22 Jan Top 20 Things to Do the Week of Your Wedding
You’ve spent months and months planning, and you’re counting down the final days until your wedding. It’s almost time for the big day! And now all that’s left to do is show up, right? Well, not so fast.
The week before your wedding is sure to be a bit hectic with a few last-minute tasks to check off your list. But where do you start? Luckily, we’ve got you sorted, we’ve compiled the most common tasks that brides overlook during the week before their wedding!
Whether you’ve left these tasks to the last minute because of the specific timing they require, or they’ve totally slipped your mind, there’s always bound to be last-minute tweaks that need to be addressed.
Whether you’ve left these tasks to the last minute because of the specific timing they require, or they’ve totally slipped your mind, there’s always bound to be last-minute tweaks that need to be addressed.
1.) TRY the full look
You’ll need to pick up your dress the week of the wedding, but don’t stop there. Try on the full ensemble, including shoes and jewellery, to finalise your look. Practice walking down the aisle and make sure everything looks exactly how you want it to and most importantly feels comfortable to you.
Pro-tip: Most likely you’ve bought new shoes especially for your wedding. Try them on and walk around in them in your house for a few hours.
2.) Clean Your Ring
Head to your jeweller to get your rings professionally cleaned so they’re extra sparkly on your wedding day and photo ready.
3.) Confirm Last-Minute RSVPs
Now is the time to call anyone who hasn’t sent an RSVP yet. Reach out to the last-minute stragglers who haven’t told you whether or not they’re coming to your wedding. While it may feel like you’re playing a game of cat and mouse, it’s better to know the final count sooner rather than later—otherwise you might get a few guests who decide to turn up with no where to sit!
4.) Deliver the Final Headcount
You’ll want to give the final headcount to your hotel or caterer on the Monday before the wedding (or whenever required by your contract).
Pro-tip: Now that you know exactly who is coming and where they are sitting, you can get these printed and boxed up ready to go for the big day. Deliver them to whoever will be in charge of putting them out.
5.) Finalise the Seating Chart
Most of the RSVPs should be in by now, so sit down with your spouse-to-be and finalise the seating arrangements. Be sure to send a copy to those who need it, such as the wedding planner, photographer, and designated bridesmaid.
Keep things clean and easy by using HitchPlanner’s seating chart planner.
Keep things clean and easy by using HitchPlanner’s seating chart planner.
6.) CALL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TO FINALISE YOUR SHOTS LIST
Send this off to your photographer and designate a family member or member of the wedding party to regularly check in with the photographer on the wedding day.
Most common shots to include:
Most common shots to include:
- Wedding day outfit or wedding dress hanging on the wardrobe, on the bedpost or over a chair
- Bride and bridal party getting ready
- Detail shot of clothing, shoes, accessories, and any other special items
- Emotional shots with parents before the wedding
- Exchanging views
- Exchanging rings
- And much more!
7.) Prepare everything you need for your ROM
You should have already done your marriage application 21 days before. Check the official registry of marriage website for full details.
Remember to bring NRICs or original passports of you and your future spouse. Don’t forget to remind your two witnesses to bring along their NRICs or original passport as well.
Remember to bring NRICs or original passports of you and your future spouse. Don’t forget to remind your two witnesses to bring along their NRICs or original passport as well.
8.) Answer Last-Minute Emails
Be sure to give it one last read through and answer any emails that are filled with pressing wedding questions before you go MIA and straight into your big day.
9.) Confirm Your Vendors
Send all of your vendors an email or give them a quick call before your wedding to reconfirm the details including arrival times.
If you are using Hitchplanner, you can contact and keep track of them all on our platform.
If you are using Hitchplanner, you can contact and keep track of them all on our platform.
10.) Prepare Payments and Ang Bao
Sort out any final payments for your wedding vendors, and check your contracts for payment deadlines to be extra sure you’re on time. Get a stack of Ang Bao ready for your big day.
11.) Finalise Your Post-Wedding Escape Route
Whether you plan to go home after the wedding, an after-party, or catch a flight to your honeymoon destination, plan how you’ll get there and if you need to get changed beforehand.
12.) Assign Someone to collect any gifts, leftover decor
Choose a family member to collect the card box, any wedding gifts that guests brought, and any decorations you may want to keep and take them home for you. You may be too busy to remember to do this, or you may be heading to your wedding after-party. Assigning this task to someone else (and someone responsible) will help make sure everything makes it home to you safe and sound.
13.) Package up Gifts for the Bridal Party, Groomsmen and your guests
If you’re getting any gifts for your bridal/groom party – don’t forget to get them packed, wrapped and ready to go on your big day.
14.) Pack An “Emergency Kit”
Pack some essential items that might come in handy on your wedding day.
Read our article: Top tips for your Actual Wedding Day to get the full list of what to pack and what to do on the day!
Read our article: Top tips for your Actual Wedding Day to get the full list of what to pack and what to do on the day!
15.) Check in With Your Bridesmaids, Groomsmen and family
Reach out to see if your bridesmaids have any last-minute questions and confirm what they are doing on the day and the timings of when they should arrive/be at a certain place.
Pro-tip: if you can organise a fun ladies brunch or happy hour that week, that would be even better and a perfect way to unwind.
Pro-tip: if you can organise a fun ladies brunch or happy hour that week, that would be even better and a perfect way to unwind.
16.) Get a Manicure
If you don’t get a chance to organise that fun ladies brunch, this is even better if you can do it with your bridesmaids or your mum and mother-in-law.
Try to get your nails done a day or two before the wedding so your nails are as fresh as possible but you don’t need to waste any time on them on the day of your wedding.
If you need some ideas for your nails, read our article: Wedding Nail Ideas for the Perfect Bridal Manicure
Try to get your nails done a day or two before the wedding so your nails are as fresh as possible but you don’t need to waste any time on them on the day of your wedding.
If you need some ideas for your nails, read our article: Wedding Nail Ideas for the Perfect Bridal Manicure
17.) Pack Your Wedding Day Bag
In addition to your wedding dress, remember to pack anything else you’ll need for such as comfortable clothes and shoes to change into, medication etc.
18.) Clear Your Work To-Do List
Take care of any big projects or assignments at work early on that week so that you don’t have a to-do list of work tasks floating around in your head. Work is the last thing you want to think about as you head into your wedding weekend.
19.) Relax and breathe
You’re nearly at the home stretch. Go for a walk, head to the spa, watch your favourite movie… do whatever you need to in order to make you feel better. And that includes spending some quality time with your future husband and make sure to keep hydrated!!
20.) Drop off all the decor if your venue allows it
If the venue is okay with it, drop off boxes of decorations or wedding items ahead of time. That way, you don’t need to lug a bunch of boxes with you on the day-of.
Bonus Tip
With all that planning coming to the end, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t forget to confirm your honeymoon details and pack your bags if you’re heading off straight after your big day!