After my last panic-ridden cry for help blog, I received lots of concerned emails from mother, aunt, cousin, sister and friend offering sage advice and stamp-licking skills.
I also received an email from Quintessentially Weddings, the luxury wedding planner arm to the very smart concierge service, offering their take on how to survive the wobbles. Its lead wedding planner Sophie Fleming, who incidentally also helps us with the ELLE Style Awards so is incredibly discerning, said panic is totally normal and can be broken into a few key areas and jobs to tick off: bring together everything you have already organised and write it down. Lists! Of course, the cure was always going to be found in lists...
Establish your days running order, then double check you have suppliers in place for each stage work your way through and focus on the things that serve a pretty and practical purpose first such as the readings at the ceremony, the wedding breakfast tastings and timings, rather than tiny minutiae like place or escort cards which can be done very last minute.
Alexander McQueen's brides
And when youve surprised yourself at just how large your ticked-off list looks in writing, its time to ponder the small stuff. Sophie says...
Confirm at least a week before with all of your suppliers, check they know timings and the payment status youre not being a nag if you do it nicely.
Try and meet your caterers if they are separate from the venue to check running times as you dont want hungry guests!
Check Metcheck.com and make contingency plans so that you and your guests are comfortable in the conditions ask that your venue provide either fans, brollies, shawls, or hot drinks to keep cold at bay dependent upon forecasts and be willing to source them yourself.
Ask your groom to check his outfit is complete, and ushers are all fully versed in their roles.
Even if youre not going for a fully-fledged first dance, have a practice at dancing to your chosen song. If you dont have a song, opt for something that makes you both feel warm and fuzzy inside the same applies to readings, and you cannot go far wrong with some Shakespeare, Rolling Stones, Keats or Rat Pack.
If possible, squeeze in a rehearsal ceremony and time the drive from wherever you will be staying to the ceremony venue for the traditional 20 minute late arrival of the bride.
Practice walking with a train if you have one, and with your bridesmaids to avoid tripping incidents.
Arrange a 15 minute break with just you and your groom to enjoy and revel in being newlyweds otherwise the day may pass in a blur without you seeing much of each other ask your chauffeur to take your for a drive in your wedding car with some champagne, or pencil in a time to grab a cocktail and sneak off to a nearby bar or lounge.
Lots of last-minute beauty fixes are really impressive, so just concentrate on keeping calm. Our favourites are Crème de La Mer The Radiant Serum, £220, YSL Touche Eclat, £24.50, Givenchy Lingerie De Peau foundation, £33.50, Lancomes La Base Dewy Glow £30.50, Philosophy the Supernatural Poreless Flawless £26 and Rodins Lipbalm, £23 for that all-important first married kiss.
If you havent received RSVPs from guests, dont waste time stalking them, just send out and email or text message to all guests who have replied, saying you are looking forward to seeing them as a gentle reminder.
Visit Quintessentially Wedding here
