The Final Wedding Day Checklist – What to Double-Check Before You Say “I Do”

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The week before your wedding can feel like a blur. Between vendor calls, suitcase packing, and trying to soak in the fact that you’re about to get married, it’s easy for details to slip through the cracks. That’s why we made this final checklist—so you can feel calm, supported, and ready.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about peace of mind. Use this guide to tie up loose ends, communicate with your team, and step into your wedding day fully present.

One Week Before the Wedding

  • Confirm all vendors (arrival times, contact numbers, final payments)
  • Send the timeline to your photographer, planner, and key family members
  • Double-check your shot list and formal photo groupings
  • Write and print your vows (or load them to your phone)
  • Final dress/suit fittings and steaming
  • Confirm guest count with venue/caterer
  • Prepare final seating chart and place cards (if applicable)
  • Reconfirm ceremony start time with officiant + music cues
  • Make sure marriage license is picked up, signed, and ready

The Day Before the Wedding

  • Pack your wedding day bag:
    • Rings
    • Vow books
    • Marriage license
    • Emergency kit (see below)
    • Phone charger
    • Comfortable shoes
    • Touch-up makeup + tissues
  • Pack tip envelopes + thank you cards for vendors
  • Distribute key items to the right people (e.g., officiant script, ring bearer pillow, etc.)
  • Eat a nourishing meal and hydrate
  • Lay out your attire and accessories
  • Get a good night’s sleep (or as close as you can)

Need help with packing? Read our Wedding Day Emergency Kit checklist

The Morning Of

  • Start with something grounding: music, tea, a walk, a journal entry
  • Eat breakfast—even just something small
  • Sip water between each mimosa
  • Have your detail items ready for your photographer:
    • Dress/suit + hanger
    • Shoes + jewelry
    • Invitations, vows, rings, heirlooms
    • Perfume/cologne
    • Any other meaningful item
  • Review your Getting Ready timeline and allow buffer time
  • Breathe. Laugh. Trust your team. It’s already unfolding.

Optional (But Helpful!) To-Do’s

  • Assign a go-to person for vendor questions (so you’re not fielding calls)
  • Create a shared document or group chat with important info
  • Confirm transportation details (for you and guests if needed)
  • Schedule someone to bring snacks for the wedding party
  • Have someone check on weather and bring umbrellas if needed

Want to make space in your timeline? Read about Shooting Beforehand

Emotional Prep

  • Take a few minutes to be alone and reflect
  • Remember why you’re doing this—it’s not about the perfect execution, it’s about the promise
  • Talk to your partner if you’re feeling overwhelmed (you’re in this together)
  • Embrace the little surprises—this is real life, and it’s beautiful

Need to plan the flow of your day from start to finish? Read our full Scheduling Guide

A Note From Us

You don’t need to do everything. Just enough to feel like you can let go. Let the day breathe. Let your people help. Let your heart be in the room.

We’ll be there, camera in hand—not just to capture the details, but the feeling beneath them. The way your shoulders drop when you see your person. The joy in your laugh during the toasts. The quiet inhale before you walk down the aisle.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.

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