18 Things You Need to Do the Night Before Your Wedding
Make sure you have the best possible time the night before your wedding by being as organised as possible - here's everything you need to remember the night before your big day!
The night before your wedding is such an exciting time - your big day has almost arrived! But you need to make sure you spend this time wisely, as there’s a lot to consider. We’ve rounded up the 18 essential things you must do the night before your wedding, so you can really make the most of it.
By looking after yourself the night before your wedding, you'll wake up feeling your best and totally refreshed. Keep downing the whole bottle of Prosecco and putting away a large Maccy D's for the hen do...
18 Things You Should Do the Night Before Your Wedding
1. Set Aside Some Time with Your Partner
If you’re following the wedding tradition that the couple spend the night before the wedding apart, then make sure you set aside a little bit of time that day or evening to just be together. Go for a walk, or have a lovely lunch together and savour that feeling of ‘the next time we see each other, we’ll be getting married!’
2. Open Your Night Before the Wedding Gifts
Yes, this is a thing! Plan to exchange a cute wedding gift with your partner - it could even just be a handwritten letter - to open and enjoy the night before your wedding. Why not write a list of all the reasons why you can’t wait to marry them?
3. Clean Your Engagement Ring
It’s super easy to clean your engagement ring at home, so make sure you give it a polish the night before your wedding. That way it’ll look at its very best paired next to your fancy wedding ring in all your photos!
4. Pamper Yourself
Now is not the time to try out that new face mask you’ve read about, just in case you have a reaction! But have a lovely bath and use products you know you’re okay with, to give yourself some time and headspace to relax.
5. Get Your Nails Done
Go get that bridal mani if you haven’t already! Treat yourself to a luxury one that involves a little hand massage and some nice moisturiser if you can, so your hands are at their very best ready for their close up.
6. Read Through Your Speeches and Vows
If you’re giving a speech, now is the time to read through it again, and the same goes for your vows. A couple of calm, leisurely read-throughs will ensure you feel confident and capable when it comes to saying them aloud on the big day.
7. Check Everything is Ready
What do you need? Dress, shoes, particular bridal underwear? Make sure you have everything ready and you know exactly where it is to avoid any last minute panics on the morning of your wedding. Make sure your partner does the same too - you don’t want any panicked calls interrupting your getting ready vibes on the morning of your wedding!
8. Turn Off Your Phone
Have a switched off evening - give people your maid of honour’s phone number for emergencies so she can field any urgent calls, but stay off social, give yourself a break from group chats and most importantly - do not check your work email! Taking a break from your device will help you to feel more relaxed.
9. Eat (Reasonably) Healthy
It can be tempting, especially if you’ve got all the girls over for a sleepover, to order a big, greasy Pepperoni Passion. But you will not feel your best after doing it - no one wants to wake up at 3am on their wedding day feeling dehydrated and greasy.
10. Drink Some Water
Yes, have a glass or two of bubbly - it is your wedding eve! But don’t go crazy - you do not want to be hungover, and the more hydrated you are, the better you’ll look and feel.
11. Pack a Party Bag
As well as making sure you have all your wedding day essentials ready, it’s a good idea to put together a bag of bits you’ll need for the evening (lipstick, dancing shoes, eyelash glue etc.) and let one of your bridesmaids take care of it until it’s time to bring it out.
12. Watch Something Fun
Watch something light-hearted and enjoyable on Netflix so you can mentally switch off from thinking about everything else. We've rounded up the best wedding films available to stream!
13. Stay Out of the Sun
Even if it’s a glorious day, slap on that sunscreen and stay in the shade. You don’t want to risk weird tan lines, or worse, burns!
14. Avoid Caffeine
No lattes after lunch! Steer clear of the caffeine, especially if you’re feeling a bit stressed or nervous as it will add to it, and it can interfere with your sleep, too.
15. Have a Wash
Obviously! But make sure all your makeup is thoroughly removed and your skin is fresh and cleansed to minimise the risk of any overnight breakouts. Check with your hairstylist too about washing your hair - lots of styles work best when your hair isn’t too freshly washed.
16. Do Some Calm Breathing
In through your nose, out through your mouth. Inhaling and exhaling slowly and steadily this way will make you feel more calm - it’s a game changer if you’re prone to feeling anxious.
17. Avoid Any Wedding Tasks
Don’t start writing a speech or finishing DIY the night before your wedding. Give yourself the time to relax and switch off from that - you do not want to be stressing about finishing bunting 16 hours before it’s due to be displayed…
18. Get an Early Night
Get yourself off to bed at a reasonable time and try your hardest to go to sleep! Listen to a sleepy podcast, some white noise or calming music if you need to, and look into a lavender sleep spray if you think you might struggle to doze off. You’ll feel amazing on the day if you manage to get a good night’s sleep - and it’ll arrive much more quickly!
Make sure you read our guide to looking after your mental health to ensure you feel your best ahead of your wedding - and beyond.
