Wedding 1 Month Away, What Should Be Done? What Should I Be Doing?

no clue, darlin'. but i have to say, all the stressing you're doing makes me very happy for my comically teensy wedding!
:D khairete
S.

Caterer should be done today! Call around to see who has the capacity but in Richmond you have a ton of options. Whiten & color one week prior in case it doesn't go well & you need to see a pro to fix it. Mani & pedi 2 days before so you aren't trying to do too much right before.

You have plenty of time to do the little stuff! Make a list of everything & do a few each day!

Personally I think you should forget about your hair and teeth and spend the ENTIRE month screwing until both of you are bleeding. It's the last time you'll be able to sleep with a boyfriend for the rest of your life!

;)

What should you do today?
Breathe.

If you don't make that hair appointment and it doesn't get done you will still be radiant. Otherwise in about 2 weeks to 10 days before the wedding.

Call the caterer now. That should have been done.

On Saturday go to the Party Store and get your cake cutter, garters are sold at tux shops and all the prom stores right now.

And BREATHE!!! You will make it through this and it will be wonderful.

Congrats to you and the other brides! Don't worry, everything will be great. :)

Ok so at one of my bridal showers, I did get our champagne flutes and cake cutter...but have a back-up plan in place in case you don't get them. Better yet, put them on your registry if you can. You probably need to buy your garter.

When I was planning my wedding, the best way I found to ensure that I was not forgetting anything was to visually walk ahead through my wedding - begin with the pre-ceremony pictures, and go all the way through the end of the reception.

- Pre-ceremony pics - visit the place where you'll be taking pics with your photographer before your wedding day, if possible. They can scope out the light and background ahead of time and will make everything go more smoothly.
- Be sure you know exactly when your flowers are going to be delivered, and confirm the number of bouquets and flowers for the guys & kids you need so you don't end up short.
- Make sure the boys know where to be, and when. I've found that they need VERY specific instructions on when to do what! You're in charge.
- Talk with the point person at the church or ceremony venue to be sure everyone is on the same page with music & timing of the ceremony (doors open at x time, opening music begins at x time, then be sure you have a clear plan of the order of people walking down the aisle, and also where the kids should be when they get to the front. Be sure you're prepared with snacks and books or toys for them if you have small kids to entertain them when needed during the ceremony. Appoint someone to get all of that in place before the ceremony starts. Also appoint someone to keep an eye on them when you and your husband are taking any pics after the ceremony that the kids aren't going to be in. You would think people will just jump in and help watch them, and they likely will some, but people get distracted themselves during the fun of the wedding. And you'll be totally focused on the pictures.
- Confirm your transportation, if applicable, from ceremony to reception.
- Instruct the photographer to take lots of action shots of the kids and you & hubby to be w/the kids all day. Those will end up being some of your favorites, probably more so than the posed shots.
- Talk to your band or dj and be sure they know exactly when to start at the reception. Be sure to tell them if there's anything you don't want to be played. Make sure you arrange payment ahead of time so that no one is scrambling for a check at the reception.
- Check your bar list for the reception. Be sure you're going to have enough of everything, and be clear on what the venue provides for you. Also find out how they greet guests when they arrive at the reception. At mine I specifically wanted people greeted with a beer or glass of wine as soon as they walked in, and man we had a great party!!
- Have something that people can drop money envelopes into at the reception - and appoint someone to keep an eye on it. Also have a plan ahead of time for someone to load gifts into the car after the reception. That's always a bit of a struggle for the family at the end of the reception when everyone is exhausted.

As far as you - make sure you're getting enough rest - that's seriously the best beauty treatment there is! I whitened my teeth until about 4 days out. The bleaching trays my dentist gives me make my teeth and gums sensitive, so I wanted that sensation to be gone by the wedding. I just tried to avoid coffee/tea/red wine those few days before the wedding - which is good anyway, since caffeine and alcohol dehydrate you somewhat. Drink lots of water. I also had my eyebrows and lip waxed 3 days before the wedding. Mani & pedi one day before the wedding. Hair and makeup of course the day of. Also I went to the tanning bed the whole month before my wedding - I know, bad girl! But whatever it was once in my life. Have an awesome time and congratulations!!!

You know, as simplistic as this may sound, I would google "wedding timeline" and see what that has to say. (I google EVERYTHING)...I just did it and there was TONS of great info! Have a beautiful day and try not to stress, it will come off fine.

Do you have a maid of honor whom you can appoint to handle the cake cutter, flutes, etc.? Friends LIKE to help out and really like to have a specific job. Put the groom in charge of the garter (or his best man, if he has one) and also picking up the flowers if you are having those. I don't think you get that stuff at a shower unless you ask for it - so you might want to just budget for it and assign someone to handle it.

Take care of the teeth whitening now so it's over and done with - then limit coffee and tea between whitening & wedding. Do your hair a week before so it "calms down" and you have some time to correct anything that doesn't look right.

Can you book a manicure and a massage for 2 days before? You need a couple of hours for just YOU. See if someone can help with the kids on the day before and the day of - Grandma, aunt, friends. Do you need to hire a babysitter for the wedding? A lot of people do and it's a great idea - you don't want to leave the ceremony because someone has to go to the bathroom!! You need time to relax and enjoy and reflect on the day.

