With so many moving parts leading up to your wedding day, some things are sure to fall through the cracks. While you’re checking items off your last minute wedding checklist, take a look at the top ten wedding details people forget to make sure are all squared away for the special day!
- Have a Plan B – Mother nature can be fickle, and you certainly don’t want to be dealing with her wrath the day-of. Regardless of your venue, come up with a Plan B for your ceremony and/or venue in case of inclement weather. Make (or at least think about) arrangements for an alternate venue location should the weather take a turn for the worse.
- Get your marriage license – Although we commonly think of a wedding solely as a fun or religious occasion, don’t forget to make it official! Laws vary from state to state, so be sure to look into this early on. This is especially important if you are having a destination wedding.
- Practice your vows ahead of time – It’s no secret that a lot of us don’t like public speaking. Not only will these words be said in front of family and friends, but you want to feel 100% comfortable saying them to your soon-to-be spouse! If you’re writing your own vows, do so early, and seek the help of a bridesmaid or groomsman to be your audience for a few practice sessions.
- Rehearse your kiss – We know, this one sounds silly. In reality, you and spouse should be on the same page about what “kind” of kiss will be your first as a married couple. A religious or formal ceremony might lend itself better to a modest peck, while a more relaxed venue will leave more room for you to show your true love openly! Pro tip: Your grandma, parents and possibly co-workers will be watching, so discuss what you both feel comfortable with considering who is in attendance.
- Establish a few ”day of” helpers – If you’re using a wedding planner you likely won’t need an official “day of” coordinator, but you should still enlist the help of a few close friends or family members for odd tasks should they arise. This person shouldn’t be in your wedding party but will know the timeline and plan for the day, as well as your family member’s names & faces. They will come in especially handy when your photographer gets to the family photos on the shot list and needs to wrangle all the proper members together.
- Photo props – Bring along all the pieces of your wedding invitation suite, an example of the place cards, your customized napkins, etc. Your photographer will love to have all these items to put together a nice display photo for your album, or to showcase on Instagram! Pro tip: If your engagement ring was presented in a nice box, bring that along as well for some “detail” photos. If you don’t love the look of the box, ask your photographer if they have one for this purpose (they usually do!).
- Comfortable shoes – We get it, you’ve dreamed of wedding photographs that feature a beautiful pair of high heels! If they aren’t super comfortable, however, you might have a hard time getting through the whole day with them on. Bring a pair of nice flats, sandals or even sneakers to dance the night away in! Pro tip: Do the same for your guests and pick up a few pairs of flip flops that can be placed near the dance floor.
- A to-go meal – Chances are that despite all the time you spent picking out your wedding food options, you won’t actually eat at the reception! Ahead of your wedding day, ask your caterer or the venue to package up 2 servings of food for you and your new spouse. Grab them on your way out of the reception for a late-night snack filled with wedded bliss!
- Pack a bag for after the reception – If you are staying at a hotel or other destination on your wedding night, you certainly don’t want to be without an overnight bag and clothes for the next day! Pack this bag in advance, and pass it along to a bridesmaid or family member to make sure that it ends up at your destination. Pro tip: If you need any special hangers or bags for you or your partner’s wedding clothing, include those items as well. This is especially important if you’ve rented any items that need to be returned promptly.
- Last, but certainly not least, don’t forget to remember the true meaning of your wedding! – It can be easy to get wrapped up in the details of the day, but they will come and go before you know it. This special occasion marks a new and exciting chapter of you and your partner’s life together, so take the time to rejoice in the commitment you’ve made to one another!
There are millions of little details that will make your dream wedding day come together smoothly, and the best advice is to plan ahead for as many of them as you can! It’s important to remember that things will get forgotten and not go 100% as you planned, but your big day will still be perfect despite that. Experience the day for what it is, and get ready to enjoy your new chapter of wedded bliss!
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
