Wedding Day Packing List

It's here! You've made it to Wedding Week!

There's so many things swirling around your head and things that need your attention, and it probably feels like you are being pulled in a million different directions. Don't worry! I know it seems hectic...probably a little less so if you hired a Planner ;)...but all the wedding planning stress is almost over and it is going to be so worth it! The wedding is going to be beautiful and all of your loved ones will be there to watch you start your new life and see you look your most fabulous ever! I know wedding week can be a little crazy so I am here to help you with one of those last minute tasks...packing your bag for wedding day! So here is my list of things you will probably need or want to have the day of your wedding at your venue.

1) Marriage License, Vows, Rings....these may seem like obvious things to pack, but you would be surprised at how many people are pulling out of their driveways headed to the wedding and slam on their breaks and shout, "The Rings!" So, make sure before packing anything else to pack both

wedding bands ( and any decorative ring boxes you may have purchased for photos), that marriage license, and if you have written your own Vows then make sure you have those too.

2) Personal Essentials... so this will vary depending on if you are staying overnight at the venue or elsewhere. If your venue has super convenient overnight accommodations for you to stay the night before the wedding, or if you will be in a hotel the night before, then think typical overnight bag. You'll need pajamas, something to wear to the venue if you have to leave to get there, shower essentials, hair dryer, your own pillow if you are particular, maybe an extra blanket, phone charger, toothbrush and toothpaste, skincare regimen, prescription medications and supplements, deodorant, perfume, and any other can't live without items. If you will be at home the night before then you won't need as much. I would still pack your deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, your special wedding day perfume, and feminine products (Hey, you never know!) You shouldn't need hair or makeup essentials in your venue bag if you have hired hair and makeup professionals...which you totally should by the way. But do include those things in your honeymoon bag if you are planning on leaving straight away after the wedding.

3) Wedding Attire...Again, seems obvious, but make sure you have all the things you will need for your bridal look. This includes the specialty undergarments you may need for your dress, any jewelry you plan on wearing, your veil and/or hairpiece, garters if you plan to wear or use for photographs, your shoes (and I'd suggest back-up shoes for reception if you plan on wearing heels for the ceremony), and last but actually most important...THAT DRESS!

Also make sure you pack your bridal robe or whatever cute look you have opted for your getting ready attire. A little note about bridal robes...check to make sure your bridal robe isn't too sheer that you will feel uncomfortable in a room full of people on wedding morning. Maybe pack a cami to wear underneath it. I would not suggest wearing a bra of any kind on wedding morning so that you do not have bra strap lines and indentations on your skin once you put your dress on, especially if you have a strapless or low back dress. And then finally, some brides choose to have boudoir type portraits done the morning of the wedding for their soon-to-be husbands, so if this is you make sure you pack whatever lingerie you are planning to wear for these.

4) Special Items...Now that you have all of the major essentials, let's talk about specialty items and things you want to include in your wedding day for photos and special moments. First, some of those details you want photographed you have already gathered because they fell into the prior categories...like your rings, ring box, jewelry, garter, vows, shoes, dress and veil. Make sure to include a full paper suite to be photographed as well. The invitation, RSVP card, enclosure cards, addressed envelope, program, etc. I always have my brides take their wedding shoe box and pack all of these special detail items into it (besides dress and veil, of course) so that when your photographer arrives the box will be easy to hand-off to them with everything they need to capture. Most photographers choose to begin with those detail shots while you are still getting ready, so once you arrive to the venue before you get started with hair and makeup, make sure that shoe box is packed and easily accessible. Other items you may want to add to the box would be any special family heirlooms you want photographed...maybe it's a handkerchief handed down to each bride in your family on her wedding day, or there's a beautiful silver tray that was your grandmother's that you want those flat-lay images to be styled on, or a Bridal Bible that you want in photos. Whatever special pieces like that, make sure they are in or with your "details box." Also, think about special, sentimental moments you are hoping to have captured. If you are getting your husband a wedding gift, or any of your family members a special thank you gift, make sure to pack those and then mention to your photographer if you want shots of you exchanging those gifts. Also, a lot of brides and grooms choose to exchange letters the morning of the wedding.

This is always a good idea and super sweet if you will have a videographer on site to capture you reading them aloud! So, either pack your letter or pack the stationary and pen you want to compose it on that morning. Some brides choose to wait till the day of to write it so that they can truly express how they are feeling that day!

5) Business and Wedding Items ...Last, but not least make sure you have all the things you need for your vendors to finalize each contract and any item needed for your wedding day. You should put any final payments for vendors in labeled envelopes for your planner or other designated person to distribute. Along the same lines, if you plan on gifting your hard-working team of professionals with gratuities then make sure to also place those in labeled envelopes. Make sure to pack any items your vendors have requested you to bring or that you volunteered to bring. Grab all of the things needed to make wedding day happen: guest book, special toatsting flutes, cake knives, flower girl baskets, ring bearer pillow, unity ceremony items, and send-off supplies.

These are the biggies friends! Of course, if you plan to leave straight away on your honeymoon you will want to pack your honeymoon bag separately and I suggest leaving in the car you will depart in if possible. Some other fun things to consider bringing are a Bluetooth speaker so you can play that wedding morning playlist during hair and makeup, a cute confetti popper or bottle of champagne for fun robe pictures with your girls, AND SNACKS! If you aren't working with a planner then you will also want to make a little Emergency Kit for the day as well. Planners come armed and ready for any mishap you can think of...stained dress? We got you! Tummy troubles? We have a pill for that! Groom's pants are too long? We are packing hem-tape for a quick fix. So, just try to think of as many scenarios as you can and pack things that would help you solve that issue.

If the thought of preparing an Emergency Kit overwhelms you and you'd rather have a Pro there ready to handle any crisis that occurs, I'd love to chat with you! Feel free to send me an email at sarahsullinsweddings@gmail.com or head to my contact page and submit an inquiry at www.sarahsullinsweddings.com/contact. And if you want more wedding planning tips delivered straight to your inbox make sure you subscribe to emails by scrolling to the bottom of my homepage and submitting your email address.

Photography: Penni Lauren Photography, Twenty Oaks Photography, Creative Dust, and Tonya Volk Photography