Having been in the industry for all these years AND being a former bride myself, I know there’s so much that goes into wedding planning and that it’s hard to keep everything straight. The day of your wedding is a time to relax and not think about all the little logistical details, so sometimes minor things get overlooked. The following is a list of 5 things I’ve learned that brides often forget on their wedding day. I urge you to keep them in mind if you’re in the trenches of planning!
1. BOUQUETS NEED TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU, NOT THE CEREMONY OR RECEPTION
The first thing I do on a wedding day is photograph the couple’s details. An important element in those photographs is the florals! Bonus points if your florist will provide their floral scraps for those gorgeous flatlays. Be sure to communicate to your florist that the flowers should be at the getting ready space before your photographers start time. Plus, you’ll need all bouquets and boutineers prior to the start of portraits!
2. DON’T GIVE YOUR BEST MAN THE RINGS – YET!
The bride should have all three rings (engagement ring, her wedding band, his wedding band) in hand upon the photographer’s arrival. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to do detail photos without the couple’s rings! You’ll want these captured, so facilitate the ring handoff just before the ceremony begins! Put a bridesmaid or personal attendant in charge of them until then.
3. DE-CLUTTER THE GETTING READY SPACE
Don’t forget to have a place in your getting ready room where bridesmaid (and groomsmen!) can put their bags and anything extra they bring. Make sure all personal items stashed away upon the photographer’s arrival. Trust me, you don’t want the beautiful shot of you getting in your wedding dress with cell phone chargers, bras, bags, hangers, makeup, drinks and food as a distraction in the back!
4. SCHEDULE TIME TO JUST BE
Never be so wrapped up in photos or your timeline that you forget what’s REALLY happening! You’re becoming husband and wife. Your wedding day shouldn’t only be about photos, it should be about the two of you. Schedule in 10 minutes to sneak away for some alone time to reflect on your day. I personally make sure I allow my couples downtime, but it can’t hurt to physically write it out in the timeline to ensure it happens!
5. EVERYTHING!
Your wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye and the details will become fuzzy over time. The best advice I ever received from a friend was to journal EVERYTHING the day after your wedding. My husband and I sat down on our mini-moon the day after we tied the knot and wrote down every little detail we could remember. Funny jokes people told us the next day, my nail color, the ages of our nieces and nephews at the time, memories from the speeches, etc. I’m so thankful that all the beautiful little details weren’t forgotten!
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