Finalize All the Details With This Month of Wedding Checklist
This is it! You’re officially one month away from your wedding date! As your big day approaches, you’ll be finalizing details, talking with vendors, and ensuring everyone in your bridal party knows when and where they’re needed. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or forget some crucial details. That’s why we created this month of wedding checklist to help you approach these final weeks as a fiancé with minimal stress.
Four Weeks Out:
Contact Outstanding RSVPs
Now is the time to make those calls or texts to guests who missed your RSVP deadline. You’ll need your final headcount for your caterer and venue, so the sooner you check this off your list the better.
Create Your Photography & Videography Plan
Your wedding photographer and wedding videographer will capture all your most cherished wedding memories… but you still need to do the prep work. When you work with Mike Staff Productions, we’ll send your photography and videography planning forms 6-weeks out. These forms allow you to make note of the photography and videography timeline for the day, as well as specific shot lists and important details you want captured.
Finalize Your Music With Your DJ
Now is the time to choose songs for your first dance, grand entrance, processional, recessional, and more.
Looking for inspiration? Our wedding DJs gathered their top songs for all occasions.
Have Your Hair & Makeup Trial
If you haven’t had your trials with your beauty team yet, NOW is the time. Doing these trials with a few weeks to spare gives you time to schedule any necessary hair appointments or skin treatments prior to the big day.
Read More: Tips For Your Wedding Day Makeup
Apply For Your Marriage License
You DON’T want to forget this one! Most counties in Michigan allow you to apply for your marriage license 30 days before your wedding date, but be sure to know the requirements for your county.
Three Weeks Out:
Finish Your Timeline & Send To VIPs
Your timeline should include what time your bridal party, family, and vendors will arrive. It should also include photo times, first look, ceremony time, reception moments, and more. Once your timeline is complete, send it to all your VIPs including your bridal party, immediate family, and vendors.
Get Your FREE Downloadable Wedding Day Timeline Template!
Purchase Bridal Party & Parent Gifts
Thank those closest to you by gifting them something on the wedding day. These don’t need to be elaborate gifts, but something to say “thank you” is always appreciated.
Order Any Printed Items
Ceremony programs, menus, escort and place cards, signature drink signs, and any other printed materials should be ordered at least 3-weeks in advance.
Two Weeks Out:
Gather Details to Be Photographed
During your pre-ceremony time, your wedding photographer will capture plenty of images of you getting ready, your dress, florals, and many more details! It helps to have any details you want photographed prepared for your photographer ahead of time. Consider filling a box with extra invitation suites, jewelry, garters, perfumes, family heirlooms, and any other items that you want captured.
Put Together Welcome Bags & Favors
If you’re hosting plenty of out of state guests, then now is the time to get those welcome bags done! Welcome bags typically include little treats for your guests and a schedule-of-events. Note: Welcome bags are not necessary if you did not budget for them already.
Have Your Last Dress Fitting
Think of your last dress fitting as a dress rehearsal for your big day! Bring your veil, accessories, shoes, and day-of undergarments.
Final Hair Appointments
If you’re getting your hair colored or cut, it’s best to do this no earlier than two weeks out to prevent any fading or roots.
Create Your Seating Chart
You know that dreaded seating chart you’ve been putting off? Now is the time to finalize it. This leaves you enough time to get your escort cards or seating chart display created.
One Week Out:
Confirm Final Payments & Day-Of Timeline with Vendors
Confirm arrival times, set-up times, and make any remaining payments to your vendors including venue, caterer, florist, day-of coordinator, photographer, videographer, DJ, and more.
Gather All Extras For Your Venue or Coordinator
Give your coordinator any favors, place cards, cake servers, toasting glasses, and whatever else needs to be set-up on the day-of.
Assign Your Bridal Party Specific Tasks For The Wedding Day
Chat with your bridal party and assign duties, such as:
- Timeline manager to keep everyone on track
- Take candid photos and videos behind-the-scenes (and TikTok of course!)
- Collect gifts & cards
- Give gratuity to vendors at the end of the day
- Pack decor & personal items at the end of the reception
Pack a Wedding Night Bag
Pack your essentials and ask a friend or attendant to make sure it gets to the right place by the end of the night.
Prepare Tips for Wedding Vendors
Review your contracts to see if gratuities are included. If not, place each tip in a marked envelope, and enlist your MOH or best man to deliver them.
Read More: Your Guide To Tipping Wedding Vendors
Bonus: Get Your Engagement Ring Cleaned!
Our wedding photographers #1 tip for your wedding day? Get your engagement ring cleaned! You’ll be amazed at how it sparkles in your photos.
The Mike Staff Productions Guarantee
At Mike Staff Productions, we trust that you’ll choose the perfect person to work with because you know what you want on your wedding day! There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all wedding DJ, photographer or videographer – we get that, that’s why we invite you to be a part of the planning process.
Let’s bring your wedding vision to life!
Mike Staff is the founder and CEO of Mike Staff Productions, Metro Detroit’s most awarded wedding entertainment and media company. Since founding Mike Staff Productions in 1996, Mike has led a team that has served over 25,000 couples across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties — providing wedding DJ, photography, and videography services at hundreds of Metro Detroit venues. Under his leadership, Mike Staff Productions has earned recognition as one of the top wedding companies in the country, with consistent five-star ratings on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Google. Mike pioneered the Team Approach model — coordinating DJ, photo, and video under one contract — to eliminate the stress and coordination gaps couples face when booking vendors separately.
