Some of the most common questions we get are about how to have a seamless wedding day. While everyone’s wedding is different, we’ve compiled 8 tips that we find to make the biggest difference for your vendors, guests and yourselves on wedding day!

Photography: T&V Photography

Hire a wedding coordinator or planner.

Okay, this one might be obvious! A wedding coordinator and planner is the ultimate hack to having a seamless wedding day. From reviewing your vendor contracts to making sure you walk down the aisle on time, a wedding planner has your back. Even the little details, like fluffing a gown one last time before the bride walks down the aisle, or fixing crooked silverware won’t go unnoticed, even if only hired for coordination. We’ve designed our coordination package to be somewhat minimalistic – but still fully cover and support you on your wedding day. For more information about what our services and packages look like, click here.

Leave buffer time in your timeline.

While you may expect your first look to only take 5 minutes, or your ceremony to wrap up after 15 minutes, it’s best to always account for more time. This helps prevent falling behind and getting to festivities late. With extra time allotted, you’ll feel less rushed and be able to enjoy these special moments as they happen. We don’t want you to be worrying about moving onto the next thing on your wedding day! For events you’d like to happen back to back, let your wedding coordinator know. For example, father/daughter and mother/son dances are usually done consecutively. If one is scheduled for 7:35, and the other at 7:40, but the first finishes early, we’ll move into the next one without leaving an awkward gap. Being ahead of schedule usually just means more time for dancing and mingling with your guests! It’s a win-win for everyone.

Prep your rings, dress(es) and/or suit(s) ahead of time.

We recommend steaming or ironing your outfits the week of your wedding, and leaving them hanging until wedding day so they stay smooth. Doing this ahead of time will not only save you stress on wedding day, but allow extra time in case anything goes wrong. Follow the specific instructions for your garments to make sure no accidental damage is caused! Cleaning your rings a few days before your wedding day will ensure they’re sparkly clean for photos. They’ll be a close second for the center of attention, right after you and your new spouse! Whether you clean your ring at home, or have a professional jeweler handle it for you is up to you. Make sure you allow a few extra days to have it professionally cleaned, just in case the jeweler isn’t available to do so right away.

Organize personal/DIY decor by category (ceremony, reception, welcome table, etc.)

Whether you’ve decided to do some major DIY projects, or hire vendors to handle most of it, organizing all personal items you may have (like a guest book and card box) will make set-up go a lot smoother. We recommend bringing no more than 2-3 large containers of stuff, and sorting and labeling them ahead of time. Some ideas to sort by are ceremony, reception, welcome table decor, etc. It’s also a good idea to include a photo or short description of any specific directions. The more information you provide your vendors with, the better they will be able to help you!

Pack all items for detail shots into a separate bag/box to hand off to your photographer.

Anything from your veil, rings, jewelry, tie, or shoes can be photographed while you’re getting ready. Detail shots are a great way to remember all the special little touches you wore on your wedding day. Putting all of these items together into a box or bag will make it easy for your photographer to know what is important to you. Some people may want their perfume included, while others could care less! Your photographer won’t know what is important to you unless you tell them. 

Have an emergency kit.

You never know what might go wrong on your wedding day. Prepare for common problems, like a nervous stomach or accidental stain. We recommend including all the basics, like a sewing kit, stain removing pen, first aid kid, pain killers and tums. Check with your wedding planner to see if they provide access to an emergency kit on your wedding day! We come prepared with all the supplies to handle these mini-mergencies for our couples.

Have a back-up pair of shoes.

Sometimes wedding shoes can be uncomfortable. Definitely try to break yours in ahead of time by wearing them around the house! Whether you’re wearing flats or heels, it’s a good idea to pack a back up pair just in case. Some people consider just going barefoot in these circumstances. However, we definitely recommend some shoes, even if they’re just flip flops. You never know what might spill on the ground, or when a glass may break!

Organize your seating chart alphabetically.

While it may seem intuitive to make your seating chart by table, it can be an inconvenience to guests. They’ll have to read through each table, to potentially find their name at the very last one. By organizing alphabetically instead, with the table number listed after, guests will find their names quickly and get back to enjoying themselves! Small fixes like this will ensure your guests experience a seamless wedding day as well.

Wedding planning can be stressful, we know! The best way to reduce stress is to prepare ahead of time. We always use the phrase “set yourself up for success.” If you have all the resources on hand, you won’t need to panic trying to find a solution. Give yourself extra time, hire a team of vendors who will support you along the way, and prep anything that can be done early ahead of time! You’ll truly be able to relax, look and feel your best if you have peace of mind that the day will run seamlessly. We promise that if you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to have a seamless wedding day!

Let’s get this planning party started! Want Bianca Nichole and Co to help plan your wedding in Austin? Click here to send us an inquiry!
Bianca Nichole and Co is a team of wedding planners in Austin, and will travel to San Antonio, Fredericksburg and the surrounding Texas Hill Country area.