.png)
Congrats! Your big day is finally here! Today’s episode is all about bringing together everything we’ve talked about over the past year and tying it all up in a neat, little (or maybe chaotic!) bow for your big day. We’ll chat about what to expect, things to keep in mind, and how to manage your wedding day if you don’t have a day-of coordinator. Be sure to listen to Episode 52 of 52 'Til I Do for all the extra insider tips and secrets to help your big day go smoothly!
We know how hard it can be to sleep the night before your wedding. You’re basically a little kid on Christmas Eve! This is one of the most exciting (and nerve-racking) experiences of your life, but getting enough rest will make a huge difference in how you feel the next day. If you’re having a rehearsal dinner the night before, consider planning an earlier dinner instead of an event that goes until 10 or 11 pm. Give yourself time to wind down, relax, and get some sleep before the big day!
If you’re getting your hair and makeup professionally done on your wedding morning, your stylist and makeup artist will likely give you instructions on how to prepare your hair and skin. This might include keeping your skincare routine simple and showing up with clean, dry hair. Whatever their instructions are, make sure you follow them ahead of time so you aren’t rushing around trying to get everything ready that morning. A little preparation goes a long way!
Are you planning to have no contact before the ceremony? Maybe you want to exchange letters, send a few texts, or even have breakfast together before the day gets started. Whatever you decide, talk about it ahead of time! There’s no right or wrong way to handle communication on your wedding day. Just make sure you and your partner are on the same page so neither of you is left wondering what to expect.
Your wedding day is going to fly by, and with so much happening, it’s surprisingly easy to forget to eat or drink water. Between getting ready, taking photos, greeting guests, and celebrating, you might not even realize how long it’s been since your last meal. Make a plan to keep yourselves fed and hydrated! Set reminders on your phone, arrange for someone to bring you snacks and water, or ask a trusted friend or member of your wedding party to check in on you throughout the day. You’ll thank yourself later!
Once you and your partner see each other for the first time, try to be intentional about spending time together throughout the day. Your wedding is about the two of you, and with so many people wanting your attention, it’s surprisingly easy to spend most of the day apart. You don’t want to crawl into bed at the end of the night and realize, “I feel like I barely saw you today!” If you’re grabbing a snack, go together! If you’re making the rounds to greet guests, hold hands and do it as a couple. You don’t have to be attached at the hip all day, but look for little opportunities to reconnect and enjoy the celebration together.
Take those little moments with your partner to pause, take a breath, look around the room, and appreciate what’s happening. Chat with each other, soak in the atmosphere, and give yourselves permission to just be there. You’ve put so much time and effort into planning this day, and one of the biggest things that can keep you from enjoying it is worrying about every little logistical detail. But guess what? You don’t have to manage everything yourself! Trust the preparations you’ve made and the people you’ve put in place to help. If you have a day-of coordinator, let them handle the behind-the-scenes details. If you don’t, make sure you have a trusted person who can help answer questions and handle unexpected hiccups.
Your job is to get married and enjoy the day you’ve worked so hard to plan!
As much as we hope everyone will come ready to celebrate, family and friend dynamics can sometimes make things complicated. Maybe someone makes an unnecessary comment, a disagreement pops up, or a situation doesn’t go the way you expected. Unfortunately, you can’t control how other people behave. You can, however, decide how much attention you give those moments. Try not to let someone else’s attitude or a minor disagreement cloud your entire experience. If something needs to be addressed, let a trusted person help handle it so you can focus on what matters most.
Things may not go exactly as planned, and that’s okay! You don’t want to look back on your wedding day and realize you spent so much time worrying about one frustrating moment that you missed all the beautiful ones happening around you.
It’s easy to get caught up in wanting every moment to look perfect. We practice our smiles, rehearse our vows, and sometimes even try to hold back tears because we want everything to go exactly as planned. But here's the thing: your wedding day isn't a performance. It's a memory you're making.
When you see your partner and feel that overwhelming excitement, let yourself smile as big as you want. If you get emotional during your vows, let yourself cry. If you laugh during a photo or something doesn't go quite right, that's okay, too! You don't need to look perfect in every picture or have every moment unfold flawlessly. The goal isn't to create a picture-perfect day; it's to experience a day that's meaningful to you.
Give yourself permission to feel everything, be a little messy, and enjoy the moments as they happen. Those genuine reactions are often the memories you'll treasure most!
If you’re having a wedding with 200+ guests, you probably won’t have time to talk to everyone, and that’s okay! Don’t feel guilty if you can’t make it around to every table or have a long conversation with every guest.
One tip is to mention during a speech that you may not get the chance to say hi to everyone, but you’re grateful they came to celebrate with you. It helps set expectations and takes some of the pressure off so you can focus on enjoying your day!
Tips are never expected, but they’re always appreciated. Ultimately, tipping is a personal decision between you and your partner. Before your wedding day, go through your contracts one last time to check whether gratuity is already included or required, especially for hair and makeup, catering, and bar services. Common vendors to consider tipping include delivery teams, florists, DJs, musicians, photographers, videographers, bartenders, coordinators, transportation teams, and other vendors who help bring your day together. You don’t have to tip everyone, so decide what makes sense for your budget and the service you receive.
The easiest way to stay organized is to prepare clearly labeled, sealed envelopes ahead of time. Your coordinator may also offer to distribute tips throughout the day, but they should confirm with you before doing so. And remember, tipping is a way to recognize great service, not an obligation regardless of your experience. If a vendor doesn't deliver the service you agreed upon, you don't need to feel guilty about adjusting or withholding a tip.
