There are countless checklists and to-do lists along with a list of things to remember, and they all say a lot of the same things, and yet somehow you end up forgetting a few bits and pieces anyway. Here is your final prep checklist for those last minute details. For a to-do list for the week of your actual wedding, pick up the winter issue of S&P Weddings, on sale now.

Bride and groom

Check in with vendors

Call all your vendors one final time the week of the wedding and make sure everything’s in order for the right day and time, and everything you asked for is on point. That way, you won’t run into any surprises with your vendors on the day.

Prepare final payments

The last thing you should need to worry about on your wedding day is money. Make sure you have a list of everyone who needs final or full payment on the day of the wedding. If you can get any of these final payments prepaid, it’s even better. For everything else, separate it all into carefully marked envelopes and give them to one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen to make the final payments. If you’re tipping anyone, be sure to include this too.

Final prep dress

Lay out wedding items the night before

Your dress will obviously be carefully hanging up, but make sure all your jewellery, shoes and any additional bits and pieces are laid out the night before so that you don’t panic the next morning when you suddenly can’t find them. This goes for any toiletries you’ll be using as soon as you wake up, from shower gel to cleanser.

Make sure your honeymoon case is packed

This might not be necessary if your honeymoon isn’t for six months, but for couples who intend on jetting off within a week of their wedding, it’s best to have as much of your honeymoon case packed before the wedding as possible. In the days leading up to your wedding you will not have time to think about holiday clothes and your mind might be a bit too frazzled after the wedding to properly pack. Have it done in advance to save yourself the worry.

Honeymoon couple

Double check your band has your music

When you’re doing the final vendor ring around, make sure you go through the list of music and songs you want played at your reception with your band. You don’t want to miss out on your favourite song because you forgot to give it to them. It’s also a good idea to double check the version they’re going off for special songs. Do you want the Adele version or the Bob Dylan version of “Make You Feel My Love”? Make sure they know.

Create a day-of itinerary

Make sure your bridal party and VIPs know how the day is going to pan out and what everyone’s jobs are. The easiest way to do that is to create a day-of itinerary to go by. That way, no one is running around like headless chickens and no one forgets to pick up the bouquets.

wedding timeline

Pack your emergency kit

Make sure you have your emergency kit well stocked for your wedding day and give it to a bridesmaid to mind or keep it stored in the wedding car until you reach the reception. There are plenty more items than just make up touches that could save the day. We can help you pack it here.

Set up your reception area

Don’t forget about the reception decorations. Your venue will probably have the chairs decked out with covers and any other decorations that were included, but you have to do the rest and add any final touches. Remember to think about how long you need to set up and leave yourself plenty of time to do this the day before. Check with your venue what time you’re allowed to come over and decorate the room.

pretty centrepieces

Drop your stuff off

If possible, have someone drop your overnight bag to the hotel early in the morning so you don’t have to worry about bringing it yourself. That way, your stuff will already be waiting for you in the room when you arrive at your venue. If the venue is too far to do this, make sure someone is in charge of putting it in the boot of the car in the morning and bringing it up to your room when you arrive at the venue.

Keep your flowers hydrated

Make sure your flowers have plenty of water the night before and morning of your wedding, depending on when you pick them up, to maximise their freshness and prevent wilting before they have to be on show. If there’s room in the fridge this will keep them even fresher.

Bridal bouquet final prep

Give the important numbers to your bridesmaid

The day-of vendors need to be able to contact someone in case of emergency but on the day of the wedding, it should definitely not be the bride or groom. Give the day-of vendors the number of your chief bridesmaid or best man (or both) in case there are any queries, directions or problems. Equally, give your bridal party those vendor numbers in case you’re the one who needs to communicate with them.

Make sure all VIPs have transport

You’ve booked the wedding car for you and the bridesmaids, but don’t forget about other VIPs. Remember, the passengers change around slightly when you get to the ceremony. The bridesmaids and mother were probably together, the bride was with her father and the groom, with his groomsmen. But on the way to the reception, the bride and groom are together and the groomsmen and bridesmaids might be with their significant others. Make sure you do a final head count and that everyone is accounted for in cars, both to and from the ceremony.

Vintage car

Make sure someone minds the certificate

Give this job to someone before the wedding day so that they know. Be it a bridesmaid or groomsman, make sure someone knows they’re supposed to be taking care of the marriage certificate and any other important documents until they can be safely put away.

Have someone in charge of taking gifts

There will most likely be countless envelopes and gifts handed to you on the day and it’s important that they don’t get lost or damaged, especially when it comes to envelopes that are easy to misplace and probably have some money in them. Give this job to your bridal party, and again, make sure they know that they will be doing that before the day so they’re not blindsided by it there and then. If more than one person is in charge of them, make sure they keep them all together and put them away as soon as they get a chance.

- Jenny Darmody

Image credits: Bride and groom: Steve Gerrard Photography | Dress: Michelle Scott Photography | Honeymoon couple: Best of St Lucia | Timeline: Nick Murray Photography | Centrepiece: Hunter Ryan Photography | Bouquet: B Loved | Car: Joyeuse Photography