So Many Details, So Little Time
The months after your engagement can be overwhelming, to say the least. As exciting as the wedding planning is, the amount of To Do’s seem never-ending. But the weeks go by, you begin crossing tasks off the list, and manage to feel prepared AF.
Fast forward to the half-way mark, maybe 5 or 6 months to go before the big day, and you find yourself somehow ahead of the game with all of the big decisions made and details selected. Feeling super proud of yourself, you take a hiatus from the planning process and leave the last minute, minor details for the home stretch.
Then you blink, and it’s here. Somehow, time has fast-forwarded at a lightening speed, and you’re weeks out from the big day. Which means, all of those “minor” details are sitting before you, in addition to a sh*t load of other tasks you hadn’t anticipated. This is the point where it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but please take a breath! Everything will get done, and the more organized you stay, the better. Here are some checklist items to start crossing off the list:
Attire
Final alterations for the groom’s tux
Pick up your dress and veil
Purchase any additional accessories (jewelry, shoes, clutch, etc) for the rehearsal dinner and wedding
Pick up wedding bands
Get your ring professionally cleaned (and pick it up!!!)
Email/text your bridesmaids and groomsmen to confirm they have their dresses/tuxes all ready
Logistics
Assemble welcome bags *Read tips here
Pick up marriage license
Order bridal suite food/drinks (breakfast, champagne, etc) *See ideas here
Email vendors and venue to confirm day-of timeline (*If you have a planner, they should be doing this for you!)
Officiant
Band/DJ
Photographer and Videographer
Caterer
Florist
Rentals/Lighting
Rehearsal dinner venue
Ceremony and reception venue
Transportation (trolleys, shuttles, etc)
Email day of timeline to bridal party and immediate family (where to be and when)
Email songs list and order of events to band/dj (*See suggestions on songs here)
Email shots list to photographer
Email hair/makeup with order of girls and day-of timeline
Confirm night-of accommodations
Image from One Fab Day
Speeches
Write vows
Assign toasts
Gifts
Purchase and wrap gifts for groom, family, bridal party (read about ideas here)
RSVPs are back!
Make seating chart assignments
Order place cards, menus, table seating chart
Weekend of Packing list:
Wedding dress, veil, shoes, jewelry, getting ready robe
Groom’s tux and day-of attire (shirt, bowtie, socks, shoes, cufflinks, belt, etc)
Rehearsal dinner dress, shoes, jewelry, clutch
Groom’s rehearsal dinner attire
PJs
Blow dryer, hair straightener, makeup, deodorant
Under the dress attire (sticky boobs, lingerie, etc)
Sunglasses
Bridesmaids robes
Gifts
Paper goods (ceremony guides, menus, place cards, photo book to be signed, seating chart, table numbers, etc)
Marriage license
Vows book
Welcome bags
Wedding bands
Speaker for the bridal suite
Day of details photo: ring box, perfume, lipstick, invite, save the date, ribbon, shoes, etc
Advil, tide to go pen, bobby pins, nail file, nail polish, safety pins, melatonin
Your sanity
Biggest pieces of advice here:
1) Get a head start on it all! As I mentioned above, it’s easy to fall into the half-way “lull” where you feel confident in how much you’ve gotten done and taking a back seat with the planning. If you do find yourself ahead of the game, that’s great…use your free time to check off any other small details you can! That way, the weeks leading up to the wedding you just have to worry about a few final touches.
2) Pack early!! If you lay out your weekend-of packing items ahead of time, you’ll likely catch anything you’ve missed. Waiting until a few days before you leave will likely leave you flustered and missing something!
3) Try not to stress!! I know this is way easier said than done, but it’s all going to work out amazingly. Something is GOING to go wrong, but it’ll be a part of a good story. Try to stay present, remember what the weekend is about, and let the bad stuff roll off your back.