OK, there are exactly 436 gazillion articles on the web with the usual wedding tips. I've compiled a short list of some of my favourite lesser-spotted ones. One of my couples recently called this "The Yoda List."
1. Snap It Before You Pack It
I use this tip when I'm preparing for a marathon abroad, but it totally applies to wedding couples packing before they travel to a hotel the night before a wedding. Lay out all your stuff, then take a photo of everything before you pack it, so you KNOW it's there. When "the fear" pays you a visit — just before you finally drift off to sleep — and tries to convince you that you only packed one shoe, take out the phone, check what you packed, and breathe again.
2. Practice Getting Dressed
Have a dress rehearsal — I don't mean a wedding rehearsal, I mean literally rehearse getting into your wedding gear. Wedding clothing can be pretty complicated, and on the morning of the wedding you don't want the extra stress of going on YouTube to figure out how to lace the back of a dress or how to tie a tie. Don't expect your bridesmaids or groomsmen to know, although they may feel compelled to spend a lot of time trying. Have a practice run, iron out the wrinkles (apologies, pun intended), and have a smooth wedding morning.
3. Schedule Some Couple Time
I know this sounds bonkers given it's a day about you two as a couple, but hear me out. Your wedding day will zoom by in the blink of an eye — there will be many people eager to get time with one or both of you, and before you know it the day is almost over and you've barely spoken two words to your new husband or wife. When you're planning the day, book in a chunk of time just for the two of you. A very handy time for this is between the ceremony and the reception — you might be off with your photographer for some photos, and you can just take a walk together (heels permitting). Feel free to blame the photographer when your new mother-in-law asks what kept you away from your guests.
4. Do the Books
There will be gifts. This is a fact. Another fact is that if you don't take a few notes, you won't have a clue who to thank for what. Rip everything open like a kid on Christmas morning, but just write a note with names and gifts. Trust me, nothing is more awkward than somebody admiring an ornament in your home a few years down the road, and you get that feeling it might have been a gift from them.
5. Share the Day Plan
I assume you don't want to spend a large part of your day answering questions like "what happens next?", "where am I going now?" or "can you give me directions?" The easiest way to get around this is to share your wedding day plan with your wedding party — bridesmaids, groomsmen, immediate family, close friends etc. This doesn't need to be a five-pager with 780 bullet points, just a headline summary of the flow of the day, and who needs to be where and when.
So there you go — hopefully that's helpful and interesting. Most of the tips above are designed to free you up from time-stealers on the day, giving you more time to enjoy it and the people present in it.
6. Extra Bonus Tip
There's a sixth tip here, which is to hire a wonderful wedding photographer such as myself, who won't hog your time or attention on your wedding day (I couldn't resist). If you like relaxed and modern wedding photography, please get in touch — no awkward nonsense, simply beautiful photos.