Fall weddings have a magic all their own. The rich colors offered just by nature, the flavorful food options presented by seasonal harvests, and the potential for an inviting atmosphere inspired by autumnal beauty make for a cornucopia of autumn wedding ideas. If you are planning a fall wedding though, the final month of summer is your time to get your final preparations done, which can bring unparalleled excitement and last-minute stress. So, before the leaves start changing, let’s take a look at your fall wedding checklist to help you feel organized and confident as you move into the final stretch before your big day.

Start with a Final Walkthrough of Your Venue

Your fall wedding planning most likely started with finding the perfect venue. So it makes sense that your final preparations start with your venue too. Take the time to do a thorough final wedding venue walkthrough to ensure this foundational part of your wedding day is in order. At The Lumber Exchange, this is an essential part of making sure your day unfolds as planned.

Your final venue checklist should include:

• The floor plan or layout of the venue specific to your wedding
• How the guests will flow through the venue throughout the planned time
• How transitions will be organized and executed
• Where the vendor access and load-in points are located and how to use them
• Communicating the lighting cues for the ceremony and reception

Pro-Tip

If possible, it is highly recommended that you bring your planner or day-of coordinator with you to the venue walk-through. This face-to-face meeting will help make communication between those most responsible for bringing your day together clear and effective.

Read More: Memorable Autumn Wedding Themes

Reconfirm All Vendors and Deliverables

Whether you are looking at September wedding tips or an October wedding checklist, your vendors are a pivotal part of your fall wedding. Reconfirming all vendors and deliverables is second only to your wedding venue walkthrough to ensure that the who, what, where, and when is fully understood by each vendor. This includes your florist, caterer, DJ or band, photographer, any rental facilities, and those responsible for signage or printing.

Your wedding vendor checklist should include an email or call to each of your vendors to confirm:

• The venue location and arrival time on the day
• The details of your setup needs
• Where to park and how to access delivery and load-in points
• The name of the contact person on-site

Pro-tip

One pro-tip is to create a shared contact sheet with a timeline so all your vendors have easy access to important information.

Read More: Pros and Cons of an Off-Season Wedding

Finalize Decor, Rentals, and Layout

Fall wedding décor ideas are abundant as it is a season filled with fall wedding colors and themes inspired by natural elements, but this also means you want to make sure the specifics of your choices are communicated. You want to confirm where your décor will go and also who is responsible for placing each item. Confirming the execution of these final wedding details will help make things run more smoothly as the wedding draws near. One bonus of The Lumber Exchange is that the neutral interiors can adapt to any fall theme or palette.

Finalize Your Numbers

This is also a time to finalize the number of guests who will be attending and communicate those numbers with your venue and rentals. Once you have those numbers you can also finalize your table settings.

Pro-tip

Another pro-tip is to do a mock layout or create a visual guide to send to vendors to help visualize what the venue will look like on the day and how each element will come together.

Lock in Wardrobe, Beauty, and Printed Materials

These are all the small details that you do not want to worry about on the day of your wedding and it is easy enough to get them in order now. This includes your final fitting for dresses and a confirmation of your accessories, including veil, jewelry, and shoes. If you have not yet run a hair and makeup trial, make this a part of your bride prep checklist.

A part of the groom’s wedding checklist should include final fittings for suits, confirmation on shoes and accessories, and communication with his wedding party about the order of events and wedding day coordination.

You also want to finalize your printed materials and send the final print files for menus, signage, and escort cards to your vendor. These can be printed and ready to go before you get into the final stretch of planning your fall wedding.

Pro-tip

Another pro-tip to consider as a part of your wedding planning in August is to pack your wedding emergency kit, so you do not have to think about this as your fall wedding date gets closer.

Your emergency wedding kit should include:

• Beauty and makeup supplies
• A mini sewing kit and lint roller
• Band-aids and blister treatments
• Feminine products
• Stain remover
• Earring backs
• Pain relievers
• Hair care products such as ties, pins, and combs
• Water and snacks

Prepare for Your Rehearsal and Ceremony Flow

You may have been thinking about the flow of your wedding ceremony for quite some time and have it pictured in your mind, but this is a time to finalize and communicate the details of your rehearsal and ceremony flow with those involved.

Finalize and communicate who walks when, and with whom and who will cue the music, and manage the wedding party lineup. This will save you time and potential mis-communication and headache during your rehearsal.

You also want to take this time to confirm your readings with those who will be doing them and the microphone setup for the ceremony. It is also a great time to finalize your vows with your soon-to-be spouse and your officiant.

A part of your wedding rehearsal planning should also include sending the details of your rehearsal dinner to your guests.

Read More: Wedding Guest List Guide: Inviting People to the Big Day

How The Lumber Exchange Supports Couples in the Final Stretch

As a full-service venue, The Lumber Exchange can help you with your Minneapolis wedding timeline and give professional support on how to plan a fall wedding.

The Lumber Exchange has experience with both simple and large-scale weddings and can support the coordination of your wedding, offer a flexible setup and teardown access, and even coordinate your vendors upon request.

You are not alone in having to manage your wedding details, a full-service venue like The Lumber Exchange and professional wedding vendors are there to help you.

Finish Strong for Your Fall Wedding

Locking in the pieces of your last-minute wedding planning details is important for your peace of mind and will allow you to more thoroughly enjoy your wedding day. The key is to take care of what you need ahead of time for your fall wedding and working to stay focused, breathe, and enjoy the unfolding of this important milestone.

If you’re getting married at Lumber Exchange or still exploring venues for fall, let’s talk. Our professional team is here to help your final month feel smooth and memorable.