You've booked the venue, the photographer, and the caterer. But there's a whole category of wedding details that couples consistently overlook — until the week before.

10 Things Every Couple Forgets to Plan (Until It's Too Late)

You've nailed the big stuff. But weddings have a long tail of details that don't surface until the wrong moment. Here are the ten most commonly overlooked items — and how to handle them before they become problems.

1. The Marriage License

This is the single most important logistic of your entire wedding. Without it, you're not legally married.

Requirements vary by state and county — research yours specifically
Many counties have a waiting period (24–72 hours) between application and issuance
Licenses typically expire after 60–90 days, so time it correctly
Apply at least 3–4 weeks before the wedding to give yourself a buffer

2. Vendor Meals

Your photographer, videographer, DJ, planner, and coordinator will be working 8–10 hours. They need to eat. Most catering contracts don't automatically include vendor meals — you have to request them. Budget roughly $25–40 per vendor.

3. Breaking In Your Shoes

Wedding shoes are often stiff and unworn until the big day. Blisters at hour two of your reception are real and avoidable. Wear your wedding shoes around the house for 20–30 minutes a day in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

4. A Getting-Ready Timeline

Most couples plan the ceremony and reception timeline but forget about the morning. Hair and makeup for a bridal party of 5 takes 4–5 hours minimum. Work backwards from your first look or ceremony start time to figure out when the first person needs to sit in the chair.

5. Guest Transportation and Parking

If your venue is hard to reach, in a city without parking, or involves alcohol — transportation matters. Think about:

Shuttle service from the hotel block to the venue
Parking availability and cost for guests
Rideshare drop-off logistics

6. A Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Pack this. Seriously. It should include:

Stain remover pen
Safety pins and fashion tape
Pain relievers and antacids
Needle and thread in your dress color
Blister bandages
Breath mints
Phone charger and portable battery
Makeup for touch-ups
Snacks for the couple

7. Thank-You Note Stationery

You won't want to design and order stationery after the wedding. Order personalized thank-you notes before the big day so they're ready to go when you return from the honeymoon.

8. Tips for Your Vendors

Gratuity is expected in the wedding industry but rarely built into contracts. Budget roughly:

Catering staff: 15–20% of food and bar bill
Photographer/Videographer: $100–$300 each
DJ or Band: $50–$150 per musician
Hair & Makeup: 15–25%
Officiant: $50–$100 (if not a friend)

Prepare cash envelopes ahead of time and designate someone (a parent, your planner) to distribute them on the day.

9. The Ceremony Rehearsal

Don't assume everyone will know where to stand and what to do. Schedule a rehearsal the evening before with everyone in the wedding party and your officiant. Walk through the entire ceremony at least twice.

10. Post-Wedding Logistics

The day after your wedding:

Who is returning the rental items?
Who is picking up leftover alcohol or florals?
Who is dropping off the gown for preservation or cleaning?
When do you need to check out of your suite?

Assign these tasks to specific people before the wedding day, not on it.