a wedding day packing list

The things that go through your mind in those weeks leading up to your wedding date are endless! If you’re like me, you even experienced wedding related nightmares. Mine was that I went to put on my dress before walking down the aisle and I had somehow forgotten to get it altered. It was a sample dress and about 6 sizes too large when I bought it so it wouldn’t stay up on its own, was way too long and just not what I imagined my walk down the aisle would look like. Thankfully my dress was already in for alterations so I’m not sure why that particular dream ahem nightmare came to me but it did. I felt prepared yet they still came.

While I can’t help you remember ALL the details, unless of course you hire us for your Wedding Planning needs or take ALL the stress away, again unless you hire us for your wedding planning needs, what I can do is provide you with this helpful guide so you don’t forget anything on your wedding morning.

WEDDING DAY PACK LIST

For Brides

  • Getting Ready Attire (pajamas, leggings, robe, slippers, blouse, etc.)

  • Wedding Dress (It’s best if this is freshly steamed and packed inside your garment bag to be hung)

  • Veil or headpiece if you’re wearing one

  • Jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelet, rings, etc.

  • Wedding Bands (it’s best that one person have both rings the morning of the wedding for detail shots when the photographer arrives) Tip: have them cleaned before hand as well!

  • Engagement Ring

  • Undergarments

  • Perfume

  • Cosmetic Bag (deodorant, hair ties, bobby pins, toothbrush and toothpaste, touch up kit for makeup)

  • Purse/Clutch

  • Shoes

  • Garter

  • Mini Emergency Kit (tide to go, medicine, sewing kit, hairspray, safety pins, mints, etc.)

  • Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

For Grooms

  • Pants

  • Shirt

  • Vest

  • Jacket

  • Tie/Bowtie

  • Belt

  • Suspenders

  • Dress Socks

  • Shoes

  • Underwear

  • Tie Clip

  • Cuff Links

  • Accessories (watch, pocket square, etc.)

For Ceremony

  • Marriage License

  • Programs

  • Copy of Vows

  • Any Unity or Ritual Ceremony Items (wine box, unity candle, rope, sand ceremony, love notes, etc.)

  • Any DIY items

Detail Shots

these items are best to pack together and have nearby and ready for photographers arrival

  • Bridal Accessories & Attire

  • Invitation Suite

  • Freshly addressed envelope with stamps (not mailed)

  • All Rings

  • It’s great to ask your florist for extra blooms or greenery for styling these items as well

Reception Details

  • Cake Topper

  • Toasting Flutes

  • Escort Cards or Table Display

  • Table Numbers

  • Menu Cards

  • Guestbook (and any essentials for it, pens, markers, etc)

  • Card Box

  • Any Signage (welcome, gifts, cards, etc.)

  • Any Photos to be displayed

  • Memory Table details if applicable

  • Personalized Items (chair back signs, chooses, cocktail napkins, etc)

  • Any DIY Items

  • Favors

Gifts

  • Future Wife/Husband Gift and/or Love Letter

  • Gifts for Bridal Party (don’t forget flower girls, ushers, ring bearer)

  • Gifts for Parents

Vendor Tips

  • There are many resources for tipping etiquette. We send all of our clients a tipping guideline the week of their wedding for ease.

  • These are best done in clearly marked, sealed envelopes

Wedding Exit Items

  • Any necessary items (sparklers, lighters, sand, bubbles, flower petals, etc.) and be sure to check with your venue for policies and specifics!

Overnight Bag

If you’re leaving for your honeymoon right away, you may need to think to pack in advance for an easy getaway (including travel documents, reservations, passport, etc.) but even still … here are a few items you may not want to forget the night of your wedding

  • Extra change of clothes for following morning (I ended up wearing my husbands shoes the next morning and had a girlfriend wear her husbands pants down to breakfast the morning after their wedding) This is so easy to forget but unless you want to put your wedding dress back on the next day for brunch, pack an extra change of clothes!

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wash (basically your day to day toiletries bag)

  • Phone Charger

3 of our favorite trends for 2019

2019 is in full swing and while we are still waiting for our Wedding Season to pick up here at Like the Dazzling, there are new trends that are already popping up and you can expect to see them all over the place in the coming months. There are always a ton of new ideas trending each year but instead of listing them ALL out for you, we’re just going to share with you the ones that we are most excited about.

