Ask the Experts – The Wedding Checklist: The Final Week Before your Wedding Day

Hands up if you are getting married this summer? I have a feeling you will find this last minute checklist really helpful today! I am delighted to welcome back our in-house wedding experts to talk about the final week before your wedding day!  With thanks to Lisa and Sam from Carmela Weddings for this wonderful advice!

The Wedding Checklist: The Final Week Before your Wedding Day 

It’s finally a week until the wedding, with just a handful of days until you make your way down the aisle and say ‘We Do’. With the big day looming, you’ll be bursting with anticipation, nerves and probably a dose of stress too. While the final week before your wedding may be the most exciting it will be one of the busiest too. Months and months of careful wedding planning has finally come together and your to-do-list will be endless. So it’s no surprise if panic mode suddenly sets in. But don’t fret brides and grooms, our wedding checklist has got everything covered. Keep reading to discover everything you need to tick off and complete the week before you tie the knot…

Hannah & Matthew | Amanda Balmain

Aisle Style

Make sure that you’ve had your final dress fitting and that it fits like a dream! Take it home and store it somewhere safe, and yes it’s totally acceptable to keep looking at it while imagining wearing it down the aisle. Soon it will be a reality! Gather together your wedding dress, shoes and any accessories that you’ll be wearing on the day. It’s worth looking at it all together to make sure you’re completely comfortable with your bridal look. We always recommend that brides wear their wedding shoes around the house to break them in, this is the easiest way to avoid those big day blisters! Make sure you get any last-minute beauty treatments done in the final week of your wedding day. We’re talking manicures, spray tans, massages and hair-cuts. Plus, it’s an excuse for a bridal pamper session ahead of your special day. This is also the time you should pack your bridal emergency kit. Fill it with plasters, make-up, toiletries and any other ‘just in case’ items that you think you may need. Then delegate the kit to one of your bridesmaids to keep safe. Plus, be sure to get as much bridal beauty sleep as you can!

Helen & Alex | Benni Carol Photography

The Bridal Party

Make sure everyone in the bridal party is aware of timings, outfits and any responsibilities they may have on the wedding day. Ensure that the best man has the rings safe and sound, and that everyone who is doing a speech is ready and prepared.

Amanda & Ron |  Laura Kelly Photography

Wedding Suppliers

The final week before your wedding is your chance to confirm timings, locations and any last-minute queries with your wedding suppliers. It’s also important to let your vendors know who their point of contact will be on the day and to finalise payment terms. If you’ve started stressing about the day itself, book a last minute wedding planner to come and do your On The Day Coordination so that you can enjoy the day stress free!

Emma & Jonathan | Sarah Elliot Photography

The Ceremony

Practice your vows ahead of the ceremony! You’ll be feeling nervous and excited, but if you practice your vows you’re much less likely to stumble through them. Confirm timings and proceedings with your celebrant and ceremony venue, there will be a few loose ends to tie up and it’s best to do it in the final week, rather than the day before. You may also want to have a rehearsal in the final week with the bridal party.

Amy & Tim | Jess Yarwood

The Reception

Discuss with your wedding venue when you can come in and decorate your reception. Some venues allow couples, planners and stylist to come in a few days before to dress the venue, whereas others can only allow brides and grooms to decorate the night before or the morning of. It’s important to arrange transportation of your decorations and details, and it may be worth delegating a member of your bridal party to take charge of this.

Ashley & Jon | Pat Robinson

Loose Ends

You’ll find that there are lots of little things that need to be ticked off your wedding checklist in the final week. Double-check with any guests who haven’t yet RSVP’ed to your wedding day and cross-check this with your seating plan and catering arrangements. Add the final touches to your gifts for your groom-to-be and the bridal party.
Most importantly, relax and enjoy the final week before your wedding day. Be sure to spend time with your partner, so that you can share the anticipation of becoming newlyweds! This is such an exciting time and it will whizz by super quickly, so the more organised you are with your wedding checklist, the better!

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CARMELA WEDDINGS

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Lisa and Sam create contemporary stylish weddings for modern, fashion-forward couples in the UK and Malta. They love an urban wedding and know how to put on a fabulous party! They’ve also been married for a year and love travelling.