Let the caterer handle everything - tell them you hired them because they are known to be dependable. Then stop worrying - no one but you will realize or care if something isn't perfect - hopefully you are having good friends who are there for a good time and to celebrate with you, not to worry about the color of the napkins.

Do you have someone - again, maid of honor or sister - to help you get dressed? You may want help with buttons/zippers, adjusting your veil (if you have one), helping you get your dress on without getting make-up on it (and you definitely put make-up on BEFORE you put the dress on).

Are you having photographs? If so, give the photographer a list of people - make that up now while you are whitening your teeth! - and let the photographer arrange things, checking off that he/she got everyone in photos. Try not to manage that function yourself on the wedding day.

Get your license and blood tests in plenty of time. Meet with the clergy/justice of the peace to finalize the ceremony in the next few days, then cross that off your list. It's done.

Anyone who has to be paid that day - clergy, caterer, florist, babysitter, etc. - make up the checks ahead of time and put them in envelopes. Give those to your fiance. He's in charge of paying people.

How many people are you having? Are you having a sit-down meal with place cards? If so, delegate place cards to someone else. Or do them while you are sitting around letting your teeth whiten. Make a list with 2 things every day - just 2. That's 60 things you'll get done in one month. And I'll bet you have fewer than 60 to deal with!

Now - take 5 things off the list because they don't matter! Put yourself at the top of your list.

Enjoy your day!

I think the month before the wedding was the hardest for me. There wasn't anything left to do except the last minute stuff. I was on total pins and needles that last week. I had a HUGE list of things that needed to get done, but NONE of them could be done until the week of, or even the day of, the wedding. I drove me BONKERS! LOL!

I would make a list of all the stuff you need to get done. Then categorize it by time. You can get the cake cutter, champagne flutes (we used plastic), bridal party gifts, decorations, the hair dye and anything else you need now. And call the caterer (I'm really hoping that you already have a caterer booked and you're just finalizing the menu) now.

Then list things you can do about a week before the wedding, like dying your hair.

Then list things that need to be done a few days before the wedding, like getting a mani pedi.

Every bride feels frenzied the month before their wedding :D

Theresa!! Lol!

- I did my hair one week before - but even a few days before will be fine. I don't really do much but put in a few low lights to add some depth. I am pretty much my natural color. If you are doing something drastic, I would do at least a week out.

- Take pictures of yourself now - see what you want to improve. Do you like the color of your hair now? Do you look too tan, pale, etc in the pics. This will guide you to know what to do for the rest of the month.

- You could whiten your teeth the night before. But, if you think you will be too busy and forget, do it a week before to be safe. I wouldn't do it now, especially if you drink coffee!!

- I wouldn't get your nails done until the day before or day of, and even then, be prepared for them to chip! There are bigger things to worry about.

- I am not sure how busy your fiance is, but have him run and get the garter, flutes, and that stuff. Hard to mess those up. =)

- One thing I remember from my wedding day is the lack of people helping me the few hours before the ceremony. I really would have loved to have someone helping me with the little things, like my makeup, getting my dress on, watching my kid! But, everyone was too busy getting themselves ready to worry about the bride. So, if you can, designate someone to help you! The more the merrier! Someone to get you food, help you pee, all that is SO important!

- HAVE FUN AND STOP STRESSING

- I will add more as I think of more.....

Set aside a day to go to a Michael's Crafts store, Joanne fabrics, or even Walmart and sometimes Party stores (I know...sounds cheesy, but they do have these things sometimes), and get your wedding "do-dads" there.

It is unlikely you will get things like this at a shower, unless you specifically asked for them on a registry (which you wouldn't want to do!). These places (craft stores) are great for getting garters, veils, tiaras, ring-cushions, cake cutters, table decor, champagne flutes, guestbooks, etc.

You of course could get these same things at a bridal boutique or online as well, but you will definitely over-pay for them there. So save your money and go to a crafts store for them.

If you haven't already, schedule your bridal spa day with your favorite salon. For my wedding, I did it (spa day with pedi, mani, facials and all that jazz) two days before the wedding, and had a stylist scheduled to do my hair the actual day of the wedding. So for you, that would be when I'd do the whitening treatment, hair color, nails and any other beautifying you want done. If you don't have a stylist for your wedding day, I highly recommend it if you can still schedule one! It was an expense I do not regret. It is one less thing to freak out about at the last minute, and they're so used to it, that you know everything will turn out just right...even if you're a wreck.

Do you have an appointed person to help you remember stuff? If so, get together with them and put together a list of things you think you and your wedding party will need on the big day. That should help alot and get some of the stress off of you. Delegate...delegate...delegate. I can't stress enough how good it will be for you to delegate. When the day comes, you'll be too busy to worry about details like this. So find your wingman now, and plan.

"Wedding 1 month away, what should be done? What should I be doing?"

Reconsidering-I wish someone had talked me out of it.

