Wedding Day Survival Advice

Days Before
Wedding Day Survival Advice – You have selected your bridal party, now take a moment and think about who your most responsible, calm and efficient attendant is. She may even be the person who gave you this kit. Choosing one designated helper is the best way to stay calm and enjoy the moment. Ask if she would agree to help you get ready on your wedding day. It is always best for your helper to be dressed and ready before you are so that she will be able to focus her attention completely on you.

It is a thrilling moment when your wedding dress finally arrives, but in your enthusiasm you must remember to touch your dress as little as possible. Remember that it is white and that the less you handle it the cleaner it will stay!

As soon as you receive your dress, be sure to remove it from its container. Whether your dress came in a box, a garment bag or a plastic dry cleaner bag, it should be allowed to breathe.

Hang your dress in a place where it will be out of the way; a place where there is little traffic, where small children, curious friends and pets can be kept away. Try a door, the shower rod, or hang your dress from a high piece of furniture. Place a sheet, towel, plastic or paper (without newsprint) on the floor under the dress and arrange any fabric that is on the floor with the fewest number of creases.

Allow your dress to hang this way for several days if possible. This will allow any creases to fall out. Any severe wrinkling can be steamed or ironed on the inside when it is obvious that creases are not going to go away without additional attention.

Pre-check buttons, zippers, and hem. If you have a beaded dress, be sure that all of the beads are secure. Even the most expensive dresses can have a few loose beads. A needle and thread from the sewing kit or a little super glue can quickly do the trick.

Don’t forget to hang your veil out too! If creases do not fall out, use your hair dryer on medium or cool setting to remove the wrinkles. Be careful to keep the veil far away from pets. The number of pet related disasters with bridal veils are endless.

Be sure you have selected jewelry that compliments your gown. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum and be real or look real. No watches!

Have your bra, petticoat, stockings and shoes together (extra pairs of these last 2 items can come in very handy).

Practice walking in your shoes before the wedding. Like models do before they walk down the runway, score the soles with a knife, a scissor, or rub the soles with your nail file so that they are not slippery. If you can treat yourself to just one more luxury, buy a second pair of shoes. Simply changing your shoes can instantly help your feet feel better. If you have access to a freezer at your reception, have one of your attendants be responsible for putting your extra pair of shoes in the freezer. When your feet hurt, change to the second pair of cold shoes for an instant lift! Ah!

Have a practice run using your headpiece and veil. Whether you or a hair dresser will be doing your hair, be sure that you have tested the look and placement of your headpiece and veil BEFORE your wedding day. If you have short hair, or very slippery hair and are having trouble keeping your head gear on, use a small clear rubber band to make a tiny pony tail on top of your head, or make a loop of hair and keep it in place with crossed bobby pins. Comb or clip your headpiece in front of the ponytail or loop of hair and your headpiece will stay in place all night. Your veil can easily detach while the headpiece stays in place.

Your makeup is important. Remember that you will be photographed and that your daily makeup might not be enough. Experiment before your wedding day, and seek the advice of a professional or a friend you trust. You want your make up to look natural and at the same time work well in pictures

The Day Before
Have your manicure and pedicure the day before your wedding. Red nail polish can come off on your dress even when it is completely dry. We recommend avoiding it all together and sticking with natural tones.

Arrange to have soft drinks and simple snacks available while you are getting ready. Brides are famous for eating very little for days before their weddings and feeling faint in the final hours. Be careful not to get dehydrated.

A certain Diva was determined to be extra thin on her wedding day! She hadn’t eaten properly for weeks and was too nervous to eat on the day of her wedding. Don’t make that mistake. If you’re too nervous to eat a meal, have small snacks throughout the day or risk that your first toast will be your last! After planning a wedding for a year, don’t spend your special day in the bathroom like our diva friend!

If possible, arrange to have your bridesmaids dress in a separate room, or make sure that they come with their hair and make up already done. They should be dressed and ready at least a half hour before you are.

A certain celebrity bride, arranged for her bridesmaids to have their hair and make up done while she was getting ready. All of her bridesmaids were so thrilled to be getting the star treatment that they forgot that they were really there to support their friend the bride! It’s human nature, but it can be avoided if you plan ahead and set the rules in a nice way.