5 Wedding Day Tips I wish I had Known

Planning a wedding can be crazy stressful, and the LAST thing you want is to be stressed on one of the biggest days of your life. It doesn’t take much for a timeline to derail and then everything else falls behind! I’ve come up with a few things that could be a lifesaver on your wedding day.

I originally started out with 5 tips, but I added a few more “bonus tips” as well!

Add Wiggle Room.

This might be obvious to some but it is SO important. Sometimes the simplest of things can take an extra 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there, then all of a sudden you’re 45 minutes behind schedule! This is much more common than you would think. The best way to make sure we stay on track is to add a few extra minutes every now and then when adjusting your timeline. For example, if you’re originally going to allow 15 minutes for something, just make it 20. Also, don’t forget travel time. Be sure to consider the time it takes to get from location to location (hotel, ceremony, reception) and potential TRAFFIC that is likely to occur depending on the time of day.

Private Residence, Williamsburg, Virginia

Getting Ready

You are going to need your bouquets and your boutonnieres if you’re going to have a First Look, so have them delivered to the room where the bride is getting ready.

Still on the topic of getting ready, one of the the first thing that your photographer will do is photograph your details when they arrive. (This includes things like your rings, jewelry, dress, veil, shoes . . . anything that you want to be included in your detail photos!) It’s SUPER helpful to have everything already gathered together so they don’t have to bother you while you’re getting your hair and makeup done.

Bonus Tip: While we’re photographing you getting in your dress, I always love to get the classic photo of the bridesmaids fluffing the brides dress, so it would be amazing if your bridesmaids already have their dresses on by that time!

Silverbrook Farm, Hillsboro, Virginia

Consider Having a “First Look”

Having a First Look during your wedding is rapidly gaining popularity, and if you aren't quite sure what exactly it is, it's a time that the bride and groom get to see each other before the ceremony. 

Not only is this a wonderful way to calm your nerves before your ceremony, it also allows you to get a lot of your formal portraits done BEFORE the ceremony. So as soon as you say your “I do”s, you can take a deep breath and start celebrating!

As I just mentioned, you really does help your pre-ceremony nerves. Trust me, being able to interact and have that private moment together will melt most of those jitters away. First looks will usually take place at a private and quiet place so that you can truly just be with each other for a few minutes. This might even be the only time all day that you'll have a little time to yourselves!

Maymont Park, Richmond, Virginia

Give Several People Your Timeline

To make sure that you're able to stay on track, it's best to send your timeline out to anyone who is playing a large role in your wedding day. Send a copy out to all of your bridal party members, so that everyone is on the same page, and know where and when they need to be! This is essential to make sure that everyone stays on track!

Williamsburg, Virginia

Bonus: Have a “Go-To” Person

Once your big day comes, the last thing you want is everyone asking you a million questions about when/where/how things will be happening. This is why having a designated person to help coordinate things and ensure that the timeline is on schedule is so important - and it shouldn't be you! Your job is to ENJOY this day that's supposed to be full of love, laughter, and memories - not stress! Which brings me to my last point.

Family Formals

A big mistake a lot of couples make is not scheduling enough time for family formals, or having too many groupings. Keep in mind that each grouping can take up to 3 minutes to set up, and that time can start adding up quick! I usually suggest keeping your formals to immediate family and grandparents, leaving extended family for when we have more time at the reception.

Maymont Park, Richmond, Virginia

Bonus: Consider Your Elderly Guests

Now it’s time to relax and celebrate! One thing to consider when planning your reception is taking your guests into consideration. If you have a number of elderly guests that most likely won’t be staying until the very end, try to schedule your cake cutting at an earlier time so that they’ll be able to experience that with you! (This is always one of grandma’s favorite moments!)

Sparkler Exit.

One thing that a lot of couples don’t think about is getting the right kind of sparklers for your exit. The normal sparklers that you can get at the store are likely much too short and won’t last nearly long enough for you to make it all the way through! You can easily find 20 inch or 36 inch sparklers online that are created specifically for this purpose. The 20 inch is usually best for up to 100 guests and the 36 inch is great if you have closer to 200 or 250 guests.

Bolling Haxall House, Richmond Virginia

One Last Thing:

This is the most important tip! Don’t let anything steal away the fact that this is YOUR big day and you need to have fun and enjoy it! Don’t try to do everything on your own when planning - it’s absolutely okay to ask family members or family friends for help! I also 100% recommend hiring a day of wedding coordinator . . . having someone who can take charge and make sure that everything goes smoothly can make a world of difference.

You're finally marrying the love of your life, so don't get so caught up on making every last detail perfect. After you look back on your day, you're going to realize that all of those little things that stressed you out didn't matter. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the love you have for one another moving forward. Believe me, I was so worried that everything had to be just right, but even with a few hiccups and things getting behind schedule, it was perfect and I wouldn't change anything about that day for the world. 

Thanks SO much for reading! I hope you were able to find these tips helpful as you plan your BEA-U-TI-FUL wedding!!

xoxo,

Laura

Thank you!

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