TIPS | WEDDING DAY SELF CARE

Weddings days are stressful, but don’t let it overwhelm you! We’re here with all the wedding day self-care tips. We’ll keep you breathing easy all night long!

Good Nights Sleep - Get all the zzz the night before your wedding.

You’ve probably heard it from your mom 100 times, but you need to have a good night’s sleep! The chaos that is getting married is going to be way too much when you’re cranky and exhausted. If you have the jitters the day before the wedding, try sleepy time tea or melatonin gummies to get you there.

Photo | Silver Bear Creative

Delegate Tasks - Both your planner and bridal party are there to help.

The main duty on your wedding day is getting hitched. I know it may be tempting to answer that text (probably just your second cousin asking for the venue’s address AGAIN), but that what friends are for. You should be sitting back, relaxing, and getting ready to start your happily ever after.

Set Up Emotional Buffers - Give your planner the 411 on family dynamics.

We wish every couple’s family was loving, involved, and mature, but we’re in the real world, and that’s not always the reality. Before your wedding day let your planner know about any family members to keep out of your bubble. When you set up emotional buffers beforehand it takes the stress off of you.

Photo | Created by Noah

Eat (and Drink) - Snack, snacks, and more snacks!

We know this sounds like a given, but don’t forget to EAT. Your wedding day goes by in a flash and it’s easy to forget the basics. Make sure there’s a light breakfast for you to nom on while you and your bridesmaids get ready, ask your planner to grab a few of the passed hors d’oeuvres to snack on post ceremony, and at least take a few bites of your dinner before you make your rounds.

Bonus tip: Have someone grab you a to-go box of cake, thank us later!

Time alone - Take advantage of the quiet moments.

There are many ways for you and your spouse to catch a few moments alone, but some of our favorites are:

• The First Look

• The Final Dance

• A Private Dinner

• Share Private Vows

Photo | Ashley Rhian Photography

Make a Clean Get Away - If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.

Don’t forget to have your getaway bag packed for your big exit. A change of clothes, toiletries, extra shoes, whatever you need to de-wedding that night. If you have it ready and your planner aware of its location, they can have the getaway car loaded up and ready to roll when you are.

Oh Sh*t Kit - Accidents happen and happen and happen.

You or your wedding planner need to have a bridal bag filled with all the mini emergency needs. I’m talking sewing kit, bandaids, pain reliever, stain remover, super glue, and so much more. Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Not quite sure you’ve covered all your bases? Below we’ve rounded up all of our must haves for your wedding day preparedness kit. You’ll never be caught lacking.

How did you practice self care on your wedding day?

TIPS | WEDDING ORGANIZATION

Wedding planning is hard (understatement of the year) and full of facts + figures, and endless minuscule details to keep up with. It’s even harder when you don’t have a way to manage all the mess. Now we’re not trying to convert any of our fancy-free brides into Type-A organizers, we see you, but we have a little something for everyone in this post.

We tried our best to be thorough and tick all the organizational boxes, but none can quite compare to the support a wedding planner can give you. Your 6-page color-coded spreadsheet won’t wrangle vendors, comfort your mom, or bust a move with you on the dance floor. Stress-free brides hire wedding planners and brides who don’t want to pull out all their hair organize.

Quick Tips!

2: Read Every Contract—Closely.

Contracts keep you informed about vendor expectations, but it’s also the bible for every deadline, timeline, and cost involved on your big day. This is where your big organizational data will come from.

1: Ask for help.

Your friends, family, and spouse are there to help! So reach out! Delegating small tasks here and there will keep your plate clear for bigger, more time-consuming tasks.

---

4: Prioritize.

3: Email Address.

All wedding elements are not created equal. There will be parts of your wedding day that you care about less than others and those tasks are perfect for delegating to your spouse, friends or family. Plus, now you can put your energy into what matters to you instead of wasting time on which color chair cover looks best with the napkins.

Sign up for a separate email address for all your wedding-related needs. This will keep your primary email address free of wedding clutter and you can tackle wedding emails without distractions.

---

5: Collaborate With Your Planner!

This seems like a no-duh, but your wedding planner is a resource so use their expertise. Plus many wedding planners, Celebrate Dallas included, use sites that help couples and wedding planners work together.

LITE

These organizational tools are light and casual. You won’t need them every single second, but you can throw it in your purse so you have it when you need it.

Notebook or Bullet Journal

Source | Etsy

A classic monogrammed notebook is perfect for keeping to-do lists and meeting notes.

Photo | Carlo Mendoza , Illustration and cards | Via Calligraphy

Bullet journals give you a space for creative expression and info dumping.

Artful Agenda or Google Calendar

Source | Artful Agenda

Artful Agenda is a fancy (and much cuter) version of Google Calendar, but it comes with a $50 a year price tag. If you don’t need the cute consider using old fashioned GCal for your calendar and notes integration.

Aisle Planner

Source | Aisle Planner

Aisle Planner is a website that many wedding planners use to organize, share, and collaborate on your wedding info! It’s a one-stop-shop to check off to-dos, track RSVPs, and share wedding inspo and timelines.

