After shooting my first handful of weddings, I started to realize how easily overwhelmed brides can become in the days leading up to the wedding… Like anyone else, you want your wedding day to be everything you’ve imagined! So you work your butt off those last few weeks doing final checklists, vendor communications, and the list goes on… Here are 5 things to remember leading up to your wedding day…
- Prepare your “day of” bag ahead of time! – Every bride has a list of wedding day essentials… Try to start preparing this kit a week or so before rather than trying to throw everything together the morning of. It’ll be one less thing you have to worry about and you’ll also have a few days to realize if you forgot to pack something really important! Things you can include:
-blouse, robe, slippers, Spanx, fashion tape, bra, veil, hair accessories, clutch, shoes, earrings, necklace, bracelet, rings (these will be included in your details box for your photographer), extra outfit for the end of the night if needed, perfume, lint roller, special dress hanger or ring boxes, vendor tips, a speaker, and any makeup or hair products you may need for emergency touch ups!
Important details to have ready for your photographer are:
-invitation suite, rings, jewelry, perfume, hanger, shoes, vow books, letters, any special family heirlooms, and if possible – ask your florist for a few extra clippings! - Stay hydrated! – It can be such a busy week leading up to the wedding day… Drink a lot of water to keep from getting dehydrated! I know that when I’m super busy, I forget to drink and it doesn’t take long for our bodies to start feeling bad… Additionally, drinking a lot of water is SO GOOD for your skin!!! And who doesn’t want crystal clear, healthy looking skin on their wedding day?! Most importantly, make sure you stay hydrated the day of… You have a long day ahead of you and you want to be feeling your best! With that being said, you probably won’t want to go overboard… Or you might be spending a lot of your time in the ladies room… And it is not always easy to use the bathroom wearing a wedding gown!
- Get plenty of sleep the night before… – This pretty much goes hand in hand with staying hydrated. Like I said before, the wedding day can be long and you don’t want to be dragging! You’ll want all the energy you can get so you can dance the night away!! Though it is a long day, it goes by in the blink of an eye and you want to be fully present for every moment of it… I know for some it’s tempting to stay up late to hangout with family and friends after the rehearsal dinner, but try to get as much rest as you can!
- Have your honeymoon bags packed a few days beforehand! – You are not gonna want to do this afterwards, especially if you’re leaving the next morning! I can’t even imagine waiting until the last minute to pack for a week vacation… Layout your outfits and pack whatever you can – don’t forget your passports and travel documents! Have those things ready to go! If you’re waiting a few days or weeks to leave, then it’s obviously not as big of a deal…
- Breathe. And ENJOY EVERY MOMENT. – I know, easier said than done! There are a million things running through your mind. You’re thinking about timelines, vendors, decorating, fitting into that beautiful gown the same way you did when you purchased it months ago, the fact that you’re getting married, (!!!) etc… But there comes a point leading up where you’ve just got to take a few deep breaths and let it all be. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re marrying the person you’ll spend the rest of your life with – surrounded by your favorite people! Let your bridesmaids take care of the little stuff and try to truly enjoy yourself! Soak in every single moment… If you’re lucky, this day only happens once. Your guests aren’t going to remember the tiny details, anyhow. Keep in mind that not everything always goes as planned and that’s really okay, because no matter what it’ll be a great day.
Love, Hannah
