Wedding week has a funny way of making time move both incredibly fast and painfully slow.
One moment, you're wondering if you'll ever finish addressing invitations. The next, someone is asking if you've packed your marriage license.
Suddenly, everyone needs an answer.
- Did you confirm transportation?
- Did you steam the dress?
- Did you finalize the seating chart?
- Did you remember to eat?
- Did you remember to breathe?
First things first:
You're going to be okay.
Second:
No one is going to remember if the welcome bags were assembled at 9:00 PM or 9:15 PM.
They'll remember how your wedding felt.
Still, there's something comforting about a checklist, especially during one of the busiest weeks of your life. So, from one wedding planner (and coffee enthusiast) to another, here's your gentle guide to wedding week.
Seven Days Before
Seven days.
At this point, the major decisions have been made. This is not the time to redesign your florals, invite ten additional guests, or suddenly convince yourself that a destination wedding in Tuscany would have been easier.
This week is about confirming, preparing, and protecting your peace of mind.
Take a deep breath and tackle the following:
- Confirm final guest count.
- Send the final timeline to all vendors.
- Confirm arrival and setup times.
- Pick up wedding attire.
- Finalize your seating chart.
- Confirm transportation arrangements.
- Pack for your honeymoon.
And while you're at it?
Take your fiancé out for coffee.
Talk about literally anything except the wedding.
Five Days Before
This is usually when it starts to feel real.
Your attire is hanging in the closet. Family members are arriving in town. Your phone is buzzing with messages that all say some version of:
"I can't believe it's almost here!"
Exciting?
Absolutely.
A little overwhelming?
Also absolutely.
Here's your five-day checklist:
- Steam or press wedding attire.
- Confirm your marriage license is safely tucked away.
- Finalize your vows.
- Prepare gratuities for vendors.
- Charge all devices.
- Review emergency contact information.
And please, eat something other than leftover planning snacks.
Three Days Before
If I could give every couple one piece of advice at this stage, it would be this:
Stop accepting new opinions.
No, Aunt Susan does not need to weigh in on Table 7.
No, your coworker doesn't need to tell you about the wedding trend they saw on social media yesterday.
No, you do not need to make any major changes.
Three days before your wedding is not for reinventing the wheel.
It's for wrapping things up.
Checklist:
- Pack your wedding day bag.
- Prepare a details box for your photographer.
- Confirm hair and makeup schedules.
- Delegate any remaining tasks.
- Pack comfortable shoes.
- Drink water.
Yes, I'm mentioning water again.
You'll thank me later.
One Day Before
Repeat after me:
I am no longer responsible for solving every problem.
If you've hired a wedding coordinator, trust them.
If you've delegated tasks, let your people help.
If something isn't absolutely critical, let it go.
The dishes can wait.
The emails can wait.
The group text can wait.
This moment cannot.
Today's checklist:
- Eat three actual meals.
- Put your phone down.
- Spend time with your partner.
- Go to bed at a reasonable hour.
- Drink water.
- Take a Planning Pause.
You have spent months planning this moment.
Don't forget to live it.
Wedding Morning
Today's the day.
The day you've spent months, maybe years, dreaming about.
Before someone starts steaming dresses or pinning boutonnieres, I want you to do one thing:
Pause.
Look around.
Listen to the laughter in the other room.
Take in the quiet moments before the music starts.
You've made it.
Your wedding morning checklist:
- Eat breakfast.
- Drink water.
- Stretch.
- Take a deep breath.
- Enjoy your coffee.
- Take a few quiet moments alone.
- Be present.
Because this day isn't about perfection.
It's about promise.
From Nathalie's Notebook
Over the years, I've developed a habit of telling my couples something whenever the nerves start creeping in.
Usually, it's while we're fixing a veil, pinning a boutonniere, or taking one last look at the reception room before guests arrive.
I look at them and say:
"Everything will be exactly awesome."
Not because every single thing will go according to plan.
(Spoiler: someone's bustle will probably need fixing.)
But because at the end of the day:
- You'll say your vows.
- You'll dance with your favorite people.
- You'll laugh.
- You'll cry.
- And you'll be married.
And if that isn't awesome, I don't know what is.
The AVLW Wedding Week Checklist
Seven Days Before
- Confirm guest count.
- Confirm vendors.
- Send final timeline.
- Pick up attire.
- Finalize seating chart.
Five Days Before
- Steam attire.
- Finalize vows.
- Prepare gratuities.
- Confirm marriage license.
- Charge devices.
Three Days Before
- Pack wedding bag.
- Prepare details box.
- Confirm beauty schedule.
- Delegate tasks.
- Hydrate.
One Day Before
- Eat.
- Sleep.
- Put your phone away.
- Spend time together.
- Take a Planning Pause.
Wedding Morning
- Eat breakfast.
- Drink water.
- Stretch.
- Enjoy your coffee.
- Be present.
Final Thoughts
The flowers will arrive.
The music will play.
Your people will show up.
The timeline will unfold.
And at the end of the day, you'll be married.
Everything else is simply details.
So this is your reminder:
Please eat.
Drink water.
Sleep.
Hold your partner's hand.
And remember what I tell all of my couples:
Everything will be exactly awesome.
Photo credit: @sdlcreativestudios
With love,
Nathalie
A Very Lovely Wedding