1. Confirming Information With Vendors
2. Buying Gifts For The Wedding Party
“Since you are the center of attention on the big day, it’s hard to remember that you need to thank those who helped make the wedding possible. Show your appreciation to bridesmaids, parents, and future in-laws with a thoughtful present.”
3. Bringing The Marriage License
“It’s easy to get caught up with the festivities and forget the legal side of your nuptials. However, one of the most important aspects of your day is signing your marriage certificate. After all, the marriage is the reason you are celebrating. Check with your officiant a few days before the wedding to ensure that the marriage certificate is at the right place at the right time.”
4. Undergarments For Dress
“It is surprising how many brides forget to bring a bra. It is important to pack all slips, stockings, garter belts, and underwear together to make sure that no piece is left out on your wedding day. If you plan on changing into another dress for the reception, keep in mind the undergarments you’ll need for that dress as well.”
5. Emergency Kit
“You never know what can go wrong on your wedding day. The key is to be prepared for any bridal emergency, from a ripped dress to a sick bridesmaid. Put together an emergency kit that includes water bottles, floss, aspirin, tissues, hair spray, bobby pins, sewing tools, a stain remover pen, deodorant, mints, double-sided tape, bandits, etc.”
6. Have Lunch And Snacks Available
“With hair and makeup appointments usually taking place early in the morning, you can expect the wedding day to be 12+ hours long. Make sure to eat and stay hydrated all day because dinner is a long time away. The bridal party is also spending all day with you, so arrange for lunch to be delivered and have snacks available in the bridal suite.”
7. Hair And Makeup Touch-Up Kit
“Your hair and makeup always look great when it’s newly done, but you have a full day ahead. If the weather is warm, your makeup can come off due to sweating and your hair can come undone throughout the day. Before your hair stylist and makeup artist leave, ask them for a touchup kit, which usually includes small samples of products used on you. Lipgloss or lipstick are the most important to have since they tend to come off the easiest. Most stylists will have it ready for you, but to be safe you can ask before the wedding day when you’re confirming details.”
8. Comfortable Shoes To Change Into
“While your four-inch wedding heels may make you feel like a princess, a few hours in them for the ceremony, photo shoot, and reception and your feet will be on fire. Bring a pair of comfortable flats or flip-flops and stash them underneath your reception table. No one will know you’re not wearing your heels when you’re sitting. In addition, you can change into the flip-flops so you can dance all night long.”
9. Making Plans For The End Of The Night
“Most wedding timelines end at the last dance, but before you rush to your honeymoon suite, make sure someone will stay to wrap everything up. Oftentimes, vendors will come back at the end of the night to take things down and clean up. Before the wedding, pick someone to take all your gifts and mementos (i.e. guest book and card box) home after the reception and close out any transactions (i.e. final vendor payments). If you’re changing out of your gown before you head to your hotel room, you’ll need someone to take it home, too. You can delegate these responsibilities to a bridesmaid, family member, or day-of-planner.”
10. Assigning Or Hiring A “Point” Person
“Keeping in mind the points above, it’s stressful handling all wedding-day responsibilities alone. Brides often forget to assign a “point” person on their wedding day because they’ve been handling everything leading up to the special day. The “point” person can be a bridesmaid, a close friend, or a family member who can assist you with running errands, making sure people are on time, and handling emergencies. It’s also very common to hire a day-of-planner, someone who is a professional and has had extensive experience executing weddings. Instead of a wedding planner, who assists in planning every detail of the wedding, a day-of-planner allows brides to plan their dream wedding, but still have someone ensure that everything goes smoothly on the big day. He or she will handle all the things listed above along with fixing any problems along the way without you knowing it existed. This way you can fully enjoy your wedding.”