Last Month Wedding Checklist Philippines: D-30 to Wedding Day
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Quick answer
In the last 30 days, check the expiry stamped on your marriage license (valid 120 days), confirm the parish has your documents and banns, give the caterer a final headcount, close the seating plan, and prepare payments and envelopes. Most other items can still change; the license and banns dates cannot.
At thirty days out, almost everything left is either easy to take back or already spent, and a plain list makes the two look alike. This page sorts the last month by whether you can still reverse each item, puts a date and an owner on every task, and covers the Philippine deadlines that foreign checklists skip: the license expiry stamp, banns and parish document ages.
How this page splits from the month-by-month checklist
Our full wedding planning checklist runs from 12 months out and gives its last sections a few bullets each. This page is those thirty days at a higher resolution.
For month seven, use the 12-month checklist; to chase guests who never replied, see RSVP follow-up and final headcount; for the hour-by-hour plan, see the wedding day timeline. This page answers what is still reversible right now.
Sort every remaining item by one question
Not "is it done?" but "can I still take it back?" Sorted that way, the month has a shape: a reversible zone, and one-way doors that close on dates other people chose.
| Item | Still changeable at D-30? | The moment it locks |
|---|---|---|
| Guest count given to the caterer | Yes, both directions | Your caterer's final-count date |
| Printed programmes, place cards, seat plan | Yes | The day they go to the printer |
| Vendor balances and tips | Yes, in amount and method | Final payment, per each contract |
| Anything on the invitation page | Yes, any time | Never; the live page updates |
| The invitation's web address | Once, after publishing | The second change; then never |
| Ceremony readings, songs, roles | Yes | The rehearsal |
| Dress or barong alterations | Yes | Final fitting |
| Marriage license | No, only replaceable | Its stamped expiry date |
| Church banns | Only by starting now | Two days before the wedding |
The license cannot be edited, only re-applied for, on a clock nobody can pause. The page address is a single-use change.
The Philippine deadlines a foreign checklist will not mention
American one-month lists put the license inside the final month: By Landmark lists "Apply for your marriage license" among its logistics, and The Garter Girl says to "confirm details for your marriage license". In the Philippines your license should already exist, so the risk runs the other way: it may expire before the wedding.
Article 20 of the Family Code: "The license shall be valid in any part of the Philippines for a period of one hundred twenty days from the date of issue, and shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of the said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it." It adds "The expiry date shall be stamped in bold characters on the face of every license issued." Read that stamp against your wedding date at D-30, not D-7.
Replacing it is not a same-week errand. Article 17 has the registrar post the notice "for ten consecutive days", and "The marriage license shall be issued after the completion of the period of publication." Two articles can add three months after that publication. Where a party is 21 to 25 and parental advice was not obtained or was unfavorable, Article 15 says the license "shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication". Where parental consent or advice is needed, Article 16 says failing to attach the counselling certificate "shall suspend the issuance of the marriage license for a period of three months from the completion of the publication of the application".
| Item | The clock on it | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | 120 days from issue, expiry stamped on its face | Family Code, Art. 20 |
| A replacement license | Notice posted 10 consecutive days before issuance | Family Code, Art. 17 |
| Church banns | Three consecutive Sundays or Holy Days; last one at least 2 days before the wedding | CBCP norms nos. 17 and 23 |
| Parish documents | Christ the King: "original form and six months old inclusive of the wedding date"; all submitted one month before | Parish page |
| Baptismal and confirmation certificates | Santuario de San Antonio: "issued not more than six (6) months before the wedding date"; Manila Cathedral: "Valid for 6 months" | Parish pages |
| Marriage certificate filing | Officiant sends copies to the registrar within 15 days | Family Code, Art. 23 |
Three consecutive Sundays span 14 days, so with the two-day gap the wedding falls at least 16 days after the first Sunday of banns (our arithmetic). If none has been published at D-30, ask the parish whether it still fits. Parishes set their own document ages, so ask yours how it counts. Our banns guide has the full church and civil clocks, and the church wedding requirements guide covers the six-month rule. If you marry civilly first and in church later, see civil wedding then church wedding.
D-30 to D-day: the dated checklist
Days count back from the wedding. Every row has an owner, because a row with no name against it is a row nobody does. The last column says where the timing comes from; "Our advice" means we chose it, and your contracts and offices override everything here.
