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The Ultimate Wedding Checklist - What To Start Planning 6 Months Out
6 Month Wedding Checklist - Download it here!
Finalize flower girl and ring bearer attire
- Bachelor party details
- Overall cost and cost per person
- Bachelorette party details
- Overall cost and cost per person
- Hotel
- Transportation
- Things to do
- Think about lighting
Vendor
Natural light considerations
Candles and alternatives
Bride and Bridesmaids at the Bachelorette Party: Wedding Chicks, Couple on the Beach: Travelling Dany, Candlelit Reception Table: Martha Stewart, Ring Bearer and Flower Girl: Paula O'Hara
THE ULTIMATE WEDDING CHECKLIST - 6 Months Out
At the six month mark, you have officially made it halfway through the planning process! Every month includes important tasks, but this month, as was the case for the last few months, it’s all about digging into the details, slowing down, and enjoying your brief time as an engaged couple as you wait for the big day to arrive.
This month, our wedding checklist planner will have you doing things like planning your bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as giving some love to your flower girl, ring bearer, and more.
Finalize Flower Girl and Ring Bearer Attire
Hopefully, you have been thinking about what you want the flower girl and ring bearer to wear at your wedding. Now is the time to pull together all the ideas you have sourced and make a final decision.
Picking flower girl and ring bearer outfits aren’t as easy as choosing something cute. There are some things you need to think about before you make your final selections.
One of the most important details to consider is comfort. Your bridesmaids and your groomsmen may be willing to put up with a little discomfort in the name of style, but the youngest members of your bridal party will not. Choose soft fabrics, avoid clothing with scratchy seams, and save alterations for the adult members of your bridal party. Items should fit, but they should be loose enough that your flower girl and ring bearer can easily move around in them.
When it comes to your flower girl’s dress, choose one that isn’t too short, but isn’t too long either. You don’t want her tripping and hurting herself on your big day. When it comes to your ring bearer, don’t shy away from ties, but choose a clip-on instead of a traditional tie. If you want him to wear suspenders, consider pinning them on his shoulders so they don’t fall down.
Not only do you have to think about their outfits, you also have to think about their accessories. Do you want your flower girl to wear a flower crown? Will she be tossing actual flower petals, silk flower petals, or something else? Will the ring bearer actually bring the rings in on a pillow, or will he be pulling a wagon with younger flower girls in tow? Make sure you finalize these details so everything is ready to go on your wedding day.
Key takeaways:
- Make sure flower girl and ring bearer attire is comfortable.
- Avoid alterations to ensure your ring bearer and flower girl can move around easily.
- Choose all of the accessories for your ring bearer and flower girl.
Plan the Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
It’s amazing how much of the wedding planning process isn’t necessarily about planning the actual wedding—it’s about planning all of the events surrounding the wedding! Up until now that included your engagement party, your bridal shower, and your rehearsal dinner. Now, it’s time to start thinking about the bachelor and bachelorette parties!
There are a lot of traditions when it comes to weddings, and the same is true of bachelor and bachelorette parties. Traditionally, the maid of honor and best man plan these events, but don’t feel like they have to. Other members of the bridal party, as well as friends and family members of the bride can groom, can help plan the party.
These events traditionally took place the night before the wedding, but many brides and grooms choose to celebrate weeks or even months ahead of the big day. It ensures you have the chance to get plenty of rest the night before your wedding day, and it gives you something fun to look forward too in the months ahead of your wedding.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties are traditionally celebrated separately, but don’t think you have to follow that old rule either! Couples that share many of the same friends may enjoy celebrating with a night out on the town together.
Not into going to the bar? You don’t have to! Your bachelor or bachelorette party can be anything you want it to be! Spend the day at a water park, gamble at a casino, or play games with your closest friends in a hotel room all night long. The bride and groom should have input into what is planned, and it should be whatever you think is fun.
Just make sure you don’t expect too much from your bridal party. Although you may love the idea of escaping to Las Vegas for the weekend or spending the week in a tropical location, not everyone may have the money for such a lavish celebration. Make costs clear ahead of time, and choose something that everyone can afford to do. If you have one or two members of your group who can’t afford to split the cost of a hotel room or a plane ticket, consider splitting the cost with everyone else so they can still attend.