OH BUT WAIT. Before we break that down, here’s a little PSA:

For an industry that is constantly evolving, it can be difficult to keep up with trend … SO DON’T. Let’s SET trends. We love couples that are willing to think outside of the box, go their own way and personalize their wedding experience for their guests.

Okay, we just had to mention that … here goes!

  1. VELVET AND LUXE LINENS

Yup, we’re obsessed. In previous years, Farm Tables have risen in popularity and while we still love that look as well, we are so excited to see more Luxury Linens edging their way in. Such a great way to make a statement.

Savan Photography

Savan Photography

2. FLORAL ACCESSORIES

Yes, moms have been wearing corsages on their wrists for some time but we’re talking floral pocket squares, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. The artistry of these florists is AMAZING and such a fun way to step outside the box on your wedding day.

Amanda Dumouchelle

Amanda Dumouchelle

3. GOING MINIMAL

From attire (thanks Megan Markle) to Invitations, we are starting to see brides go for a more minimal look and hey, we really don’t mind. You’ll see more brides reverting back to a timeless, classic and yes even simplified look for their wedding attire. Y’all, simple is not a bad thing. We think more brides will focus on incorporating those eye catching, wow-worthy details among the simplicity and we’re huge fans.

Invitations and paper goods we see going one of two ways and nothing in between….

  • Over the top with illustrations and eye catching details

    -OR-

  • Minimalistic with Bold Fonts and Modern Typography

    Which do you prefer?

Abby Waller Photography

Abby Waller Photography

So that’s it! Short and Sweet. Again, we’ll be seeing so many trendy things hitting this year such as the color Coral (thanks to the Pantone color of the year), copper (goodbye mercury glass), statement cakes (naked cakes are a thing of the pasts), and SO MANY MORE but we wanted to hit you with what makes us all giddy inside :)

Stay Tuned as we’ll also soon be sharing trends that we are ready to say goodbye to this year as we make room for fresh, new designs.

Jennifer & Chris, An Intimate Asheville Wedding

I first met with Jennifer and Chris over a glass of wine in Inman Park. Upon our first meeting, we chatted about our mutual love for Asheville, Music.Traveling and of course their wedding plans. We were introduced by mutual friends so I really should not have been surprised that we hit it off so quickly. I run my business out of both Asheville (my hometown) and Atlanta (my now home) but when those worlds collide, it is the best! Asheville will always have a special place in my heart and I’ve loved expanding my business there over the past year. Finding a fellow Atlanta resident that chooses a destination wedding in Asheville is an absolute dream!

Jennifer and Chris had been vacationing in Asheville for some time and simply fell in love with it, hence why they chose to have their wedding their. They found the ideal location for their laid back, intimate affair with their closest friends and family in Junebug Retro Resort. Let me tell you, this place is incredible. Owners, Charlene and Tom are collectors of mid century campers and travel trailers and created this space originally as a Retro RV park for guests to take a step back and get away. After their wedding at Junebug, they expanded their vision to include an events venue as well as vacation destination.

The couple rented out the entire space, including all RV rentals so their closest friends could stay on site the entire weekend of their wedding together. This way when the formal reception ended, the ones staying on site were able to take the short walk back to the camping area and continue the festivities around a bonfire.

The men played football the morning of the wedding (how awesome is that?) while the ladies headed to Engaged Asheville for Hair and Makeup services. With its location close to downtown Asheville, yet far enough away that they had their own private oasis, this intimate wedding of about 60 people focused on friends, family, music and all around a really great party for a fantastic couple!

Photos below are courtesy of Matthew Pautz Photography. (please scroll to bottom for all the vendors who contributed to make this event possible)

Web_09_29_18_Jennifer_Chris_Wedding_338.jpg
Web_09_29_18_Jennifer_Chris_Wedding_131.jpg
Web_09_29_18_Jennifer_Chris_Wedding_241.jpg
Web_09_29_18_Jennifer_Chris_Wedding_358.jpg

Photography: Matthew Pautz Photography

Venue: Junebug Retro Resort

Floral, Planning & Design : Like the Dazzling LLC

Ceremony Musicians: Red Cedar Review

DJ: DJ Dr. Filth

Catering, Cake & Bar: Buxton Hall BBQ

Bride’s Dress: The Sentimentalist, Atlanta

Getting Ready Location: Engaged Asheville

Hair & Makeup: Hair by Disco Destiny

Officiant, Brother of Bride

Transportation: Emma Bus Lines

Accommodation: A Loft Asheville Downtown