I'm preparing to capture a wedding this weekend, and in the process of making sure I have all my gear ready and working, I thought about my past weddings and some of the things that could have made them a lot less stressful for the bride and groom.
So as your big day approaches, I wanted to share a general checklist that might make things more smoother.
For the bride:
Pack it all! Grab a giant tote and fill it with a first aide kit, lotions, oils, hair pins, spare underwear, pasties, deodorant(!), perfumes, hangers, and any other items you may need throughout the day. You may not need any of it but at least you'll have it if you do.
Plan on changing dresses for the reception? Well, don't forget to pack it (there may be room in the tote above, lol).
Into a medium size bin with a lid, place all the small things you want captured by your photographer. This includes: invites, garters, cuff-links, wedding shoes, any jewelry, your something borrowed, something blue, etc...Having this all in one place helps your photographer and videographer work faster without having you stop to search for all the items on wedding day.
Don't forget the rings!
Steamer for the wrinkles.
Confirm the arrival times of your makeup artist and hairstylist the night before. This is especially important if you'll only have one artist providing services to several bridesmaids. I can't tell you how many weddings have been delayed because the makeup artist arrived late to do a bridal party of 10 or canceled the day of.
Speaking of bridal party: tell them to beat you there. Double check with your bridal party to make sure they have everything they need and that all of them are at the 'getting ready' suite on-time or before time.
This should go without saying, but your bridesmaids and maid of honor are there to help you, so make sure they have everything they need to support you on your big day.
For the groom:
Advil and Gatorade (because you had too much fun the night before).
Make sure you give your bride to be your pocket square, cufflinks, and any other items you may need throughout the day. She has a giant tote to put it all in.
Don't forget to pack a change of clothes and shoes for the reception. After all the formal pictures are done, you'll want to be comfortable as you dance the night away with your new spouse.
Speaking of dancing, don't forget to pack a hand towel to catch all the sweat.
There's this strange phenomena that happens to groomsmen after the ceremony, they seem to lose their shirt and jackets. I'm not kidding! So copy and paste the following into a group text to your groomsmen: "After the ceremony, do not change out of your wedding attire until all professional photos and video have been captured."
Having your haircut or beard groomed at the venue or 'getting ready' suite? Confirm the arrival time of your barber the day before.
Have your wedding suit and accessories ready to go. Whether you're going for a traditional tuxedo or something more unique, make sure it's hanging up and ready for you to slip into.
Socks.
Don't forget your wedding ring. This is an important symbol of your commitment to your spouse.
Double check with your groomsmen to make sure they have everything they need. Your groomsmen are there to support you, so make sure they have everything they need to do their part.
Both:
Make sure you have your marriage license, especially if you plan on signing it privately after the ceremony.
Writing your own vows? Don't forget to pack them or save them in your phone.
Confirm all transportation to and from the venue. You don't want to be late to your own wedding!
Have a copy of your wedding day timeline and schedule with you. Even if you have a wedding planner, this will help keep you on track and ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Snacks.
Want to keep the stress down? Delegate tasks to your wedding party or coordinators.
Relax and take it all in before the ceremony starts.
By no means is this a complete list but it's a great start. Take what you need from it and feel free to share the rest!
XOXO
Sharde
Comments