
The month leading up to your wedding day is a busy one with lots of things to do. To make sure you don’t forget anything important, check out this list of 30 tasks you need to do in the 30 days before your I Dos.
1. Get a final head count. It’s a sad fact of life that many people simply don’t RSVP–even to a major event like a wedding. Once your deadline has passed, it’s time to start calling or emailing those people who haven’t sent back their response cards. You can ask your parents and maid of honor to help you out if it’s a large list.
2. Set your final fitting. Put those final touches on your wedding gown before the big day.
3. Decide on hair and makeup. You should have already booked your beauty pros, so it’s time to nail down how you’ll wear your hair and makeup when you walk down the aisle.
4. Make spa appointments. Book your mani and pedi–as well as any waxing, massage, etc.–appointments to make sure you get the time you want.
5. Get your marriage license. In many states, the license is only valid for a set amount of time. Check with your local town hall to find out what the requirements are where you’re getting hitched.
6. Meet with vendors. About two weeks before the big day, you’ll want to call all of your vendors to make sure they’re set for the wedding. Go over what time they need to arrive, what they’ll be doing, etc. If you have a wedding planner, you can delegate this task to her.
7. Create a wedding day timeline. Set a schedule for the wedding day–when hair and makeup starts, when the photographer should show up, etc.–and share it with your planner, vendors, bridal party, etc. to make sure the day runs smoothly and on time.
8. Pack your emergency kit. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong, but it’s best to be prepared. To find out what you need, check this out.
9. Figure out seating. This is one of the hardest wedding-related tasks, but it’s a necessity. Make it less stressful by looking at these tips.
10. Print out place cards. Once you’ve got the seating under control, you can print out place cards. This is something you can easily DIY if you want.
11. Put together favors. Finalize your favors (if they’re edible, you might want to order them a bit closer to the wedding date) and if they need to be packaged, ask your Bridesmaids for some help.
12. Create a wedding program. This is also something you can easily DIY using an online template and pretty stock paper bought at a craft store.
13. Make welcome baskets. If you have out-of-town guests, putting together welcome baskets for them is a nice touch.
14. Deliver final song list to band or DJ. Create a list of must-have songs for the reception, as well as important dances (first, parent, etc.)
15. Send shot list to photographer. You’ll also want to jot down a list of important shots you want your photographer to capture on the big day.
16. Check in on the groomsmen. Men can sometimes be forgetful, so send out a friendly reminder about sending in their measurements for tuxes, scheduling their fittings and pickup times.
17. Confirm transportation. Go over pickup times and locations for the day.
18. Buy gifts for bridal party. Wrap them and write out thank you cards for everyone participating in your special day.
19.Write a love note to your groom. With all of the business of planning the day, it can be easy to lose sight of why you’re even throwing this wedding. To make sure your groom knows what’s important to you, write him a love note to give him the night before the wedding.
20. Finalize the rehearsal dinner. Your future in-laws might be planning and paying for this, but you’ll still want to check in to make sure it’s going smoothly.
21. Check in on your Bridesmaids. Make sure everyone has their dresses fitted, accessories ready and they know where they have to be ad when.
22. Jot down a few words. Be prepared to say a few words at the rehearsal dinner–it’s a great chance to thank your parents, bridal party and your out-of-town guests.
23. Prep the dress. Have your dress pressed one last time before you put it on.
24. Go over the ceremony with your officiant. Include any important readings or anything you want him to speak about during the vows.
25. Practice your first dance. Whether you’ve taken lessons or not, you should do a run through with your groom before hitting the dance floor. Nervous? Look at these tips to wow your guests.
26. Confirm honeymoon plans. Check up on flights, hotel reservations, excursion plans and anything else honeymoon-related.
27. Make a honeymoon list. Write down everything you want to bring on your honeymoon so you don’t forget anything.
28. Pack. Don’t leave packing for the honeymoon until the last minute–you’ll have so much to do those few days before the wedding. So it’s best to do this in advance.
29. Deliver ceremony extras. The unity candle, programs, extra décor–drop all of this off to the locale a few days before the big day.
30. Take it all in. Try your best to stay stress-free and enjoy these last few weeks and days before you say I Do.