Staying hydrated on the days leading up to your wedding day, and on your wedding day will prevent dehydration, headaches, and fatigue.

Assign someone attending your celebration “water duty.” He or she will be in charge with brining you water during the event.

When your wedding dress or suit comes back from alterations, it is usually on an ugly plastic hanger. If you are having any “getting ready” photos taken and want a photograph of your attire, please remember to bring your own hanger. I recommend finding something wooden that has notches or non-slip grips to keep your clothing in place. You can also find a hanger that says bride/groom, or even your wedding date. Take a look at your options.

Make sure you test out the hanger ahead of time. You want to make sure your dress or suit does not fall off. If you have a bridal party, you may also suggest this for their dresses or suits as well.

If possible, use a hanger that has a metal head that can be rotated. This ensures it can easily be hung on the top of doors/mirrors that may not have a hanging hook.

If you purchase new shoes for your wedding day, please wear them ahead of time to break them in. Nothing is worse than having sore or bleeding feet on your wedding day.

You can purchase accessories to add padding your shoes.

If you are planning on taking photos outside, bring a second pair of shoes that are easy to walk in.

When a florist delivers your flowers, they are usually kept in vases of water. I recommend having a microfiber towel on hand to dry off the stems before you remove the flowers from the vases for photos.

Practice tying your tie and folding your pocket square before the wedding day. You can also assign someone this duty so they all look the same. 

If you plan to wear a boutonniere, please assign someone to put it on for you.

It should be placed on top of the lapel and on your left side. The boutonniere is typically placed lower than the tie knot, but above the pocket square.

If you are taking group photos, tell individuals they will be in the photos ahead of time.

I will ask for a list of group photos in advance. Please assign someone to help me with calling the names of your guests for the photos. If this is well organized, the photos will take no time at all to complete and allow for more time with your guests.

Many couples choose to announce that there will be no guests taking photos during the ceremony. This can help prevent someone from blocking the view down the aisle. If you are planning to allow photography at all times, perhaps let your guests know to keep the cameras or cell phones from obstructing the photographer.

If it is going to be hot, have a sweat towel ready to blot your face, and an extra shirt in case you need it.

If it rains, bring some fun umbrellas.

If it is cold, make sure you have a warm coat to throw on during the outdoor images.

A steamer is useful for getting rid of last minute clothing wrinkles.

A small sewing kit can come in handy in case a button falls off.

A quick snack and a bottle of water nearby can help keep your energy up.

I always review the timeline with my clients before the event, but if anything changes during the wedding day, please know that it’s ok to re-adjust the timeline in the moment.

Wedding celebrations go by in a flash. Take time to smile and enjoy the moment. Soak it all in!