And so, here we are – it’s the day before the wedding! You thought it would never come, and then… BOOM. You can now look at your giant to-do list with satisfaction – you’ve probably checked all the boxes on it. If not, don’t worry – whatever you didn’t get done, we promise you won’t need on the day.
So, how should you spend this day? Ideally, you should put up your feet and have the most relaxing time ever – so tomorrow you’ll feel rested, bright and and happy. But if that’s not quite possible, or nerves won’t help you relax, or you have that funny feeling you’re forgetting to do something important – here’s a handy WOL list to refer to…
The morning of the day before the wedding
Give your other half a hug and kiss until tomorrow. A lot of couples agree to spend this day and the final night apart. If you’re one of them, agree on the time you’ll go to your respective locations and whether you’ll be in touch or not.
Check the weather forecast. If you see even a remote chance of rain, today is the day to find or buy enough umbrellas for you and the bridal party. Make sure your other half has checked the weather too.
Image from Sinead & Erich’s real wedding by Linda Clarke Photography
Work out carefully. Go easy today – you don’t want sore muscles or fatigue tomorrow. An energetic walk or a swim should do the job. If you do it before bedtime, it may help you sleep better.
Drink your water. Any amount is great, but definitely get a few glasses in throughout the day to keep you hydrated. Start in the morning and sip throughout the day.
Check your emergency kits. They should be ready to be given to the appointed people. If you don’t know what to put in yours, check out our helpful emergency kit list here.
Pack everything you need to take with you. Don’t leave it until the morning of the wedding – all it takes is one person to disrupt even the most perfect plan, and you may run out of time. It’s also a good idea to have everything you need for the wedding morning out and ready (robe, garter, bridal accessories etc).
Confirm the arrival time with your car company once more. If a hiccup happened somewhere, you’ll be glad you did! PS. Other sources may tell you today is also the day to call all your other suppliers. We say, best to do it a few days before. If there’s a problem, it gives them an extra few days to resolve it. Plus, you really don’t want today to be the day you find out something’s not working.
Image from Lorraine & Shane’s real wedding by Couple Photography
Walk around in your wedding shoes. You can do it at home on the carpet. It’ll give them that last stretch that could make all the difference. Don’t forget to pack ‘just in case’ flats for later in the night as well.
Drop off all remaining décor at the venue. If you haven’t done so already, do it first thing in the morning to give the staff enough time to set up. If they’ve already done it, and you don’t live too far away, you may like to drive over and see what it looks like. It’s an individual preference – some brides like to be as surprised as the guests will be when they arrive.
The afternoon of the day before the wedding
Wash your hair. Stylists say hair that’s been washed the night before is best to work with – so unless you’ve been specifically given different instructions, give your locks a nice clean and pamper.
Double check you’ve sent the correct seating plan to the venue. If they put up version two instead of the final version five, there may be some people who won’t find their names on the list…
Give your wedding dress a final once-over. It’s probably perfect, but if you find a loose thread or a bead, today is the day to fix it.
Image from Suzie & Eoin’s real wedding by Tomasz Kornas Photography
Write or print a list of all the vendors and phone numbers, then give to a designated person for safekeeping. Should anything get delayed, that person will make the calls – the bride isn’t the right person to solve conundrums on her own wedding day.
Write a love note to your other half. You’ll likely be feeling all kinds of things the day before the wedding day – and your partner won’t be there with you. Write them a sweet note to share later – it’ll be a wonderful memento.
Spend time with your family. It’s going to be a big day for them too, and they probably all want to hug you right now. Make sure you’re around to let them! Keep some tissues handy in case you – or anyone else – well up.
Check bridesmaid arrangements one more time. If they’re all staying with you tonight, make sure all the dresses, shoes, accessories, etc., are all ready to go. If not, confirm one more time they know what time they should arrive and be fully dressed and ready to get in the limo.
Image from Deidre & John’s real wedding by Martina California
Do what you find most relaxing. Whatever it may be, do plenty of it – walking, reading, going shopping, watching a movie, hanging out with mum, etc. Perhaps you’d like to get a massage and a manicure?
Go to bed early. Even if you can’t sleep, lying down and relaxing is still good for you. Read a book, listen to music, watch something, but try not to stay up too late. Bags under eyes aren’t a good look for a bride.
And a few things you shouldn’t do the day before your wedding
Don’t have a rehearsal dinner the day before the wedding. It can be overwhelming, and if you happen upon bad traffic, or someone can’t show up, or you find there’s just too much going on, it’ll affect your entire day tomorrow. Doing it about a week in advance saves much headache, and leaves plenty of time to iron out any hiccups.
Don’t get a facial or a new hair style. Beauty treatments plus stress equal an unhappy bride – especially with breakouts and bad cuts.
Don’t do any DIY. If you haven’t done it by now, you don’t need it. You should be relaxing, not gluing your fingers to things and getting upset by ribbons that don’t quite want to behave.
Don’t answer every single phone call. Pass your phone to someone you trust, or just turn it off – they can call someone else.
Don’t eat foods that bloat. This affects us all individually, but the most common culprits are: broccoli, kale, cabbage, beans, lentils, apples, salty foods, and dairy if you’re lactose-intolerant. Deep fried or high calorie dishes may not be the best way to go either.
Don’t argue with your other half. Nerves may be frayed today, especially if a few things didn’t get done, but an argument won’t help solve them – you need to put your heads together to find a solution, or ask someone else to get involved and help out.
Have we missed anything you think is important? Leave us a comment!
Main image from Suzie & Eoin’s real wedding by Tomasz Kornas Photography
