Planning a wedding can be hectic yet so much fun! Once the day gets closer and closer, your head may or may not start to spin! I compiled a list of things you should be doing the week of your big day to help if you stumble on my page in the midst of panic!

1) CLEAN YOUR RING

The first thing I suggest doing is cleaning your gorgeous diamond ring! Your photographer will be shooting some beautiful detail shots of it and you want to make sure it looks stunning right?! It is best to do this the night before your big day!

Make sure the bride is holding all of the rings so your photographer can take photos of all of them.

2) TREAT YOURSELF

First things first, get your nails done. Whether you paint them yourself or you go get them done, it’s always fun to make sure you do this 1-2 days before your wedding.

I recommend solid neutral colors because that is what looks best in photos. Doing them a few days before but not too far out also helps prevent them from chipping before your date.

Nothing feels better than glowing and looking fresh on your wedding day. To achieve this look, all you need to do is prep by drinking lots of water and getting plenty of rest. Though it may be a little hard to sleep at night, give yourself a little bit extra time to settle down in bed.

3) GATHER DETAILS FOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Another thing to do a night before is to gather details to be photographed. A part of your story are what you will be wearing on your big day! To make it less-hectic getting things around, put everything into a box! It’ll help everything stay in one spot. Things to bring are:

• Rings
• Jewelry
• Shoes
• Wedding Stationary (Invites, Save the dates, etc)
• Veil
• Family

4) PICK UP MARRIAGE LICENSE

Make sure yours t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted! Getting your marriage license is probably one of the most important things to do!! It’s pretty straight forward.

Read ‘Why You Should Hire A Pro Wedding Photographer’

5) PACKAGE GIFTS FOR BRIDAL PARTY & VENDORS

You spent all that time searching for the perfect gift for your girls, the guys, and your vendor team. Make sure to take time out of your day and wrap them up! Add a personal touch with a cute note attached, nothing warms a heart more than knowing someone is thinking of you!

6) PACK EMERGENCY KIT

Some photographers may come prepared but so should you! Pack an emergency kit full of bobby pins, makeup cleaner for them tears, combs, hair spray, extra makeup, band-aids, tampons, etc.

Bring some comfortable shoes for getting ready as well as when your out on the dance floor partying away! Hand them off to a trusted bridesmaid or other guest to keep them close and handy!

7) PRACTICE VOWS

Whether you are memorizing your vows or reading them from a paper, it doesn’t hurt to practice everyday. Being in front of people can be nerve-racking!! Read them out loud a few times in a nice and slow pace.

8) PACK FOR YOUR HONEYMOON

If you are heading out of town for your honeymoon, don’t wait until the last minute to pack. Make sure you are verifying your itinerary for your vacay. Make sure all flights are still on for and/or your car is full on gas!

Once the wedding is over, you will want to snuggle up in bed and possibly wake up early to catch your flight. The last thing you need is to frantically scramble in the morning!

9) WEDDING DAY TIMELINE

Let everyone know your wedding day timeline; bridal party, parents, grandparents and vendors. Communicating is key to make sure your day goes smoothly and everyone is where they need to be. Need a sample wedding day timeline? Click this link right here!

10) REHEARSAL

I hope you know this one! A day or two before your wedding, you should do a run through at the venue. This is a great time to hand out those gifts for your party as well.

Once you are finished going through positions and timing, it’s off to dinner. Whether your family is cooking a huge dinner for immediate family and party or you’re out at a restaurant, have a great time and relax.

Don’t forget to call ahead and/or make reservations if you are going out to eat.

11) ATTIRE

This is the time to pick up the wedding dress and tuxedos. You may want to pick up your groomsmen and bridesmaids dresses as well. It’s just nice to have their outfits all ready and together before the day of the wedding.

There are of course plenty of other things such as steaming your dress, handing off placement cards and finalizing catering, head count, etc. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I would be more than happy to help you plan your big day!

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