D-30 to D-15
| Task | Owner | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Read the license expiry stamp against the wedding date | Both of you | Family Code, Art. 20 |
| Confirm the parish has every document, including proof of the Pre-Cana seminar | Both of you | FilipiKnow, 1 month; Christ the King, all documents one month before |
| Give the church a copy of the license and the principal sponsors' names and addresses | Both of you | FilipiKnow, 1 month; Christ the King lists a sponsors list with addresses |
| Confirm the banns schedule | Both of you | CBCP nos. 17 and 23 |
| Confirm date, time and address with each vendor | Coordinator, or you | Nuptials, 4 weeks; FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Final dress fitting (barong too, our advice) | Each wearer | Nuptials, 4 weeks |
| Collect entourage attire | Each wearer | FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Schedule vendor balances and tip envelopes | Both of you | Our advice |
| Check passports are valid; confirm honeymoon reservations (and that ticket names match, our advice) | Each traveller | The Garter Girl and FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Confirm readings, songs and roles with the officiant | Both of you | Our advice |
| Finalize vows | Both of you | FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Send the playlist to the DJ or band | One of you | FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Buy thank-you gifts for the bridal party | One of you | Nuptials, 4 weeks |
| Review the RSVP list and start the chase | One person | FilipiKnow, 1 month |
| Programme text to print | One stationery owner | Our advice |
| Draft the seating plan, without printing anything | One person | Our advice |
D-14 to D-8
| Task | Owner | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Final RSVP follow-up | One person | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Final headcount to the caterer, or on your contract date if earlier | One person, not two | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Close the seating plan | One person, guest list open | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Print place cards and table signs once the plan is closed | One person | Our advice |
| Send the photographer and videographer a shot list | Both of you | FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Final haircut and salon slots | Each person | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Pick up the dress | The wearer | FilipiKnow, 2 weeks |
| Confirm the bridal car driver's details | Coordinator | Nuptials, 2 weeks |
| Decide who carries gifts home and other wedding-day duties | Both of you | Nuptials, 2 weeks |
D-7 to D-3
| Task | Owner | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Circulate the timeline to vendors and entourage | Coordinator | FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Give readers their scripts | Officiant liaison | FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Full dress rehearsal, with veil and shoes | The wearer | FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Prepare cash envelopes for balances and tips | One of you | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Pack the emergency kit: comfy shoes, bobby and safety pins, tapes, medicines, sewing kit | One of you | FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Pack one ceremony kit: rings, cord, veil, candles, IDs and license papers | Coordinator or a named entourage member | Storia, packing list |
| Keep a photocopy of the license | Both of you | Our advice |
| Original license goes to the officiant, who keeps it | Both of you | Timing: our advice. Officer keeps the license: Family Code, Art. 23 |
| Give the rings to someone you trust | Both of you | Nuptials, 1 week |
| Confession, if the priest asks | Both of you | Canon 1065 §2; FilipiKnow, 1 week |
| Weather call, if any part is outdoors | Whoever owns the switch | Our advice |
D-2 to the wedding day
| Task | Owner | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Reconfirm with suppliers | Coordinator | FilipiKnow, 2 to 3 days |
| Beauty treatments | Each person | FilipiKnow, 2 to 3 days |
| Rehearsal | Everyone with a role | Nuptials, day before |
| Reconfirm arrival times with the entourage | Coordinator | FilipiKnow, day before |
| Table plan, place cards and DIY items to the coordinator | One person | FilipiKnow, day before |
| Check in at the hotel if you are staying | Both of you | Nuptials and FilipiKnow, day before |
| Payment envelopes and this checklist to the coordinator, copy to a relative | Both of you | Our advice |
| Two witnesses of legal age on hand | Both of you | Family Code, Art. 6 |
That is 44 dated tasks. Canon 1065 §2 reads: "spouses are urged especially to approach the sacraments of penance and of the Most Holy Eucharist", and FilipiKnow says a priest may require confession at least a week before, so ask your parish. The Family Code asks for two witnesses of legal age (Art. 6); ask your parish who should sign. Our advice for week two after the wedding: ask your officiant for the registrar's receipt. Article 23 has the local civil registrar issue "Proper receipts" to the officer who transmits the certificate copies, within fifteen days of the marriage. The PSA marriage certificate guide has the order-and-wait timeline.
Two rows have their own pages: RSVP follow-up and final headcount, which measures from the caterer's contract date rather than yours, and the rainy season backup plan for the weather call.
Where the published checklists disagree
Guides diverge most in the final month, because each assumes a different contract behind it.
| Question | One position | The other position |
|---|---|---|
| Final headcount to the caterer | Storia, at 1 month: "Submit final headcount to caterer. Add 10-15% buffer for unexpected plus-ones" | Nuptials, at 2 weeks: "Send the final headcount to the caterer" |
| Closing the seating plan | Storia anchors it to replies: "Do it as soon as final RSVPs are in" | Nuptials fixes the date, at 2 weeks: "Finalize seating arrangements." |
| Final vendor payments | The Garter Girl: "Many of your wedding vendors will require final payments one month before the wedding" | FilipiKnow: "it’s better to pay in cash after each supplier has fulfilled its service on your wedding day" |
| Banns | FilipiKnow says the church letter is posted "for three weeks" | The CBCP norms say three consecutive Sundays or Holy Days |
The first two rows are Philippine guides differing on timing. The payment row is not a national split: the American guide means the vendors' balances, FilipiKnow the cash envelopes on the day. Nuptials files its own money line at 1 week: "Set aside money to pay (and tip) the vendors". All of these resolve the same way: your contracts bind you, nobody's blog does. For banns, the CBCP norms are the primary source, and FilipiKnow's phrase is a loose summary.
