Wedding Planning Guide 5 | Information Overload!

Hopefully Europe’s “The Final Countdown” isn’t causing you to go into fits and convulsions of panic. This is an exciting time, remember!

We’ve compiled a list of the top things to be working on as the final push toward your happily ever after begins!

Final Payments
In addition to your final photography payment (your balance is due today), make sure you’re set with all of your vendors. Knowing deadlines in advance can go a long way to ensuring you don’t fall victim to final-week stressors!

Timeline to Vendors & Family
By now, we should have worked out your timeline in earnest and have all the pieces in place. It’s essential that all of your vendors are on the same schedule, and it’s a good idea for family members and the wedding party to have a copy as well!

Plan Your Escape Route After the Wedding
Since we’re talking about the timeline, one detail that’s often forgotten about is how to leave the wedding. Are you planning an after party? Do you just want to retire to your room? Do you need to rent a car to get going? Have your plan for you and your partner to leave and be a couple!

Have a De-Decoration Plan
One more plan to consider: who will remove all the decorations from the venue? Do you need to be out at a certain time? Will your wedding coordinator take care of this? Do you need to hire a small group of people to have everything out? Making sure you have people in place will make sure there isn’t chaos the following day.

Try on Your Attire
To make sure everything is fitting perfectly, it’s best to (carefully!) try your dress and suits on about a week prior to your wedding. This will help ensure you won’t have any day-of wardrobe malfunctions.

Organize Your Accessories
Brides and grooms have a bunch of big things to remember, but pack now a small bag with your essential accessories for the wedding. Things like your shoes, jewelry, watches, belts, perfumes, and all the other essential items to make your attire look polished and perfect.

Break in your Shoes
If you purchased brand new shoes for the wedding, it’s a really good idea to break them before the wedding. Walk around the house with them on for a couple of days to make sure you’re comfortable on wedding day. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and standing!

Pack an Emergency Kit
Things won’t go on without a few hiccups, but having a good emergency kit in place can help keep your stress in check. We recommend things a sewing kit, make-up touch-ups, a small deodorant and perfume, bobby pins, a first aid kit, and some sort of pain reliever.

Clean Your Ring
Most jewelers will do a free ring cleaning of your engagement diamond, so take advantage of it and make sure your diamond sparkles bright!

Marriage License
Know where your marriage license is and keep it in a safe place. It’s also best to know who takes it after the ceremony and where all the necessary documents need to get sent. Knowing this ahead of time takes away one more point of stress on the wedding day.

Clear Up Your Work Schedule
Especially the week leading up to the wedding, you’ll want to make certain the team you work with is ready for your absence and that all major projects are at a happy stopping point. If possible, get everything to a point so you’ll have no concerns about being away.

Finalize the Seating Chart
It’s inevitable that you’ll get some last-minute RSVPs, so take a moment that everyone has a place to sit. Don’t forget to account for your vendors! Please let your wedding planner and caterer know that we’re to be included for a full guest meal. (Ideally for us, we’ll sit off to the side and be served in the beginning so we’re able to eat and get back to work!)

Practice Vows
Some of the most important words of your life to be spoken to another shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re writing these yourself, rehearse them in advance. If you’re repeating your officiant, it’s a good idea to know in advance what’s being said.

Finalize Toasts
A good wedding day toast lasts 2-3 minutes. While it’s common for the maid of honor, best man, and a parent from each family to speak, there is no obligation for anyone to give a congratulatory toast. Do what works best for your family! We strongly encourage you to spread out your toasts instead of giving multiples in a row – your guests will really appreciate it! Lastly, decide if you’ll give a thank you speech to your guests.

Prepare Gifts
If you have guests coming in from out of town, you may want to have a small welcome bag made and waiting for them in their hotel room. Also, if you’re planning on gifting something to your bridesmaids and groomsmen, now is the time to get those packages and set.

Prep Gratuities
While giving a gratuity to your vendors for exceptional service is optional (and if you do – thank you!), getting these organized in advanced will save time later. It’s easiest to use envelopes labeled for your vendors so they’re ready to go when their work is complete.

Prep for the Honeymoon
If you’re taking some time off right after the wedding – and who wouldn’t want to – ensure that your trip itineraries are set, your travel plans are confirmed, and your suitcase is ready.

Time for Self-Care
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the needs of every one else and forget to take care of yourself. But you still need to drink that water, make good food choices, and get plenty of rest. You’ll be able to love and remember your wedding so much more if your health is at its peak!

Date Night
Last, but certainly not least, plan at least one night for the two of your to have a date. It may be hard, but make it about each other and not the wedding. Stay committed to each other in this way and remember why you’re about to have the biggest celebration of your life!