THE ULTIMATE WEDDING CHECKLIST - Final Week

 THE ULTIMATE WEDDING CHECKLIST - Final Week

It’s not long now until you walk down the aisle and become Mr. And Mrs.! Things can start to feel very stressful the final week of planning. To make sure you’ve considered everything, take a look back at our previous wedding checklist items. Then, tackle this list, and do your best to enjoy it. Not long from now the planning will be done and you’ll be celebrating your union with friends and family!

Pack Your Wedding Night Bag

The last thing you want to be doing the night before your wedding is panic-packing your bag for your wedding night. Do yourself a favor and start packing your wedding night bag this week.

Make a list of all the things you will need. That list should include things you would normally pack for any overnight stay, like underwear, your toothbrush, and deodorant, but it should include other things too.

Heavy-duty makeup remover is a good addition to your bag. You might also want to include Q-tips so you can easily apply your makeup remover to your lashes, if you're wearing fake ones.

Planning on having a lot of product in your hair the day-of? A hair mask is a good idea too. It will make brushing through your post-wedding day hair easier.

Don't forget the fun! Wedding night lingerie is a must. Even if you don't end up wearing it because you're so tired, it's good to have it just in case. A mini speaker can help set the mood in your room on your wedding night, while a bottle of your favorite champagne enables you and your new spouse to celebrate together, just the two of you.

Key takeaways:

• Make a list of everything you will need and cross items off as they are added to your bag.
• Include important items like heavy-duty makeup remover and a hair mask.
• Pack wedding night lingerie, even if you aren’t sure if you’re going to wear it.
• Set the mood with a mini speaker and a bottle of your favorite champagne.

Perfect Your Outfits

Hopefully, a couple of months ago, you tried on your dress with all of your accessories like we recommended. That doesn’t mean your job is done yet!

Open your garment bag and take a close look at your dress while it’s on the hanger. Look for any spots of discoloration that need to be cleaned in the days leading up to your wedding. Look for loose beads and sequins that should be tightened, and make sure dress hooks and buttons are secure. Do the same for the groom’s tux.

It’s also a good idea to have your dress and suit steamed to release wrinkles. Just make sure you do this last step after you have tried on your dress or suit for the last time. Otherwise, you’ll just get it wrinkly again putting it on and taking it off.

You have more to think about than just your wedding dress or suit. Make sure your shoes are ready to go, which means applying any anti-blister pads to the heels or inserting insoles. It might also mean giving them a quick clean if you have been wearing them ahead of your big day.

Have you had your engagement ring cleaned? Now is a good time to do it so it sparkles on your big day.

Wearing other dresses for your reception? Have a dress that you’re wearing for the rehearsal dinner? Make sure they are cleaned and ironed ahead of your wedding too!

Key takeaways:

• Clean any spots of discoloration on your dress and suit.
• Secure loose beads, sequins, dress hooks, and buttons.
• Have your dress and suit steamed.
• Make sure your shoes are clean and ready to go with anti-blister pads and insoles.
• Have your engagement ring cleaned.
• Have other dresses, like reception and rehearsal dinner dresses, cleaned and pressed.

Assign Jobs to Others for the Day-Of

A few months ago you started working on your wedding day timeline. While working on it, you likely discovered jobs that can be assigned to others, like decorating reception tables and having the guest book signed. That is a good start, but there are likely many other jobs that need to be assigned to others.

Duties that bridal party members can help with include favor arranging and getting you drinks during the reception. Your maid of honor may need to keep an eye on your train and sign your marriage license. You may also want to ask one of your bridesmaids to be on bathroom duty, as figuring out how to go to the bathroom in a wedding down can be quite a challenge!

Assigning jobs to others the day of your wedding also includes making sure you know exactly who is doing readings and when during your ceremony, as well as who is giving speeches during your reception. Don’t make any assumptions. Just because the maid of honor and best man traditionally give a speech doesn’t mean they have to if they feel uncomfortable or nervous. It’s perfectly fine for someone else in your bridal party to fill in.

Don’t forget to ask parents if they would like to give a speech, and make sure the people who hosted the wedding thank guests for coming, whether that’s you and your new spouse or one of your parents.

