Disclaimer: Before you take a look at this one-week-to-go wedding checklist, the first this you need to do is to remember to enjoy these last few days. You will only regret it after if you spent the run up to your wedding day anxiety-riddled and full of doubt. Whatever happens, your day will be perfect, so forget about pew ends and your cousin’s nasty girlfriend and start thinking about the first day of your new life with your best friend.
General Pointers
· Don’t plan too much – Don’t make too many plans for the week before your wedding. Things tend to pop up so it’s best to have a clear enough schedule to deal with minor hiccups. If possible, take one or two days or half days from work to get you into the spirit and to go to appointments.
· Indulge yourself – Pamper yourself by getting a facial, your hair done (no drastic new colours though!) or a massage. Take a few hours to browse through the shops (high street, not bridal!) and sit in a coffee shop for an hour reading the paper and eating a muffin.
· Date your fiancé – Remember each other. Go for dinner or to the cinema one more night as boyfriend and girlfriend. For a more purse-friendly night, cook some dinner and watch a movie or have a romantic bath together, turn the phones and laptops off for the night and try to keep the wedding chat positive and to a minimum!
· Delegate – Free yourself by asking for a little help the week before your wedding. When it comes to collection and delivery of the cake or flowers, your parents or bridesmaid should be able to handle this. Don’t try to do it all yourself, you don’t want to be worn out and tired looking on your big day!
Practical Checklist
· Pick up wedding dress and do a full dress rehearsal with whoever will be there on the morning of your wedding day.
· Have final facial, wax and/or massage.
· Finalise numbers and contact anyone who has failed to RSVP and notify venue or caterer of final head count.
· Finalise your table plan.
· Make/buy gift for hubby/wife.
· Write and practice wedding speeches.
· Put celebrant’s fee and offerings to sacristan and any other supplier who is to be paid on the day, into sealed envelopes.
· Pack overnight bag for wedding night.
· Pack for honeymoon. Check in. Organise travellers’ cheques or any foreign currency needed.
· Pick up ceremony booklets and give to best man for handing out on the day.
The Day Before
· Pick up groom’s attire.
· Put together you wedding emergency kit.
· Finalise seating plans for reception and write place cards.
· Attend rehearsal.
· Organise getting rings to the best man.
· Arrange collection of wedding cake and delivery to venue.
· Get to bed early!
Forums
Is there loads to do the day before?
Do I really have to take a week off before the wedding?
By Karen Birney
Main image by Christian Oth Studio, New York
