Navigating Friends + Family the Week of your Wedding
In the days leading up to your wedding, your attention will be pulled in multiple directions—from confirming final headcounts for the caterer to welcoming out-of-town guests, it can feel like the to-do list never ends. But, of course, you don’t want to bring that frenzied energy to your big day, so it’s essential to establish boundaries for the wedding week to protect your time and energy. Fortunately, with the help of those around you, you don’t need to overwork yourself on the way to the aisle. From your besties to your wedding planner, don’t hesitate to turn to your support system for help! These tips will help you prepare for a smooth and stress-free wedding week that allows you to feel your best when the big day arrives.
Be proactive with your planner
A wedding planner is vital in pulling off a successful wedding without unnecessary headaches. By letting your planner take over during the week, “all you have to do is relax and enjoy your time with friends and family,” states Nora Sheils of Rock Paper Coin and Bridal Bliss. “This is where a planner can really help break up tasks throughout the planning and take on the bulk of last-minute details his/her/themselves.” And for those lingering tasks only you can address, Color Pop Events’ Leah Weinberg encourages couples to get clear on their schedule. “Map out what tasks you're going to accomplish on what day and what time,” she says. “Once you've got a clear picture of your schedule, see what free time you might have to hang with your wedding party or family. One tip to maximize any free time is to plan group activities so that you can see multiple people at once and minimize adding more running around to your plate.”
Lean on your inner circle
Of course, there are plenty of tasks that don’t need to fall on your plate. In that case, consider delegating those responsibilities to your close friends or family members as suggested by The Renaissance’s Thomas Waters. “If it's things that can be done with little to no explanation, then have someone else help you,” he recommends. “Things like dropping off decor at a venue, dropping a check off to a vendor, picking up family at the airport, and dropping off welcome bags at hotels. Getting help on these little things will seriously ease your stress level. You'll notice that a lot of lengthy tasks are just taking things from point A to point B where asking for someone to help isn't giving them a hard job at all.” In doing so, be mindful of your loved ones’ time and responsibilities outside of your wedding, like work, childcare, and other demands. “Before delegating any tasks, understand what kind of time commitments the wedding party and family members can make,” encourages Patricha Pike of Meadows Event Center. “Then match up those tasks with the best person available. Even if someone only has 30 minutes to spare, it can be put to good use. And give a deadline for each to-do so it all doesn’t happen at the last minute.”
Assign a point of contact
As the wedding day grows nearer, questions will naturally arise and guests may start reaching out to ask you about accommodations, dress codes, and other details. While they are all important questions, you don’t have to be the keeper of information. Instead, let go and “designate a bridesmaid, groomsman, or family member to be everyone’s point of contact for each group to answer any questions and let everyone know if plans have changed,” recommends Sandy Brooks of Timeless Event Planning. Then, make it easy on yourself when pointing folks in the right direction. Megan Estrada of NSWE Events recommends doing so with “a pre-written text saved on your phone thanking them for reaching out, and letting them know you’re directing all wedding related questions to your chosen point person, contact details for that person, and a link to your wedding website that has pertinent info on it.” A reliable point of contact can reach out to you for further details, but it’s much easier to relay information to one person instead of fielding questions from guests left and right.
Rely on your wedding website
When in doubt, a wedding website is one of the best ways to communicate information with all guests and (hopefully) answer most questions before they come up. As Laura Maddox of Magnolia Celebrates explains, “having an easy-to-find website is invaluable! Pointing your guests to this from the start (on the save the date and invitation) is so helpful! Having your schedule of events, your hotel room blocks, your registry, and any FAQs on here will save you SO many questions!” But a website can offer more than just travel information, as Karen Collins of KMC Weddings & Events adds. “On top of having airport and hotel block info, your website should be a hub to get info like what kind of dress, if kids are allowed (even though you addressed it on the invite), how parking will be managed and if the event is indoors or outdoors, etc.,” she says. Today, wedding websites are easy (and free!) to create and personalize with your wedding colors, photos, and essential resources like the wedding venue’s page or the room block link.
When the big day rolls around, all of your efforts will come together for a spectacular celebration amongst loved ones. So while it might seem like a lot of heavy lifting as the wedding nears, know that it will all be worth it in the end!
We partnered with Meghan Ely of OFD Consulting to bring you these helpful wedding tips. Meghan Ely is the owner of the 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. As always, thanks for supporting our sponsors!
- Event Planning & Design: Color Pop Events
- Event Planning & Design: Bridal Bliss
- Event Planning & Design: Timeless Event Planning
- Event Planning & Design: NSWE Events
- Event Planning & Design: Magnolia Celebrates
- Event Planning & Design: KMC Weddings & Events
- Venues: Meadows Event Center
- Venues: The Renaissance
- Wedding Apps & Insurance: Rock Paper Coin
- Wedding Photographers: Amy Kolo
- Wedding Photographers: Karena Dixon Photography
- Wedding Photographers: Kelly Hornberger
- Wedding Photographers: Renee Lemaire Photography
- Wedding PR & Wedding Marketing Firm: Meghan Ely