Your wedding week can be stressful, especially if you don’t plan in advance. I’ve got you covered with a checklist of items to follow on your wedding week.
Eeek, the big day is almost here!
In case you don’t know, I’m getting married very soon, and to say it has been a whirlwind would be a massive understatement! My fiance and I had a pretty short engagement period and decided we didn’t want to wait any longer to become husband and wife, which leads us to where we are now: 10 days from our wedding!
While planning a wedding in such a short amount of time requires lots of focus, we have checked off most of the boxes on our to-do list in preparation for the big day. However, I feel like no one talks about what you’re supposed to do the week of your wedding. There are still so many last-minute details and loose ends we need to tie up, and the only way I’ve found to effectively manage my anxiety is by putting everything I need to do in a list format.
Here are my wedding week-of to-dos!
Touch Base with Your Venue/Vendors
I’m someone who tends to over-communicate, which has bled into my wedding planning conversations with our venue and vendors; however, I don’t see this as a bad thing. One of the biggest pieces of advice I could give to someone planning a wedding is to consistently touch base with your venue and vendors throughout the process.
In your communication, try to be as clear and detailed as possible to eliminate any potential confusion and ensure things go off without a hitch.
Make Any Final Payments
Be sure to make any final payments to:
- Caterers
- Venues
- Photographers
- Bands
- Planners
- Hired Help
Finalize Seating Charts and Grab Wedding Favors
Get everything for your reception in order, so things go smoothly. Don’t fret; planning the seating chart can be one of the most enjoyable parts of planning!
Purchase Decorations and Flowers
Use the days preceding your wedding to purchase any real flowers or decor you’ll be using for your wedding. If the venue allows you to, try decorating a day or two before the wedding if you don’t have your own decorator.
Check-In with Your Bridal Party
If you have bridesmaids and groomsmen, touch base with them the week of your wedding. You’ll want to make sure everyone’s outfits are tailored, accessories are picked out, and everyone knows the game plan for the day of the wedding (where/what time to meet up, etc.)
Break in Your Wedding Shoes
Walk around the house in your wedding shoes to break them in before the wedding, so you’re not in pain walking down the aisle.
Get Your Marriage License Finalized
If you haven’t already done so, make sure to grab your marriage license. Research local laws, as some waiting periods could be as much as 30 days to formally get your license.
Pack Your Luggage
If you’re hosting a destination wedding, pack in advance. At the very least, make a list of things you’ll need on a trip, especially if you’re going on a plane (check out my tall girl travel tips).
Clean the House
This may sound silly, but trust me: you’ll want to come home to a clean house after your wedding weekend. Taking some time to clean the house a few days before your wedding will give you peace of mind that everything is put away and in order before the craziness of the wedding. Plus, if you have any out-of-town friends or family coming to stay with you, you’ll know your space is all tidied up for their arrival.
Make Your Day-Of Schedule
When you get down to just a few days left, you will want to make sure that you have your entire wedding day scheduled. Go over this schedule with your photographer, DJ, caterer, and bridal party once more in the days leading up. If you can, make an Excel sheet for your bridal party for what times they need to be there for hair and makeup and photos.
Get Day of Brunch, Drinks, and Gifts in Order
If you plan to give gifts to your bridal party, make sure those are packed and ready to go for the day of. The brunch and drinks are typically up to the wedding party but just in case that doesn’t happen, run to the store for extra snacks and things you may want to keep yourself ready for your big day!
Indulge in Some Self-Care
Planning a wedding can be insanely stressful, which is why you should be prioritizing self-care now more than ever. The week of your wedding, spend some extra time on yourself, whether that means taking a hot bath, treating yourself to a mani-pedi, or just lighting some candles and curling up in bed with a good book. Now is the time to indulge yourself, bride-to-be: you deserve it!