None of them schedules an expiry check on the license in the final month. Storia puts the license in its 3-months section ("There's a 10-day posting period, then the license is valid for 120 days"), and in the last week the license reappears only as an item to pack.
What happens on the invitation side this month
Guests already have the link, so the question is what you can change behind it. On an Imbitasyon Ko invitation:
| Late change | What actually happens |
|---|---|
| Editing any detail after publishing | Save and update; the live page shows the new version |
| A guest replies by chat instead of the form | You record their answer in the RSVP screen; it counts toward the RSVP summary |
| A guest opens the page without a personal link | Their reply appears in the same summary |
| Adding a guest past 20 on the free plan | The addition is refused until you upgrade; the first 20 stay |
| Changing the web address after publishing | Allowed once, then never again |
| Entourage names on a free plan's public page | The first ten only |
Guest lists move by spreadsheet too. The import template has four columns (name, group, phone, pax), and the export has eleven, adding tags, sent and opened flags, RSVP, notes and each personal link. A household that changes size in week three is one edited row. Edits are not announcements, though: send the message as well. Our invitation mistakes to avoid covers the limits that bite this late.
What not to start now
Three things are worse started than left undone.
- A new skincare routine or hair treatment. Nuptials, at 4 weeks: a reaction "could lead to breakouts or allergies that could take weeks to soothe". The same guide books the final cut at 2 weeks; the cut is late work, the experiment is not.
- A second layout of the reception programme. It resets everyone who learned the first; the reception timeline adjusts in place.
- A fresh round of venue negotiation. That belonged to the ocular.
The one-page version
CAN'T BE UNDONE (check this week)
[ ] License expiry stamp is after the wedding date
[ ] Banns: 3 Sundays done or scheduled, last one 2+ days before
[ ] Parish has every document, none older than its limit
[ ] Caterer's final-count date from the contract, not memory
[ ] Original license goes to the officiant; photocopy kept
CAN STILL CHANGE (owner named for each)
[ ] Headcount, then seating, then place cards
[ ] Final fitting and pick-up
[ ] Vendor balances, tips and envelopes
[ ] Timeline sent to vendors and entourage
[ ] Rehearsal booked, kit packed, witnesses confirmed
Run the sort once at the start of the month: reversible on the left, one-way on the right. Put a name on every one-way item, read the stamp on your license, and take the caterer's date from the contract. The rest of the list can move.
Frequently asked questions
What should you do one month before your wedding?
Read the expiry date stamped on your marriage license against your wedding date, confirm your parish has every document and a banns schedule, confirm details with each vendor, book final fittings and schedule vendor balances. Then start chasing RSVPs so the headcount is ready by your caterer's date.
How long is a marriage license valid in the Philippines?
Article 20 of the Family Code says it is valid in any part of the Philippines for 120 days from the date of issue and is deemed automatically cancelled if unused. The expiry date is stamped in bold characters on its face, so read it against your wedding date.
When must marriage banns be finished before a church wedding?
The CBCP norms require at least two days between the last publication of the banns and the wedding. Banns run on three consecutive Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation, so by our arithmetic the wedding falls at least 16 days after the first Sunday. If none has been published at 30 days out, ask the parish whether it still fits.
When should the final headcount go to the caterer?
Use the date in your caterer's contract. Published checklists differ: Storia says one month before, with a 10 to 15 percent buffer, while Nuptials and FilipiKnow say two weeks. Close the seating plan after the headcount, not before.
Who keeps the marriage license on the wedding day?
Under Article 23 of the Family Code the solemnizing officer retains the original of the marriage license. The officer must also send the marriage certificate copies to the local civil registrar within fifteen days, so keep a photocopy of the license.
Can we still change details on our digital invitation after guests have the link?
On an Imbitasyon Ko invitation you can edit and save any detail after publishing, and the public page shows the new version. The web address can change only once after publishing. Editing the page does not replace telling guests, so message them about changes.
Should we try a new skincare routine or haircut a month before the wedding?
No. Nuptials advises avoiding new hair treatments and skincare routines at four weeks out, because a reaction could take weeks to soothe. It books the final haircut at two weeks, after the experiments are over.