After months of planning and preparation your big day has finally arrived.  It’s going to be a long one and full on from start to finish.  So, what last minute things can you do to ensure everything goes off exactly as planned without you having to worry about the details?

Hire a wedding day co-ordinator

If you don’t want to go as far as engaging the services of a wedding planner, but you want a little extra help on top of the venue co-ordinator, a wedding day co-ordinator is a great idea.  This allows you to set everything up yourself then hand over the execution to someone else, freeing you up to enjoy the day itself.  Much less for you to remember, no worries about making sure it all happens as you intended and someone to deal with any little issues that crop up unexpectedly.

Stay on top of the small print

Before you book your venue and hire your suppliers, read the contracts carefully.  That way you know what is expected of them, and you.  Keep copies of them and have them with you on the day (or give them to your on the day co-ordinator).  That way if you feel somebody is not delivering as promised you have the agreements to hand.

Take cover

Organising a wedding involves some big financial commitments and it’s possible to get insurance to protect you if there’s a serious issue – having a policy in place gives you great peace of mind. 

What could possibly go wrong?  You might have to cancel the wedding due to a family illness or bad weather it will cover some or all of the costs involved.  Policies can also include cover for costs if a supplier doesn’t deliver or you need to hire a different venue or caterer due to cancellation.

Every policy is different but most will also cover your wedding attire, flowers, cakes and rings as well as wedding cars and transport.  Look for a policy that also includes public liability protection to provide compensation if someone is injured at your wedding, or if the venue is damaged by a member of your wedding party.

Work out what happens when

Create a wedding day timeline so you know how long you have got for each stage of your day.   Include the timing and order that hair and makeup will follow, what time your partner and their group should start getting ready, when your first look will occur, the different stages of the ceremony and everything that will happen during your reception.   Having a plan and schedule that all the key people are following makes it much easier for everyone to play their part to perfection.

Do your DIY early

Writing your wedding signs by hand, crafting a set of candlestick table centrepieces, constructing a wedding arch or creating your own cake stand?  Get all these projects finished way at least a week before the big day.  You want to spend that final evening relaxing with family and friends, not fiddling around with glue, card and scissors!

A rehearsal settles the nerves

You’ll feel a lot calmer during the ceremony if you set aside 30-60 minutes the afternoon or night before for a rehearsal.  Get the celebrant to run through what’s going to happen, from how to walk down the aisle and where everyone stands to the order in which everyone leaves the church at the end.

Where’s Auntie Amy?

Organising family and friends for the photos can be like herding cats – so some pre-planning helps.  Agree a list of photo groups with your photographer in advance.  Then brief the relatives so they know what’s expected of them.  This will speed things up considerably and mean nobody is confused, frustrated or disappointed.

Look at you!

Including “a first look” in the schedule is a great idea.  Instead of first setting eyes on each other in front of the assembled company the couple meet for a few minutes in private before the ceremony.  It’s an intimate moment to help settle the nerves and also makes an emotional photo opportunity.

All present and correct

Guests will arrive bearing cards and presents so have a gift table set up at your reception.  However, everything will need collecting at the end of the day and transporting to your hotel room or home.  This is a job for your on the day co-ordinator - but if you haven’t hired one appoint a trusted relative or friend to take on the task (best to pick someone who is teetotal!).

Drink responsibly

It’s your big day, emotions are running high and the drinks are flowing – the temptation to overindulge is hard to resist.  The best advice (sorry if we sound like your mum!) is to take it slow.  A glass or two or bubbly will help you get into the party groove but don’t overdo it – you don’t want to be stumbling around the dancefloor or to spend your wedding night in a room that’s spinning round!  As well as limiting your alcohol intake be sure to drink plenty of water – it’ll help keep your energy levels up as well as helping to head off a headache.

 Relax – we take care of it all

Follow this advice and you won’t have much to worry about on your big day apart from making sure you enjoy very single moment.  Plus, if you book your wedding at Clevedon Hall, all our packages include a dedicated Wedding Coordinator and a Personal Event Manager to give you extra peace of mind.  What sort of help and support do they provide?  Get in touch and we can explain everything in detail.