A Checklist for What to Do on the Day of Your Wedding

What to Do on the Day of Your Wedding: Important Tasks to Remember

You’ve been wedding planning for months, and now your wedding date is finally here. So, you can just relax and enjoy, right?

Well, partially. By this point, your wedding planner or wedding coordinator should have things under control. And your wedding party likely has a few tasks they’ve also been assigned. You likely don’t have much left to do, other than make sure you show up for your various wedding activities.

But, that being said, you can’t abandon all responsibility. To ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch, here’s a look at what to do on the day of your wedding, from the moment you open your eyes to the moment you say goodbye to guests.

What to Do the Day of Your Wedding: The Night Before

Your wedding day to-do list actually starts the day before your wedding, where two important agenda items take precedence:

You likely have some pre-wedding jitters and may be too excited to sleep. But in order to be filled with as much energy as possible and look your best on the actual day, it’s important to try to get some shut-eye. This means no crazy drinking or partying, and trying to get in bed at a reasonable hour.

Given this, it may be ideal to hold your rehearsal dinner two days before the wedding rather than the day before, if that’s an option . Doing so will allow you to enjoy the celebratory dinner without worrying about overindulging before the big day.

Things to Do on the Wedding Day: The Morning of

The majority of weddings take place in the late afternoon or early evening. As such, you may have some extra time the morning of the wedding, and you’ll want to use it wisely.

Consider using this early quiet time to have special moments with your family or spouse-to-be. Then, several hours before the wedding ceremony, it’ll be time to start getting ready. You and your bridal party may travel to the ceremony venue at this point, where you’ll put on your wedding dress or suit (or whatever attire you plan on wearing) and have your hair and makeup done, if desired.

If you plan on doing a first look and getting some photography ahead of the ceremony, you’ll also need to factor that time into your schedule. Working with a wedding coordinator can help ensure that you, your wedding party, and your vendors are on the same page regarding the schedule.

If you have any downtime, consider going over your vows or practicing a toast or speech. You might also meet with your spouse-to-be to exchange wedding gifts, as well as present wedding gifts to your wedding party.

Things to Do on Your Wedding Day: The Wedding Ceremony

Once it’s time for the ceremony, you’ll make your way to the wedding venue (if you’re not already there) for the next important steps:

Upon arrival, you should ensure that the wedding bands are accounted for, you have a copy of your vows, and your officiant has your marriage license.

It’s also a good idea to have a quick rehearsal/soundcheck of the ceremony music to ensure it proceeds seamlessly.

Things to Do on the Day of Your Wedding: Before the Wedding Reception

The wedding ceremony may only last about a half-hour to an hour, leaving time to accomplish a few more items before the reception:

This is a great time to get extra photos, particularly with family and guests outside of the wedding party.

To keep the rest of your guests entertained and happy during this period, you might encourage guests to attend a cocktail hour, where they can have a few drinks and snacks before the reception begins.

During this time, some couples also choose to have a quiet moment together or to exchange wedding gifts.

Things to Do the Day of Your Wedding: The Reception

Once your guests are gathered in your reception space, you can make your grand entrance and take to the dance floor for the first dance. This will typically be followed by your dinner, cake cutting, toasts, and more dancing.

As you enjoy all of the above, there are just a few things you’ll need to remember to do:

At this point in the day, it’s good to have the vendors’ tips ready. If you don’t plan to hand them out yourself, assign a member of the wedding party, your wedding planner, or your wedding coordinator to do the task.

Additionally, be sure to make the rounds with all of your guests and try to greet everyone in attendance. While yes, this can keep you busy when you only want to enjoy some of that delicious food you paid for, it’s a necessary courtesy.

What to Do on Your Wedding Day: After the Reception

The wedding reception is the longest part of a wedding and can last well into the night. Between dinner, dancing, cake-cutting, toasts, and more, a reception that starts at 6 or 7 p.m. may last until midnight or later. Many couples also plan after-parties for smaller numbers of guests, continuing the celebration into the early morning hours.

However long your wedding reception lasts, you’ll likely be pretty tired afterward. As such, plan to stay the night before heading off on your honeymoon. You might even choose to leave for your honeymoon a few days after the wedding to give yourself time to recoup. The last thing you want to do is to wake up at a super-early hour to head to the airport!

Things to Do Day of Wedding FAQs

What Are Some Things to Do on a Wedding Day That Most People Forget?

It’s the most basic things that are often forgotten on a wedding day — like remembering to eat, stay hydrated, and preferably go to the bathroom before getting dressed up.

What Unique Wedding Ideas Don’t Include a Traditional Ceremony And Reception?

As you’re wedding planning, always remember that your big day — from wedding theme to format — can really be whatever you want. Have a wedding brunch or breakfast. Have a ceremony for just a few folks at the courthouse, followed by an intimate dinner at a restaurant. It’s your day!

What Is the 30-5 Minute Rule for Weddings?

It’s a rule of thumb that tasks that usually only take five minutes will generally take 30 minutes on a wedding day, due to various factors. So plan ahead!

What Should You Do if You Have Extra Time on Your Wedding Day?

If you have a little bit of extra time, use it wisely. Spend quality time with your family, friends, or spouse; rehearse your vows or speeches; and simply soak it all in.

How Long Should a Wedding Last?

A traditional, standard wedding ceremony will last less than an hour, while the reception may last upwards of four hours. And often, there’s a small amount of time between the ceremony and reception.

One Final To-Do: Protect Your Day with Wedding Insurance

No matter how well-prepared you are for your wedding day, you could still deal with vendor cancellations, bad weather, and more. But having a wedding insurance policy in place could save the day. Learn more about BriteCo’s comprehensive plans and get your quick wedding insurance quote now.

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