What Should I Be Doing ~ 4-6 Month Edition

✅ Finalize Vendors, Key Details and Schedule Fittings

‍By this point, your vendor team should be mostly locked in. Now is the time to make sure the remaining pieces are in place and everything is scheduled so the final months run smoothly:

• Book any final vendors still outstanding, such as transportation, specialty rentals or live musicians.
• Schedule key meetings and walkthroughs with your planner and vendors:
  • Final design meetings with your florist
  • Custom ceremony and reception layouts with your venue and planner
  • Site visits or walkthroughs with key vendors
• Schedule wedding dress fittings – most brides begin their first fitting about 2–3 months before the wedding, with follow-up fittings as needed to ensure the perfect fit. Bring your wedding shoes, undergarments and accessories for accuracy.
• Catering and rentals – schedule your tasting, confirm menu selections and place initial rental orders for items like china, flatware and linens.
• Rehearsal dinner or welcome party – make sure plans are in place and communicated to the right vendors.

Remember: Your guest count may still fluctuate once RSVPs come in, but finalizing rentals, menu selections, and vendor appointments now ensures nothing gets held up or goes out of stock as your wedding day approaches.

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🍸 Lock in Specialty Food or Beverage Elements

If you are planning to have:

• Signature cocktails
• Late-night snacks
• Espresso carts, dessert stations or interactive food bars
  ... now is a good time to confirm those plans with your caterer or specialty vendor.

This is also when you might start to consider:

• Personalized cocktail napkins
• Custom bar signage
• Menu displays

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💌 Revisit Guest List & Get Organized for Invitations

This is the time to:

• Finalize spelling of all guest names
• Confirm titles and plus-ones
• Organize addresses in your spreadsheet or invitation service
• Start designing or proofing your invitations if you have not yet, including rehearsal dinner/brunch invitations
• Order any invitations for other wedding events such as the bridal luncheon, bridal shower, etc.

Pro tip: Order about 10–15 extra invitation suites for keepsakes, photos or late additions.

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💻 Finalize Your Wedding Website

‍At this time, your wedding website should already be started and linked with your Save the Dates. Now it is time to finalize key sections to ensure guests have all the information they need:

• Wedding Weekend Details & Logistics – Include your ceremony start time, reception schedule, transportation and parking instructions, and any hotel block information for out-of-town guests.
• Guest Resources & Extras – Provide registry links, dress code guidance, an FAQ section and a designated point of contact or wedding email for questions.

Pro Tip: Keep your website dynamic! As RSVPs come in, update your guest list, meal selections or transportation logistics. Adding personal touches, such as photos, local recommendations or favorite restaurants, can make guests feel more connected to your celebration and excited for your wedding weekend.

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🏨 Book Overnight Accommodations

Now is the time to book your overnight stay for the night of your wedding and possibly the night before, or after, as well. A hotel gives you a clean, calm space to get ready and wind down without the distractions of home.

If you are local and staying at a hotel, you can offer your home as a base for trusted family or friends to help with:

• Storing gifts and leftover food
• Managing décor pickups
• Helping out with day-of odds and ends

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✈️ Confirm Honeymoon Prep Is On Track

Ensure passports/visas are in order, as well as:

• Start any needed vaccinations (depending on destination)
• Begin shopping for luggage or travel outfits
• Make sure someone is lined up to house/pet sit if needed
• Double-check travel insurance coverage and booking confirmations

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🌸 Finalize Florals & Décor

This is the time to bring your design vision into focus. If you are working with a florist, review your proposal and star locking in final choices so your florist can begin sourcing. Confirm ceremony installs, personal flowers and reception arrangements. Schedule a final design meeting if needed!

Not going the traditional floral route? Many couples are now choosing faux flowers, greenery garlands or décor-heavy designs built around candles, lanterns and statement pieces. If that is your path, now is the time to:

• Finalize your design plan
• Begin ordering or sourcing décor items
• Hunt for deals on Marketplace, wedding resale groups or holiday sales
• Build a storage and labeling system so everything stays organized

Pro tip: If you are DIY-ing any décor or florals, set aside time on your calendar each month to chip away at projects. Breaking it up now will save you from a stressful crafting marathon right before the wedding!

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🪑 Finalize or Rent Ceremony & Reception Furniture

If you are supplementing your venue's inventory or using a rental company, this is a good time to finalize:

• Lounge seating
• Ceremony chairs or arbors
• Bars, display tables or specialty pieces

These items can book out during peak seasons, so better to reserve now and tweak counts later. For Mankin Mansion couples, check in with your planner for inventory/decor options!

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🎶 Build Your Music Playlists

Music is something you can work on gradually, and this is a great time to get started!
Create a base playlist of 10–15 songs for:

• Pre-ceremony
• Cocktail hour
• Dinner
• Dancing

From there, you can expand each list as songs come to mind.
If you have a DJ, check if they offer a planning tool or app, it can typically make the process way easier.
If you have a band, connect with them about their planning needs and how you can help guide the vibe.

Pro tip: Let your DJ or band have some flexibility ~ they know how to read the crowd and keep the energy up!

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🚐 Confirm All Transportation Plans

This includes:

• Guest shuttles to and from the venue
• Wedding party transportation
• Getaway vehicle for the two of you
• Honeymoon airport transfer

Start mapping out the schedule and route now to avoid last-minute gaps or confusion. Be sure to communicate clearly with anyone you are transporting and make all guest transportation deatials clear on the wedding website.

💄 Begin Beauty Prep & Trials

Thinking of trying a new skincare product, hair routine or teeth whitening treatment? This is the time to do it.
Use the next few months to:

• Begin (or fine-tune) your skincare routine
• Get haircuts or start growing out your hair for your chosen style
• Book trials for hair, makeup or grooming

You want to give your body time to adjust. Do not wait until the last minute to experiment ~ trust us!

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📦 Start Ordering Wedding Day Items

To avoid a pileup of packages and stress later on, begin ordering:

• Wedding invitation samples (if needed) and invitation suites for other events (bridal shower, luncheon, etc.)
• Groom/groomsmen attire and additional event outfits
• Gifts for wedding party, parents and each other
• Décor items (mirrors, signage, easels, Etsy orders)
• Any custom or handmade pieces that need extra time to ship
• Passports or visas for your honeymoon (if applicable)

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🧠 Stay on Track with These Final Tips

A few often-overlooked tasks to start thinking through now:

• Confirm timeline check-ins or upcoming meetings with your planner or venue coordinator
• Review vendor contracts for final deadlines, payments and tipping expectations
• Create a running list of personal items to bring (shoes, jewelry, undergarments, etc.)
• Decide who will be responsible for transporting décor, gifts and leftover items after the wedding

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❤️ Keep Enjoying the Process

Planning can feel intense during this window, but remember this is an exciting stretch! You are past the overwhelming “where do we even start?” phase and entering the satisfying part where decisions come together and the vision becomes real.

Need help prioritizing? Your planning team at the Mansion is always happy to support you!

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