There’s so much emphasis on planning a wedding — everything from the venue, guest list, caterer, flowers, photographer and more — that preparing for the actual big day often gets lost in the shuffle.
Your wedding is sure to be beautiful and meaningful, but the day itself could very well become a bit crazy, filled with lots of emotions and perhaps some last-minute tasks.
To ensure your wedding day is as calm as it is special, consider the following tips:
1. Practice Doing Your Hair and Makeup
Whether you’re having your hair and makeup done professionally or are doing it yourself, it’s a good idea to do a trial run ahead of time. Once you or the hired pro does your hair and makeup, have someone take pictures of you from every angle. This way, you can determine early on if everything looks as you’ve long envisioned before making any last-minute tweaks, if necessary. Additionally, if you’re doing your own hair and makeup, early preparations will help make you less nervous on your big day and also ensure you have all the right cosmetics.
2. Lay Out Your Dress and Accessories the Night Before
Getting everything ready the night before your wedding day may make you feel like you’re back in elementary school when you used to lay out your clothes before going to bed. Still, the theory is the same: You’ll have everything you need organized and ready to go. To that end, hang up your gorgeous dress and have your shoes ready, along with the sexy bridal lingerie you recently bought to provide that boost of confidence for your big day. If you also plan to carry a small purse, make sure it contains everything you need, including lipstick, mints, hand wipes and Advil.
3. Get to Bed Early
Yes, some of your best friends and favorite relatives flew in for the ceremony, but do your best to call it a night and get to bed early on your wedding eve. Of course, your excitement level will be at an all-time high and you may also be feeling nervous, so it may take you a bit longer than usual to nod off. Thus, make sure your bedroom is quiet and cool, and do some deep breathing when you lay your head on the pillow. Getting a solid night of sleep will not only help you to look your best on your big day, but it can also help keep you feeling more even-keeled.
4. Plan More Time Than You Think
There’s nothing worse than feeling harried and rushed, especially on your wedding day when emotions are already running high. To help you stay calm, cool and collected, pad your schedule to allow for more time than you may think you’ll need. For instance, if you’re planning on hair and makeup taking two hours for you and your bridesmaids, plan instead for a total of three or four hours. There’s nothing wrong with giving yourself more leeway. Plus, if you’re ahead of schedule, your photographer can always snap some extra photos of you and your bridesmaids. But things often do run behind schedule on your wedding day, so allowing for extra time will keep everything on track.
Have a Wonderful and Relaxing Day!
You’ve done so much work planning your wedding — now it’s time to do a little additional prepping to ensure you’re feeling on top of your game on your big day. By practicing hair and makeup ahead of time, laying out your wedding ensemble the night before, getting a good night’s rest, and adding plenty of extra time to your wedding day schedule, your special day will no doubt be beautiful, romantic and relaxing.