Your wedding day – the day you have been dreaming of and planning for is finally here! You want it to be perfect, so it’s easy to spend more time worrying than enjoying what you’ve worked so hard on. And no one should get to enjoy your day more than you!

As a wedding photographer, I spend almost the entire day with my brides. I like to think of myself as an honorary bridesmaid, just nowhere near as fancy as you and your ladies! 😉 I’m there for the final touches for hair and makeup, for the first glimpses of you in your gorgeous gown, the moment right before you walk down the aisle, and the final wave as you drive off into newlywed bliss. Hopefully, a drive that leads you to a tropical beach somewhere! Aloha!

Being there for all of those moments means I’ve seen it all! So I’ve rounded up my favorite day-of tips I’ve learned along the way. Keep these things in mind, but most importantly, don’t stress! After all, your day WILL be perfect because you’re marrying your best friend. And it doesn’t get much better than that!

1. Make sure you have all your details together in your getting-ready room

If you only remember one tip about your details let it be this…don’t send the groom’s ring off with the best man, make sure it stays with you! I start the day photographing all of the detail shots and tracking down the groom’s ring can definitely limit shooting time. It’s far from the end of the world, but it’s a nice hiccup to iron out beforehand! I promise once I’m done with your details, I’ll get your rings to where they need to be!

Another tip for your details, ask your florist to deliver your bouquets to the getting-ready room instead of the ceremony location. This ensures they’re included in your detail shots and makes sure they’re ready for your first look and bridal portraits.

Finally, remember to bring a copy of your invitation suite with your details. It’s been months since you sent them out, but your invites deserve to be documented too! After all, they’re often what sets the mood for your wedding day. Pack these things in a bag or box (not sure what to include? Here’s a checklist!) so I can quickly and efficiently style your details!

2. Eat

This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised by the number of brides and grooms who forgot to eat! Wedding days are LONG and you don’t want a wave of nausea or a fainting spell to hit when it’s time to walk down the aisle. So eat some French toast with your mimosa, girlfriend. Have lunch catered for your ladies and gentleman during the getting-ready time, this is a simple way to take care of you and keep your bridal party happy and ready for the day!

Pro-tip: dinner is often when you’ll be mingling with guests and you might end up rushing your meal. Have your caterer package a to-go meal you can chow down on when you get back to the hotel!

3. Create a pre-wedding playlist

Get the fun started early! Create a playlist (or make this a job for your Maid of Honor!) so you and your ladies can jam while you’re getting your hair done and while you’re munching on that catered lunch. You want to set the mood of the day early in the morning. Enjoy the moment with your best friends and don’t let nerves or stress take over. You’ll be nervous, and that’s okay! But your wedding day is meant to be FUN! So let loose with your favorite tunes to help calm you down and release some of that nervous energy. Because who has time for nerves when you’re belting Taylor Swift’s Midnights at the top of your lungs into your hairbrush?!

4. Don’t be the point of contact for the day

As the bride, you’ll be the center of attention and your wedding day will be full of non-stop action. You’ve spent so much time planning the perfect day, it’s only right that you should enjoy it instead of fielding questions and concerns all day long. Hire a day-of coordinator or have your Maid of Honor or a parent be the person everyone sends their questions to. I even do this for my couples! This will help keep your tension and nerves down as well as give you the chance to really observe and enjoy the moments with your favorite person. This is one step you won’t regret!

5. Plan alone time

Be it a First Look, sunset portraits, or a corner alone you can pray together before the ceremony and give yourselves a sliver of time with just the two of you on your special day. Many of my couples say it is their favorite time of the day and what they remember the most! Your day is filled with so many people who are there to celebrate and love on you, so a lot of people will be competing for your attention. This gives you a chance to stay focused on each other and what your day is all about.

There you have it, my favorite day-of tips to help keep your wedding stress-free! Months of planning are behind you, now it’s time for you to step back and delegate to family and friends so you can live fully in the moment. You’ve worked so hard, you deserve to enjoy it! 🙂