you are taking your partner's name after the wedding, book travel under your current legal name, name changes cannot be processed in time for an immediate post-wedding trip.

7. 7

   4 months: open your gift registry

   Open your registry now so guests have it ready when invitations arrive. Two registries across different price points (one big-box, one specialty or experience-based) gives guests options without overwhelming them. Aim for two to three times as many items as guests so people have real choices late in the cycle. Add the registry URL to your wedding website, but keep it off the main invitation, etiquette routes registry mentions through the website only.

8. 8

   3.5 months: reserve hotel blocks for guests

   Hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests should be reserved by month four, and definitely by three and a half months. Most hotels release unbooked rooms thirty days before the event, so the longer you wait to communicate the block to guests, the more rooms you risk losing. Reserve at one to two hotels at different price points and add the booking links to your wedding website. Confirm the hotel's attrition policy, some blocks make you financially liable for unbooked rooms.

   Tip: Send a guest update message the day the block opens so guests can book before the early-release window closes.

9. 9

   3.5 months: hair and makeup trial

   Schedule the hair and makeup trial three to four months out, ideally on a day when you can take engagement or bridal portraits afterward. Bring inspiration photos, hair pieces or veil, and the lipstick or jewelry you plan to wear. The trial is also when you decide if you want airbrush versus traditional makeup, false lashes, and what touch-up kit you will carry on the day. If you and your stylist are not aligned, this is the moment to switch. Three months is still enough runway to find someone new.

10. 10

    3 months: food tasting and menu finalization

    Schedule the catering tasting around month three when your headcount estimate is firming up. Bring your partner and one trusted person whose palate you respect, too many opinions makes this paralyzing. Finalize the main menu, the appetizer selection, the bar package, and any dietary alternatives (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kid meals). Confirm the per-person price and the minimum headcount that triggers it. Get the cake or dessert tasting on the calendar in the same window if your cake is from a separate vendor.

11. 11

    3 months: finalize pre-wedding event scheduling

    Bridal shower, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the rehearsal dinner all happen in the four-to-eight-week window before the wedding. Confirm the dates, hosts, locations, and guest lists for each by month three so invitations can go out. The maid of honor, best man, or other host typically owns the shower and bach parties, your job is to confirm the date works and provide the guest list. The rehearsal dinner usually involves the wedding party, immediate family, and out-of-town guests.

    Tip: Block off the week before the wedding from any travel or major work commitments. You will need that buffer for fittings, vendor confirmations, and rest.

12. 12

    3 months: finalize the guest list and start the seating chart

    By the end of month three, the guest list should be locked, no more additions unless someone declines. Pull the addressed envelopes and verify every address against your tracker. Start a draft seating chart based on your full invited list, knowing the final version will adjust once RSVPs are in. Group guests by relationship (college friends, extended family, work friends) before shuffling to balance table sizes. A draft now is faster to refine later than starting from a blank page during the final-month crunch.