Key takeaways:

• Everything from favor arranging to getting drinks, keeping an eye on your train and signing your marriage license should be assigned to others.
• Consider asking a bridesmaid to be on bathroom duty.
• Know who is doing readings during your ceremony.
• Know who is giving speeches during your reception.
• Make sure the people who hosted the wedding take a moment to thank guests for coming.

Finalize Favors and DIY Décor

Now is the time to put the finishing touches on your favors so they are ready for your big day. You don’t want to be stuffing treats in boxes or tying ribbons the night before your wedding. If you’re running out of time, assign this job to someone else to finish in the days leading up to your nuptials.

This is also the time to finalize your DIY décor, if you’re doing any of the decorating yourself. Hopefully, you have finished making any items that you’re doing yourself, but if you haven’t, now is the time to do it. You may have to enlist the help of others to get the décor done if it’s something you have been putting off.

It’s also a good idea to do a mock setup of your table decorations. If someone else will be helping you set up the day-of, make sure that they are doing a dry run with you so they know exactly what you want. That way you can prevent walking into your reception and realizing the candles weren’t set up the right way.

Key takeaways:

• Put finishing touches on your favors. Assign this job to someone else if you’re running out of time.
• Finish making all of your DIY décor, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if still have a lot to do.
• Do a mock setup of your table decorations with the person who will be helping you decorate the day of your wedding.

Pamper Yourself

Planning a wedding can be exciting, but it can also be stressful. No matter what kind of celebration you’re planning, how much money you’re spending, or how much help you have, things never go exactly the way you want. Whether you’re dealing with alteration issues, bridal party drama, or venue restrictions, it’s a good idea to take a little time in the days ahead of your wedding to pamper yourself.

Pampering yourself is all about doing things that help you relax. That might mean scheduling a massage, getting a facial, or going shopping. Invite your maid of honor over for a spa night, schedule a professional exfoliation, or get your hair done. Pampering yourself could also mean taking a long bath and going to bed early!

Just make sure that any beauty treatments you get the week ahead of your wedding you have tried before. You don’t want to find out the exfoliant they use at your local spa irritates your skin ahead of your wedding day.

Key takeaways:

• Do things that help you relax ahead of your big day, like getting a massage, doing a facial, or going to bed early.
• Just make sure any beauty treatments you get you have tried in the past to ensure they don’t irritate your skin before your wedding day.

Do Something Special for Your Partner

A week before your wedding is also the perfect time to think about doing something special for your partner on the morning of your wedding. Opening a meaningful gift can be a great way to alleviate stress hours before you walk down the aisle.

Gifts can be expensive, like an engraved wristwatch or a diamond necklace, but they can be more affordable too. Create a photo book of the two of you together or buy a robe for your spouse-to-be to wear while getting ready. A heartfelt letter is a no-cost way to let them know how excited you are for your big day.

Don’t be afraid to get a little creative! If you have a good singing voice, consider singing a song to your new spouse at the reception. Have a sketch drawn of the bride in her wedding dress, or splurge on a firework show after dinner.

Whether you decide to do something special for your partner or not, you should let them know. You don’t want any hurt feelings on your wedding day because you got your partner something, but they didn’t get you anything in return.

Key takeaways:

• An engraved watch or a necklace are classic wedding day gifts for the groom and bride.
• Affordable gift options include a photo book or a handwritten love letter.
• Get creative by singing a song at the reception or paying for a firework show after dinner.
• Decide with your partner if you want to exchange gifts so there are no hurt feelings on your wedding day.

Man Setting a Table: Handy, Wedding Dress Draped on a Bed: Charlotte Wise Photography, Groom Reading a Letter From the Bride: Jeb McConnell Photography

• Pack your wedding night bag

• Perfect your outfits

Wedding dress:________________________________________________________________________

Suit or tux:____________________________________________________________________________

Rehearsal dinner attire:__________________________________________________________________

Reception attire:_______________________________________________________________________

• Assign jobs to others for the day-of

• Finalize favors and DIY décor

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• Pamper yourself

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• Do something special for your partner

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