Ten Top Tips for Your Wedding Day

You’ve booked your date and chosen your venue, that’s definitely the biggest part done. Now it’s all about the finer details that help your day run smoothly and feel relaxed, personal and you. It’s your special day, so make sure the day represents who you two really are. No need to get caught up in tradition or feel you have to do certain things. Instead just make sure the day reflects who you really are.

1. Build a Realistic Timeline

When planning your day, allow more time than you think you’ll need, especially in the morning. Hair, makeup, getting dressed, and travel nearly always take longer than expected. A calm, unrushed morning sets the tone for the whole day.

2. Choose Suppliers You Actually Like

You’ll spend more time with your photographer (and possibly videographer) than almost anyone else on the day. Make sure you like their personality as well as their work. Feeling comfortable around your suppliers makes a huge difference to how relaxed and natural everything feels.

3. Think About Light (Especially for Photos)

If you can, check what time the sun sets on your wedding date and plan portraits around that. Natural light makes a big difference to photos, and golden hour portraits are always worth a few minutes away from the party. Photography is all about light so mention this to your photographer and they’ll be ecstatic and love to help!

4. Put Together an Emergency Kit

This one’s simple but really helpful. Simple things like safety pins, plasters, tissues, painkillers, blister pads, mints, deodorant, and a small sewing kit. Leave it somewhere accessible. My best suggestion is the ladies bathroom.

5. Don’t Try to Do Everything Yourselves

Delegate small jobs to trusted friends, family, or your coordinator. On the day, you shouldn’t be answering questions about place cards or suppliers, your only job is to enjoy yourselves. I recommend having someone on the day who you trust that just keeps an eye on all the logistics. If the food is taking five minutes longer to come out than expected, you don’t need to know that, your pal can take care of it.

6. Plan a Few Minutes Alone

I’ve been to hundreds of weddings and one thing I hear time and again from couples afterwards is that the wedding day flies by. Build in 10–15 minutes just for the two of you, whether that’s after the ceremony or during sunset photos. Sneaking off for a moment often ends up being a lot of couples’ favourite moment of the day.

7. Feed Yourselves

Sounds obvious, but many couples forget to eat! Ask your caterer or venue to set aside canapés or a plate of food for you. Being well-fed helps keep energy (and smiles) up. It’s so common to see couples being handed another glass of champagne when what they really need is some grub.

8. Don’t Overdo the Details

It’s easy to get caught up in tiny details that guests probably won’t notice. Focus on what matters most to you; great people, good food, and a joyful atmosphere. It’s nice to have good table decorations or fancy chair covers but realistically will anyone notice? Focus on the important things and let the rest fall into place.

9. Trust Your Suppliers

You’ve booked professionals for a reason. Once the day arrives, let go and trust them to do what they do best. The more you relax, the more natural and enjoyable the day will feel. Part of their job is filling you with confidence that they are doing their job well.

10. Remember What the Day Is Really About

Things might not go exactly to plan and that’s okay. One of the best weddings I ever attended, there was a huge storm and power went out for an hour and a half. The food couldn’t be cooked, the lights wouldn’t come on and everyone just made the most of it. We sang songs by candlelight and a team of people lit up the speeches with phone flashlights. It wasn’t what anyone planned but it ended up being utterly brilliant. At the end of the day, you’re marrying the person you love, surrounded by people who care about you. That’s what you’ll remember long after the flowers have faded.