Google "Brides to do list". there are some that start as far out as a year! But month by month it says what should be done. so if you can find that, its a good start. its really hard to tell you specifically when we don't know the details of the wedding. Good luck!

What you should be doing is making sure we all get the invites since we've heard so much from you about it LOL! :)

Make a list if you haven't and start from there. The last minute "stuff" will still happen.

As far as your teeth...start two weeks before the wedding. You're hair at least two weeks so some of the "brassy" you say happens...But for this occassion I would highly recommend a professional to do your hair so you are completely happy !!!

Best wishes...i think we are all excited for you.

You need three things: A LIST, a good MAID OF HONOR to take care of the little things, and to BREATHE!!

All you can do is make a list of what is the most important and just work your way down the list.

Teeth and Hair I would say do the weekend before!

Thank you, R.!!

And I'm feeling exactly like you - like wth do I need to be doing? But I'm just a week and a couple days out... it does get worse the closer it gets! Not what you wanted to hear, I'm sure... but true... :/

R.:

The first thing you need to do is breathe and relax!!! Deep breath....let it out SLOWLY...okay - again - deep breath...let it out slowly...good.

Here's my two cents:

I wouldn't whiten my teeth. My GF did that ended up having TOTALLY sensitive teeth after it...and it really didn't whiten them that much. I would do the old fashioned baking powder and peroxide mixture...talk to your dentist for the mixture - but it works better than all the other junk!!!

The caterer needs to be done today. If you don't have one picked out - start calling around...but remember the KISS method!!! Keep it Simple Silly!!

Get a "mom's plan it' calendar - break things down so you are not so overwhelmed. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once - break it down so it's not so overwhelming.

Have your hair done 2 weeks prior to the wedding. Schedule that today. Make sure you make the appointment for the day of the wedding as well so that you aren't scrambling....

Have your dress, veil, shoes, pantyhose, something borrowed, something blue and something new together...in one place...makes life easier.

The only time the garter, etc. was done at a bridal shower or bachelorette party was when the bride specifically asked for these things. For most couples these items are "personal" and picked out by the couple. (this is MY opinion).

Do you have cake ordered and set for delivery? If not - that needs to be done. You can get the cutter and flutes from the bakery - USUALLY they have these.

Has Rob got the tuxes ready for his groom's men?
Flowers? Do you have them ordered and set for delivery?

If you are going to have a manicure and pedicure - schedule that for the day before the wedding. Make that appointment today.

Talk to your Maid/Matron of honor and find out when she is planning the shower and bacherolette party..that's usually her job. Ask her to arrange the shower a week before the wedding...let her know that you would LOVE IT if guests could provide the following:

A cake cutter
A guest book
Champagne flutes
Garter (make sure they know the colors of the wedding or your preference)
Do you have a ring bearer? if so - do you have the pillow he will carry?
Do you have a flower girl(s)? if so - do you have the baskets for them to carry the flower petals?

Are you remembering to breath? There are things you can delegate...you can give the Maid/Matron of honor the duties of getting the guest book, etc. together....inbox me or FB and we can go over things!!

BREATH!!!!

When I got married, I did my highlights about a week before the wedding. I got my nails and toes done a couple days before, so they would be fresh:) The garter and chapagne flutes will probably not come as gifts at your shower, but you can go by michaels or heck even walmart and pick those up. I got some odds and ends at walmart myself! I think my unity candle, can't totally remember. What I think would be good is to sit down and write a list of all the little things and assign a thing to each day. Like, Thurs May 19th, pick up chapagne flutes and cake cutter at walmart, just for example. Do it on your phone or something if you are high tech! Me, I am a write it down on the calendar girl, or it is forgotten! Then it won't seem overwhelming, just one or two little things to do everyday. I mean I would even put a little note for the day before not to forget to shave or wax or whatever works for you! I like to just sort it all out in my brain and then write it down and just live by the calendar. Maybe tonight when the kids are in bed just sit down with a pad and jot down everything swirling in your head and I promise it won't seem nearly as bad. I remember a few weeks before thinking the same thing! But then I just looked over my little plan and all was well. I also wrote the ceremony out and then looked it over to be sure I had everything I needed for each part, like music etc. If there was something missing, then I just put that on my calendar as something I needed to get done. Congrats, have a fun day, it will all get done!! :D

I would actually have a stylist dye your hair and cut it a couple weeks before the wedding and have them do your hair and make up FOR the wedding so you are not so stressed out the day of trying to make yourself look GREAT (which i am sure you do every day anyways) and then get a mani pedi done a day or two before the wedding.

You are so sweet!

Teeth whitening, I use peroxide & baking soda to brush- dentist recommended, cheap, VERY effective. I did my hair color yesterday, just in case it went bad somehow, so I can fix it in time. I made my own hair combs with little flowers, Im getting my nails done, a day or 2 before.. making my garter, but I think they are sometimes gifted? I would make/ buy your own anyways :) etsy.com has some lovely ones :) :) Have you got a ring cushion, the signing set for the legalities (ive seen sets on etsy that coordinate the ring cushion, pens, guest books etc... tthen theres that "something borrowed, something blue, something old & something new"...