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13 Important Things Brides Forget About Before Their Wedding

wedding planning

wedding planning

There are a million and one things to do when planning a wedding, so it makes sense that a few details may slip your mind. Here are some important wedding planning details that brides commonly overlook or forget about.

1. Have a Contingency Plan for Inclement Weather

If your big day is dependent on nice weather, what happens when mother nature doesn’t cooperate? You spend so much time planning the perfect wedding, but may simply forget to have a plan B. Make sure you take some time to develop a backup plan that you and your guests will also enjoy, just in case!

2. Establish a Wedding Website Before Sending Save the Dates

While your website doesn’t need to be completely finished, you will need a URL to put on the save the dates. Your website should include basic information like the date, location, and nearby hotels for the out-of-towners.

3. Book a Hotel Block

Speaking of out-of-towners, reserving a hotel block can save your traveling guests money and the hassle of finding accommodations. Group rates are lower than standard room prices and you may be able to ask for adjusted check-in/out times. Have a couple of hotel options for your guests to ensure they have a place to stay.

4. Designate Tasks to Your VIPs

Your wedding day is going to be a whirlwind, and you won’t be able to deal with everything yourself. Assigning tasks to friends, family, and members of your wedding party will help alleviate some of your stress. You may need:

  • A day-of point person for vendors to contact — you may be called on to make decisions, but let someone else be the first line of defense.
  • A trusted person to manage the presents, cards, and mementos and make sure they get to their destination safely.
  • Someone to hold onto your overnight clothes bag as well as a clutch with cash and IDs — you never know where the afterparty might take you!
  • Someone to ensure the wedding dress and/or tux get to where they need to go after the reception.

5. Make a “Do Not Play” List

Before the big day, send your band or DJ a list of “Do Not Play” songs if your guests can make requests. You wouldn’t want to listen to a requested song that you don’t like, isn’t wedding appropriate, or reminds you of an ex (awkward!).

6. Check Guests’ Food Restrictions

Before planning your catering menu, ask guests for any food allergies or dietary restrictions such as gluten intolerances or if they need a vegetarian dish. It is your responsibility to ensure you have food options that will satisfy every guests’ needs.

Contact The Christy in St. Louis and O’fallon to learn more about our delicious, flexible wedding catering!

7. Add EVERYONE When Placing the Catering Order

Oftentimes, brides forget to include the happy couple in the final guest count — you need to eat too! Make sure you have included everyone who will need to eat that night: yourself, as well as any vendor meals such as the band, photographer, etc.

8. Practice Walking in Your Heels

You may want to keep your wedding heels safely tucked away until the big day to keep anything from happening to them, but it’s important to get some practice in. Heels can hurt, and if they’re new, they will especially need to be broken in!

You may want to also have a backup pair in case you break a heel the day of. Likely, you won’t have to wear them (so they don’t need to be as fantastic as your main ones), but it doesn’t hurt to have an extra pair for the worst-case scenario.

9. Confirm the Week Before an Appointment

Hair, nails, and makeup appointments should be booked in advance, but a week before they’re scheduled, make sure to call and confirm all dates and times are accurate. Your wedding is not the time to assume things are correct, so it doesn’t hurt to double-check.

10. Dress Alterations

The perfect dress isn’t always 100% perfect. Make sure you leave enough time AND budget to have any needed adjustments made before the big day.

11. Pack an Emergency Kit

Accidents happen (especially when you want things to go perfectly), and there is bound to be a hiccup or two throughout the day. A spill, papercut, or ripped hem doesn’t have to be the end of the world, though. Make sure you’re prepared for all the little things that may come up and pack a kit beforehand with:

  • A stain stick
  • Sewing kit
  • Double-sided tape
  • Bobby pins
  • Band-aids
  • Tissues
  • Deodorant
  • Dental floss
  • Headache medicine
  • etc.

12. Talk to Vendors About Potential Overtime

Even if you don’t think you’ll need your vendors to stay later, it’s best to ask ahead of time what overtime fees will be. Ask your venue, DJ, bartender, etc. what the additional cost would be and give them a heads up of the possibility. If you don’t feel the party is over, you may not want to force it to end because of time restraints.

13. Arrange Post-Reception Transportation

You probably remembered to plan transportation to the ceremony and reception, but what about the next destination? Whether it is a hotel, home, or even the airport, the happy couple shouldn’t be grabbing an Uber or driving themselves at the end of the night. Arrange transportation for the wedding party as well — you want them to live it up with you on your special day, but make sure they get home safely.

Wedding Reception Center

The Christy is the perfect place for your special day! Host your wedding at our beautiful St. Louis or O’Fallon reception halls. Contact us today!