Basket case. Two words that perfectly described my state of mind during the weeks leading
up to my wedding. So many details, so much to plan, and so many carbs not to be eaten. Amongst the craziness of wedding planning, there are some key details that may get swept under the rug. Luckily, I had created to-do lists upon to-do lists prior to the event and managed to get everything done before the wedding. Here are some key details to prep for prior to the wedding so that you can fully enjoy your big day!
1. Do Not Stress
Ok, ok so I 100% did not follow my own advice leading up the event. Hence my basket case state-of- mind. I was running around like a crazy lady and literally started having nightmares about the big day. All of this stress led to a wild case of cystic acne. OMG! I did not even know stress acne was a thing. I kid you not, what I thought was a myth, happened to me. And it was only weeks before my wedding. Now I was not only stressing about the wedding, I was stressing about my outbreak. The double stress led to another huge, monstrous underground chin pimple. This led to tears, and me considering cancelling the wedding. (Ok, a little dramatic)
Anyway, enough of the sob story. Don’t stress. I know it is easier said than done, but stressing will help you in NO way. Your day will be perfect to you, and no matter how hard you try, you cannot perfectly control every detail.
Also, shout out to Fort Wayne Dermatology for squeezing me in last minute and giving me a cortisone shot in each pimple three days before my wedding. God bless modern medicine. Needless to say, the pimples were 95% gone in two days and my stress level went down about 80% with it.
1. Don’t stress 2. If you do and you get a last minute pimple, beg the dermatologist to see you and get a cortisone shot. It actually worked wonders! 3. Get pimple stickers. I repeat, get the pimple stickers! I wore these "stickers" on top of my blemishes, and they worked to extract the impurity as I was sleeping. It also protected the area from getting further infection because it was covered. This is the best spot treatment I have ever come across. My favorite brand is the Rael Acne Pimple Healing Patch which I got from Amazon for under $10.
2. Create a Detailed Schedule
There is going to be LOTS going on during your wedding. Create a detailed itinerary that allows you, the wedding party, and those assisting with the wedding to stay on track throughout the day. Purchase a wedding planning book that will allow you to stay on track and keep itineraries, schedules, the budget, guest list, and ideas all in one place! I am obsessed with my Fringe Studio Garland Wedding Planner. The tabbed sections and detailed pages, paired with the delicate floral pattern is every planner's dream! (Linked Below)
Be detail oriented with the schedule so that there is little room for interpretation. This will allow things to run smoothly and will prevent people from coming to you on your day asking questions!
I created a schedule for both the rehearsal dinner and wedding. The itinerary included a timeline with each event that was taking place, the location of the event, who needed to be present, and a description. Print hard copies of these schedules and highlight the activities that each person needs to be present for. Your wedding will run smoothly, everyone will know where they need to be and when, and you will save yourself a lot of unneeded stress the day of!
I created the itinerary, a list of contacts that included the wedding party and key vendors, a tear-down schedule, and a list of addresses.
3. Review Schedule
My coordinator and decorator played a huge role in carrying out my event day of. I met with both of these ladies, my mom, and my maid of honor to review the schedule. Rather than simply sending it out and hoping that people read it prior to the event, I wanted to go over key items and answer any questions! This was helpful for me as well, as it allowed me to consider areas that I had forgotten about.
4. Create Tear-down Plan
I know it sounds like a lot of schedules, but the more you have outlined prior to the event, the less stress there will be day of. A tear-down schedule is important so that everyone is aware of what needs to be done and how. I created a fairly simple plan and instructed family, the wedding party, and those assisting with the event on key aspects that would need to be taken care of. Here are some components to consider and to communicate with your tear-down crew:
1. Who will be in charge of locking the building?
2. Where do the keys for the building go?
3. Does trash need to be taken out? If so, where are the trash cans located?
4. Does any cleaning need to be done in order to ensure that you get your deposit back?
5. What is the rental company’s expectation? Should chairs and tables be broken down? Do linens need to be removed and placed in bags?
6. Whose car will things be loaded into?
7. Who will take your wedding dress home?
Not only will a tear down plan assist those helping to have an understanding of what needs to be done, it will also avoid any possible fees from the building and rental company. Our venue and rental company had very specific instructions on what needed to be done in order for me to get my deposit back. Since the bride and groom are not a part of tear-down, it is VITAL that you know exactly what needs to be done and that this is expressed to those that will be assisting after the event.
5. Go to the Courthouse Early
With getting married a few days after Christmas, with Luke not living in Indiana, and with working the week prior to my wedding, finding a time to go to the courthouse during business hours was a struggle. Make sure you check what documentation your state requires in order to get your marriage license, as well as what the Courthouse hours are. The last thing you want is to h
ave a wedding and not be able to get legally married! We went to the courthouse a week before our event to make sure we had the correct paperwork and that everything could be taken care of properly before the actual wedding.
6. Meet with Photographer
Prior to your wedding, communicate with your photographer about your day of expectations and specific shots you are desiring. Also, provide them with a schedule so that they know what events are taking place at what time. Photos are SO important to me, and properly communicating what I expected from my photographer ensured that I had the pictures I wanted. You seriously only have one chance so be upfront with what you want. Luckily, my photographer was AMAZING and sent her own photography survey that she informed me to complete prior to the event. She had me include addresses to shoot locations, specific shots I wanted, what events were most important that she capture, contact information for those involved in the wedding, and my itinerary. Think through these details and communicate this with your photographer a few weeks prior to the wedding.
7. Wax Everything
Ok, this one is pretty self-explanatory. Seriously though, do not think of the cost or the pain (which seriously is bearable), and schedule yourself a wax. This is the one time in your life when detailed photos that you will always look back on will be taken and a lot of you is going to be seen. Just wax it so that you can be smooth and not have to think about it. In addition to the obvious wedding wax, I also got my armpits waxed. I have DARK hair follicles (TMI; sorry), and I struggle with getting a clean shave. Surprisingly, I had a lot of photos taken of me where I was being obnoxious and had my arms raised, and I am SO thankful that my armpits were as bare as a plucked chicken. Also, if you are scared of the pain, feel free to reach out to me. I am the BIGGEST baby when it comes to pain; I seriously still pass out when I get shots, and I can handle getting waxed. If I can do it, so can you.
8. Lower Your Expectations
It is your wedding day, and you have been dreaming about this day forever. All of your planning has finally come to an end, and you get to marry the love of your life and celebrate at your wedding! Let me be the bearer of bad news. Everything will not go 100% as planned, and it will not be perfect. It is YOUR wedding day, and it will be amazing in its own way, but everything will probably not go exactly as planned. From family drama to changes in schedule, go with the flow and enjoy the day - hiccups and all.
XOXO,
Abbey Rose
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