20 Things to do the week of your wedding day | Wedding Wisdom

Hi Friends! Happy Tuesday! I am so glad you’re here! Are you a list person like I am… I’m talking bullet points, hand written, have several notebooks with different color pens highliting the most important things you NEED to do in that moment?? You are?! Did we just become best friends?

After months ( or maybe years) of planning, your wedding day is almost here! You have all your vendors confirmed with a time line in place, your dress is ready to be worn, RSVPs have been returned. You Got This!

The week before your wedding can be a little hectic with last minute to-dos. Here is a list to look over to be sure you are not missing anything! With years of being in the wedding industry, and being a bride myself ( almost 9 years ago!) I’ve got you, girl.

Don’t stress. Somethings on this list you can have someone help you with. Thats what bridesmaids are for, right?

Remember to try to stay as flexible as possible during this final countdown. Last minute tweaks will happen, so go with the flow. Just stay on top of things and try to keep your end goal in mind: getting married in a few days!

1.Pickup your wedding dress– You’ll need to pick up your dress the week of the wedding, but don’t stop there! Try it on in full. Be sure to include trying on your shoes and jewelry. Practice that walk down the aisle and make sure everything looks and feels comfortable. Some dresses might require you to test drive a bathroom run to be sure that part of the day can go smooth.

2. Break in your shoes– They’re likely brand new and you’ll be wearing them for a while on the big day. Wear them for a short period of time each day around the house and walk around on a few different surfaces. The ballroom dance teacher in me always recommends to try your first dance together in your shoes. Let your feet get used to them so come the big day you are not in pain because your shoes are hurting your feet.

3. Complete everything you need to do for work– Take care of any big projects or assignments at work early on that week so that you don’t have a to-do list of work tasks floating around in your head. Work is the last thing you want to think about as you head into your wedding weekend. It’s time to relax and enjoy each moment! Go back super refreshed and MARRIED!

4. Last minute RSVP’s- Time to call anyone who hasn’t RSVP’d yet. Reach out to the last-minute guests who haven’t told you whether or not they’re coming to your wedding. You might not want to bother them or cause any wedding drama, but just know that those MIA guests might show up and have nowhere to sit. It’s a great reason to check in with them.

5. Inform Venue of FINAL head count- You’ll want to give the final headcount to your hotel or caterer on the Monday before the wedding (or whenever required by your contract).

6. The Seating Chart- Most of the RSVPs should be in by now, so sit down with your spouse-to-be and finalize the seating arrangements. Be sure to send a copy to your vendors who need it.

7. Confirm Honeymoon Itinerary- Double check your flight times and confirm your hotel bookings and any other activity or dinner reservations you might have.

8. Toasts on the wedding day- If there are a couple of people who are reading a little something special to you and your better half at the wedding or rehearsal dinner, check in with them and confirm. You can also let them know the time frame that they should expect to speak, so that they feel calm and ready for their role.

9. Wedding Gift Captain– Choose a family member to collect the card box, any wedding gifts that guests brought, and any decorations you may want to keep and take them home for you. You may be too busy to remember to do this, or you may be heading to your wedding after-party. Assigning this task to someone else (and someone responsible) will help make sure everything makes it home to you safe and sound.

10. Detail Boxes– Prepare boxes of things you’ll need for the wedding—t the guest book, cake knife, toasting glasses, etc. Deliver them to whoever will be in charge of getting them to the right place.

11.Social Media Master– Assign a trusty bridesmaid or groomsman to take care of any social media logistics like testing out your Snapchat filter on the day of, or encouraging guests to use your wedding hashtag.

12. Welcome Bags– Stuff these with candy and goodies for your out-of-town guests and deliver them to the hotel. That way, when they arrive, they have a package of wedding excitement waiting for them. Don’t forget water bottles. Your guests will love you for them later!

13. Emergency Kit– You can buy one specifically for the occasion or go the DIY route. You’ll want to include things like band aids, nail file, hair spray, pain killers, tampons, a small sewing kit, safety pins, extra makeup….Oh and Chocolate… really…. get some chocolate in there.

14. Pack for your Honeymoon– If you’re leaving for the honeymoon within two days of the wedding, pack your bags. You’ll feel much better having that out of the way. You won’t have to worry about doing laundry or adding last-minute items to your suitcase the morning after your big day.

15. Card for your Love– Go out and get a card- write down a couple of words and feelings for your soon-to-be spouse to read on the morning of the wedding. It will help get them excited and emotional for the day ahead of both of you. This also makes a beautiful moment to capture during the getting ready portion of your day. I just love when couples exchange a little note the day of.

16. Spend some quality time with your fiance’– Coffee Date, Ice Cream Date, a walk around the neighborhood. This is your last week being engaged and you need to enjoy every moment together during this time.

17. Check in with your bridesmaids– Reach out to see if they have any last-minute questions and confirm when/where they should meet on the day of. Bonus points if you can organize a fun ladies brunch or happy hour that week with a possibly mani/pedi.

18.Wedding Party Gifts– Those adorable gifts you bought to thank your bridesmaids for all their hard work? Be sure to wrap them up and include a nice, personalized note with each.

19. Confirm Rehearsal Dinner– If another family member is putting this together for you, check in with them and confirm the details. If you are in charge, confirm the menu, timing, etc.

20. Clean your ring– It is without a doubt that I will be photographing your rings while you get ready to include those images as part of your story details. You definitely want it extra sparkly on your wedding day!

I hope you find these little to-do tasks easy peasy the week leading up to your wedding day. Don’t sweat the small stuff and remember to relax! Soon you will be married and dancing the night away with your family and friends!

xoxo,

Alex

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meet the photographer Ali

A New England based photographer, chaser of that perfect light, lover of holiday eves and all things pumpkin!  My favorite color is TEAL (and anything light blue). To this day, I love me a good BSB/NSYNC reception dance party and I can not wait to meet you! 

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