You’re in the final stretch, counting down the hours until the biggest day of your life. But before you can fully immerse yourself in the excitement and thrill of the wedding day, there are a few things that you need to do to wrap up any loose ends. Here are 10 things you should do in the final 24 hours before your wedding.
1. Check your wedding dress and shoes
Your wedding dress is one of the most important and irreplaceable aspects of your wedding. You’ll want to be sure that there is nothing wrong with it and also that it still fits the way you want it to! Try on your entire wedding day outfit together the day before your wedding so that if there are any last-minute alterations that need to be made, you’ll still have time to do so. Practice walking around in your shoes on all types of flooring, such as hardwood and carpet. If they’re uncomfortable or slippery, get shoe inserts and traction pads to stick on them.
Photo Credit: Style Me Pretty
2. Designate a person to be in charge
When the big day finally arrives, you’ll want to spend the day getting ready with your bridal party and family. Choose a person outside of the immediate bridal party to be in charge of last minute questions and logistics. For example, if your caterer gets lost or your photographer is running late, this person can mediate the situation and ensure that things run smoothly. This person can also be in charge of collecting all of the gifts and directing guests to their tables.
3. Confirm details with all your vendors
There would be nothing more annoying than having one of your vendors show up late because they misunderstood what time you needed them. Call and confirm all of the details with each of your vendors, including start and finish times, venue location and parking info and an itinerary of the whole day. You should also settle any outstanding balances and verify what their overtime charges are just in case. Give them your designated person’s contact information so that they have it readily available the day of. Be sure you don’t forget any of your vendors, such as your caterer, photographer, videographer, makeup artist, hairstylist, limo driver and the venue.
4. Put together an emergency survival kit
Things may not always go according to plan. As much as we want your big day to go off without a hitch, there are so many different factors in play that could potentially cause a problem. Be prepared for any outfit or beauty related mishaps with an emergency survival kit. Include items like deodorant, bobby pins, safety pins, lipstick, mascara, hairspray, face powder, shoe inserts, flip flops or flats for the reception, tissues, aspirin, band-aids… you get the idea. This is something that you and your bridesmaids can work on together.
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5. Lay out everything you’ll need the night before
The wedding day is always hectic, considering how many people are involved and all the excitement and emotion. Be ready to get started as soon as you wake up by laying out everything you’ll need the night before. Prepare the getting ready outfits for you and your bridal party, all accessories and shoes and pre-order coffee and breakfast so that you’ll be fueled up for the day. If you’re leaving shortly after the reception for your honeymoon, have your suitcase packed and ready to go. This way you won’t be scrambling for anything in the morning, which can be very stressful.
Photo Credit: It’s A Bride’s Life
6. Check the weather
Even if you’re not having an outdoor wedding, you’ll want to check the weather for both your wedding day and your honeymoon so that you can be prepared. You don’t want to be caught in the rain without an umbrella or appropriate shoes on the way from the limo to the venue. If you are having an outdoor wedding, the weather will highly impact your day so coordinate with the venue accordingly beforehand so that you can avoid potential disasters. It would also be a good idea to double check the weather for your honeymoon so that you can pack any last-minute items to accommodate for unexpected weather conditions.
7. Do a hair and makeup trial run
Even if you fully trust your hairstylist and makeup artist, it’s always good to have a trial run before the actual day so that you know exactly what you’ll be getting. This is a good time to have your bridesmaids and family offer their opinions on what looks best, and you will have a sneak preview of how gorgeous you’ll look on your big day. It may also be a good idea to have a backup hair and makeup plan in case something happens, such as running out of a certain eyeliner or your hair not cooperating with you.
Photo Credit: The Perfect Match Studio
8. Meet with your bridesmaids
Your bridesmaids will be your primary support group on your actual wedding day, so meeting with them the day before to hash out any final details well ensure that everyone is on the same page and things will go more smoothly. Confirm what order the bridesmaids are walking down the aisle, try on outfits and go over a general run-through of what the day will be like, from getting ready in the morning to closing down the reception. After you’ve discussed the more serious details, spend some time just hanging out with your girlfriends doing non-wedding related things so that you can have some quality time with your best friends before you are officially married.
9. Spend time with your family
In the same vein as spending time with your bridesmaids, you should also spend some quality time with your family. This is not only a momentous occasion for just you, but your entire family as well. It’s a time for you to all come together and celebrate love. Carve out an hour or two the day before your wedding to sit down with your closest family members and reminisce about old memories and get excited about making new ones. This will be a good time for you to connect with your parents and siblings about what is expected on the big day and afterwards too.
10. Focus on yourself
We understand that your wedding day can be very stressful, so make sure that you also take a little bit of time for yourself and relax. Indulge in a spa treatment or massage, listen to your favorite music and just take some time to really focus on yourself. Tomorrow is the biggest day of your life and it’s meant to be a joyous and happy occasion. Take some time and decompress and prepare yourself for the amazing day that’s coming.
Photo Credit: eHow