Wedding Planning Checklist | What to Do 4 Months Before Your Wedding

Start putting your timeline together

Start with your photography timeline (you can find this in your Client Portal if you’re one of my couples), then expand it to include all vendor bump-in and bump-out times — unless you have a stylist or planner managing this for you.

I find this is a great job to delegate to the groom to get him involved (my husband was a gun at Excel — I, on the other hand, am not). We created one master spreadsheet covering everything: guest list, RSVPs, and the full wedding timeline.

Keep it simple, clear, and in one place — future you will thank you.

Book the yummy stuff

Now’s the time to lock in the fun extras — dessert tables, cake, gelato carts, confetti,

Make the most of tastings — this is one of the best parts of planning.

If you’re having a summer wedding, think about timing too. A gelato cart straight after the ceremony can be way more enjoyable than waiting until the end of the night.

Finalise your wedding stationery & signage

Make it feel like you.

Entry signage
wishing well
kids or no kids wording
plus-ones

Plan your hens

Send your maid of honour and bridesmaids a clear direction so they can start planning your hens.

Decide early:

Are mums, aunties, or grandmas invited — or is it just your closest girlfriends?
Do you want a weekend away or a single event?

For ideas, read my post on Best Hen’s Party Ideas.

Schedule hair and makeup

Book your hair and makeup team early — the best artists fill up quickly.

My favourites include The Pretty Parlour, Conor Adams.

As a general rule:

allow around 1 hour per person per service (hair + makeup separately if there are two artists)

And make sure you plan backwards:

finish at least 1.5-2 hours before you leave
allow 30–45 minutes for getting dressed
allow time for photos with your bridal party and family
don’t forget travel time to ceremony

Build in buffer time — it makes the morning feel calm instead of rushed.

Book your tunes

Band vs DJ — or a mix of both?

Also decide if they’ll act as MC, or whether a confident friend will take this on.

Music shapes the entire energy of the day, so choose someone who understands your vibe, not just a playlist.

Want your dancefloor to remain packed all night long? Enquire with DJ Aslan or Bon Yovi.

Suit up

Book the guys in for fittings or “man dates.”

Options include:

tailoring or suit hire
Shop online
mixing and matching instead of identical suits (this can look really good when done well)
decide on ties/ bowties/ pocketsquares

Book florals + finalise styling direction

If not already locked in, now is the time to confirm your florals and overall styling direction.

You should be finalising:

ceremony and reception florals
bridal party flowers
arbour or installation pieces
tablescapes and candles
hire items linked to styling
candles / lighting

Florals often set the entire visual tone of the wedding, so this is a key milestone.

RSVP tracking system

If invitations are already out, responses will be coming in (and some will be late).

Set up:

one central RSVP tracker (your Excel system works perfectly here)
a follow-up date for non-responders
a firm cut-off date for final numbers

This will save you a lot of stress when confirming catering.

Finalise ceremony + reception layouts

Even if a stylist is helping, make sure you understand:

ceremony seating layout (family, VIPs, accessibility)
reception floor plan (tables, dancefloor, bar placement)
guest flow between spaces

Good layout planning = a smooth, effortless-feeling wedding.

Beauty prep planning

Now is a good time to organise:

facials or skin prep schedule
spray tan trial (if having one)
nail appointments for wedding week

Small details, but they can make you feel great!

Ceremony structure + vows

Start planning the emotional flow of the ceremony.

Think about:

readings or rituals
who is speaking
ceremony music cues
vow writing timeline (don’t leave it too late)

This is one of those things that feels easy until suddenly it isn’t — giving it space now helps massively later.

Honeymoon planning

If not already booked:

confirm flights
lock in accommodation
check passport validity (minimum 6 months beyond return date)
confirm name details match bookings if changing surname

This is one area where early organisation avoids stressful last-minute surprises.

Take a planning reset

At this stage, pause and reassess:

Are we still on track financially?
Is anything overcomplicated?
Can we simplify anything?
Can we delegate anything?

The best weddings are often the ones that feel intentional, not overdone.

Go have a cocktail — you deserve it

You’re well into the final stretch now.

Planning is no longer overwhelming — it’s just refinement, details, and bringing everything together.

Wedding Planning: 4 Months to Go Checklist