One of my missions as a Calgary wedding planner is to make sure that you get to focus on the start of your marriage and enjoy the awesome party that you have planned.

In my last post, I talked about how worrying about having the perfect wedding may just ruin your day. But it’s one thing to say “don’t worry!” and another to do just that. You have to host guests, take photos, think about logistics — it can be very easy to just “miss” your own wedding day if your mind is being pulled in different directions.

Here are some things to help.

Get the most out of your wedding day with these 5 tips – Calgary wedding planner tips

1. Take a 15 minute break as newlyweds

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This is so important and not nearly enough couples do this. Your wedding day is a whirlwind of activity. It’s the day where you will feel most like a celebrity and everyone wants a piece of you. Build in 15 minutes in your wedding day itinerary to sneak away, just the two of you. This can be after the Ceremony or right before the Reception. Take the time to just stare at each other and have a private moment to process everything that has happened.

2. Get a first look at your Reception decor

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The wedding day is such a blur that you probably won’t even notice all of those details you slaved over. If you’re working with a wedding planner like me, you probably care about having all of your decor just right (even more so if we work together on wedding design!). Try and sneak away for a few minutes to get a look at your Reception before guests arrive. You should be the first to see your vision brought to reality!

3. Build in time for your photographer to take “detail shots”

This tip is often overlooked, and it’s even more important if you don’t get a chance to see your decor before your guests. Your wedding photos are often the only chance you get to really “see” what your wedding is like.

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But the atmosphere of your wedding may not be captured if your photographer doesn’t get access to your Reception room before your guests do. You want him to capture everything in its pristine condition…not with crumpled napkins and half-empty drink glasses all over the place. Your photographer also doesn’t want to annoy your guests by hovering around their table, trying to take photos. And he would never dream of asking your guests to step away from an area for a photo!

When I create timelines for my clients, I always add in time for detail shots. I know my clients will be disappointed if they don’t see their wedding details. So, do yourself a favour and create at least 15 minutes for your photographer to take these detail shots.

4. Create a detailed family photo list — and keep it short

Break the photos down by person and include proper names (not just “grandma”) for each grouping. This will help your photographer know who to ask for in each photo and ensure that no one is missed. Family photos can take up a lot of time when you’re trying to corral everyone in one place. Before you know it, family photos have eaten up half of your photos time! Keep the list as short as possible so you have plenty of time for the Creative photos with your new husband/wife.

5. Make all of your outstanding payments before your wedding day

So easy to do. Many vendors ask for their final payment on the wedding day. But you do not want the hassle of handling money on your wedding day — and neither do your parents. While I track vendor payments as part of my wedding planner tasks, I can’t make them for you. So make as many payments before your wedding as possible to avoid the awkward money issue while you’re busy celebrating.

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I hope these tips help you be engaged on your wedding day. After all, you plan something for so long, it would be a shame to miss out. A sure way to not miss anything, though, is to work with a wedding planner. Our team at Evelyn Clark Weddings takes the reins + helps you stay sane before your wedding day. This way, you and your family can be guests at your own wedding. Give us a shout if you want to get the most out of your wedding day.