Things to Do the Week Before the Wedding
Even though you’ve spent months (and possibly years) planning for your wedding, the final week is never plain sailing. Try as you might to minimize work for yourself, there are still so many things that you need to do the week before the wedding.
Given current industry trends, the wedding week is actually becoming more manic for couples. According to research by The Knot, only 27 percent of to-be-weds hired wedding planners in 2019, down from around 40 percent a decade earlier.
In this post, we take a look at some of the last-minute preparations and activities you’ll need to complete in the week running up to your wedding. Check them out below.
Check The Weather Forecast
No matter how much you plead with God or the powers of the universe, the weather will do what it wants. Couples can spend months planning every minute facet of their ceremony itinerary, only to have it all rained off at the last minute.
If you’re going to conduct your wedding entirely indoors, then the forecast doesn’t matter. However, if you plan on going outside for any of it, you’ll need two plans: one for if the weather is fair, and the other if it’s not.
Check the weather forecast in the run-up and then make decisions on your itinerary three days out – the point at which weather reports become far more reliable. Always ensure that you have a backup plan, just in case the heavens open unexpectedly on the day itself.
Focus On Your Sleep
While wedding days can be a lot of fun, they’re also exhausting. Typically, you have to get up early – maybe 6 am – and then you might not stop partying until 2 am the next day. That’s more than 20 hours on the go!
Before your wedding, make sure that you get adequate sleep. Focus on pampering and looking after yourself. Make sure that you train your body clock for early starts so that you don’t look groggy. Avoid lie-ins until midday!
Pack A Wedding Day Bag
On your wedding day, you’ll need to keep various items close by. These could include clothes, medications, underwear, and anything else that you might need. Store these in a lockable suitcase that you can tow around with you and take on your honeymoon after.
Practice Your Vows
Saying your vows seems like the easiest thing in the world. You just repeat what the priest, minister, or wedding officiant says. However, when you get up there and your nerves are a wreck, it can be surprisingly difficult.
The trick here is to train your brain to learn the patterns in advance. You don’t want to wind up like Ross from Friends and say the wrong name at the altar!
Gather The Bridesmaids And Groomsmen For A Team Meeting
In the week running up to the wedding, you’ll need to check in with the bridesmaids and groomsmen to make sure that everything is going to plan.
Ask the guys if they’ve all got their suits and check that the best man has the ring and a speech prepared. Make sure that the bridesmaids know where they need to be on the day and understand the ceremony timings. Drill them if you have to.
Drop Off Items At The Venue
Some venues are okay with you dropping off items for your wedding in advance (particularly if they don’t have any other bookings). This way, you can avoid hassle on the day and your team can set things up ahead of time.
Print Out Your Place Cards
Don’t leave the printing of place cards to the last minute. Get them done in advance so that everyone knows precisely where they are sitting.
Use wedding management apps to make last-minute adjustments to seating arrangements (just in case you get wind that two people who were supposed to be sitting together have fallen out). These tools let you drag-and-drop people into their new seating positions and then update your wedding organizer if you have one.
Ask For A Hotel Upgrade
If you booked a hotel for your wedding, the final week in the run-up is a great time to ask for a free upgrade. Hotels will often offer you their best rooms if nobody else wants to take them at the going price.
Prepare Payments
Dealing with payments for vendors after the wedding is a major hassle, particularly if you’re supposed to be jetting off on vacation. Avoid this by writing out all the necessary checks in advance, and then simply handing them out on the day (or getting someone you trust to do it for you).
Send Off Your Required Photo Shoot List
Ideally, you want to focus on the experience of getting married on your wedding day. Micro-managing photographers are the last thing you want.
To avoid this, submit your shot list to them in advance, telling them precisely what you want on the day. Then, designate a family member who will liaise with the wedding photographer on your behalf, ensuring that they fulfill your brief.
Tell Caterers The Final Headcount
The number of confirmed people attending your wedding can vary considerably from week to week in the run-up. Cancellations and changes to plans can both increase and decrease attendance.
For this reason, you should ask your caterers how much advance notice they require for meal planning. Then submit the final number of guests you expect, according to their rules. Most caterers build in contingency plans, allowing them to prepare slightly more meals than you ask for.
Test Your Look
Lastly, don’t wait until the day itself to test your look: do it beforehand. Do a full dress rehearsal where you get your hair and makeup done how you want it to appear on the day. Check that it looks and feels right.
Put on the dress too and go for a walk in it, as if you were walking down the aisle. Make sure that it is comfortable and suitable for wearing with heels.
Wrapping Up
In summary, last-minute wedding preparations are essential. Don’t forget to include them in your plan to avoid disaster on the day. Looking for inspiration on photo ideas? View our gallery for ideas. We hope this list of things to do the week before the wedding helps you with your planning!