Key takeaways:
- The maid of honor and best man can plan the bachelorette and bachelor parties, but friends and family can help plan the party too.
- Have your party weeks or months ahead of your wedding instead of the night before.
- If you share many of the same friends with your partner, consider a joint bachelor/bachelorette party.
- Don’t feel like you have to party at the bar—bachelor and bachelorette parties can be whatever you want them to be.
- Make costs clear ahead of time and choose something everyone can afford to do.
Book Your Honeymoon
Not only is it time to start planning your bachelor and bachelorette parties, it’s also time to book your honeymoon!
Chances are, you have already thought a lot about what kind of honeymoon you want to have. Now is the time to get serious about what you can afford so you can book your stay.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have enough money to fly to some far-flung island to spend quality time together. It’s much more important to choose a honeymoon that you can afford rather than going into debt before you’re even married. Choose a honeymoon closer to home if you have to. Even if you only drive a few hours away, it’s still a trip you will never forget.
Can’t afford the honeymoon of your dreams right now because you’re too busy spending money on the wedding? Your honeymoon doesn’t have to take place right after your wedding. As a matter of fact, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it anyway. After a long and happy wedding day, the last thing you will want to do is get up early the next morning to catch a flight. Don’t be afraid to plan your honeymoon for weeks, months, or even a year after your wedding date.
If you’re sad that you aren’t going anywhere right away, find something small to do in the meantime. Just one or two nights in a nearby hotel can still give you and your partner a way to celebrate. Try that five-star hotel downtown or have a little fun by spending a night at an indoor waterpark.
No matter what kind of honeymoon you plan, make sure you don’t plan to do too much. You want to give you and your spouse plenty of time to relax and enjoy each other’s company as a newly married couple.
Key takeaways:
- Choose a honeymoon you can afford.
- Your honeymoon doesn’t have to take place right after your wedding. Consider planning a trip later on down the road so you have time to save up for the honeymoon you really want.
- If you’re waiting to take your honeymoon, consider spending one or two nights in a nearby hotel in the meantime.
- Plan plenty of free time into your honeymoon so you can enjoy each other’s company.
Think About Lighting
There are a lot of details to think about when planning your wedding. Most brides and grooms spend the most time thinking about what they’re going to wear, the venue, and decorations. Others may focus on food and cake, while others focus their attention on music. There is no doubt that these things are important to plan out carefully, but it’s easy for seemingly small things to fall through the cracks when you’re focused on the big details.
Lighting is one of those things.
Make sure you take the time to consider the lighting at your ceremony and reception carefully. Otherwise, you may walk down the aisle and realize the lighting is really putting a damper on your day.
No one wants to get married under fluorescent lights. If that’s what you’re dealing with in your ceremony or reception space, you’ll want to consider different lighting options, which might mean hiring another vendor to install uplighting and temporary chandeliers.
Natural sunlight is a light source you’ll want to consider, especially when it comes to photos. You may decide to get married early in the morning when the lighting is the best, or in the evening during the golden hour. If you’re indoors, you’ll want to think about whether or not the glare from the sun will need to be shaded as it comes in through the windows.
Candlelight counts too! Just don’t assume you can bring a box of candles into your venue and light them wherever you want. All venues must follow open fire regulations, which means you may not be able to light candles where you want, how you want. Make sure to speak with your venue ahead of time about what kinds of candles are allowed and whether or not a permit is needed.
If you discover that lighting traditional candles is going to be a huge hassle, you may want to consider alternative lighting options that provide the same ambiance as candlelight. Fairy lights, Edison bulbs, and flameless candles can give your wedding a romantic glow without the need for open flames.
Key takeaways:
- Inspect the existing lights at the venue so you don’t get there and realize you’re stuck with fluorescent lighting.
- Consider hiring a lighting expert to install uplighting and temporary chandeliers.
- Think about natural sunlight as a light source and plan accordingly.
- Talk with your venue about how they want you to light candles and whether a permit is needed.
- Fairy lights, Edison bulbs, and flameless candles are great alternatives to traditional candles if you don’t want to deal with the hassle.
