Couples Reveal 5 Last-minute Wedding Planning Decisions That Paid Off Big
Imagine your big day: You are stunning in your white gown or your perfectly tailored tux, walking down the aisle with the music playing, the breeze blowing, and the birds chirping. And in the back of your mind is the niggling feeling that you’re forgetting something. No one wants that on their special day, and god knows that a busy boss like you has more on their plate than seating charts and vendor deadlines!
Wedding planning can be daunting. Add looking for a last-minute wedding venue and making last-minute wedding lists to the mix, and you’re looking at a nervous breakdown waiting to happen. This is where our wedding planner comes in. With years of event planning experience and notes from brides and grooms themselves, we at “Events in a Crunch” bring you the ultimate list of planning decisions. Make sure you check out the website for more insider tips about things that can make or break your big day!
Anything from a wedding day emergency kit to last-minute wedding vendor tips—we’ve got it all covered. This last-minute wedding list of bride-approved last-minute decisions will make your day that much easier!
Extra Budget for Hidden Expenses
Amid all the hustle and bustle of the last day, some hidden expense is bound to crop up, even if you carefully plan a wedding checklist. Maybe it's a delivery fee you forgot to foresee or a last-minute batch of extra refreshments that cost more than you anticipated. A happy little accident does not need to ruin the wedding expense breakdown you so carefully made.
Setting aside an extra little sum before finalizing their wedding budgets has saved couples from last-minute planning stress. With a little bit of foresight, you will have avoided any panic and stress that may come with a last-minute blow to the budget. And now you can breeze through any surprise without any surprises. Knowing an emergency wad of cash is sitting there for any unexpected trouble will make you more at peace on your wedding day. So don’t forget to add this secret stash to your wedding expense checklist for a hassle-free wedding!
2. Hire a Wedding Planner - Ask for Help
Let’s face it—a wedding is a big event, and planning a wedding may be the most taxing job out there. Certainly too much for one mere mortal to manage. Especially on the final day, you cannot be expected to manage the nitty gritty of the event itself and enjoy your big day at the same time. So why not get back up? It never hurts to ask for help.
There are many wedding plan sites out there to help you. But it is best to stick to professionals. Book a wedding planner, but don’t be tempted to just slap “wedding planners near me” on Google and choose the first one you see.
The wedding planner will manage your event for you, so make sure you choose the one that is the right fit for you and your partner. The event planner has to align with your tastes and style while also being comfortable working within your budget. If Texas is where you dream of wedding planning, Austin has to offer some of the best award-winning planners in the state for your big day. You don’t even have to make a decision right away! Reach out to “Events in a Crunch” for a free consultation, and we’ll help you get started with smooth and stress-free wedding planning. Especially if you’re in a time crunch. Plus, here’s what our founder, Adaobi, recommends looking for in the perfect wedding planner:
“Make sure to choose a planner with plenty of experience in the type of event you want—whether it is indoor or outdoor, or summer or spring. The number one thing you need is good communication with the event managers, as they will manage every single detail of your event! Make sure they listen to your requests and respond to your needs. Plus, you should always check out their wedding vendors list and go through it. Do your own research as well! Check out wedding vendor websites to find the most suitable option if there’s something you don’t like.”
So now you’ve chosen your wedding planners, make sure to book a consultation beforehand so you can see for yourself whether they will suit your needs.
3. Finalizing Wedding Vendor Arrangements
While most big expenses for your wedding day will be paid in advance, vendors will likely expect payment on the day of the event. Pay as much as possible in advance, and for the unavoidable last-minute payments, make preparations. Don’t forget to add payments to vendors to your wedding expense checklist.
No one wants to be hassled last minute for payments, so it is best to calculate how much exactly will be owed to each vendor in advance. Make separate envelopes for each wedding vendor, marked and labelled with the name of the vendor, the amount of payment, and when it is due. Make separate envelopes for wedding vendor tips and gifts for the caterers and staff.
Finally, keep the envelopes secure in a safe place until the day arrives and then…delegate! You don’t want to be running after vendors on your big day! So entrust a close friend or family member, maybe even the best man or head bridesmaid, with the envelopes and cross them off your list. Better still, if you have a wedding planner by your side and they can take care of everything for you.
4. Wedding Day Emergency Kit
It never hurts to be too prepared! Chances are, you won’t need half of what you pack in your wedding day emergency kit, but hey, you won’t be sorry to make one.
Your wedding day emergency kit will help you navigate any minor mishap with ease and grace. Whether it is a paper cut or a wardrobe malfunction, nothing will take you by surprise and ruin this day for you.
Keep the wedding day kit supplies in your bag on your person at all times. It should contain anything you feel you might need on the last day. Usually, your wedding planner will have this bit covered for you. That’s just another perk of working with experts who can anticipate pitfalls before they happen-no details overlooked!
But in any case, keep things like Band-Aids and fabric tape in the bag at all times. And don't forget things like glue, nail polish, deodorant, lipstick, bobby pins, and other odds and ends that you might need. And who knows? One of these things might be handy in a pinch.
5. Set Up Photo Sharing
While you are making your wedding plan timeline, don’t forget to set aside time to set up photo sharing. This can be done weeks beforehand or even as part of last-minute planning. You can download a photo-sharing app or use a photo-sharing website. This way, you have all your photos in a central place. It’s a great way to have fun with wedding photos and avoid the hassle of sharing them individually, at the same time.
Everyone knows the hassle of collecting photos and pictures after an event. Some great candid moments are inevitably lost in some stranger’s phone. With photo sharing, all the pictures are collected on one platform. Anyone with a link will be able to access and upload, allowing everyone to enjoy the pictures in real time!
Final Thoughts
Wedding days can be stressful, but it does not need to be all work and no play. While the day is not only emotionally fraught, it is also physically daunting. With emotions running high and tasks piling up, it can get very stressful very quickly. But a little bit of planning and forethought can help make your day a success, even if you are making some decisions and using a wedding checklist last minute!
But sometimes you might need a little extra help. And when in a crunch, an organized wedding planner can make all the difference! With hundreds of happy couples and stress-free couples vouching for us, you can trust “Events in a Crunch” to make your dream wedding day a reality!
At the end of the day, your wedding is about celebrating love, not sweating the small stuff. Take it from the brides and grooms who’ve been there: a few smart choices in the final stretch can take you from overwhelmed to overjoyed. So breathe, plan just a little more, and then let yourself soak in every unforgettable moment—you’ve earned it!
