WEDDING CHECKLIST

In the weeks leading up to your wedding your to-do list is very important to ensure everything is taken care of, making the final days before your wedding less stressful.

One month out Pay your suppliers in full

The last thing you want to do the week of your wedding is pay the final outstanding balances owed to all of your suppliers. If you appoint a wedding planner they will usually summarise all outstanding payments at least a month before your big day.

Create a seating chart

Once you've compiled the final guestlist the next challenge is the seating chart, where you sometimes have to balance relationships, egos and other politics. Ideally you should have your wedding venue's floor plan and then decide what table layout could work. If you appoint a wedding planner they will be able to provide you with various layout options.

Have a final venue walk-through

Make a detailed list of questions have beforehand, and take your planner or a friend to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Break in your wedding shoes

Wear them around the house and dance with them in the kitchen, it will be worth it to avoid painful blisters on your wedding night.

Final week You've made it all the way to the final week of your wedding planning. Deep breaths now, most of the hard work is over. Now all that is really left is the nitty-gritty details such as:

• Getting your hair colour touched up

• Getting your eyebrows done

• Manicure and/or a pedicure

• Treat yourself to a massage (why not make it a couple's massage?)

• Final dress fitting (take a friend or bridesmaid with you so she can learn how to get you in your dress, if needed)

• Confirm the travel arrangements for your honeymoon and pack your bags (don’t forget your passport if you’re leaving the country).

• Clean your ring (get your engagement ring professionally cleaned so it’s extra sparkly on your wedding day)

• Practice your vows and speech out loud

Night before and day of the wedding

The big day is finally here and it’s time to enjoy the wedding. Here’s what to do:

The night before:

• Eat a healthy meal

• Pack a clutch bag of personal items that you'll need on the day of the wedding

• Drink water with oral electrolytes to ensure you are properly hydrated

• Get a good night's sleep

• Put all suitcases, bags, and survival kits in the car

The morning of:

• Stay off your feet as much as possible

• Eat breakfast

• Stay hydrated

• Remove your dress and veil from your garment the bags early on and have someone steam them if needed