Listed below are five real-world tips for your wedding day. These are not the generic, top-view tips on The Knot or a bridal website. These are small, actionable ideas that will make your day go a whole lot smoother.
I’m sure more will come to mind, and I’ll add bonus tips, so bookmark this page. Let’s get to it….
Delegate, delegate, delegate…. Let's say your family is doing some of the decorating of the venue. Choose a person that you trust to be in charge. If you do not do this, you will be bombarded all day long with questions, having to make decisions on small details, etc. Be the CEO of your wedding day, not the floor manager.
Flowers are often delivered to the location of the bride and bridesmaids. If the groomsmen are in a different area, have a person on hand to provide the boutonnieres so they can be fully decorated for the ceremony, photos, etc. I often have to redo the groom + groomsmen's photos because their flowers are missing.
Transportation is a worthy investment. Do you entrust your wedding party to transport themselves to multiple locations without hitting the Starbucks drive-through or stopping to feed their dog? Don’t get me wrong, I love animals and my frappucinos too, but this will take precious time away from the various events of the day. Remember that, like photographers, not all transportation companies are the same (see what I did there). I’ve found Epic Limo to be reliable, but there are others.
Hire actual wedding vendors. Let’s say you go to a club and the entertainment is a “turntablist”, "DJ extraordinaire" whom everybody loves and you want for your reception. Great, ensure they are willing to do what a seasoned wedding DJ does every weekend - learn to pronounce and be ready to announce family and wedding party during introductions, work with the venue to coordinate various events, take requests, etc. Some club DJs only want to play music but will need to do more. The same goes if you are hiring a friend to play music. This also applies to HMUAs, photographers, and others.
Skip a receiving line after your ceremony if you haven’t already completed family and wedding party photos, had a first look, etc. That list of 12 family group photos you have? It’s probably going to double! The goal (at least with me as your photographer) is to have you enjoy your wedding day. You don’t want to cram everything into a short period and not be fully present for the celebration.
Have you read my article mentioning how important the efficiency of your photographer is? Check it out at the button below.
Bonus Wedding Day Tips
Eat a good breakfast: Start your day with a healthy, filling breakfast. You don't want to feel lightheaded or hungry during your ceremony or reception.
Stay hydrated: Drink water throughout the day and avoid feeling tired or sluggish. Try my favorite brand - Hint.