Can you believe it’s already May? That means that wedding season is officially in full swing! About this time two years ago, I was a little over a month out from my own wedding and it was starting to finally feel real and exciting and terrifying. Slowly, a bunch of overlooked wedding details started coming up. I was planning the event myself and didn’t have anyone to look after all of the little details, so I want to make sure that you aren’t running into the same issues! Here’s a last-minute wedding details checklist to help you catch any overlooked details you may have forgotten!
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– Contact all of your vendors and finalize every aspect of their role – what time they are arriving, anything they need from you or the venue, exactly what they are expected to perform and when. This is also a good time to issue final payments so you don’t have to think about money on the day-of.
– Create a contact list that does NOT have your name on it! List out names and phone numbers of each vendor and their contact person i.e. your florist needs to know how to get a hold of who is in charge of decorations and vice versa. Give this and a finalized timeline to everyone who has a role to play so that you can enjoy your day without being contacted for every little question.
– Finalize the guest list and contact any stragglers – Hopefully you’ve received all your RSVP’s so now it is time to put it all together! If you’re having assigned seating, finalize the table arrangements and give that information to your stationer for the seating chart and table cards if desired. Also give a final table/head count to your florist, decorator, and caterer.
– Don’t forget to order any day-of stationery that you want like welcome signs, ceremony programs, menus, and anything else for décor!
– Assign people to welcome guests at the ceremony and reception – don’t assume people will know where to go or what to do during each part of the day.
– Arrange to receive a to-go box from your caterer – Be sure you eat during your wedding but I guarantee you’ll be glad you have leftovers to eat in peace with your new husband at the end of the night! We enjoyed our wedding cake for breakfast the next morning too!
– Plan meals for you and your bridal party leading up to the ceremony – You don’t want anyone famished during the ceremony and this is commonly overlooked.
– Plan your luggage and getaway strategy! Ask your accommodation if you can check in or drop luggage off early. Whether you’re having a limo, a vintage car, or just a friend drive you away after the wedding, make sure you have it planned out! (We forgot this one until the morning of and had one of my bridesmaids drive us to our hotel, lol thanks Lyndsay!).
– Plan when you will sign your marriage license and who will mail it in for you – We forgot this one too, thanks again to Lyndsay for making sure we were legally married that day!
– Ask someone to take the décor and gifts home at the end of the night – these can be separate people but be sure the person taking your gifts is trustworthy!
– Assemble a details kit for your photographer. Include your invitations, getting ready details (like jewelry and shoes) and the final shot list. When your photographer arrives in the morning you can hand them this kit to be sure you get allll of the cute detail shots before you need to put on the final accessories and walk down the aisle.
– Walk through your day from start to finish from the guests’ perspective. Do you have signs arranged so they can find the venue and know what to do when they arrive? Have you arranged for music before the ceremony starts? Do they know where to go for cocktail hour? Is your caterer providing everything you need to serve the food? (No kidding, we almost didn’t have water glasses for our guests and rented them two days before the wedding). Will they be comfortable at each point? Is there seating for Great Aunt Ruth during each part of the day? Doing a mental walk-through will help you catch those elusive details that can make or break a guest’s experience.
– Put together gifts for the bridal party, parents and your fiancé. Take a moment to write a sweet note of thanks for each of them and anyone who is helping with the wedding.
– Finally, enjoy your last few days of being a fiancé! Plan time to spend with your family and out of town guests in the days leading up to the wedding and be sure to schedule some time for you to relax as well.
Whew! I know that’s quite the list, but I hope that by asking these questions now, you can avoid any “oh s***!” moments in the days leading up to your wedding. No matter how much you plan, there will probably be one or two things you forget. It’s okay, though, because you’ll figure out a solution and at the end of the day you’ll be married to your love, starting your life together surrounded by the people that care about you. In the end that’s why your guests are there, not for the showy flowers or a night of dancing, but to support and cheer you on!
Is there anything I missed?
