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Wondering what you might forget 6–8 months before your wedding?
Here are a few things worth getting ahead of now — the stuff that quietly makes or breaks how smooth the whole experience feels later on.
Better yet: in my clients’ booking portal you’ll also find a full list of my favourite wedding vendors to make this stage a lot easier.
6–8 Months Before Your Wedding Checklist
- Finalise and send wedding invitations
- Lock in your guest list (and agree on kids or no kids policy)
- Book bridesmaid dresses and accessories
- Organise pre-wedding accommodation
- Book a pre-marriage course or counselling session
- Choose and order wedding rings
- Confirm ceremony + reception transport
- Finalise catering style and menu direction
- Book entertainment (ceremony, canapés, reception)
- Start honeymoon planning (and check passport expiry dates)
- Begin wedding timeline planning with vendors
- Book hair and makeup trials
- Start thinking about décor, furniture & lighting hire
- Confirm wedding insurance (if applicable)
Invitations & Guest List
Design and send out your invitations.
I have a soft spot for good branding and beautiful stationery — but I also completely understand not wanting to deal with printing, postage, and chasing RSVPs.
If that’s you, consider digital invitations like Greenvelope or Paperless Post. They’re stylish, streamlined, and make RSVP tracking a dream.
Or, utilise a free Wedding Website like WithJoy.
Finalise your guest list — this is often where compromises happen.
Don’t forget
- Dietaries
- Kids/ no kids
- specifics about the gap between ceremony and reception
- plus ones – generally these days people know you need to be on the invitation to be counted
- precise start times ie Please arrive at 3:30pm sharp for a 4:00pm ceremony’
- RSVP date
Once you decide, send invitations as soon and as close together as possible. Nothing creates awkwardness faster than staggered invites and accidental “so… did you get one?” conversations.
Bridesmaid Dresses
By now you’ve probably saved approximately 14,000 bridesmaid dress ideas on Pinterest.
Try not to overcomplicate it.
The best bridesmaid looks are usually the ones where people feel comfortable and confident — not squeezed into something that only works on a mood board.
A few things that always photograph well:
- soft mismatched tones
- natural, silky or textured fabrics
- timeless silhouettes
- dresses people can actually move, eat, and dance in
Trends come and go, but comfort always photographs beautifully.
Shona Joy, Bec & Bridge have great bridesmaid options.
Pre-Wedding Accommodation & Getting Organised
Book pre-wedding accommodation early, especially if you’re getting ready off-site or hosting guests from out of town.
Also now is a great time to start thinking about:
- getting-ready logistics
- who’s staying where
- transport between locations
- a rough wedding-day timeline (even a loose one helps enormously later)
Pre-Marriage Course
This is one of those things that sounds formal but is actually surprisingly insightful.
We did ours through Relationships Australia and honestly found it more helpful than expected.
You complete a short online assessment separately, then meet with someone who walks you through your results. There are no “right” answers — but it opens up conversations you might never think to have otherwise.
Highly recommend going in with an open mind. It’s one of the most underrated parts of wedding prep.
Choose Your Wedding Rings
Unlike a lot of wedding details, your rings are something you’ll hopefully wear every day for decades — so don’t rush this part.
Try things on properly and think about:
- comfort
- lifestyle
- durability
- how they pair with your engagement ring
- timelessness over trends
Also allow extra time if you’re getting rings custom made or resized.
Furniture, Lighting & Styling
If you’re using a stylist or planner, this is when many of the bigger design decisions start getting locked in.
If you’re DIYing, start gathering:
- furniture hire ideas
- welcome sign and wishing well options
- lighting concepts (fairy lights, festoon, candles, etc.)
- heaters/ fans/ umbrellas
- layout inspiration
This is the stage where your wedding’s “feel” really starts taking shape.
Transport Planning
Wedding transport is one of those details couples often leave too late.
Whether it’s vintage cars, modern black vehicles, a party bus, or coordinating guest shuttles — having it booked early removes a lot of last-minute stress.
In Perth especially, travel time can sneak up on you in summer heat or between spread-out venues, so always overestimate timing slightly.
Catering & Drinks
Whether you’re planning a cocktail-style celebration, shared feasting tables, or a formal sit-down dinner, your food and drink choices will shape the entire atmosphere.
Cocktail weddings feel social and relaxed, while seated dinners feel slower and more intimate — neither is better, just different energy.
One universal truth: guests remember good food, good drinks, and not waiting around hungry.
If possible, lock in a tasting early and think about flow as much as flavour.
And if you can, move speeches earlier in the evening — it completely changes the energy afterwards.
Entertainment & Music
Music sets the emotional tone of the day more than almost anything else.
From ceremony musicians to DJs or live bands, think about how each moment transitions into the next.
A good flow might look like: ceremony ? acoustic ? canapés ? upbeat cocktails ? dinner ? speeches ? dancefloor
And please make space for dancing — some of the most unforgettable moments always happen there.
Honeymoon Planning
Finally — the fun part.
While places like the Maldives and Bora Bora are incredible, they’re also heavily priced for honeymooners. Don’t be afraid to think a little differently or choose somewhere unexpected.
Some of the best trips feel personal, relaxed, and a bit adventurous — not just polished and postcard-perfect.
Quick practical tip: Make sure your passport has at least 6 months validity from your return date, and if you’re changing your surname, double-check flight bookings match your passport exactly.
I’ve heard enough airport horror stories to say: this one matters.
You can also explore my favourite honeymoon destinations.
Now, go you good thing.
You’re further along than you think — this stage is where everything quietly starts becoming real.