MEDIUM

Medium organizational options give you more bang for your buck. Your bases are covered, but you’re not chained to the system.

Wedding Planner

Paper

Source | Erin Condren

Wedding specific planner come in many different shapes and sizes, but Erin Condren is one of our favorites. Of course, there are many other more affordable options (see: Purple Trail or Recollections at Michael’s.

Digital

Source | Etsy

Digital planners are for the tech-savvy and available on Tablets or iPads. You can take notes and fill in important info using your apple pencil or the Android alternative.

Binder

Source | Etsy

Binder pages are old fashioned, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. These resources are all over the internet and you can find in-depth options very cheap or free. *Note these don’t come with a binder, decorating and organizing your binder will be your DIY activity (I feel a scrapbooking montage coming on…).

Dropbox

Source | Dropbox

Have a lot of information coming from a million different places? Consider Dropbox. You can scan all your contracts, receipts, notes, and invoices in one place. Dropbox can be organized, re-organized, and organized again. The more folders, the better.

MEGA

This is for the bride who can’t get enough of the wedding planning process. These systems are for the faint of heart, but if this is your thing it might take your breath away.

Scrum Board

Photo | Scrum Your Wedding

Scrum boards break your task list down to it’s absolute tiniest detail. Anything you’re doing in the name of your wedding day goes on the board. You won’t forget anything, we promise you that much. You can also create a digital scrum board on Trello and other project management apps.

Spreadsheet

Source | Etsy

Spreadsheets are the Grand Poo-bah of organizational systems. With the right spreadsheet, no wedding detail will go unnoticed. If it matters, there’s a cell for it.

What’s your organizational style?

TIPS | ESSENTIAL MUST-HAVES FOR THE BRIDAL SUITE

Hello Everyone! No matter were your bridal suite is located - whether at a hotel, venue or someone's home, it's important to have your room set with a few wedding day essentials that compliment your style. This will be your area to prepare, relax and get ready for one of the best days of your life. Take a look at what we believe will make your time in the bridal suite all that more comfortable!

GOOD ENERGY

BRIDESMAIDS

 JILLIAN KNIGHT

PICTURE PERFECT SPOT FOR YOUR WEDDING DRESS

WEDDING DRESS

SPOSTO PHOTOGRAPHY

MIMOSA BAR

READY LUCK PHOTOGRAPHY

DETAILS

How To | Prepare for a Rainy Wedding Day

Are you having an outdoor wedding and does the possibility of rain on your big day make you nervous? You don’t have to be! Although most brides cringe at the thought of rain on their wedding day, rain is not only a sign of good luck, it also gives you the opportunity to include some unique elements in your day.

We already know that you'll be obsessively checking the daily forecast leading up to your wedding, so we want to make sure you are well prepared in case Mother Nature decides to sprinkle a little luck on your marriage! Here are some tips to help prepare for a stress free rainy wedding day:

1. Have a Plan B Layout

Outdoor weddings are gorgeous and they can still be gorgeous on a rainy day. Ask your venue if they have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather. If they don’t, research tent rentals in your area just in case. You don’t want to panic and be rushed trying to find one the week of your wedding. Clear tents allow you to embrace your surroundings including the raindrops. White tents are simple and classic. 

Photo | A Swanky Love Affair

Photo | Carmen Santorelli

Photo | Heather Waraksa

2. Wearing Wellies

Walking down the aisle in heels can be nerve wracking. Add in the rain and you've got a stressful situation. Find some fun rain boots for you and your bridal party to wear to help keep your feet comfortable and safe! There are so many colors, patterns, and styles to choose from.

Photo | Revival Photography

Photo | Into the Light

Photo | We Are The Huffmans

3. Keeping Your Guests Dry

You and your guests will want to stay dry on your special day so why not use umbrellas as favors?! The clear umbrellas are stunning, especially for pictures, but you can also get creative and incorporate your wedding colors. Umbrellas are perfect for a bright or rainy day!

Photo | Michelle Shore

Photo | Colette Kulig Photography

Photo | Kelsey Combe Photography

4. Frizz-free Hairstyle

If your hair gets frizzy when it’s humid or wet, ask your stylist to give you a hairstyle that keeps your hair as frizz-free as possible. There are so many styles to choose from whether you have short, medium, or long hair.

Photo | Kurtz Orpia Photography

Photo | Peter and Veronika

Photo | Brittrene Photo

5. Talk to Your Photographer

Ask your photographer if they have experience shooting in the rain. Photographers can make your day look absolutely amazing even on rainy and gloomy days. Don't be afraid to get a little damp! 

Photo | Perry Vaile Photography

Photo | The Image is Found

Photo | Sunlit Studios

6. Hire a Wedding Coordinator

Hiring a wedding coordinator is one of the best investments you'll make for your special day. Rain or shine, wedding planners have experienced it all. Save yourself time and stress by letting your wedding planner do the hard work.

Although you can't control the weather, you can prepare yourself for it. The good thing about rainy weddings is the coziness and intimacy it can bring to your wedding. What have you done to prepare for a rainy wedding day?