Many a bride – and groom! – will attest to the fact that on your wedding day of all days, the old adage holds true “what can go wrong, will in fact go wrong”!

However, by properly preparing for your big day, you’ll ensure that the particulars that are within your direct control are taken care of ahead of time.

In the final week leading up to your wedding, this is the critical time to make the final preparations with your wedding vendors:

• Caterer: provide final count of your wedding guests to your caterer;
• Florist: confirm that the flowers will be delivered to each venue (ceremony location and reception location) at the times specified on your contract.  If any changes have been made, you’ll need to ensure that your florist is prepared to adjust to your changes or you’ll need to make alternate arrangements;
• Seamstress :  Confirm – and confirm again! – that your and wedding party’s dresses and suits will be ready for pick-up at least 24 hours in advance of your ceremony time;
• Hairstylist:  Confirm with your hairstylists that he/she has set aside ample time to prepare you and your wedding party
• Photographer:  provide a final list of “must have” shots that you would like taken at your wedding and reception.  In some instances, you may want to assign a close friend or relative to be the photographer’s assistant, someone who can point out the important principals of your wedding party and guests.

For your actual wedding day, put together an wedding survival kit of sorts which can include the following items:  bobby pins; safety pins (large and small), double sided tape; fabric cleaner wipes/pen (you’ll be amazed about how many stains your dress will attract!); extra panty hose; sewing needle and thread; hairspray and comb.

Here’s to your special day – Cheers!

Jones-Hirvonen is the President of SparklingCards.com and she developed such wedding survival kit after she got married so that others would avoid the pitfalls that she had encountered.