No one likes to think about all the things that could go wrong on the big day, but there are a few wedding planning tips that can help ensure everything goes smoothly. Whether you’re having a small soiree or an extravagant celebration, here are some final touches you should look into to make sure your special day is nothing short of perfect.
1. Hire a good wedding planner
A good wedding planner is worth their weight in gold, and if you hire one to take care of everything for you then the only thing you’ll need to worry about is showing up. When looking for a wedding planner, you want to make sure they have experience and a good reputation. Ask around, look for reviews online, and communicate well with the prospective planner.
2. Meet with the vendors
It’s extremely important to meet with your wedding professionals as much as you can leading up to the big day, that way there’ll be no unpleasant surprises come wedding day. Meet with your planner, caterer, bandleader, DJ, florist, etc. to see if there are any special requests they would like you to make or anything that needs to be taken care of ahead of time.
3. Create a timeline
To avoid mishaps and miscommunication on the big day, sit down and create a timeline with all your wedding professionals. Discuss delivery times for set up, rehearsal times, etc. Having a good working relationship with your professionals before the big day goes a long way in creating a smooth and stress-free wedding experience.
4. Have a backup plan for weather-related issues
If there’s a large chance of rain on your wedding day and you’ve chosen a modern outdoor wedding venue, make sure to have enough tents set up for the entire party. But if it looks like bad weather is coming in, consider moving the ceremony indoors or have indoor alternatives just in case. Also, if you’re having an outdoor event, try to keep all the important equipment well covered just in case a storm does come through.
5. Make sure you have enough time to get ready on the big day
On the morning of your big day, you’ll want to take it easy and try not to tire yourself out too much by getting a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed. You may need extra time in the morning so you don’t stress out about being late for anything, so if possible ask that all your vendors pick up the pace earlier than they usually would so you can have enough time to get ready. This time for getting ready should always be accounted for in your wedding schedule.
6. Test all your equipment and decorations ahead of time
On the day of your wedding, there’s nothing worse than not being able to hook up a sound system or a microphone because you discovered a wire wasn’t working. Make sure to test all your equipment and decorations on the big day before the actual event starts so there won’t be any issues on your special day.
7. Communicate with your guests a few days before the big day
Just as with any event, it’s important that you communicate everything to your guests a few days before the wedding so they’ll know what’s going on and how to get there. Make sure all your guests have an itinerary for the big day and they won’t be late because of miscommunication about time and place. Remind them of any special requests they might have as well.
8. Make sure your emergency contact numbers are up-to-date
In case of any last-minute changes or emergencies, you’ll want to have the most current information on file for all your wedding professionals so you can get in touch with them easily. That way there won’t be any miscommunication or issues come the big day.
9. Make sure you have a bag for your essentials
It’s always a good idea to have a bag with everything you might need after the ceremony so you don’t have to go back into your reception venue if there won’t be any more activities at that location. Things like extra wallet, sunglasses, cell phone, chewing gum, breath freshener, etc. are all important to have with you after the ceremony so you can avoid any awkwardness or discomfort after the big day if you might need them.
10. Lastly, try to go into your wedding day with a positive attitude!
Remember that no matter what happens on the big day, everything will be okay. If you follow all these wedding planning tips, there won’t be any issues that might make the big day go off course. And if something does happen on your special day, take a deep breath and try to relax – it’s not the end of the world!