Any last minute advice/wisdom?

mandaverdana

Hello all! I have been a lurker for a while now and have just recently posted on the forum. I am about five weeks away from my wedding and I am starting to stress about the nitty gritty. I keep worrying that I have forgotten something. Neither my mom nor my future mother-in-law planned their wedding or helped with any other wedding before so they just shrug when I ask if there's something else I need to do.

I was wondering if anyone had last minute advice or wisdom to share with me and everyone here. This could include things you learned during planning your own wedding or attending someone else's, shortcuts, random tips, tiny details you discovered that you may have forgotten, relaxation activities, etc.

Thanks!

MLandCJ

We got ready at the hotel and when we arrived at the venue, I realized we didn't have anything to drink. It was HOT outside and I was sooo thirsty after we went around and did pre-wedding pictures.
 Bring water

Take time to retouch your make-up. I think I sweated most of it off in our pre-wedding photos and I felt rushed even though we were ahead of time. I couldn't find my make up since they put up my stuff in a closet somewhere. I couldn't find my doc to find it either. Have a location that you know where it is for touch ups.

bobbileighb

Use the knot and other checklists and they will help with most of the major stuff.  A suggestion I got from this board that worked wonderfully was to make boxes (rehearsal, getting ready, ceremony, reception, wedding night) and start putting everything in there in the week and nights before.  I even made seperate boxes for my getting ready stuff and his and this whole system made sure I had everything and was organized.

Add in extra time for everything if it typically takes you 30 min to get ready then plan on an hour, and do this for all areas.  I did this and people thought I was crazy I had so much buffer time but we ran over on some things and because of all my buffer time we still had about 30 min to kill before the ceremony started and these were some of my fave moments with H (we did a first look), the bridal party and family.

fallbride1109

I did the boxes:  one for RD, one for ceremony, one for reception and a bag for my personal items.  I took the TK checklist and started loading things in them as I could.  Then when it was time to leave, I was able to load everything in the car knowing I had not forgotten anything.

I would give yourself PLENTY of time to get ready, even more than you think you will need so you are not rushed and can relax with your BMs, mom, etc. and enjoy that time before the ceremony.  Once you start getting ready, the day flies and doesn't stop until it's over.

Plan on having a bite to eat at some point before hair and makeup.

Take time to enjoy your wedding dinner-- I have heard so many brides say they didn't get more than a bite to eat.  I ate my entire plate and 2 pieces of cake.  Your guests will still be there when you are done.

I took my guest book to the RD (and my shower) so people that were there could really take time to sign.  I was glad I did that.

If you haven't planned on it and your schedule allows, consider doing a first look and/or a private last dance with your husband.  These were our absolute favorite moments of our day.

prlmrg08

make a day of kit that includes things like bobby pins, safety pins, advil, pepto, bleach pin, mints, tooth brush and toothpaste, and anything else that you may just need!

Have food and drinks(water) and straws! for you and the bridal party to snack on. You will not sit to eat much at all because people never leave you alone at the reception.

follow up with your vendors and confirm times for delivery and if you have a location coordinator make sure they have a list of names and CELL numbers for all vendors. 

Pack everything you will need for your wedding day in ONE BAG: makeup, jewelry, garter, special panties, bra, flip flops for sore feet, high heals, RINGS and MARRIAGE LICENSE!

I hope this helps a little bit

bobbileighb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_last-minute-advicewisdom?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:a53fb71c-a94f-4486-abaa-d0e915a03ed1Post:9a403303-1061-4e6b-951a-97ce201b8426">Re: Any last minute advice/wisdom?</a>:
[QUOTE] Plan on having a bite to eat at some point before hair and makeup. Take time to enjoy your wedding dinner-- I have heard so many brides say they didn't get more than a bite to eat.  I ate my entire plate and 2 pieces of cake.  Your guests will still be there when you are done.
If you haven't planned on it and your schedule allows, consider doing a first look and/or a private last dance with your husband.  These were our absolute favorite moments of our day.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]
I second both of these as well. 

fallbride1109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_last-minute-advicewisdom?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:a53fb71c-a94f-4486-abaa-d0e915a03ed1Post:8a64e3eb-0945-44b5-86f2-5352a052b978">Re: Any last minute advice/wisdom?</a>:
[QUOTE]Have food and drinks(water) and <strong>straws</strong>! for you and the bridal party to snack on. Posted by prlmrg08[/QUOTE]

This is a good one!  As soon as I went down for pictures, I asked for water and the bartender gave me a glass with a straw which was perfect of course.  I had not thought about it previously. 

I spent money on a "day of clutch" for bobby pins, mints, etc. and didn't use any of it.  So that is something I would not waste money on if I had it to do over.  Have your MOH have one handy if you really think you might need something.

DFWIndian

REverify everything with your vendors! Make sure everything is clear.

I love Steph's idea of the boxes. I did that myself. Also tell multiple people things becuase if one forgets others may remember.

MarieSD

Second the idea of using TK checklist, and doing all those little last-minute things now rather than waiting til the week before or week of. I had to rush-ship my photo guest book (which hardly anyone signed on the day of), I was up packing and wrapping the BM/GM gifts the morning of the RD, and then (shame of shame) DH and I had to spend the afternoon of the wedding finishing laundry at our house and packing for the HM.

Ditto plan extra time and the boxes packed ahead of time, for the RD day as well as the wedding day. I really needed at least another half hour to get ready for the RD, and I hadn't packed a bag beforehand, so I was missing my shoes and something to sleep in the night before (I'd forgotten my parents wanted me to sleep at the hotel in their room, rather than me going back to my house to sleep).

Don't put too much "extra stuff" in the wedding day bag/box, though. I had included perfume I wanted to wear, a flower to clip in my hair after I took the veil off, and the much-needed toupee tape to keep my sweetheart neckline in place. In the rush of the day, I forgot all the "extras" and my mom and MOH couldn't find the container of toupee tape in the bag, with the jumble of other things in there! (When we got back from the HM, I confirmed it was in there all the time).

The only thing I actually needed, emergency-kit wise, was soda water from the bartender. Took out the chocolate cake that got on my dress during the cake cutting, no problem.

And if something goes wrong, just don't worry about it. Nobody but you knows how things were supposed to go, anyway. (In my case, the limo driver forgot to come back and get us from the church for 30 minutes ... we were a bit hot and frazzled while we waited, but absolutely no one had a clue it had happened and they all had a fabulous time at the cocktail hour. So did we, once we joined them!)

ETA: Have a friend/your mom practice doing the bustle of your dress beforehand. Nobody could figure mine out the day of the wedding and since it was my rear, I couldn't help out at all.

Also, for relaxation -- I had a maid service come in and clean my house the last two weeks before the wedding. Such a relief knowing one less thing was on my plate, and relatives that dropped in on us were impressed at how clean we keep things! Ha!

mandaverdana

Wow! Thanks for all the useful tips!

I love the box idea. I like making lists and being organized so that is definitely something I will do. The water was a good tip too! We completely (and foolishly!) forgot about how hot it could possibly be at the beginning of September. We're going to need nice cold water for everyone who is helping set up. I did not even think about needing a straw either. Although..with how clumsy I am I should probably just bring a giant bib, ha!

Thanks everyone! There needs to be a book called "Tips from Texas Knotties"!