Hire a “coordinator” even if you do not hire an actual planner. hire a coordinator for the rehearsal & the day of routine. i would recommend one who is aggressive & can keep everything on schedule from hair, to makeup, to photo times.
Eat, be sure to have your bridal suite full of your favorite food and drinks, this may sound small but studies show that food stimulates your dopamine neurotransmitters to give you that “feel good” feeling.
Be sure to do a trial run with your hair stylist & your makeup artist. This way the day of they know exactly what you want & exactly how to do it.
Set expectations for bridesmaids, the last thing you want is after the wedding to not be on good terms with family & friends all because they did not meet your unspoken expectations. Be clear from the jump on what you expect form everyone.
Make a checklist. this goes for bride and groom. Make a checklist of everything you need to bring with you to the venue and have one or 2 designated people to check the list. The last thing you want to do is get to the venue and realize you left the rings at home or the groom left his shoes.
Take time to yourself if needed. surely you have a wedding party that is full of supporting & understanding people. If you need 10min just to reflect on whats about to happen just let them know ahead of time.
Bring a boom box. nothing gets the vibes going like some good ole music while you get ready for your big moment. This also helps the camera crews get easy natural shots of everyone vibing.
Make sure your room can comfortably accommodate for your wedding party, the camera crew, & hair & makeup personnel. You don’t want to be crammed up in a small room with no room to move around.
Prepare a family shot list. this helps to ensure that you get those memorable photos with every family member you want & no one gets left out. After the ceremony things can be chaotic with all the emotions and everyone wanting to visit with you guys. It’s easy to forget someone you want to take a photo with. so prepare a list before hand and give it to your coordinator to ensure that they are present during picture time.
Be sure that during the reception, you schedule the main things such as the bouquet toss, toast, & cake cutting during the times that you have your camera crew booked. You do not want to book your camera crew until 9pm and your toast are at 9:15.
Make sure your camera crew knows what they are doing. Before booking be sure to look at their work and get some background on them. You do not want a photographer who does not know how to pose your wedding party for photos. This can be super stressful.
Take a deep breath in, hold it…………………………………………………………………………. let it out and remember that your wedding day is about you and your significant other. You guys are about to embark on a magical journey full of love & commitment.
-Tra’Juan White | Cinematographer
12 Tips For A Stress Free Wedding Day
