May: Why Your Final Site Visit Matters
Spring is in the air, and if you’re getting married this summer or fall, it’s officially final site visit season! As your wedding planner, I can’t emphasize enough how valuable this visit is—not just for logistics, but for peace of mind.
Whether your wedding is a few weeks or a few months away, your final walkthrough is the moment when all the Pinterest boards, vendor meetings, and spreadsheets start to feel real. Here’s what to expect, what to bring, and how to make the most of this important wedding planning milestone.
Venue: The Viewpoint (@viewpointyorkmaine)
Planner: Olive and Co. Events (@oliveandcoevents)
Tent: Sperry (@sperry_tents_seacoast)
Rentals: PEAK (@peakeventservices), A Family Affair (@afamilyaffairmaine), Chevaughn Marie Designs (@chevaughnmariedesigns)
Floral: Pondview Florist (@pondview_florist)
Lighting: Maine Event Design and Decor (@maineeventdesignanddecor)
Catering: The White Apron (@thewhiteapron)
Why May Is the Perfect Month for Final Site Visits
May is that sweet spot—close enough to your wedding date to have most details confirmed, but with enough time to tweak anything that still needs attention. For summer and fall weddings especially, this is when many venues begin to come alive with greenery, blooms, and activity again after winter.
Plus, you’re likely finalizing your rental orders, floral plans, and floor layouts—so being on-site helps tie all those elements together visually.
What Happens During a Final Site Visit?
Every final walkthrough looks a little different depending on your venue and team, but typically we’ll:
- Walk through the ceremony and reception spaces
- Confirm layout, table placement, and guest flow
- Review backup plans for weather (especially for outdoor weddings)
- Talk through vendor arrival times and access
- Confirm where personal items (like signage, favors, or a guest book) will go
- Check for power sources, lighting needs, and sound setup
- Review timing for setup, photos, and the ceremony
As your planner, I’ll have a copy of your timeline, floor plan, and vendor list handy so we can double-check everything in real time.
What to Bring to Your Final Site Visit
While your planner will bring most things you need like a copy of your timeline, detail tracker, and layout, there are some helpful items for you to bring!
- Questions for your venue coordinator or planner
- Comfy shoes—it’s a walkthrough, after all!
Bonus tip: Bring your fiancé(e), parents, or anyone else helping with setup or coordination—especially if they haven’t seen the space recently.
Olive and Co’s Final Site Visit Promise:
I know final walkthroughs can feel a little overwhelming—it’s a lot of logistics all at once. But I promise, this is where the magic starts to happen. Seeing your ceremony space, imagining the reception tables filled with guests, walking through how the day will unfold… it’s the beginning of the final countdown, and it’s exciting!
With your vendors aligned, your questions answered, and your timeline in place, you’ll leave the site visit with clarity—and maybe even butterflies.
Love,
Marissa
