The Ultimate Guide: The Do’s & Don’ts of Wedding Prep

Preparing for your wedding can be extremely exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. There is nothing easy about planning for a day you’ll never forget. Between finding the perfect venue, a dream dress, designing invitations, as well as all of the additional details and customizations, there is a lot of pressure when it comes to figuring out the most effective timeline to saying “I do.” Luckily, staying stress-free while prepping for your big day has never been easier with this ultimate guide!

To ensure you keep calm and carry on throughout the process of wedding planning, follow these do’s and don’ts!

The Do’s

DO Establish a Budget & Monitor Expenses

First and foremost, establish a budget. Your finances will arguably play the most significant role in preparing for your wedding. It influences everything from the destination of the ceremony to the dress you wear as you walk down the aisle. That being said, you must set a budget that caters to all the different elements of your wedding at the very beginning of your planning process. Doing so will help make it easier to narrow down those tough decisions along the way.

The best wedding budget will be considerate of the little things, such as the cost of customized invitations, the flowers you decorate with, the number of guests you invite, the foods that you include at your reception, and so on. For this reason, your budget must be calculated to the maximum amount you’re willing to spend. That way, if anything goes wrong or changes at the last minute, you’re able to remain financially responsible and on track along the way. As you continue making purchases for your wedding, don’t forget to monitor your expenses using a budgeting tool like The Knot or through the assistance of a financial advisor, as this will help you better allocate funds as you get closer and closer to the big day.

DO Set & Stick to a Daily Skin Care Routine

Having clean, clear skin doesn’t happen overnight. It requires constant care and attention, which is why it’s critical to set and stick to a daily skincare routine well in advance before your wedding day. Allowing yourself this time will help to ensure that the skincare products you’re using have a sufficient amount of time to work into your skin and provide you with desired, visible results.

Setting and sticking to a daily skincare routine is particularly important for those looking to introduce a new treatment into your routine. These are typically formulated with active ingredients, which have a longer timeline to visible results than most products. An acne cream containing a retinoid, for example, can take anywhere from two to three months before results will start to appear. That being said, be sure to address any skin or hair concerns you may have sooner than later in the preparation of the big day. If you decide to try a new treatment product, make sure to assess the timeline of its listed ingredients first. Check out this infographic below for more information on different skincare ingredients and their timeline to visible results!

DO Add Personalized Touches

Your wedding is a unique experience, so it’s essential to treat it in that way so you can enjoy it the way you’re supposed to. This is why adding personalized touches is a must in the process of planning. Whether that means specializing in the colour of your dress, the decor of your venue, or even the ceremony experience as a whole, it’s imperative that you make this day your own.

If you’re looking to add a few one-of-a-kind touches but are unsure which route to take, try turning to Pinterest for personalized wedding inspiration. Within this social media app, you can look up different types of wedding themes, styles, and DIYS and create your board of any pins you find while searching for ideas of personalized touches. Using this feature will allow you to store any wedding inspo you locate and refer back to throughout your journey as a bride-to-be.

DO Send Out Wedding Invitations ASAP

As soon as you’ve determined the official date and venue of your wedding, you’ll want to immediately focus your attention on sending out invitations to your guests. Even if you’re not planning a destination wedding and plan to stay local, it’s best to give notice to your desired attendees as soon as possible so that they can plan accordingly, and you can figure out the number of people to account for throughout the rest of the planning process. During these unprecedented times, everyone’s schedule and travelling experiences have majorly changed, so if your wedding is expected to be short, make sure to factor this into your invitational timeline as well.

Keep in mind that the development of invitations can take time, which is why you may want to give yourself some additional time to work with a designer and customize your invitations. You’ll also need extra time to create copies, and triple-check the spelling, font style, and wedding date listed. This is especially necessary if you’re using your invitations as an opportunity to add in some personalized touches to enhance the look of your wedding card. Remember, the quicker the creation of the invitation, the faster you can get them sent out to your guests!

The Don’ts

DON’T Include Registry Information on Wedding Invitations

By the same token, when it comes to personalizing your wedding invitations, should you choose to do so, avoid listing your registry information on your wedding invitations. Your invitations are meant to welcome the people you love to join you on your special day, not to gather information on the types of gifts they should get you because you’re getting married. Your registry should be a word-of-mouth conversation amongst your guests as this allows attendees to have the opportunity to send you a wedding gift without the pressure of feeling like they have to.

To avoid sending the wrong message to your guests, be sure to refrain from including any direct mentioning related to your registry or gifts— even if you’re requesting not to have any. Instead, take a more subtle approach by including the link to your wedding website so attendees can have the choice to gather more information before the wedding day.

