As I’m sure you probably already know, there is SO much that goes into wedding planning and it can get very overwhelming if you don’t stay organized! Obviously a wedding planner can help out in this department, but when it comes to day-of prep and things to remember, it’s on you! In a way to try and alleviate some of this stress on what to bring/ tips on how to stay organized, I have compiled a few helpful lists.
The Night Before
The night before is crucial because this is the perfect time to get your items together, organized, and ready to go in the morning when you have a million other things going on! This is when you should ensure you have everything you need. Pack up your wedding night overnight bag, your wedding suite bag, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to send a text to your wedding coordinator to make sure things are in order for the next day. Most importantly, make sure you do a full skincare routine, drink a lot of water, and get a great night of sleep (don’t stay up too late, you don’t want dark circles under your eyes!)
What to Pack
Bridal Suite
- Wedding dress
- Wedding shoes
- Getting ready outfit (preferably a button-up top to prevent messing up your hair and makeup)
- Undergarments/ shape-wear/ veil/ jewelry
- Makeup bag for touch ups
- Curling iron/ straightener for touch ups
- Deodorant
- Hairbrush
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Aspirin, Tums, etc.
- Breath mints
- Perfume
- Chapstick
- Hangers (bring a pretty one for your wedding dress photos!)
- Fabric steamer
- Ice chest/ ice (the bridal suite might have a mini fridge but it might not fit much!)
- Plenty of snacks, water bottles, champagne
- Straws to drink out of so you don’t mess up your makeup!
- Wireless speaker & charger
- Phone charger
- Timeline/ list of vendor phone numbers (pass this off to your Maid of Honor!)
- Wedding party gifts
- Purse (wallet, ID, extra cash)
- Love letter for the groom
- Misc: Bandaids, safety pins, boob tape
Grooms Suite
- Groom’s Suit
- Shoes
- Tie
- Belt
- Socks/ undergarments
- Cuff links
- Shaving necessities
- Lint brush
- Gel/ Hairspray
- Wedding rings
- Gifts for groomsmen
- Toothbrush/ hairbrush
- Snacks, plenty of water, beer
- Ice chest/ ice
- Wireless speaker & charger
- Phone charger
- Cologne
- Love letter for the bride
Wedding Details to Photograph
Odds are, your photographer will likely ask you to pack a small box of wedding details that he/she can use for your detail shots. Here are some ideas of things you can include:
- Extras of all paper goods (Save-the-date, invite, RSVP card, wedding program)
- Wedding perfume
- Extra scraps of wedding dress fabric
- Earrings/ jewelry
- Sentimental hand-me-downs
Ceremony/ Reception Essentials
- Paper goods (wedding programs, welcome sign, signature drink/ alcohol sign, aisle markers, seating charts, custom cocktail napkins, name cards)
- Pictures in frames for guest book table
- Guest book & pen!
- Box for gift cards
- Marriage license
- Anything DIY
- Dance floor extras (neon jewelry, fun hats, etc.)
- Table numbers
- Guest favors
Helpful Advice
- Make sure you understand ahead of time what your wedding coordinator/ day-of coordinator is going to help with when it comes to the day of the wedding.
- Request that your coordinator print off copies of the wedding timeline for the wedding party/family so that everyone knows where to be at all times.
- Pack MORE than you think you need especially when it comes to food/ drinks. There is nothing worse than a wedding suite that runs out of snacks/ water.
- If you’re going to be at the site for most of the day it’s probably smart to schedule for food to be delivered to the suites! We had Chick-Fil-A deliver a few platters of food and it was perfect! We also brought some fruit, veggies, and cupcakes as well. It’s best to have a variety of stuff (make sure to include some healthier options!)
- If you feel stressed out, hand your phone over to your mom/ maid of honor and let them handle all questions
- Make SURE you eat something- even if you don’t feel like it! You want to make sure your body has enough nutrients so that you don’t crash or worse… pass out during your ceremony!
- If your suite allows it, PLAY MUSIC and have some fun! This is a great way to decompress and put your mind at ease.
- Expect for at least one thing to go wrong and then you won’t feel disappointed if something actually does go wrong! Remember that it’s not the end of the world and you guests likely won’t even notice.
- Schedule enough prep time!!!
- When getting ready, make sure all your bridesmaids get ready first so that you look the most fresh before the big moment!
- If you are a type A personality like I am, work on allowing others to do stuff for you! This is YOUR day and you get to be a little selfish 🙂
- If you wrote your own vows, practice them a few times out loud before walking down the aisle.
- If you can, have your groom/ a friend drop off your wedding night bag at the hotel the morning of so that you don’t have to take it with you after the wedding!
- Before walking down the aisle, get all your stuff together in the wedding suite and set it in a specific location. Let your family/ friends know where your stuff is so they can remember to load it into the limo that will take you to your hotel.
- Enjoy the day- getting ready for your wedding is almost as fun as the actual wedding so make sure you take time to ENJOY IT!