Planning a wedding is a massive undertaking, and even the most meticulously organized couples can overlook some details. Take notes because today we are listing off the most commonly forgotten aspects of wedding planning and some helpful tips to address them.
End of the Night Instructions
Who is taking home the decor, flowers, and gifts? Where is it going? By the end of the night, you and your partner will likely be exhausted, so it’s crucial to have a plan for what happens to all the decor, flowers, and gifts. Decide ahead of time who will be responsible for collecting these items and where they will be taken. Assign a reliable friend or family member to manage this task to ensure everything ends up in the right place and provide their name and number to your wedding planner or coordinator.
What Happens to the Cake
Are you saving the top tier? If so, who is taking that home? Be sure to tell your caterers if you want that saved. Many couples choose to save the top tier of their wedding cake to enjoy on their first anniversary. If this is your plan, make sure to communicate this with your caterers. Designate someone to take the top tier home and store it properly. Providing clear instructions will help avoid any mix-ups and ensure your cake is preserved. Also, relay this information to your coordinator so they can remind the caterer.
Cake Cutting
Unless you plan to just grab fistfuls of cake (I’m not judging), you need to bring a cake-cutting set. Cake cutting is a special tradition that many couples look forward to. To make this moment picture-perfect, remember to bring a cake-cutting set. This set typically includes a knife and a server, and having it on hand will add a touch of elegance to the ceremony. Some venues and caterers will provide these items so check with them first.
Marriage License
When will you sign it? Who is responsible for turning it in to the courts? The marriage license is a critical component of your wedding day. Plan when you will sign it, whether it’s before, during, or after the ceremony. Assign someone the responsibility of turning it in to the courts afterward or do so yourself. I always encourage the license to be physically taken to the courts instead of being sent via mail. Additionally, choose a nice pen for signing the license to ensure it looks good in photos.
Post-Ceremony Instructions
Have your DJ or Officiant give your guests clear direction on what is happening next (cocktail hour, pics, etc). After the ceremony, guests can sometimes feel unsure about what to do next. To avoid confusion, ask your DJ or officiant to provide clear instructions about the next steps, such as heading to a cocktail hour or participating in group photos. This guidance helps keep the event flowing smoothly.
Bridal Suite
Make sure your wedding party knows that the bride and groom’s suite needs to be cleared out at the end of the night. The bridal suite is often a complete disaster by the time you are finished with hair and makeup. This is also where you will store all of your personal belongings until the end of the night. Assign a trusted friend or family member to gather all your belongings and place them in your getaway car. This ensures you don’t leave anything important behind.
Break in your shoes and remove all labels. Breaking in your wedding shoes ahead of time can save you from blisters on the big day. Remove any labels and keep the shoes pristine for photos by wearing them only on carpet. Washing your feet before putting them on helps maintain their appearance for those perfect flat lay shots.
Get Your Engagement Rings Cleaned
They need to be picture-perfect. Your engagement rings will be in countless photos on your wedding day. Make sure they sparkle by getting them professionally cleaned before the big day. This small detail can make a big difference in your pictures. Bonus tip: make the groom get a manicure to clean up his nails. Close-up shots of dirty nails is not what you want to see when you get your pictures back!
Pack Up Items for Flat Lay Photos
This will make it easy to hand over to the photographer. Flat lay photos are a beautiful way to capture the details of your wedding. Prepare a box with items like your invitational suite, jewelry, rings, ribbon, and perfume. Having these items ready to go will make it easier for your photographer to create stunning images.
Bustle the Dress
Take a video of how to bustle the dress and send it to the Maid of Honor and your wedding planner! Bustling a wedding dress can be tricky, and it’s easy to forget how it’s done. Take a video of the process during a fitting and share it with your Maid of Honor and wedding planner. This will ensure that everyone knows how to do it correctly on the big day. If your Maid of Honor can attend the fitting, that is even better.
Steaming the Dress
Plan for how the dress is getting steamed the morning of the wedding. Wrinkles in your wedding dress can detract from its beauty. Arrange for an on-site steaming service to ensure your dress looks flawless. If that’s not possible, designate someone to handle steaming the dress on the morning of the wedding. Always steam the dress BEFORE getting your hair and makeup done.
Practice Your Vows and First Kiss
If you plan to do a dip, BE SURE TO PRACTICE. Pulling off the perfect dip can be quite tricky. You need to practice it to avoid any awkward moments. Practicing the dip will greatly lessen the chance of the bride being dropped. No one wants that on the wedding day. Personally, I recommend doing the dip at the end of the aisle instead of during the kiss at the altar. Also, make sure you hold the kiss for a three-count to ensure your photographer captures the perfect shot. Not only do you want to master the kiss but rehearsing your vows can help calm your nerves and ensure you deliver them smoothly. Have a friend read both of your vows to ensure some equality. If your vows are 5 minutes, but his are 30 seconds, it will feel unbalanced.
By remembering these commonly overlooked details, you can ensure a more seamless and enjoyable wedding day. Planning ahead and delegating tasks to trusted friends and family can help make your special day as stress-free as possible.
