One Week to Go! What Are You Forgetting?
As your wedding day nears, you’ll no doubt feel the relief from the planning process winding down. Your timeline is set, your headcount is confirmed, and you’re already mentally checked into your honeymoon. But before switching into full-on party mode, there are a few last-minute tasks you won’t want to forget leading up to your big day.
While the anticipation mounts (just a few more days!), make sure you’ve dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s to enjoy a stress-free celebration. Here are seven things to do in your final fiancé(e) days to ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch.
Tie up loose ends
Wedding planning is like a marathon — the final stretch is often the hardest and most crucial. So before you kick back for good, ensure you’ve wrapped up any lingering to-dos you haven’t addressed yet.
“Grab a notebook or use an app on your phone to brain-dump every to-do that is floating around in your mind,” suggests Jenna Brisson of Jenna Brisson Photography. “Writing these in one place will allow you to prioritize what you should be focusing on at the moment and avoid some of the last-minute overwhelm.”
One task couples frequently overlook? Making an end-of-the-night plan for the wedding!
“Your end-of-the-night plan covers where you are both staying that night and how you and your things are getting there,” explains House of Joy’s Samantha Leenheer. “Take care of where all of your wedding items, your gifts, and any remaining cake should go.”
You won’t want to worry about transporting day-of items after your wedding, so assigning these responsibilities to trusted friends or family members is best.
“If your parents are handling taking the cake home and your sister is in charge of your gifts, be sure each person knows their role, and what they need to do with each task they are responsible for,” Leenheer adds.
So take some time to sit down with your partner and work through the final details, like your end-of-the-night plan, vendor tips, and portrait shot list. Don’t forget to get your marriage license, too!
Prep your day-of wardrobe
You’ve spent so much time planning your wedding day look, so it’s worth dedicating time to ensure everything is in order before the big day.
First, “give that engagement ring some extra sparkle with a professional cleaning,” recommends Aly Raddatz of Elevated Events.
David Fox of Bunn DJ Company encourages couples to “break in your new wedding shoes.” After all, you don’t want to spend the evening with blisters and sore feet!
“While you’re at it, do a final wardrobe check and prepare a day-of emergency kit,” Fox adds. Items like a sewing kit or handheld steamer can get you out of a pinch, and you’ll appreciate the peace of mind of knowing you have a wedding day emergency kit on-hand.
Wedding hairstylist Alicia Igess Jones also urges couples to pack “any hair accessories one may wear need to be cared for and brought to the “getting ready” space with the dress. That goes for regular bobby pins, hair pins, decorative hair pieces, bobby and hair pins, and the veil.”
It shouldn’t take long to corral all your wedding day accessories, so give yourself a few hours to confirm that you can bring your A-game on the big day.
Rehearse for the ceremony
If you’ve already written your vows, congratulations! That’s a major step often pushed to the last minute. But after writing down your thoughts, you should also fit in a quick rehearsal or two before the ceremony.
“Practice those personalized vows,” encourages Alison Russell of Stonegate Manor. “You’ve done a great job putting your deepest feelings into them. Now you need to get comfortable saying the words.”
Not sure if you can wing it on the big day? No worries – Russell assures that notes are perfectly acceptable at the altar, so you don’t need to memorize every word.
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Write to your VIPs
Your family and friends have supported you from day one, so you may want to find a way to demonstrate your appreciation. It truly is the thought that counts, so while gifts are nice, you can’t go wrong with a simple but kind, heartfelt letter.
“Don’t forget to write handwritten notes or thank you cards to important family members, such as parents, siblings as well as members of your wedding party,” says wedding photographer Jessica K Feiden. “This can even include your wedding vendors too.”
If you have stationery that matches your wedding theme, you’re all set! But even if you need to stop by the dollar store for a set of thank you notes, it’s worth showing your gratitude and giving your loved ones a thoughtful keepsake from your wedding.
Confirm transportation needs
Nobody wants to end up stranded on the side of the road on your wedding day, especially you! Jen Sulak of Weirdo Weddings strongly recommends filling your gas tank or charging your electric vehicle before your big day.
“If you are using your vehicles for many of the last-minute details, drives, and picking others up from the airport, go fuel up or charge up your cars/vehicles,” Sulak stresses. “That being said, if there are any last-minute transportation or ride-sharing events you need to set up, confirm those details.”
You never know when you might need to use your car, even if you have a limousine or other professional transportation service lined up. If nothing else, you’ll be grateful to find a full tank (or charge) when you return home from your honeymoon!
Pack up key items
Much of your day-of decor will get delivered to your wedding venue, including floral arrangements, tables, chairs, linens, and other rentals. But there are plenty of smaller details you won’t want to forget when the big day arrives!
“If there are daily items you use, such as cologne, make-up, and hair styling accessories, be sure to have them placed in a kit near your bathroom sink so that once used, they are neatly in one location for you to grab and go the morning of your departure,” suggests Sarah Chianese of Mangia and Enjoy!.
Lilia Shatnaya of Plume and Stone Invitation Studio also shares a reminder to set aside a copy of your wedding invitation suite for your photographer.
“Wrap it up in tissue paper, place it in a box, and make sure you pack it with you wherever you get ready for your wedding,” Shatnaya notes. “Your photographer will make a beautiful flatlay photo or take pictures of you holding it. It is the first glimpse of your wedding celebration and something you want to look back on, so make sure you take a copy of it with you.”
Other items to add to your packing list: healthy snacks, phone chargers, backup shoes, signage, a guestbook with pens, and your marriage license!
Take a break
Last but certainly not least, please take some time to relax in the days leading up to your wedding. The big day is a whirlwind of activity, so you must show up rested and refreshed — not frazzled and overwhelmed.
“You don’t want to be a stress ball on your wedding day,” asserts Jacqueline Vizcaino of Tinted Events Design and Planning. “Give yourself time to relax and recharge before the big day. Skip the jam-packed schedule and schedule some R&R time instead.”
Plus, you’ll enjoy your honeymoon much more when feeling energized. Otherwise, you might sleep your days away when you should be soaking in the sun!
The countdown to “I do” has begun, but it’s not time to sit back just yet! Keep the momentum strong with these last-minute to-dos, and you’ll breeze through the finish line in no time.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker, adjunct professor in the field of public relations, and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.