Take it from a former wedding coordinator turned bridal stylist who has seen it ALL! After months and months of planning, you have dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s; however sometimes life JUST HAPPENS. Below are ten tips for a wedding day without any bumps in the road.
Photo: Anna Kinchen Photography
1. Eat a good breakfast! It will be a long and emotional day with very little down time. A few bites of fruit and some crackers is not going to sustain you (especially after a few mimosas). Protein and carbs will help keep you going throughout the day!
Photo: Rachel Westley for Aislinn Kate Photography
2. The night before your wedding gather all your accessories, rings, shoes and paper details and set on a visible area. These are the small details the photographers/cinematographers usually shoot first. Having them all gathered will make the photographers job easier and you wont be frantically digging through bags in the middle of hair and makeup.
3. Have cash tips and final payments for vendors in labeled envelopes.
4. Assign a (responsible) friend or family member to keep track of the rings, marriage license and vows leading up to the ceremony. Wedding rings and marriage licenses are the two top forgotten/misplaced items on wedding day.
Photo: Amy Riley Photography
5. Distribute detailed timeline/itineraries for family and wedding party. This allows for everyone to know when and where they need to be during the day and less people asking/calling you the morning of.
Photo: Brenna Kneiss Photography
6. Have a detailed rain/weather plan that you are comfortable with. No one wants to think about the weather being bad on their wedding day, but not establishing a plan and waiting until the night before is a bad idea. Make a plan and discuss it with your vendors beforehand so if that weather call is made, you’re not scrambling on 48-24 hours out!
Photo: Faith Moore Photography
7. Give your photographer a list of “must have” photos. Also writing out family groupings such as “parents’ W/ siblings” or “both sets of grandparents” this way nothing is forgotten or missed.
8. Build and emergency kit with the following items:
· Sewing Kit
· Makeup Wipes & Oil Sheets
· Shout Wipes/ Tide-to-Go Pens
· Hair Spray & Texture Spray
· Bobby Pins & Mini Elastics
· Clear nail polish
· Nail Clippers
· Earring Backs
· Back Up Shoes
· Band-Aids
· Aspirin & Tylenol
· Deodorant & Mints
Photo: Dear Wesleyann
9. Arrange transportation from the wedding reception to your hotel/rental home at the end of the night.
Photo: Lily and Sparrow Photography
10. Hire a wedding planner! If all of the tips above are sending your head in a tizzy then seriously consider hiring a professional. Many brides fear they will not get to be involved in the details if they hire a planner but this is not true! You get to be involved in the fun creative process but the logistics can be left to someone else. Having a planner also relieves your mom/sister/best friends of duties and allows them to enjoy the night with you.
Photo: Eva Cranford Photography
Planner Pictured: Avis Glenister with Peach and Pearl Events