Last week WhereBridesGo.com featured 10 Wedding Tips & Tricks to Simplify Your Life. That list will be helpful during the earlier stages of planning a wedding. The next 10 tidbits of bridal wisdom will come in handy as the big day draws nearer.
#1 - List Your "Must-Have" Photos
You can trust good wedding photographers to have their own list of amazing wedding shots to capture but it's up to you to make a list of the family and friend photos you want professionally taken. Planning this ahead of time helps to avoid missing anyone on the wedding day. Be sure to alert everyone on your list so they don't wander off when it's picture time. You might want to ask a close friend or family member that knows everyone to get these people together for you.
Also, if you see any adorable wedding photos that you would like to recreate, let your photographer know ahead of time. That will give them time to plan for the special shot and work it into their schedule.
#2 - Create A Hashtag
Unless you request an "unplugged" wedding, everyone in attendance is bound to have their phones out snapping pictures of your special day. Give them a wedding hashtag to use when they post those photos so you'll be able to find them all easily later. If coming up with clever hashtag sounds too difficult, simply do a Google search for "wedding hashtag generators" and let the computer create one for you.
#3 - Shine Up That Engagement Ring
The wedding ring will be brand new on your finger, but you've proudly been wearing that engagement ring for a while now. Have it professionally cleaned right before the wedding day so it sparkles and shines in all of your wedding photographs. The jeweler where the ring was purchased will often do this for free.
#4 - Practice the First Kiss
Most couples don't think about this, but when your officiant says "You may now kiss the bride!" many brides and grooms have a moment of "how should we do this?" Will it be a quick peck or a long embrace? Practice a few different ways before the big day so you're not caught off-guard on the spot. Plus, it's a great excuse to squeeze in some extra TLC before the wedding!
#5 - Dress Down for Hair & Makeup
Button-down, that is! You and your bridesmaids won't be putting on those gorgeous gowns until after your hair and makeup are finished. Don't make the mistake of wearing the wrong thing to get ready and having to pull a shirt over your head and ruin all that work. Wear a button-down shirt, or even better, a fabulous robe from our online wedding store while you are getting ready. Personalized robes also make terrific bridesmaid gift ideas!
#6 - Pack Drinking Straws
It's extremely important to stay hydrated during all of the hustle and bustle of the wedding day. Avoid smearing your beautifully applied lipstick by always having straws handy to drink out of.
#7 - Have a Hankie Handy
There's a very good chance there will be tears on your wedding day (happy tears, that is!) You can hide a hankie in your bouquet for your walk down the aisle so that you're ready to dab your eyes and keep that mascara from running at a moment's notice. You might even want to leave a travel-size pack of tissues on each guest's seat, just in case.
#8 - When You've Got To "Go"...
This tip is for the brides with ball gowns or other types of large wedding dress skirts. It's going to be very difficult to go to the restroom without the help of your bridesmaids to keep that dress out of your way.
Rather than scrunching it up behind you and hoping it doesn't dip into the toilet, sit backward. Yes, it will feel weird but you'll be able to see the part of your dress nearest the toilet and a gal pal can stand behind you holding the rest of the gown. (Trust us, it actually works!) This is something else you may want to practice before the wedding day.
#9 - Set Aside Reception Food
Wedding days tend to be a whirlwind for brides and grooms. Often they get so caught up in the excitement of the day and trying to talk to every guest, both of them forget to eat! By the time you realize how hungry you are, the food may already be put away or even worse, gone.
Ask your caterer to make up special plates for the two of you and set them aside. Then that food will be waiting when you have time to eat, even if it's after the reception is over.
#10 - Stash Hidden Cake
Great big, elaborate wedding cakes can cost a lot of money. If you are trying to keep your budget under control, order a small decorated cake to place your wedding cake top on that you can cut at the reception. Then, have a sheet cake of the same flavor hidden in the kitchen to serve to guests. It can even be cut ahead of time to speed up getting the cake served to everyone.
These weekly blogs are here to help you get through the wedding planning process as smoothly as possible. Everything else in our online wedding store is here, 24/7, to help you put that dream wedding together with all of the beautiful wedding decorations, wedding party gifts, and other wedding accessories you will need to make that perfect wedding day in your imagination turn into a reality! WhereBridesGo.com is your one-stop-shop for nearly everything you will need for an exquisite wedding ceremony and reception, plus a whole lot more.
~The WhereBridesGo.com Team
Post by Deanna Powell, Certified Bridal Consultant