Be sure to check out our tipping blog for more info on this!
Not every couple has a day-of coordinator, and that’s okay! While we love having someone dedicated to managing the details of your wedding day, we know it isn’t always in the budget. So, how do you keep everything running smoothly without one?
The biggest thing to remember is that someone still needs to be responsible for the tasks your coordinator would normally handle. Here are a few key responsibilities to plan for ahead of time so you aren’t left managing everything yourself on your wedding day.
Who’s keeping an eye on your timeline and making sure everyone stays on track? Your photographer may help guide things throughout the day, but you’ll want someone who can keep an eye on the bigger picture, too.
Whether it’s a type-A bridesmaid, a family member, or a trusted friend, assign someone to give reminders, keep things moving, and make sure you’re where you need to be. Sometimes, all you need is someone to say, “Hey, it’s 10:30. We need to get going!”
Transportation can be unpredictable, so make sure someone is responsible for keeping track of drivers, arrival times, and pickups. Give this person the correct contact information for your transportation company or drivers so they can communicate with them directly if anything changes. This person can also help make sure everyone gets where they need to be without you having to worry about who's running late or where the car is!
Who will your vendors contact if they have questions, need help, or run into an issue during setup? Assign someone to be the main point of contact and make sure they have your vendors' contact information, arrival times, and any important instructions.
Ideally, this person should be available early in the day to help vendors get settled and answer questions. Your venue coordinator may be willing to help with some of these responsibilities, but be sure to ask ahead of time rather than assuming they’ll handle everything.
A quick note about venue coordinators: Having a venue coordinator doesn't necessarily mean you have a full-service or day-of wedding coordinator. Ask your venue exactly what they will and won't handle, including vendor communication, setup, teardown, and timeline management.
Someone needs to be responsible for setting up your decor, packing everything away, and making sure your belongings get home safely. Before the wedding, decide who's handling:
We recommend assigning these tasks to people who aren't heavily involved in the ceremony itself, such as cousins, in-laws, or trusted family friends. Make sure they're reliable and able to help throughout the time you've assigned them.
One common mistake is assuming that if your venue lets you leave your belongings overnight, teardown can wait until the morning without any extra planning. Even if you don't have to remove everything that night, someone still needs to be responsible for the work. Whether teardown happens that evening or the next morning, make a clear plan ahead of time!
Depending on your photographer, they may take the lead on organizing family photos, or they may need a little help. Having someone who knows both sides of the family can make a huge difference!
Assign a family member or friend to help gather people for photos, read through your family photo list, and track down anyone who has wandered off. Your photographer can focus on taking the pictures while your helper makes sure the right people are there.
Some photographers are fantastic at managing this themselves, so ask yours what they typically handle before assigning someone to help.
Sometimes, you forget the most random things! Maybe someone forgot their bouquet, the flower girl baskets are missing, someone needs tampons, or a pair of pantyhose tears right before photos. Having someone who’s available throughout the day and has access to a vehicle can be a lifesaver. Choose someone who can step away when needed and handle those last-minute errands so you don’t have to worry about them yourself!
Think of this as your Mary Poppins bag: a collection of all the little things you might need when something doesn't go according to plan. From fashion tape and safety pins to stain removers, extra hair ties, tissues, and bandages, having these essentials on hand can save you from a lot of stress.
Check out our Wedding Day Packing Plan Blog for a full list of what to pack! Before the wedding, think about any specific items you or your wedding party might need, too. This could include a particular brand of makeup, extra feminine hygiene products, blister bandages, or over-the-counter medication that someone normally uses (as long as it's safe for them to take). Assign someone to keep the kit nearby and know where everything is. You don't want to be digging through five different bags when you need something quickly!
If you know there are certain family dynamics, friendships, or guest situations that could cause tension, plan ahead. This doesn't have to be anything dramatic; sometimes, it's just about making sure the right person is available to step in if an issue comes up.
Choose someone who understands the situation, knows the people involved, and isn't directly caught up in the conflict themselves. They can help redirect conversations, address concerns, or step in when necessary so you and your partner don't have to handle it on your wedding day. The goal isn't to anticipate every possible problem. It's simply to have someone you trust who can handle unexpected situations while you focus on enjoying your day!
After a year of planning, making decisions, and checking things off your to-do list, it’s finally time to enjoy your big day! Remember, things might not go exactly as planned, and that’s okay! Trust your planning, lean on the people around you, and focus on what matters most: marrying your person and celebrating with the people you love.
Thank you for following along with 52 'Til I Do and letting us be part of your wedding planning journey. We hope you’re feeling more prepared, less overwhelmed, and ready for your big day. Now go enjoy your I do!
Be sure to listen to Episode 52 of 52 ‘Til I Do on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for even more tips and advice on what to expect on your wedding day!
Have more questions? Send us a message at hello@marryment.com or get in touch on our social media—we love helping couples navigate this part of wedding planning!
Photo Credit to JNA Visuals
Marryment proudly serves couples all across Chicago and the surrounding Chicago Suburbs including popular areas such as Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Naperville, Evanston, Joliet, Oak Park, Skokie, Barrington, Downers Grove and Northbrook, to name a few. We also love destination weddings. We'd love to be a part of your wedding day! Schedule your free planning call with us today.
Schedule your free planning call with us.
Planning tips, wedding inspiration, and exclusive offers—straight to your inbox! Join our community and get the latest updates to make your wedding journey even more joyful.
