Advice From The Bride : Wedding Week Schedule
Planning weddings can be tough. As a Birmingham, Alabama wedding photographer, I’ve seen brides handle the stress of a wedding day in all different ways. I believe one of the best ways to calm anxieties about your upcoming wedding celebration is to talk to brides that have been in your wedding heels. Today, in our continued series “Advice from the Bride”, I asked a former bride to share how she handled her wedding week. Her advice on how to stay calm the wedding of your wedding is to make a list, enjoy your groom, and take care of yourself. Here are some of her thoughts.
I found my timeline for the week before my wedding, and I thought it would be helpful to pass it along. Remembering back, I actually followed this quite well….yes, even the workouts and dinner dates. I find it very helpful to make lists and see all that I’ve been able to accomplish or need to focus on. Also, with the numerous deposits that need to be made the week of the wedding, making a list for them all was key for me to keep my head straight.
Wedding Week Schedule
Monday
- ring to jeweler for cleaning
- proof programs at printers
- final dress fitting with out-of-town bridesmaid(s)
- dinner with out-of-town guests
Tuesday
- workout
- pick up groom’s shirt and suit
- begin packing luggage for honeymoon
- get gifts ready for bridal party
- write thank you notes to bridal party
- place hold on mail
- final call with wedding photographer to go over wedding day schedule
Wednesday
- workout
- visit florist to make sure all is ready for Saturday
- pick up programs at printer
- beauty appointment: eyebrows waxed
- pick up wedding dress and maids dresses from boutique
- 5:30pm dinner plans
- finish packing luggage
- work on table numbers
Thursday
- meet at venue 8am for keys and give deposit
- set up venue for wedding and reception
- lunch delivered to venue for set-up crew
- linens delivered to venue
- pick up rings at jeweler
Friday
- brunch bridal shower with bridesmaids
- mani/pedis following bridal shower with bridesmaids
- 5:30pm rehearsal at venue
- pay balance on catering
- 6:45pm rehearsal dinner, take gifts
Saturday
Read more on how to create a wedding day timeline.
- 8am workout
- 11am maids brunch *makeup/hair person joins *photographer-Jill Bonilla joins
- 1:15pm head to venue to get dressed *Give trusted friend stuff for checking us into our hotel for the evening
- 1:30pm floral delivery at venue
- 2pm pictures begin at different locations
- *Ushers join about 3:30pm
- 4pm return to venue *finish up with photos at venue
- 5:30pm Ceremony
- 6/6:15pm dismissal of guests to reception
- 6:20/6:45pm finish up family pictures
- 6:50pm intro bridal party and Mr and Mrs
- 7pm dinner prayer
- 7:45pm toasts
- 7:55pm cut cake
- 8:05pm first dance
- 10/1030 good night
Thank you to this bride for sharing some of her memories from her wedding day. You can read more about her advice and memories here:
