Wedding preparation can be both wonderfully exciting, and also at times a fairly daunting process! Planning your favorite day to celebrate the love you have with your favorite person – what could be better? But then there are absolutely times when the details and decisions of this process can feel overwhelming. Knowing when to book vendors, how much (insert: food, drinks, desserts, etc.) to purchase, when your wedding party should have their suits/dresses ordered, what a wedding day timeline should look like… the list can go on! In my years as a wedding photographer, I’ve walked with many clients through their wedding preparation process. Along the way, I’ve recognized a few strategies that can help make a wedding day feel seamless and stress-free. Here are a few things you can do 3 months before your wedding to help diminish stress and set you up for a successful wedding day!

What to do 3 months before your wedding

Prepare a Wedding Day Timeline

A wedding day timeline is so important for all of the elements of your day to run smoothly and enjoyably. One of the most important things to do when planning your wedding day timeline is to communicate with a few key players!

3 months before your wedding, it’s a great idea to connect with your wedding planner, day-of coordinator, and photographer (yours truly!) to make sure that everyone is on the same page. I’ve often found that a bride and groom might have an ideal wedding day timeline in mind, with moments they want to experience and photographs they hope to capture. But they might not take into account the timing that is needed for all of these things to happen! Always remember: a delay in one part of the day leads to delays in allll the other parts of the day – it’s a snowball effect that we love to avoid! This is why it’s so important to plan ahead, and schedule buffer time into your wedding timeline to make sure there is plenty of time to transition from event to event.

This is also why communication with your wedding team is key. Your photographer can help you know how much time is needed for each wedding moment you hope to capture. Your wedding planner can work with you to create an ideal wedding day timeline to include all of the moments you hope to experience based on the timing provided by your photographer. Your day-of coordinator will make sure everyone is on time and where they need to be day-of!

A well-planned timeline is one of the best and easiest ways to set yourself up for success for your big day, and having this plan in place 3 months in advance is so helpful for your wedding preparation process!

Book Your Vendors

Finding and booking your vendors is another piece of the wedding preparation process that you definitely will not want to save until the last minute. Having vendors chosen and booked 3 months in advance is a great way to ensure you are not scrambling (i.e. creating added stress!) in the weeks leading up to your wedding.

Ideally, the vendors involved in your wedding day should be those you are excited about and/or have a connection with - not just whoever might be available! Waiting to book vendors even 8 weeks before your wedding can lead to limited options both related to quality and availability. Here are a few important things to consider in your wedding preparation as you prepare to book your vendors:

Location: Are the vendors you are hoping to book available for your wedding location?
Quantity: Can your chosen vendor match the need you have based on the number of guests at your wedding? (This will relate to food, beverages, desserts, etc!)
Quality: Does this vendor match your ideal for presentation, quality, and excellence? Will they work with you to achieve your goals both within budget and design?
Time: Are your vendors available for the date/time frame of your wedding?

If the answer to any of these questions is a “no,” a 3-month buffer before your wedding provides space and time to pivot to a vendor who can meet your wedding-day needs!

Make Sure You Have Proper Permits and Proof of Insurance

A much less exciting (but very important!) element of the wedding preparation process is permits and insurance. These are details that can sometimes slide under the radar and get missed in all the excitement and fun, but you never want to have to deal with something related to these items in the weeks (or days!) before your wedding! Here are some things to keep in mind regarding permits and insurance for your location and vendors:

Capacity: Is your venue permitted for your wedding party, guest list, and vendors? This can feel like a very basic detail, but exceeding capacity can lead to unwanted and unnecessary stress prior to or on your wedding day. Before invitations are sent and vendors are booked, ensure that all guests will be within the capacity of your venue.
Vendor insurance: For some vendors, liability waivers and proof of insurance may be needed and/or required. These are to protect both you and your guests, and the companies providing their services. Obtaining proof of insurance and signing waivers are thankfully things that can be done well before your wedding day! As soon as you book your event space, check to make sure whether or not insurance is needed. If so, you’ll need to reach out to your vendors to request the necessary documents. This will be one less necessary thing to accomplish as your wedding day approaches!
Special activities: Is there anything you’re hoping to include in your wedding day timeline that might require special authorization? Two examples that come to mind are fireworks/sparklers and animals (of all kinds and sizes!):)
Off the Grid Rules/Regulations: If you are planning to get married in a remote area, beach, or national park, you’ll want to ensure well in advance that all aspects of your wedding will be approved and allowed in the natural space. Details regarding permits required or local rules and regulations can reliably be found at national/state park websites, and most questions can be answered there! If there are any lingering questions you have, most websites will provide contact information for rangers and authorities you can speak with.

Your wedding day should be all about celebrating your love with the people you love! Having some of these key wedding preparation details set in place 3 months in advance can absolutely help set you up for wedding day ease and success!

If there’s anything else that you’ve found has been particularly helpful in your wedding preparation process I would love to hear about it in the comments! And if you’re looking to be inspired by some incredible off-the-grid locations, check out this beautiful elopement!

Start Planning!

Are you looking to plan your very own wedding? I’d love to be a part of it and photograph your day for you! Get in touch now to check availability and for more information.

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