5 tips for planning your big day

1 - Make and follow a Wedding Day Timeline

Whether you choose to work with a wedding coordinator or not, one of the key things you will want to do is follow a timeline. Your timeline should note the timing and order that hair and makeup will follow, what time your partner and his or her group should start getting ready, when your first look will occur, the details about your ceremony, and everything that will happen during your reception. This will ensure everything runs smoothly on the day and vendors are on schedule.

2 - Have back up plans in place

No matter how much you plan, there is always the potential for something to go wrong on your wedding day. Whether it is a power outage, bad weather, emergency or other unforeseen event, it is essential to be prepared. Make sure you have a backup plan for everything, from the ceremony to the reception. By being prepared for anything that might happen, you can ensure your wedding day goes off.

3 - Take time for the two of you

Step back to soak up the atmosphere. A good chance to take a moment for yourselves and catch your breath is during couple portraits, the best time to do this is 1-2 hours before sunset and it’s nice to allow 20-30 mins for these and is a chance to relax and connect, just the two of you.

4 - Confirm your ‘shot list’ in advance

A little bit of organization goes a long way with photos on your day. Plan to inform all family members who you would like to appear in photos in advance of your wedding day. You’ll want to let them know what time and where photos will take place, so they can be at the ready. Then working with your photographer to have a list of groupings you want captured. Consider having your MC or a designated person be in charge of gathering these people together in their groupings so that you don’t have to worry about this on your day.

5 - Make sure your transport is sorted

There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of the party and having to wait for a taxi when your feet are a little fragile from hours of dancing. You’ll have shared transport information with guests on your invitations, but don’t forget to make travel plans of your own, too.