DON’T Put Off Dress Shopping

Unless you’re utilizing online bridal stores like Best for Bride to shop for a dress, you’ll likely encounter at least a couple of restrictions while shopping at bridal stores, regardless of whether you planned to get married during a pandemic or post-pandemic. If you’re like most brides-to-be, you will probably want to have a few close friends and family members join you on the hunt to find your perfect dress. Unfortunately, however, the number of bodies you have accompanying you may affect your ability to schedule an appointment as soon as you’d like to. This is because most shops have placed limitations on the number of people allowed in an area at one time to deal with our current reality. The sooner you can reserve a spot for you and your bridal party, the better.

Before you head into any dress shopping appointment, you’ll want to do some wedding dress research, as this will help guide you on finding the perfect look for your special day. Bridal stores are known for having all sorts of wedding dress styles, so having somewhat of an idea of what you’re looking for and taking other steps to plan accordingly will allow you to narrow down your search and, ultimately, find your dream dress more quickly.

DON’T Try to Accommodate Everyone Else’s Schedules

Like it or not, you can’t please everyone in preparation for your wedding. Sometimes, you’ll have to march to the beat of your drum and do what’s best for you, even if it’s not what’s best for other people. This means that if your scheduled date to marry doesn’t align with some of your guest’s schedules, then so be it. If one of your bridesmaids cannot make it to the reserved bridal shop appointment, that’s their loss. No matter how many adjustments you make to the wedding timeline, someone is bound to have a scheduling conflict, and that’s okay.

Although it can be difficult, it’s crucial that you stick to your guns and not try to accommodate everyone else’s schedule when you’re planning for your wedding. The truth is, you can’t please everyone, and when you’re planning for your wedding, you shouldn’t have to! After all, this is YOUR day! So, try your best to focus on yourself as you prepare to head down the aisle and be grateful for those who can be there for you and sympathize with those who cannot.

DON’T Overstress

Last but certainly not least, try not to overstress. Wedding prep is no walk in the park, but with the help of this ultimate guide to the do’s or don’ts of proper preparation, you’re almost guaranteed to be fully ready for the big day once it finally arrives. The process can be overwhelming at times, but it’s not impossible, and like all good things worth waiting for, it’s essential to be patient and put your best foot forward.

Your wedding day is one that you will never forget, so all you can do is take actionable steps to make the experience one for the books. Expect the worst, hope for the best, and you’ll be glowing down the aisle in no time. Good luck!

Summary: The Ultimate Guide: The Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Prep

Do’s:

• Start planning and preparing for your wedding well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.
• Create a realistic budget and stick to it, prioritizing the most important aspects of your wedding.
• Research and hire reputable vendors who align with your vision and have positive reviews.
• Communicate openly with your partner and involve them in the decision-making process.
• Delegate tasks and seek help from trusted family members or friends to alleviate the workload.
• Take care of yourself by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting enough sleep, and managing stress.
• Schedule regular self-care activities like spa treatments, exercise, or meditation to relax and rejuvenate.
• Have a clear timeline and checklist to stay organized and ensure everything is on track.
• Take engagement photos and attend pre-wedding events to create lasting memories.

Don’ts:

• Don’t overspend or go into debt for your wedding; stick to your budget.
• Avoid making hasty decisions without thoroughly researching and considering all options.
• Don’t neglect self-care and well-being during the wedding planning process.
• Avoid trying to control every aspect of the wedding; delegate tasks and trust your vendors.
• Don’t compare your wedding to others; focus on making it a reflection of you and your partner.
• Avoid making major changes to your appearance, hairstyle, or skincare regimen close to the wedding day.
• Don’t neglect the importance of proper communication and compromise with your partner.
• Avoid leaving crucial tasks to the last minute; plan ahead to minimize stress.
• Don’t forget to enjoy the process and cherish the moments leading up to your big day.

FAQ – Wedding Prep

Is it impolite to refuse to offer wedding favours?

If you’ve considered skipping wedding favours, now is the time to do so! Because most favours don’t make it home with guests, I promise you’ll be glad you did. With cocktails, dinner, and desserts, you’ve already taken care of your visitors. On the wedding day, their considerate presence is rewarded with that donation.

When is the best time to ask your bridesmaids?

The greatest rule is to invite your friends and relatives to be bridesmaids between a year and eight months before your wedding. That will give them plenty of time to arrange the bachelorette party and purchase their gowns. They might not be able to make the commitment if they have any less time.

Which aspect of the wedding is the most expensive?

The most expensive component of most weddings is the reception location, which includes the cost of renting equipment like tables and chairs, as well as the cost of providing food or beverages.

Before the wedding, do the bride and groom share a room?

Many couples are debating whether to spend the holiday together or break with tradition and sleep alone. It’s absolutely up to you to decide. There’s no law that says you have to, but the most important thing is that you relax. You’ll want to get some rest so you’re ready for your wedding.