What happens on the day of your wedding?
Starting the day
The morning of your wedding day can be a big rush, so the first thing to remember is to breathe. Take a few deep breaths and then start playing out your day in your mind.
Here are some things you should do:
- Wake up early and check the weather. Make sure you have everything you need for the day, like your dress, accessories, and make-up. Have a light breakfast and drink lots of water. Enjoy a cup of coffee as well!
- Check the wedding list once more to make sure everyone that’s supposed to be there is there. Take pictures and enjoy this moment with your family!
It’s important not to stress out about anything at this point-it will all work out in the end!
Setting up
The venue is usually set up the day before, and the wedding planner or venue manager will let you know when you can come in to check everything.
Your wedding planner should be at the ceremony site and reception venue before vendors arrive to make sure that everyone knows where they are going and what they should be doing. If you don’t have a wedding planner, you may do this yourself or have someone in your wedding party handle it for you.
Getting ready
You’ll want to make sure you’re clear about your schedule for the day, as there will be a lot of things going on. Getting dressed is usually high up on that list, so it’s important that you have plenty of time to do this. If you hired a photographer and videographer, they might arrive at this point to take some getting-ready photos so plan some extra time for these shots as well.
This is typically a good time to relax and enjoy a quiet (or not so quiet) moment with family members and bridesmaids as everyone gets ready. You can also take this opportunity to eat something small if you’re feeling hungry. Once everyone is dressed up and looking their best, you’ll head over towards the ceremony before walking down the aisle together as one large group all wearing matching outfits (or not).
One last thing: don’t forget the rings!
Saying "I do"
You must do your town hall ceremony before you do a religious or secular ceremony.
Some officiants have preferences about when you should arrive. If it’s unclear, ask ahead of time or call up your venue and see what their general protocol is. Make sure that you have a copy of the script beforehand; this will allow you to review any cues from the officiant, such as when to say “I do” or kiss at the end of the ceremony, or what songs play and when.
Additionally, if you will be following a religion-specific tradition (such as Jewish couples circling each other) or family tradition (removing a veil), let your officiant know ahead of time so they can incorporate it into their speech and include reminders during rehearsals on how to complete those traditions seamlessly without disrupting the flow!
Enjoying cocktail hour
Congratulations! You and your spouse are now officially married !
Have a glass of champagne to relax and enjoy the moment—this is not a day to worry about your alcohol consumption (just make sure there’s plenty of water around).
Cocktail hour is a perfect time to take some family and group shots. Your photographer and videographer will capture these special moments, so when you meet with these professionals beforehand, tell them exactly what you want and don’t forget to give them a list of shots you want.
Toward the end of the cocktail hour, there is often a bouquet toss, during which single women gather in order to see who will catch it. The tradition holds that whoever catches it will be next to get married.
Ending with the reception and party
You and your guests will gather for a reception, which is traditionally a meal or party, where everyone can eat and celebrate together. Most wedding receptions involve a time for toasting the newlyweds. Toasts can take on many forms, with some people choosing to express their gratitude or well wishes through poetry, song, or even dance. If you are giving a toast at this event, keep in mind that it’s also important not to let your own nerves get the best of you: as long as you speak from the heart and keep things brief, it will go over great with everyone else in attendance.
It’s also tradition for couples who’ve just gotten married to share their first dance together as husband and wife at their reception party—and sometimes even cut into an elaborately decorated cake before heading off on honeymoon at the end of the night!
There you have it: a successful wedding day!
You will feel the stress of the day beforehand, but you can use this guide to see that you won’t forget anything.
As you’re getting ready for your wedding, there are so many things to think about: What will the weather be like? Will my dress fit properly? Do all the decorations look good together? These are just a few of the questions running through your head as you get closer to that special date.
You can rest assured that with a little bit of planning, you can alleviate most of this stress and take care of everything in advance. Use this article to make sure nothing slips through the cracks and keeps your day running as smoothly as possible.