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You have officially secured your trusted team of vendors, so now what do you do? Now, we’re ready to move from simply hiring those vendors to giving them the information they need to bring your wedding vision to life. Phase 3 should begin no later than 90 days before your wedding, but you definitely don't have to wait for this 90 day mark to get a jump on things. In fact, there are many tasks that you can begin earlier and you’ll be thanking yourselves later! Curious what tasks need to be completed? Check out our full list at the end of this blog!
At this stage of planning, you probably have a good idea of how much you’re spending on your big ticket items. Things like your photographer, venue, and other vendors. However, there are still some smaller expenses coming your way. Think things like gifts, transportation, extra décor, adding or removing florals, and tipping.
In Phase 3, we’ll really start to look at and adjust your budget to account for these final items. You likely already know where the bulk of your money is going (kudos to you!), but just know that there will be some small tweaks and changes as we begin to finish up the planning process. Nothing major, just the final touches that bring all your wonderful planning together!
This is also a great time to go through your contracts and confirm when your final installments and payments are due. While some of these payments may fall into Phase 4, it’s important to know both how much you owe, and when those payments are going to need to be made.
Invitations should go out 8–12 weeks before your RSVP deadline. This can be a bit confusing, so let’s work backwards.
For example, if your wedding day is on December 1st, you’ll want all your RSVPs and a finalized guest list no later than one month before, that is, by November 1st. From that November date, count back 8–12 weeks, and that’s when you should be sending out your invitations.
If you sent save the dates and most of your guests are local, 8 weeks can be sufficient. If you did not send save the dates, or you did but many guests will be traveling from out of town, you may want to send these invitations 12 weeks ahead of the RSVP date to ensure timely delivery and response.
Your wedding website is going to be the “home base” for all of your wedding information. And now that we're ready to begin closing up Phase 2, you’ll likely have more details that you can add. There will still be a few TBDs and things you don’t know yet, and that’s totally fine! But it’s always a good idea to keep the site updated and include as much information as you can along the way.
Be sure to include the date and time of your ceremony and reception, your hotel block information, whether or not transportation will be provided to guests, your registry and any fun supplemental information like things to do in the area, your love story or even your engagement photos! When setting up your digital RSVP, don’t forget to ask for meal choice (if applicable) and dietary restrictions!
Yes, vendor meals are typically required, and appreciated by any vendors that are working at your reception. Most often this will be your photographer, planner, DJ, band and photo booth attendant. If you are unsure if they require a meal, check your contract or don’t be afraid to ask!
No! You can have an idea about the flow of the day, but about 2 months in advance of your wedding date is when we begin to really work on that intense timeline for the big day.
No! Please skip traditions that you don't like. If you're not vibing with the bouquet toss, don't do it. You do not need to do any tradition that you don't enjoy. Your wedding should reflect you and your partner’s love story and identity!
One of the biggest mistakes we see is saying "yes" to everything too early in the process. It might feel exciting to lock in a bunch of big-ticket items right away, but that can add up quickly and push you way over budget. Once those decisions are made, it’s really hard to scale back without losing deposits or making tough cuts. It’s much better to be intentional and prioritize from the start.
Another common mistake we see is meeting with your vendors out of order. In the Marryment planning style, it's important to meet with your planner first before you start sharing details and making plans with other vendors. That way, you can build a timeline that works for you, and them. Your planner is able to take a step back, look at all your vendors, and create a timeline that works for everyone. Starting with a solid plan ensures everyone’s on the same page and helps avoid any last-minute changes down the line.
At this point, your wedding is going to feel like it’s right around the corner, and the excitement and urgency is real. But here’s the thing, your vendors are still working on other weddings before yours, so they might not feel that same sense of urgency that you are just yet. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect great service or good communication. It just means they’re human, and sometimes things can slip through the cracks. This isn’t an excuse for poor behavior, but just a reminder to lead with kindness and empathy while still advocating for yourself and what you need!
But when does this become a red flag? If you’ve given your vendor 3–5 business days to respond and still haven’t heard back, that’s a good time to send a gentle follow up. Something simple like, “Hey, just wanted to bring this back to your attention.” If that message also goes unanswered, we recommend looping in your planner or coordinator so they can follow up on your behalf. If their outreach is ignored or met with a negative response, that’s when we suggest contacting the business directly.
Here! You’ve come to the right place. Here are all the tasks you will want to complete during Phase 3 of planning. Remember, you have 60 days to complete about 40 tasks, so be sure to keep this in mind as Phase 2 is wrapping up!
You’ve made it through Phase 2, go you! You’ve built your ideal team of vendors, and now it’s time to shift gears into Phase 3, the finer details phase. This phase can feel like a lot, but it’s also where your vision really starts to come to life.
Phase 3 is about being intentional with your time, your energy, your communication. From organizing timelines and vendor information, to finalizing small details like transportation and tipping, this is the phase that ties it all together. And while the to-do list might look long, remember: you’re not doing this alone! You’ve got your partner, your support system and us here at Marryment cheering you on every step of the way. So don’t be scared to take breaks, schedule in fun, and ask for help when you need it. Keep going, keep organizing, and keep reminding yourself, you’re doing an amazing job. The big day will be here before you know it!
For more tips and tricks, tune into the full episode of 52 ‘Til I Do on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Have more transportation related questions? Send us a message at hello@marryment.com or get in touch on our social media—we love helping couples navigate this part of wedding planning!
Photo Credit to JNA Visuals
Marryment proudly serves couples all across Chicago and the surrounding Chicago Suburbs including popular areas such as Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Naperville, Evanston, Joliet, Oak Park, Skokie, Barrington, Downers Grove and Northbrook, to name a few. We also love destination weddings. We'd love to be a part of your wedding day! Schedule your free planning call with us today.
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