The final countdown

When your dream day finally dawns, after all those months of planning a wedding, you want it to be nothing but dreamy. Often things don’t go entirely to plan, but you can still have the most perfect of days, so don’t let the worries build up. For a day filled with smiles and a sought-after stress free wedding morning, we’ve put together our top tips to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

One month before

Your bookings should all be made and arranged by now – we’re talking florists, cakes, wedding venue styling, entertainment, beauty – but it doesn’t hurt to get in touch again and finalise your plans. If you’re able to and haven’t already, arrange the timings for your event so you have a clear running order for the day in plenty of time. Make sure you include notes for the parts you won’t be present for yourself, too, like setting up – someone will need to know what goes where and when!

One week before

Finish any handmade items and DIY elements. Whether they will be decorative or you’re making your own wedding favours, when the day comes around you’ll be thanking yourself for finishing ahead of time. Get them all packaged as you’d wish and put aside in a clearly labelled box, ready to go for your wedding morning.

Now is also a great time to remind your bridesmaids and groomsmen what roles you’d like them to play on the day (if you need some pointers, you’ll love this bridesmaid jobs guide!). Dish out the jobs to keep things manageable and relax knowing that all the plans are in place.

One day before

The chances are you’ve prepared an ‘Order of the Day’ in some shape or form already, but this tends to begin with the ceremony. It’s a great idea to write down a running order for your wedding morning, too, so that you allow plenty of time for each element.

Think about what time your hair and makeup will be done, remembering to budget time for the bridesmaids too, when you’ll get into your dress, how long you’ll need for photos, and even when you’ll have a bite to eat! Give yourself some spare time on top so you don’t end up keeping your groom waiting should anything be held up (it’ll also save you from any last-minute panicking!).

Remember, it’s not worth worrying about things that are out of your control. Maintain this mantra for the simplest way to have a stress free wedding morning and follow these tips to start your day exactly as you’ll end it – in wedded bliss.